A long-serving security officer from Canberra purchased a bare 20 hectare (50 acre) rural lifestyle block at Swanpool on the northern edge of the Strathbogie Ranges 17 years ago.
He says he was on a quest for a bit of peace and quiet after a highly engaged front end career in several security details of the public service.
On the property at 139 Swanpool to Warrenbayne Road where there is ready access via the Midland Highway to Benalla about 14 minutes north, or to the Swanpool village in slightly less time to the south, he built a three-bedroom plus office western red cedar home.
But having lived on the property ever since and enjoyed the peace and solitude he sought, he has appointed Elders Real Estate in Wangaratta to sell the property, with an expected selling price of $699,000.
The reason he says is to take one last extended trip around Australia by car and caravan.
The property is subdivided into five paddocks and the vendor has typically run a few steers or agisted cattle for neighbours.
There is good stock proof fencing with a decent component renewed recently, including the main bitumen road boundary fence.
On the property are 70 walnut trees and 50 olive trees all well established as they were planted by an earlier owner.
The comfortable home has every service, including mains power, and 20,000 litres of rainwater storage and presents well, with plenty of all round verandah space.
It is adjoined by a garage, workshop and storage building that is large enough to house a caravan or boat.
"In the emerging post COVID-19 lock down environment I am seeing strong demand for lifestyle acreage with a comfortable home, most usually with buyers wanting an affordable property to run a few head of livestock, or to implement and grow their own homesteading philosophy and this property meets these criteria," selling agent Michael Everard said.
Contact Michael Everard on 0408 653 161, Elders Real Estate, Wangaratta.