tightly held Flinders house gains $300,000 over reserve at $4.5 million

‘Garden guru’s Flinders haven yields stellar result (01 NOV 2018)
‘THE garden paradise created by design guru Rick Eckersley in Flinders has a new owner after a fierce auction contest.

Musk Cottage at 371 Musk Creek Rd saw two Melbourne-based bidders push it well above the price guide of $4-$4.2 million on October 28.

The result was undisclosed but it is understood the 4.05ha property with two residences and stunning landscaped gardens fetched just over $4.5 million.

RT Edgar Flinders director Holly Longmuir said the strong competition between two buyers meant the result was well above the reserve.

“The two bidders were looking for a little piece of paradise and both wanted it as a holiday home,” Ms Longmuir said.

“There was a large crowd and there were large bids of $50,000 and $30,000 and also smaller $10,000 and $1000 bids.”

The auction began with a vendor bid of $3.8 million and there was no need for auctioneer James Paynter to pause to get instructions as bidding continued.

Ms Longmuir said Mr Eckersley, who had transformed the property in the 12 years he owned it, was delighted with the result.

The property last changed hands for $2 million in 2006 and the original house had a makeover and was extended with a pool and spa added.

The large grounds were then recreated for Musk Cottage by Eckersley and business partners Myles Broad and Scott Leung.

Ms Longmuir had described it as a “piece of art” and an opportunity to live in a “serene and private spot with a creative and artistic house”.

In notes for the spring 2018 Open Gardens season, Mr Eckersley wrote Musk Cottage had “the perfect bones for me to stamp my philosophy of garden making — a quintessentially Australian garden”.

The garden is Australian in flavour but also features plants from around the world and has a series of “garden rooms” along meandering paths and a boardwalk.

A deck, picturesque dam, pool, tennis court, bocce court, pitching green and in-ground trampoline are included.

The three-bedroom main house is complemented by another three-bedroom cottage, plus a studio.’