It’s been owned by one family for a century, but that could all be about to change for this prominent Limestone Coast estate with award-winning gardens.
The historic Kongorong property at 213 School Rd, which is known as Aberfoyle and has won awards in the Open Home Garden scheme, has hit the market for the first time.
Three generations of the Lightbody family have lovingly maintained the sprawling property, which is about 20 minutes south west of Mount Gambier, since it was established as a soldier-settler dairy farm.
Dean Lightbody and his siblings Janene and David are selling it on behalf of their parents, who have moved into aged care.
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The Kongorong estate at 213 School Rd has hit the market for the first time in 100 years.
The sprawling estate spans three titles.
The home has been modernised inside.
Mr Lightbody said its transformation from a dairy farm in the 1920s to one of the region’s most admired open gardens makes it a unique offering.
“When dairy operations ceased in 1988, the property transitioned to beef cattle and prime lamb,” said Mr Lightbody, who lives in Melbourne.
It was his parents’ creativity that made the original farmstead a welcoming country home and the surrounding paddocks picturesque gardens, he said.
“It was originally a small garden and when it was my brother’s 21st birthday she (my mother) moved the fence and it never went back – the gardens kept expanding from there,” Mr Lightbody said.
“Mum was a green thumb and got involved in the Open Home Garden scheme and won awards for her creativity.”
The estate is spread over three titles and has a four-bedroom home, guest quarters that were formerly the dairy, and gardens that have hosted many events over the decades.
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Three generations of the same family have maintained it over the years.
It’s an emotional sale for the family.
The property has won several awards for its picturesque gardens.
“It’s an emotional sale,” Mr Lightbody said.
“The original cow shed has been converted into an Airbnb and the shearing shed can be converted into a function centre – there’s so much potential.
“We would have loved to keep it in the family, but we know it’s time for someone else to create their own memories here.”
This property gave us an incredible childhood – the freedom to explore, create, and grow.”
Ray White Mount Gambier’s Tahlia Gabrielli and Leearna Roberts are selling the property, with expressions of interest closing at noon on November 13.
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