The Manuka Estate was modelled on George and Martha Washington’s home in northern Virginia
A replica of first US president George Washington’s estate, earmarked for an upcoming TV production, has sold under the hammer for $2.55m.
The Georgian-style manor at Mudgeeraba was built in 2004 to mimic the facade of historic Mount Vernon, the Northern Virginian home of America’s founding father and his wife, Martha.
Sprawled across 3.6ha and dubbed The Manuka Estate, the property at 3 Manuka Rd was marketed by Alex and Victoria Fleri, of Amir Prestige, and has been scouted by a Netflix production company.
Marine One approaches the historic Mount Vernon estate
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Mr Fleri said the auction attracted four registered bidders, with an additional three conditional buyers hoping to purchase the unique seven-bedroom, three-bathroom residence.
Auctioneer David Holmes fielded the opening bid of $1.8m, with closed room negotations held between the highest bidder and board of owners before the auction re-commenced and the property was announced on the market at $2.55m.
Mr Fleri said the buyer was a local dentist and his wife, who have four children.
“They had outgrown their current property and they need some space for their kids to grown into,” Mr Fleri said.
“They are looking to modernise the house a bit, although they have embraced the unique architectural style of it, and they are also planning to get some goats and maybe a couple of horses so they will clear some of the grounds.”
The property is set amid sprawling grounds
The home’s presidential stylings include bold Brintons Axminster carpet throughout, porcelain tiling and statement columns.
The layout comprises a mix of formal and relaxed living areas as well as a cinema room and navy carpeted office with panelled ceiling.
A sweeping staircase leads upstairs, where there’s six large bedrooms, while the seventh or guest bedroom is located on the ground floor.
Outside, the spacious al fresco entertaining area overlooks the saltwater pool and there’s also a two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage on the grounds.
The ‘presidential’ office?
Home cinema
Mr Fleri — who is also a professional actor — said the property’s gates and long driveway flanked by hedges had caught the eye of producers as a potential location for a feature set at a boarding school.
He said the vendors were a board of directors who had abandoned plans to open a Steiner school at the site, instead resolving to secure a larger property to meet demand for their proposed independent educational facility.
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