356 Rutherglen - Springhurst Rd, Rutherglen, Vic, 3685

On​ ​a​ ​site​ ​hewn​ ​by​ ​hand​ ​from​ ​a​ ​rockface​ ​on​ ​the​ ​outskirts​ ​of​ ​Rutherglen​ ​in​ ​the​ ​late​ ​1800s,​ ​Rockbarton​ ​Cellars​ ​really​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​a​ ​kind.​ ​

From​ ​the​ ​quadruple​ ​brick​ ​construction​ ​of​ ​the​ ​lower​ ​level​ ​and​ ​triple​ ​brick​ ​upstairs,​ ​to​ ​the​ ​massive​ ​timber​ ​beams​ ​and​ ​columns,​ ​oversized​ ​bearers​ ​and​ ​38mm​ ​thick​ ​murray​ ​pine​ ​flooring,​ ​everything​ ​in​ ​this​ ​building​ ​speaks​ ​of​ ​its​ ​industrial​ ​heritage.​ ​Constructed​ ​semi-underground​ ​as​ ​a​ ​state-of-the-art​ ​wine​ ​processing​ ​and​ ​storage​ ​facility,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​in​ ​full​ ​production​ ​by​ ​the​ ​late​ ​1890s,​ ​only​ ​to​ ​have​ ​the​ ​vines​ ​decimated​ ​by​ ​phylloxera​ ​like​ ​so​ ​many​ ​other​ ​vineyards​ ​in​ ​the​ ​area.​ ​

The​ ​property​ ​was​ ​sold​ ​in​ ​1913​ ​and​ ​became​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​sheep​ ​grazing​ ​enterprise​ ​with​ ​the​ ​cellars​ ​laying​ ​idle​ ​for​ ​nearly​ ​a​ ​century.​ ​In​ ​2007​ ​the​ ​decision​ ​was​ ​made​ ​to​ ​transform​ ​this​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​history​ ​into​ ​a​ ​very​ ​different​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​home.​ ​This​ ​journey​ ​took​ ​more​ ​than​ ​a​ ​decade​ ​to​ ​complete,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​result​ ​was​ ​worth​ ​waiting​ ​for.​ ​

One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​striking​ ​things​ ​about​ ​living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​cellars​ ​is​ ​the​ ​sheer​ ​thermal​ ​mass​ ​of​ ​the​ ​building.​ ​Short​ ​shifts​ ​in​ ​temperature​ ​outside​ ​are​ ​simply​ ​not​ ​even​ ​felt​ ​internally.​ ​The​ ​hydronic​ ​heating​ ​keeps​ ​a​ ​steady​ ​and​ ​comfortable​ ​temperature​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​cooler​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​winter,​ ​while​ ​upstairs​ ​the​ ​split​ ​systems​ ​keep​ ​any​ ​prolonged​ ​mid-summer​ ​heat​ ​at​ ​bay.​ ​For​ ​the​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​the​ ​year,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​requirement​ ​for​ ​heating​ ​or​ ​cooling​ ​at​ ​all.​ ​The​ ​home​ ​also​ ​enjoys​ ​double​ ​glazing​ ​and​ ​a​ ​mass​ ​of​ ​Solar​ ​Panels,​ ​making​ ​it​ ​extremely​ ​energy​ ​efficient.​ ​

Set​ ​on​ ​84​ ​acres​ ​of​ ​productive​ ​pasture​ ​close​ ​to​ ​the​ ​town​ ​boundary​ ​and​ ​with​ ​previous​ ​permission​ ​granted​ ​by​ ​North​ ​East​ ​Water​ ​for​ ​a​ ​private​ ​line,​ ​the​ ​possibilities​ ​are​ ​endless.​ ​The​ ​elevated​ ​position​ ​on​ ​the​ ​hillside​ ​commands​ ​80+km​ ​views​ ​and​ ​being​ ​on​ ​the​ ​eastern​ ​slopes​ ​provides​ ​protection​ ​from​ ​the​ ​harsh​ ​westerly​ ​weather.​ ​

