After decades living the dream, the Burns-Woods are offering up one of Australia’s most historic and picturesque pubs, the Settlers Arms Inn.
The classic colonial Georgian-style Inn was established in 1836 on the banks of the Macdonald River in the village of St Albans, crafted from convict hewn sandstone.
It resides on a 6,627sqm block, with single service main bar area and multiple wood fireplaces, commercial kitchen, expansive beer garden and alfresco dining area, a pool and a self-contained three-bedroom loft-style apartment.
There are also two additional outbuildings, one with pub amenities, a second kitchen and a one-bedroom self-contained loft apartment, the other containing four motel-style accommodation rooms. The large lot provides space for events, weddings or festivals.
St Albans is in the scenic Macdonald Valley, a punt ride across the mighty Hawkesbury. In the 1800s the town became a stopover for Cobb and Co. stagecoaches travelling between Sydney and Newcastle. It has gone on to become an alternative getaway to the Hunter Valley wine districts, located roughly midway between the Central Coast and Sydney.
Ian and Gabrielle Burns-Wood moved to St Albans 35 years’ ago to ‘escape the hustle and bustle’ of Sydney, and since 1988 have been keepers of the Inn. Having now achieved 85 and 76 years young, respectively, they feel the time has come to call time.
“This is one of the oldest pubs in the country, and I would have to be one of the oldest publicans,” muses Ian Burns-Wood.
While the couple say they have “loved every minute” of their time in Settlers, “we are getting older, and circumstances now dictate that we must sell.”
The enchanting local is likely to fetch sale price north of $3 million, and is being marketed by HTL Property’s Blake Edwards and Ben Kennedy.
“This is without doubt one the most historic and character-filled pubs I have ever been,” offers Edwards.
“This pub combines almost unparalleled history mixed with a serene natural environment in order to create both a unique and majestic place – all within a day trip from Sydney.”
An Expressions of Interest campaign on the freehold going concern of the Settlers Arms Inn in St Albans closes Wednesday, 25 October.
