* Rural

HERE’S a rural property that has just about everything: a magnificent homestead, famous gardens and handsomely irrigated paddocks — and heaps of history to boot.

Burnewang North, 180km from Melbourne and 60km from Bendigo, is expected to fetch more than $4 million at auction later this month.

“It’s a fascinating blend of history, gracious country living and farming,” said Elders agent Bob Sherwell.

The 970ha property is part of the Burnewang Run bought by Joseph Bell in 1854. It became a relief station for Cobb and Co on the run between Ecucha and Bendigo/Heathcote.

Still on the property are the original, preserved 1860 Cobb and Co receiving shed and stables — solid bush pole construction with vertical timber slabs. A small weatherboard cottage used by relief drivers and the original sheaf-hay storage shed remain intact.

In 1884, Burnewang North was bought and redeveloped by the Hunter family, prominent horse-breeders who made a fortune from the Bendigo gold fields. In 1955 it passed to the Clarke family.

Prominent Melbourne businessman Andrew Fairley, whose interests include the exclusive resort Turtle Island in Fiji, bought the property in 1984. He has renovated the 70square homestead and developed Burnewang North to its current standard.

Mr Fairley spends so little time in Australia nowadays he felt he couldn’t devote the attention it deserved.

Burnewang North’s garden was designed by Edna Walling, who created gardens for many of Australia’s big estates during the 30s and 40s.

She is renowned for her use of stone and dense greenery with few flowers. The garden at Burnewang North is particularly valuable because so few original Walling designs remain.

Renovation of the main homestead has combined the atmosphere of the original 1850s overseer’s house with the the grand 1920s residence.

Other houses on the estate include a substantial Victorian four- bedroom homestead, a four-bedroom overseer’s residence, a gardener’s cottage and a weatherboard jackeroos’ cottage fitted for guest accommodation.