The​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​remote​ ​tranquility​ ​belies​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​you​ ​are​ ​only​ ​5​ ​mins​ ​from​ ​the​ ​cafes​ ​and​ ​restaurants​ ​of​ ​Rutherglen.​ ​With​ ​generous​ ​kitchen,​ ​walk-in​ ​pantry,​ ​expansive​ ​entertaining​ ​areas​ ​on​ ​each​ ​level​ ​with​ ​the​ ​upper​ ​floor​ ​spilling​ ​out​ ​to​ ​the​ ​north​ ​facing​ ​terrace,​ ​this​ ​home​ ​is​ ​built​ ​for​ ​entertaining.​ ​

There​ ​are​ ​four​ ​comfortable​ ​bedrooms​ ​each​ ​with​ ​built​ ​in​ ​robes,​ ​ensuite​ ​to​ ​master,​ ​family​ ​bathroom​ ​and​ ​separate​ ​amenities​ ​on​ ​each​ ​level,​ ​the​ ​property​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​wonderful​ ​family​ ​home.​ ​There​ ​is,​ ​of​ ​course,​ ​an​ ​extensive​ ​wine​ ​storage​ ​area.​ ​The​ ​dedicated​ ​office​ ​area​ ​provides​ ​a​ ​creative​ ​environment​ ​with​ ​NBN​ ​connectivity.​ ​

The​ ​farmland​ ​is​ ​currently​ ​leased​ ​out,​ ​but​ ​has​ ​previously​ ​been​ ​used​ ​for​ ​beef,​ ​hay​ ​and​ ​crop​ ​production.​ ​The​ ​24m​ ​x​ ​8.5m​ ​shed​ ​with​ ​full​ ​12m​ ​opening​ ​hangar​ ​doors​ ​and​ ​dedicated​ ​workshop​ ​accommodates​ ​all​ ​the​ ​hobbies.​ ​The​ ​lower​ ​field​ ​is​ ​usually​ ​home​ ​to​ ​a​ ​600m​ ​grass​ ​airstrip​ ​but​ ​this​ ​is​ ​not​ ​currently​ ​maintained.​ ​

The​ ​location​ ​on​ ​the​ ​outskirts​ ​of​ ​Rutherglen​ ​township​ ​really​ ​is​ ​something​ ​special​ ​with​ ​all​ ​this​ ​premier​ ​wine​ ​region​ ​has​ ​to​ ​offer,​ ​renowned​ ​for​ ​fine​ ​dining​ ​experiences​ ​to​ ​world​ ​class​ ​golf​ ​courses.​ ​Albury​ ​airport​ ​provides​ ​direct​ ​flights​ ​to​ ​Sydney​ ​and​ ​Brisbane,​ ​with​ ​regular​ ​train​ ​services​ ​via​ ​our​ ​local​ ​station​ ​at​ ​Springhurst.​ ​​ ​

Unlike​ ​the​ ​typical​ ​modern​ ​house​ ​with​ ​a​ ​relatively​ ​short​ ​life​ ​span,​ ​Rockbarton​ ​Cellars​ ​has​ ​seen​ ​the​ ​passing​ ​of​ ​two​ ​new​ ​centuries​ ​and​ ​will​ ​stand​ ​to​ ​see​ ​many​ ​more.​ ​For​ ​only​ ​the​ ​second​ ​time​ ​since​ ​1913​ ​this​ ​property​ ​is​ ​offered​ ​for​ ​sale​ ​by​ ​expressions​ ​of​ ​interest.​ ​

Inspections​ ​are​ ​strictly​ ​by​ ​private​ ​appointment.

Please​ ​call​ ​Jo​ ​to​ ​schedule​ ​your​ ​private​ ​inspection​ ​on​ ​0429102461.