ESTATE agents handling the £12 million sale of the Aussie Earl's historic Henham estate in north Suffolk have reported a "phenomenal interest" from prospective purchasers from all over the world.

ESTATE agents handling the £12 million sale of the Aussie Earl's historic Henham estate in north Suffolk have reported a "phenomenal interest" from prospective purchasers from all over the world.

Lord Stradbroke, who prefers to be known as Keith Rous, has decided to put the estate on the market with international estate agents Knight Frank.

He has decided his family's future lies in Australia and that it would be better for someone with more time available to spend at Henham to have the responsibility of owning and looking after the historic estate.

Clive Hopkins, of Knight Frank, admitted it was the end of an era for Lord Stradbroke and his family but said the sale created an exciting opportunity for another family to continue life at Henham and recreate the family house that once stood in the park designed by Sir Humphry Repton.

"This sale is not only a major development for Suffolk and East Anglia, it is of national and international importance," he said.

The property extends to about 1,707 hectares (4,219 acres) and is the largest area of land to come on to the market in England for more than ten years.

"We have produced a first-rate brochure on the property that reflects just how important this sale this.

"The interest in the property has been phenomenal since it was first advertised," said Mr Hopkins.

The estate is being advertised for sale as one single lot with an asking price in excess of £12 million or as 27 individual lots.

Prices for individual lots range from a guide price of £2,650,000 for the former Henham Hall site and parkland, farmland and woodland to £35,000 for Rhododendron Hill Wood.

More details on the sale of the Henham estate between Halesworth and Southwold are available from the estate agents:

Knight Frank, 20 Hanover Square, London W1S 1HZ. Telephone 020 7629 8171. www.knightfrank.com