* Rural

ONE of the largest parcels of land ever to come up for sale in the Noosa district is to be auctioned at the end of the month.

The three properties, Beauty Falls, Highfield Station and Whyamba Station, are expected to fetch between $7.5 and $9 million.

It is the vendor’s preference that the properties be sold together and there is already an offer on the table.

Owner Sean Rothsey, 42, largest landholder in the Noosa shire, is moving his operation, known as Merkin Pastoral Land, to the Lake District of the Brisbane Valley, where he purchased the station Eskdale West earlier this year for $2.6 million.

Mr Rothsey has paid considerable attention to the environmental aspects of the properties now for sale.

Originally from Sydney, he made his fortune in ship broking. He left Sydney in 1992 and settled in the Bahamas for three years, intending to retire.

Returning to Sydney in 1995, partly because of concerns about his daughter’s education, he soon decided, like a lot of other people intent on fleeing the city, that “there had to be a better life”.

Thus it was he bought the three Noosa properties in order to provide a critical mass for his cattle operations and also because he thought they might be a good investment.

He says unimproved land in the shire was worth around $8750 a hectare in 1995. It’s now worth $32,000 a hectare.

“It has proved a good investment,” Mr Rothsey says.

“There has been phenomenal growth. Everyone in Australia loves Noosa. Since September 11 a lot of people are looking for somewhere in the country which feels safe, particularly Asians and people from Hong Kong.”

Beauty Falls is flanked on three sides by national and state parks, sharing the north-east slopes of majestic Cooroy Mountain.

A National Heritage Trust funded reafforestation program has recently been completed to ensure water quality and protect the platypus habitats and wildlife corridor.

The property has a three-bedroom cottage and substantial cattle yards.

The adjoining Whyamba Station is, according to one real estate observer, “arguably one of the most stunning, multi-million dollar private and exclusive Noosa retreats to be found in this blue-chip precinct”.

The gated residence is an enormous five-year-old, 16-room, 1340 square metre Queenslander with landscaped gardens, a 45-metre pool, spa, sauna and gymnasium, all complemented by spectacular views.

The property also features an Olympic standard dressage arena, modern stables, new cattle yards, a caretaker’s home and dams covered with water lilies.

Less than 10 minutes away is the 45-hectare Highfield Station, which is being pitched at retiring graziers, horse enthusiasts or lifestyle seekers.

The homestead, a four-bedroom Queenslander with timber floors and wraparound verandahs, is set 1km down its own private road. An inground pool, established gardens, expanses of lawn and a string of lily-covered ponds form the sub-tropical backdrop.

If the properties end up being sold separately, agent Ian Cumming of Ray White Rural said the ranges are likely to be: Whyamba, $3.5 million to $4 million; Beauty Falls, $2.3 million to $2.6 million; and Highfields, $1.4 million to $1.7 million.

The “Noosa factor”, with its world class beaches and world class facilities, is what what is driving the “phenomenal” increases in value, says Mr Cumming.

“Noosa is a great place to live and a 100 per cent guaranteed investment, there’s no question about that.”