86 Bendooley Street, Bowral

SOLLIDEN c.1935
A rare return. A remarkable residence. An unexpected piece of Sydney history.

Offered for only the second time since its beginnings, Solliden, is a remarkable heritage residence set within approximately 5,330sqm of established gardens in one of Old Bowral's most coveted locations.

Conceived in an era when Sydney families sought refuge from the summer heat in the cooler surrounds of the Southern Highlands, Solliden embodies the enduring romance of the grand country retreat. Designed in 1934 by renowned Sydney architects Fowell & McConnel and completed circa 1935, it was commissioned as a summer residence for Swedish-born, prominent Sydney chartered accountant Robert Nelson and his wife, Mary. The name was inspired by the Swedish royal family's summer residence and reflects the distinctive origins of this exceptional home.

Solliden was sold in 1971 to a new family and has retained its original character and craftsmanship treasured across generations. Decorative plaster ceilings and roses, original fireplaces, timber floors, handsome doors and traditional joinery speak to an era of enduring quality. The original family bathroom retains its pedestal basin and mosaic tiles, while wrought-iron entrance gates, brick pillars and the historic SOLLIDEN sign create a memorable sense of arrival.

Thoughtfully updated for modern living, the residence offers four generous bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a powder room and inviting interconnected living spaces. A contemporary kitchen and laundry, completed in 2021, sit comfortably within the home's period character, while original fireplaces, hydronic heating and reverse-cycle ducted and zoned air conditioning, generous decks and an expansive covered entertaining area, enhance year-round comfort.

The established gardens are a defining feature, creating a private sanctuary of mature eucalypts, English-inspired plantings, roses, irises, magnolias and cherry trees. A pond graces the circular sandstone driveway, while a magnificent giant sequoia stands as a striking feature within the grounds. Lovingly developed over decades, the gardens offer changing seasonal colour, secluded vistas and a sense of tranquillity rarely found so close to Bowral's town centre, with its cafés, cinema, restaurants and boutiques just a short stroll away.

And then there is the tram.
An original R1-class Sydney tram, number 1975, brings an extraordinary and unexpected dimension to the estate. Entering service in 1936 on the City-to-Watsons Bay route, it found its way to Solliden in 1961 and has since become an unforgettable part of the property's story. Sympathetically restored in 2024, this 90-year-old piece of Sydney transport history now serves as a distinctive private office and retreat, retaining its timber panelling, brass hardware, copper light fittings and original driver's cabin seat. Insulated and fitted with reverse-cycle heating and cooling, it is a remarkable space in which to work, create or simply escape.

Further accommodation and creative pursuits are catered for by a separate garden-facing artist's studio. Separate to visitor parking, a three-car garage completed in 2022 incorporates valuable attic storage. Generous grounds and abundant bird life add to the property's rural sensibility, all within a premier Bowral setting.

Approved architectural plans provide the opportunity to create a detached pavilion with two additional bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchenette and living space, subject to the relevant approvals and conditions. The expansive grounds also invite consideration of further lifestyle enhancements, subject to council approval.

A rare offering of history, scale and individuality, Solliden brings together the enduring appeal of a grand garden estate with the convenience of Bowral living. Rich in character and exceptionally preserved, it is a home shaped by generations and ready to be cherished by its next custodians.


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