One of Western Australia's best kept secrets, a 143-hectare botanical oasis in the Perth Hills, is to be sold by its longstanding owner who has lovingly created the gardens over two decades.

The owner, a commercial developer, toured the world with a horticulturist, scouring foreign gardens to find inspiration for the property. A team of landscape gardeners implemented and meticulously maintained the resulting expansive gardens.

"It's the topography that's so interesting," Ross Webster, agent with Brookwood Realty Midlands, told SCHWARTZWILLIAMS. 

"It's a hidden valley. You can't see it from the road or from neighbouring properties."

The current owner has used the property as his private sanctuary. "He's had a couple of weddings there for family and friends, but otherwise not many have been there," said Webster.

So private is the property, said Webster, that many of the locals don't even know it's there, though the property is less than one kilometre from the local town.

The sixty-four-square-metre property is the catchment for a series of man-made lakes and ponds. The property is centred around the one kilometre stretch of Lake Retreat, which is also the source of most of the property’s water. Cookes Brook and Sanctuary Creek are the two other main water bodies, and the property includes a series of lakes, including Tranquility Lake, Lake Retreat, Barfield Dam, the Reflection Pond and Sanctuary Cove.

Manicured beaches and islands provide ample sites from which to soak up the magnificent surroundings.

View the listing for 2346 Toodyay Road, Gidgegannup on Luxury List.

There is a two-bedroom, three-bathroom lakeside cabin on the property, which is "modest", yet ideally located between two lakes presenting tremendous views.

"At this time of year the land is brown and dry, but in the middle of the lake and surrounding it are formal French gardens - parterre gardens and topiary style gardens, and North American timbered areas, and gardens in the style of northern Europe," said Webster.

"Everybody I've taken up there has been completely blown over," he said.

Webster said there are two main types of interested parties viewing the property. "Local families, who would like to create a legacy and lifestyle for their families, and commercial parties."

"We're looking for all genuine expressions of interest," he said. "There's been strong interest for a property of this calibre. I've shown three parties through in the last week."

In 1999, council approval was granted for the construction of 147 chalets, a convention centre, and restaurant. "The property does have commercial potential, subject to council approval," said Webster.

The owner has come to an age at which he has to release some of his assets, and this is the jewel in the crown, explained Webster.

"It's heartbreaking for him to sell. I'd love to see it go to someone who will love it as much as he does."

To find out more about the rare opportunity to purchase this property, contact Ross Webster of Brookwood Realty Midlands.

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