Circa 1900’s – Restore its glory or build your dream home

SOLD BY BUCKINGHAM & COMPANY
This picturesque property is home to one of the original cottages in the district and has a special place in the history of Christmas Hills. Offering close to 28 acres approx of open grassland and natural bush, this is a place of timeless beauty with options for restoration that will return the place to its former glory. There is the original weatherboard home on site which is in need a good helping of TLC, along with a large barn and additional mud brick studio. With links back to Justus Jorgensen and the iconic Montsalvat artist’s colony, this property is a must-see.

Features:

Stunning rural opportunity – close to 28 acres approx
Vintage weatherboard home ready to restore (STCA)
Large barn and mud brick studio in original condition
Sweeping views, open grassland and natural bush

A little history about the connection to Montsalvat.

Montsalvat was bought in 1934 by Justus Jorgensen so the purchase 26 years later in 1959/60 by Justus means this property has been a Jorgensen and Montsalvat entity for 62 years.

It was referred to as the Christmas Hills Farm by the Jorgensen Family. It was bought in 1959/60 by Justus Jorgensen (born 1893 – died 1975). His son Sebastian Jorgensen (musician/guitarist) (born 1938 died 2019) lived on the property with his family during the 1970s-2019.

The original white cottage was built in around 1875. During the 1960s Justus joined the cottage to the old kitchen. Animals were kept at the farm including Jersey cows and horses and ponies. Justus built the Barn and Sebastian built the mud brick studio.

The property hosted concerts, festivals and exhibitions and was an adjunct to Montsalvat between 1959/60 to the mid 2010s. Poets used the property as a country retreat.

Located opposite is the Christmas Hills War Memorial unveiled in 1921.

Selling the property is the end of an era and will allow Montsalvat’s ongoing creative work to be concentrated in Eltham where they welcome up to 50,000 visitors per year from across Australia.