Former jam factory come garden paradise hits the market

Located at 67 Gorman Road, the property is being brought to market by Ray White Goulburn agent Addison Gann, on behalf of the seller, Doug Rawlinson, a horticulturalist who has enjoyed the property for the last 20 years.

Dating back to the 1840s, Kentgrove began life as a modest orchard before growing into the largest orchard in NSW by the late 1920s, home to around 30,000 fruit trees and a jam factory that supplied produce across Australia and overseas.

During the Great Depression, the orchard ceased operations and the property was later transformed into a substantial sheep station, with the former jam factory repurposed as a shearing shed and more than 3,000 acres added to the holding.

The property has long been interwoven with the story of Goulburn itself, having been owned by three mayors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For Mr Rawlinson, however, the connection was personal.

“My father managed Kentgrove in the early 1950s, and I lived here as a young child. Back then, I genuinely thought it was our family home,” Mr Rawlinson said.

“I had always loved it and, about 50 years later, I had the opportunity to buy it. That was incredibly special for me. I’d always wanted it.”

Since purchasing Kentgrove in 2006, Mr Rawlinson has poured his expertise and creativity into the estate, transforming it into a destination garden renowned across Australia.

Highlights of Kentgrove Gardens include an 800sqm Japanese garden, a Victorian kitchen garden set on the former tennis court, a Celtic knot garden, an indoor rainforest room, a secret garden, native plantings and even a miniature medieval village.

“I never expected to be hosting groups from all over Australia, but people arrive by the busload and I show them around, give talks, and host morning teas,” he said.

“It was well outside my comfort zone, but incredibly rewarding.”

The grand homestead, featuring a ballroom and extensive Australian cedar finishes, sits alongside striking double-storey stone stables, while a portion of the 30-acre property has been placed under conservation with the NSW Government - all within Goulburn’s town boundary.

Ray White Goulburn listing agent Addison Gann said Kentgrove was one of the most unique properties ever offered to the local market.

“This is a once-in-a-generation estate rich in history, beautifully improved, and offering enormous future potential,” Mr Gann said.

“It could suit a passionate gardener, a wedding or retreat venue, or even boutique accommodation using the stone stables.

“Standing on the front verandah, the sense of peace and privacy is extraordinary, especially considering you’re still within the town limits.”