HALIFAX Oxford’s infamous sinkhole has a new owner. Since the summer of 2018, the property has set fenced off, and in disrepair, after a large sinkhole appeared. As the grounds gave, crowds thought it was worth watching, but maybe not worth buying. “Never did, not in my wildest dreams,” says Mervil Rushton. Where most saw a money pit, Rushton saw an opportunity; 2.1 hectares of land, available at a price that he felt was a bargain. “I bid $10,000 and they grabbed it immediately,” said Rushton. The sinkhole first appeared in mid-July 2018, as a hole the size of a dinner plate, but grew to larger than roughly 30 metres wide by 40 metres long, swallowing up trees and picnic benches, and drawing curious onlookers to the small town of about 1,000 people.