Lisa Calautti, Property Journalist – realestate.com.au

This hidden gem in Perth’s foothills could lay claim to having Australia’s best backyard, a sprawling private oasis tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city that’s four decades in the making.

The property at 2 Gavour Road in Wattle Grove is set on a sprawling 9.04ha landholding, more than half of which comprises beautifully landscaped gardens centred around a stream known as Crystal Brook.

So picturesque is the land that selling agent Peter Robertson of William Porteous Properties International said the two dwellings on it are almost a mere bonus.

The owner, who is also selling 2/11 Brown Street in East Perth, has spent 40 years meticulously bringing to life the vision for the grounds, with the idea he’d one day build an equally grand home for himself to live in.

“What’s happened is, time goes by, the garden goes up and he loves it,” Mr Robertson explained.

He has a couple of old houses on it. He built a house on the property for his parents, and they lived there in their later years, and the original cottage that was on the property has been renovated and extended a little bit.

“But now, at his age, living in an apartment is better and more convenient.”

The primary residence features four bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the secondary dwelling has two bedrooms and one bathroom.

Other features of the estate include a commercial grade aviary, a 15m shed, paddocks for stock, and a one-bedroom, one-bathroom gardener’s quarters.

Mr Robertson said Landol Park was the only property of its size in such close proximity to the city, just 15km from the CBD.

“You are literally 10 minutes from Perth, so if you do want to work from home and be in your little bubble, you can, and you’ve got some space around you,” he said.

“You have got the foothills literally on your doorstep and if you want to get into town, it’s not a 45-minute drive… it’s not like coming in from Roleystone or Bedfordale or something like that, literally the city is on your doorstep.”

The property’s special rural zoning allows for subdivision to build more homes.

About five serious parties were looking at the property, Mr Robertson said, with a view to build a house in the middle of the well-established gardens.

“One thing with real estate that you can’t buy is time, and time to get [grounds] like that established, it takes literally decades,” he said.

“The big opportunity for somebody now is to buy and put your house in the middle of it.

“If you want to, you’ve got space to run some small animal holding, be it horses or sheep or whatever, or subdivide that section off.”

Landol Park is listed for sale with a price guide of circa $9 million.