Sydney house of Australia’s first saint for sale

Known as Bethungra, the Fore St residence sits on a massive 1157sqm block — about double the size of the typical Canterbury block. MORE: Karl Stefanovic’s Sydney house up for grabsNicole Kidman leads celebrities moving to this NSW region18 year-old buys $5m Sydney mansionIt was built in 1896 for the prominent Quigg family by the son of Sir Henry Parkes, Varney Parkes. St Mary MacKillop acquired the property in 1901 from the Quigg family and converted it into a convent for local nuns.MacKillop’s purchase is documented on the original title deeds which are included in the sale.Listed with Belle Property Annandale’s Rebecca Duncan and Blake Lowry, 9 Fore St is scheduled to go to auction on December 4 with a $2.2 million guide.“Nothing has sold over $2 million in a number of years, so there is nothing to compare this rare offering with,” Ms Duncan said.Ms Duncan said it was the first time Bethungra was on the market in 40 years and offered buyers an opportunity rarely before seen in the suburb.“Nothing has ever been sold like this in the area,” she said. “It is literally impossible to find a block of this size.”The Belle Property agent said while the home was heritage listed and could not be knocked down, the parcel still gave buyers a number of ways to unlock greater value.“Buyers could look to subdivide the rear the property, as at one point there was an opportunity for the current owners to do three terraces,” Ms Duncan said.The three-bedroom house is made of sandstone and features original interiors such as high ceilings, wooden floorboards and a dated bathroom. At the rear is a Hills hoist clothesline, green lawns and an outdoor patio.It also offers plenty of design quirks Varney Parkes was known for such as the mix of Victorian Italianate and Federation Queen Anne styles. He also had a habit of using pattern books in the design of his buildings.Ms Duncan expects strong interest from owner occupiers, developers and perhaps Catholics fascinated by St Mary’s connection to the home.MacKillop was declared Australia’s first saint at a public ceremony in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. She was known for the establishment of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, which provided education to the poor, particularly in rural areas. MacKillop died on 8 August 1909 at the Josephite convent in North Sydney.Bethungra was listed under a permanent conversation order in 1982 before it was added to the State Heritage register in 1999.

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November 05, 2021 at 12:30AM
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Known as Bethungra, the Fore St residence sits on a massive 1157sqm block — about double the size of the typical Canterbury block. MORE: Karl Stefanovic’s Sydney house up for grabsNicole Kidman leads celebrities moving to this NSW region18 year-old buys $5m Sydney mansionIt was built in 1896 for the prominent Quigg family by the son of Sir Henry Parkes, Varney Parkes. St Mary MacKillop acquired the property in 1901 from the Quigg family and converted it into a convent for local nuns.MacKillop’s purchase is documented on the original title deeds which are included in the sale.Listed with Belle Property Annandale’s Rebecca Duncan and Blake Lowry, 9 Fore St is scheduled to go to auction on December 4 with a $2.2 million guide.“Nothing has sold over $2 million in a number of years, so there is nothing to compare this rare offering with,” Ms Duncan said.Ms Duncan said it was the first time Bethungra was on the market in 40 years and offered buyers an opportunity rarely before seen in the suburb.“Nothing has ever been sold like this in the area,” she said. “It is literally impossible to find a block of this size.”The Belle Property agent said while the home was heritage listed and could not be knocked down, the parcel still gave buyers a number of ways to unlock greater value.“Buyers could look to subdivide the rear the property, as at one point there was an opportunity for the current owners to do three terraces,” Ms Duncan said.The three-bedroom house is made of sandstone and features original interiors such as high ceilings, wooden floorboards and a dated bathroom. At the rear is a Hills hoist clothesline, green lawns and an outdoor patio.It also offers plenty of design quirks Varney Parkes was known for such as the mix of Victorian Italianate and Federation Queen Anne styles. He also had a habit of using pattern books in the design of his buildings.Ms Duncan expects strong interest from owner occupiers, developers and perhaps Catholics fascinated by St Mary’s connection to the home.MacKillop was declared Australia’s first saint at a public ceremony in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. She was known for the establishment of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, which provided education to the poor, particularly in rural areas. MacKillop died on 8 August 1909 at the Josephite convent in North Sydney.Bethungra was listed under a permanent conversation order in 1982 before it was added to the State Heritage register in 1999.