Convict’s family farm listed for incredible 185-year price hike

2 days ago 3

A Sydney property has been listed for the first time in 185 years, as its owners pass on the farm that has been in their family for five generations.

The acreage in Mount Hunter, in Sydney’s Macarthur region, is believed to have been purchased for £1 per acre in 1841 by convict-turned-farmer William Cranfield.

While the property is believed to have been much larger at the time, the 35 acres of property now listed for sale would have traded back then for £35, which is approximately $8,973.40 in today’s money after adjusting for inflation.

Now the home at 420 Spring Creek Road, Mount Hunter it is listed with an asking price of offers over $3.495m, a staggering 38,848 per cent increase on the last time it sold.

420 Spring Creek Road, Mount Hunter has been listed for offers above $3.495m

Back in 1841, the property was purchased for £1 per acre. Picture: Supplied

The property is being sold by descendants of William Cranfield, who are looking to downsize after years of running the farm.

Cranfield was 17 when he arrived in Sydney in 1824, after being convicted and shipped to Sydney due to the theft of a pig, a cask of wine and a waist coat and jacket.

By 1841, Cranfield was granted pardon and established his own farm.

He had eight children with first wife Mary Ann Gittoes, who died in 1852, before remarrying to Elizabeth Rourke in 1853.

Cranfield died in 1860, aged 52, after being thrown by a horse.

MORE: Earn less than this? You’re now ‘poor’

The listed property is 35 acres

For many years, the property was used as a dairy farm. Picture: Supplied

Listing agent Nicholas Pikis of LJ Hooker United Group said in recent times, the acreage had mainly been used for cattle farming.

“To begin with, it was a dairy farm,” he said.

“One of the first along Spring Creek.”

Mr Pikis said buyer interest in the property had already been high, with people taking up their own visions for the land.

“We had interest from all walks of life,” he said. “From families to wanting to build their dream home on top of the paddock, to some wanting to use it for running trucking businesses.”

“We’ve also had interest from people wanting to put a horsing arena there.”

Mr Pikis said his personal highlight of the property were its views backing onto Spring Creek and the rolling hills beyond.

MORE: Surging issue eating up Sydney driveways