A long-standing Canberra family, famous in the horse world especially for their carriage driving work are selling their much-loved property ‘Cleanskin’ in the village of Sutton.
Comprising 73.02 hectares (180.43 acres) of gently undulating grazing country, Cleanskin is only 15 minutes from the nation’s capital and is the closest property to international airport.
Paul Keir, the vendor, is part of a very significant family of horse owners that has been exhibiting in the light and heavy horse competitions at agricultural shows for more than 120 years, since 1892. Paul also owns recognisable local transport company, Quickeze Towing.
“We acquired Cleanskin five years ago, when we lived up the road and had spent many years driving by and admiring it. It had been owned by local racehorse trainer Robert O’Sullivan and later Burt Rumble. When we bought it, it was really a clean slate so we built a replica of the Majura post office that operated from the late 1800s until about 1925 as the homestead. It’s a larger interpretation of an early settlers’ cottage and is a lovely little escape from the daily grind,” Mr Keir said.
The homestead at 2155 Sutton Road is complimented by separate laundry and carport, a north facing verandah, and an undercover entertaining area to the rear.
The property is scattered with timber and pine trees, fenced into 20 paddocks, with a large high pitched shed providing ample room for machinery or horse truck parking.
“When we bought the place, there was an existing large hayshed that we’ve extended and added horse stables and truck parking to. We’ve also added steel cattle yards, and 60x60 equestrian arena,” says Mr Keir whose wife is a keen dressage and eventing competitor.
The family also breed and train stock horses particularly for polocrosse. But the Keir name is best known for harness and heavy horse exhibiting stemming from Mr Keir’s great grandfather’s occupation as a Queanbeyan street sweeper, an activity undertaken in harness.
The love for harness and heavy horses has carried on. The Keirs have exhibited very successfully at shows for generations, including nearly 90 years at Canberra and Sydney Royals. They’re particularly well known for running Canberra Park riding school for 25 years sharing their love of horses with thousands of young Canberrans.
“Locals will be very used to seeing our family ride to the Sutton village, tie up our ponies up at the pony club and have breakfast at the bakery on the weekends. It’s a great place to live,” he said.
Agents Simon and George Southwell said located on the property are five dams a bore and cattle yards ensuring all stock requirements are cared for.
“The Keir family have created a superb equine infrastructure including stables and a 60x60m sand arena, as a result ‘Cleanskin’ provides the ultimate facilities for the equine enthusiast,” George Southwell said.
“The historic village of Sutton is within easy walking distance of ‘Cleanskin’ and was gazetted in July 1867. The village boasts a thriving community based around the local pony club, the Rural Fire Brigade and small public school.
“As a side note, the Keirs went to school at Daramalan College with their agent Simon Southwell (and his brothers, part of another long residing capital region family) and the two families have had a long association as pioneering families of Canberra.“They have owned country in Canberra since the bears were bad and we settled in the area in 1863.”
- SUBMITTED BY AGENT
