A Federation home on a magnificent, large block on the edge of Port Hacking is being sold on the open market for the first time in 115 years.
Beckton, which was built in 1904 on 6.8 hectares, is one of the original homes on Lilli Pilli Point.
After subdivision in the 1960s, the land is 4888 square metres and extends from expansive lawns and gardens around the house to the waterfront where there is a sandstone tidal pool, boatshed, jetty and pontoon.
The first owner Thomas James Bush largely used it as a holiday house.
Bush was the chief engineer of the Australian Gas Light Company and named the estate after the gas works he had worked at previously in London.
Bush leased the land in 1899, and bought the freehold in 1913.
After his death, it was leased by the estate's executor to A. Sidney MacCulloch, who later bought the property, which was passed down through his family.
One of the family, a doctor, updated Beckton in the 1940s, with the addition of a dining room and study among improvements.
The estate was subdivided in the 1960s and an ensuite bathroom added in 1970.
Agent Alex Pitsis, of Greg Gilbert Real Estate, said the four bedroom home at 20-24 Beckton Place, with its large spaces and high ceilings, was very well preserved.
"It's not a knock-down. It's good enough to maintain," he said.
Mr Pitsis said the scarcity of this kind of property made it difficult to price.
"They don't come up, and there's nothing you can really properly compare it to," he said.
Mr Pitsis said, while the property was heritage listed, there was scope to make changes subject do council approval, and subdivision was a possibility.
Beckton is described as "a classic federation marine residence.. featuring an impressive sequence of grand 12ft ceilings, rooms drenched in natural sunlight and opening out on to a generous front verandah".
"Stone steps lead down to the surrounding lawns and then onto the waterfront," it says in marketing material.
"Carefully maintained the house at present consists of formal lounge, dining and study, serviced by a farmhouse kitchen with ancillary pantry, laundry and utility rooms opening to a large back verandah.
"There are three grand bedrooms, possible fourth bedroom or study, two bathrooms and a separate WC.
"Beckton offers a unique opportunity for purchasers to take the estate into its next century by capitalising on its historic heritage and 4888 square metres of land, with 33 metre street frontage leading to the 110 metre deep waterfront."
No houses in the area have changed hands this year, but 13 sold last year, the most expensive being 20 Boomerang Avenue, which fetched $4 million by private treaty in September.
It was followed by 75 Mirral Road, a five-bedroom home that sold for $2.575 million in March, also by private treaty.