HIGH rolling gamblers at the new casino resort being built at Barangaroo in Sydney will soon have a luxury rural retreat at "Ellerston", Scone, purchased by the late Kerry Packer in 1972, as his private playground in a $60 million deal.
Crown Resorts said in a statement it had reached an in-principle agreement to acquire from Crown chairman James Packer and his family a 50 per cent interest in 1400ha of the 30,000ha property 68 kilometres north-east of Scone.
Crown, which is 50.1pc owned by Mr Packer, intends to fly high rollers to and from the property.
The part of "Ellerston" which Crown will acquire an interest which includes luxury accommodation, a golf course designed by British Open champion Greg Norman, a go-cart track, cinema, several swimming pools and other luxury attractions.
But the deal excludes the agricultural operation of "Ellerston", which has Hereford cattle and Merino wethers.
"The acquisition will enable Crown to give effect to its commitment to the NSW government to give VIP gaming customers at Crown Sydney access to the luxury facilities at 'Ellerston','' Crown said in a statement.
In its project submission to the NSW government in June 2013, Crown (which has a market capitalisation value of $60 billion) said one third of its revenue was generated by international visitors, particularly high net worth Asian customers, and the luxury tourism market centred on creating unique life experiences.
"To ensure Crown Sydney delivers a diverse world-class tourism offering, a luxury day retreat will be established at 'Ellerston' in rural NSW to give visitors a once-in-a-lifetime taste of rural Australia," it said in the submission.
The company said the sale had been approved by the board's independent directors and was subject to the completion of sale and subdivision documentation.
Meanwhile, Mr Packer (inset) appears to be winding back the family's extensive polo operations at "Ellerston" with a reduction sale of ponies set for October 10.
His father, the late Kerry Packer, who was buried near the polo fields at "Ellerston" following his death due to kidney failure in 2005, was a keen polo enthusiast, importing players from across the world to compete for "Ellerston" and building an expansive polo operation in Britain, while son James also has a Spanish polo base.
There are suggestions Kerry Packer's widow, Roslyn, has set about purchasing some of the "Ellerston" polo assets via an agent.