Hi Listers, This was a notice of sale in the Sydney Morning Herald on 26/12/1853. I thought it was interesting . Mount Druitt Twenty-six miles from Sydney on the Western Road. Day of Sale, Friday, 20th January, 1854 at eleven o'clock. Mr Mort has received instructions to sell by public auction, at his rooms, Pitt street, on the above day. The Estate of Mount Druitt, situate on the Western Road, between Parramatta and Penrith, and two miles on the Sydney side of the rural township of St Mary's, South Creek, distant from Sydney about 26 miles. This splendid property is bounded for about two miles by the fresh waters of Rope's Creek, which divides it from Dunheved, the residence of Robert Lethbridge, Esq., and property of Captain P P King RN. It has considerable frontage to the Great Western Road from Sydney to Bathurst, along which coaches pass daily, and there is daily postal communication with Sydney. The estate, which is a grant from the Crown of 1,000 acres, nearly 500 of which are cleared and stumped, is subdivided into convenient paddocks by several miles of fencing. Some portions are in cultivation, and the luxuriant crops evince the rich quality fo the soil. It is well-known as a capital dairy farm. Its grazing capabilities being first-rate, and as a depot for breeding horse stock it cannot be surpassed. The bush portion of the estate is thickly timbered with magnificent specimens of iron bark, gum, box &c, which, when the railway to Parramatta is completed, can be transmitted to Sydney at but little cost and will afford a capital opening for the erection of steam saw mills. The HOMESTEAD consists of the overseer's cottage, a large barn, stables, men's huts, piggery, stockyard, fowl house, &c. The Mansion was unfortunately destroyed by fire about three years since, but the site on which it stood cannot be surpassed for the position of a residence. There is also a large garden, with vineyard, and choice selection of fruit trees; the whole approached by a carriage road nearly a mile in length, through the park-like grounds, skirting the Great Western Road, from whence it is entered by a circular gateway, with handsome iron gates on stone pillars, and elegant gatekeepers lodge adjoining. The Barn has at one end a flour mill, with extra pair of stones, which can be worked either by horses or bullocks; and as a large quantity of wheat is grown in the neighbourhood this mill has been the source of a good income. A portion of the estate consists of a small farm, containing cottage, with three cultivation paddocks, and other improvements. There are also several wells in parts beside the Creek, and plenty of water-holes or lagoons. The pond on the lawn, well known to travellers on the Western Road, is inexhaustible, and beyond all value in time of drought. This property was selected by the late Major Druitt some thirty years ago, on account of its fine water and grazing qualifications; and a fortune has already been laid out upon it to render it complete and perfect. Intending purchasers are invited to inspect the ___ prior to the day of sale. Kristine Wood