The freehold going concern of premium wilderness escape Marramarra Lodge has been listed for sale with ResortBrokers for $8.8M.

The site’s main building, Carter House, once played host to King Charles on his first trip to Australia in 1966 when it served as the headquarters of Outward Bound Australia, whose patron was the late Prince Philip.

Carter House was built in the 1920s by its original occupant, Claude Carter, a cameraman/editor and later head of Fox Movietone Australia who used the rustic riverside premises as his occasional getaway from Sydney. Carter later sold the site, which was used from 1959 until 1974 by Outward Bound Australia.

While Carter House is over a century old, Marramarra Lodge came into being in 2021 when it opened as a high-end wilderness retreat after a two-year build. The lodge occupies a 3.5ha land parcel on the secluded Fisherman’s Point on the southwest shore of the Hawkesbury River immediately north of the mouth of Berowra Creek and backing onto Marramarra National Park.

The luxury lodge has capacity for 28 guests across 14 lodgings: eight glamping tents and six bungalows, each with balconies overlooking the Hawkesbury. Carter House, which the vendors named in honour of its first occupant, now acts as the lodge’s main building and billiard room.

Marramarra Lodge is easily accessible by a 20-minute boat ride from the jetty at Mooney Mooney, which lies on the Pacific Highway less than 50 minutes’ drive north of central Sydney. The lodge also has a dedicated helipad for chopper access and can be further reached by seaplane via a 20-minute flight from Sydney.

The lodge also offers an upscale day spa and boutique waterfront restaurant, Budyari, headed by triple Michelin-hatted chef Jerome Termoulet.

The sale of Marramarra Lodge is being brokered by ResortBrokers’ longtime agent Russell Rogers. “This is a unique offering,” says Rogers. “It’s one of the most peaceful spots on the Hawkesbury and the luxury accommodation means guests can enjoy this pristine natural environment in high style. We expect a great deal of interest from buyers who are looking to own a high-end wilderness retreat which is close enough to Sydney to make it worthwhile for a weekend getaway but is far enough removed to offer the tranquility that this secluded stretch of the Hawkesbury provides.”