10 September 2019

Canberra’s ‘Castle Hill’: One of the ACT’s largest farms to be auctioned at Old Parliament House

| Glynis Quinlan
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Canberra’s 526-hectare ‘Castle Hill’ at 1449 Tidbinbilla, Tharwa, is attracting a lot of interest from potential buyers. All photos supplied by Ray White Rural Canberra and Yass.

Across the water from Lanyon Homestead and fronting the Murrumbidgee River sits one of the largest parcels of agricultural land in the ACT which has come onto the market after 47 years in the same hands.

Canberra’s 526-hectare ‘Castle Hill’ at 1449 Tidbinbilla, Tharwa, is a rare find given its proximity to the city and the grazing, farming and future irrigation opportunities on offer.

The property includes a three-bedroom homestead with tennis court, a granny flat, a separate riverfront cottage, 50 paddocks and a fish farm.

After nearly half a century running the farm, Geoff and Maureen Hyles are looking to retire and their property will be auctioned on Thursday, November 15 in the Members Dining Room at Old Parliament House.

The auction is believed to be a first for the venue, with Ray White Rural Canberra and Yass agents Simon and George Southwell also auctioning four other smaller regional properties on the night.

Castle Hill is currently operated as a grazing enterprise running cattle and sheep with a small area leased to a well-known free-range egg producer.

Listing agent Simon Southwell said it is rare to have such a picturesque productive property come to the market a stone’s throw from the nation’s capital. The local shopping centre is only 15 minutes away and Canberra airport is 25 minutes away.

“What is available is a 99-year lease on the famous Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa on over 500 hectares,” Mr Southwell said.

He said the water access will be a major attraction for buyers.

“Castle Hill has excellent water, 3.6 kilometres of Murrumbidgee River frontage, 27 dams, pump, 13 troughs, 26 inches of annual rainfall, a 25 megalitre water licence with significant volumes of irrigation water, surface and ground, still available on this section of the Murrumbidgee River,” he said.

Farming infrastructure includes hay and machinery sheds, combination cattle/sheep yards, and bitumen road frontage.

The main homestead is double-brick and has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It has a large verandah/entertainment area, woodfire heating, gas central heating and formal dining and living rooms.

Set among established gardens, the homestead also features a tennis court and boasts spectacular mountain views to the west and city views to the northeast, as well as views over the river to the historic Lanyon Homestead.


The separate granny flat includes a kitchenette and bathroom, and has solar hot water and a grid-connected solar electricity generator.

The riverfront cottage was originally built as a ‘bachelor’s quarters’ but has been transformed into an attractive riverfront home with lovely views of the Murrumbidgee River.

The cottage includes a kitchen, two bedrooms, a lounge room, a combined bathroom/laundry and a sunroom.

George Southwell said there has been a lot of interest in the property with potential buyers coming from Melbourne, the Darling Downs, Brisbane, Sydney, Dubbo and Canberra.

For more information please contact Simon Southwell on 0427 755 997 or George Southwell on 0429 838 345 or click here. Open farm tours are being held for interested people, with bookings and a 4WD recommended. The next one will be held tomorrow (November 4) at 3 pm.

Castle Hill will be auctioned at 11 am on November 15 in the Members Dining Room at Old Parliament House.

Original Article published by Glynis Quinlan on the RiotACT.

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