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Kym Wilson with Tammy MacIntosh

Actor Kym Wilson with Tammy MacIntosh in front of Kingsford House historic home in a scene from McLeod's Daughters.

$1m-plus tipped for McLeod's homestead

CHANNEL 9 has ended months of speculation by announcing it will sell Kingsford — the property made famous as Drovers Run in its Logie-award winning drama McLeod's Daughters.

The buyer will have to pay more than $1 million to secure the piece of Australian TV history — backdrop for the defunct weekly drama for eight years.

Speculation has been rife as to what the network would do with the property when filming wound up in March.

The 55ha property north of Gawler, which includes a 14-room Georgian-style mansion, separate cottage, woolshed, disused tennis court and secluded glen with its own freshwater spring, will be officially advertised for sale on Saturday, May 24, through Elders Real Estate.

Expressions of interest will close on July 11.

Elders rural sales consultant Graeme Hann said the property was expected to fetch well over $1 million.

"You've got two agendas," he said. "There will be some people who won't care about the McLeod's element and it will be all about the historical significance of the place and then others who will go a mile to get the property on the McLeod's basis.

"It will definitely be over $1 million, but how far it's hard to tell.

"If this was just a straight home, a little bit better presented, I would be talking about $1.1 million to $1.2 million — but it's not just an ordinary home."

Mr Hann said Kingsford, built in 1856, would be heavily marketed with its own website.

He said Channel 9 was also offering the land and sheds that provided the backdrop as the Truckstop — at Freeling — as a separate sale.

Kingsford holds a special place in Mr Hann's heart — he also sold the property to the State Government on behalf of the former owners, the Fotheringham family, in 1989.

He said the property needed considerable cosmetic renovations, including painting and reconnecting the bathrooms, but generally the building was stable.

He said the property was too small for farming, but could accommodate a boutique grape crop, bed-and-breakfast or tourism.

Filming on McLeod's Daughters wrapped up in March and the eighth and final season, starring Simmone Jade Mackinnon and Abbie Tucker, is expected to air in the coming months.

By Liz Walsh
May 11, 2008
Sunday Mail (SA)