Surprise and delight

When Cindy Westphalen thought about her dream property, she had very specific criteria in mind. It wasn’t necessarily about the size of the property, or its particular location or facilities. It was about the feeling she wanted to experience.

Woodburn Homestead was built in 1864 and now offers a striking destination wedding venue and accommodation packages.

‘I wanted to drive up a long driveway and come upon a surprise,’ she explains. ‘I never thought I’d actually find it, but then we drove up the driveway here and this beautiful old house was standing there all alone in this landscape and I thought ‘I’m in heaven’.’

‘Here’ is Woodburn Homestead in Langhorne Creek, which Cindy and husband John purchased shortly after they first ventured up that eucalypt-lined driveway in 2017. Since then, the Westphalens have set about thoughtfully restoring and enhancing the original house and nearby chaff shed and stables. Together, the family has coaxed that kernel of an idea into a striking destination wedding venue and accommodation.

Situated on forty-two acres cradled by the Angas River, Woodburn Homestead was built in 1864 by Matthew Rankine, son of William Rankine, one of the earliest European settlers in the area. Quality sandstone and brick construction and careful maintenance by a series of owners in the intervening 155 years have shepherded the house into the present in remarkably good condition. That said, there was plenty to be done when Cindy took over the property.

‘It was in a bit of disrepair, but it was all cosmetic, nothing structural,’ she explains. Case in point: the house was surrounded by ‘220 metres of the ugliest green Colorbond fence you’ve ever seen,’ Cindy says. The fence is now long gone, replaced by a cottage-style garden lovingly planted by Cindy and her eighty-two year-old father Philip Scrivener. On one side, lawn stretches out beyond the plantings of roses, lavender and daisies towards a magnificent Moreton Bay Fig. Its unexpected presence on the plains offers welcome shade and a little whimsy in the form of a swing hanging from one of its substantial boughs.

The chaff shed has been expertly revived by stonemason Rick Wheatley and now functions as an open-air chapel.

The corrugated iron stables hold a great deal of charm.

The master bedroom has generous windows that open out to the wrap-around verandah and garden.

Inside, the cosmetic enhancements continued. The four bedrooms, which sleep up to ten people, have been decorated in a heritage style. They’re serviced by three fully-renovated bathrooms and a beautifully appointed country-style kitchen. All the historic features you might expect are present, like fireplaces and leadlight glass, but the house also offers some unusual treats. A belvedere attic reached via a steep staircase rewards visitors with 360 degree views across the plains. Outside, carefully restored stone steps lead down into a half-sunken cellar, accented by exposed beams and brick fireplace, which is now a hideaway for cosy winter dinners.

A short distance from the house, a generous lawn now covers what was previously horse yards. The lawn is framed by the sandstone chaff shed, corrugated iron-clad stables and newly-built toilet and kitchen block. An overgrown mess when they bought the place, the chaff shed has been expertly revived by stonemason Rick Wheatley and now functions as an open-air chapel. The absence of a roof adds drama, the should-be roofline now a marriage of golden sandstone, red brick and blue sky. Beyond the far wall, a windmill, repositioned from elsewhere on the property, solemnly keeps watch.

The interior of the stables was gutted to open up the space, which now comfortably seats eighty. The corrugated iron shell and exposed wooden studwork remain, while tools reclaimed from the buildings and nearby paddocks readily remind guests of the building’s former agricultural life. The need for more light was met by installing a large window at one end, a treasure salvaged from a demolition sale.

The most significant new build on the property is the toilet and kitchen block adjoining the stables. The toilets provide necessary facilities for guests with a slicker, more modern fit-out than the main house, while the kitchen is the hub of Cindy’s catering business, Cindy’s Classic Gourmet. Designed by Amanda Bragg and built by Delatorre Constructions, it’s no shrinking violet despite housing the back-office operations.

The original plan was to clad the amenities block in tin, but builder Todd Delatorre suggested stone instead. When it came to finding the stone for the build (as well as for the stone walls at the driveway entrance), Cindy was typically resourceful. A chance meeting at the local pub led her and dad Phil down the road to a nearby farm where they collected three trailer-loads of stone by hand.

The large entryway looks a picture of romance adorned with a floral arrangement from the Harvest Studio at McLaren Vale.

The home is filled with original detail, modern amenities and character.

The owners’ collection of paintings is displayed throughout.

Out the back of the stable and shed, restoration works are ongoing. On the day I visit, stonemason Rick and Cindy’s son-in-law Peter are laying slate flooring and finishing an outdoor fireplace. Son Michael is working on a new wirelessly-controlled lighting system, while his recently dug trenches await pipes to irrigate another soon-to-beinstalled patch of lawn. While daughter Lucy, a qualified chef, isn’t currently onsite, she’s sure to be along soon.

All this activity and the good-natured ribbing we overhear as we wander by offer an insight into how this business works. While Cindy may be the front-woman, it’s a family and community business in the truest sense. Cindy trusts her own eye and vision, but clearly values the collaborative efforts of her children and the expertise of the tradespeople they work with. ‘Michael can do anything,’ says Cindy. And it certainly appears to be true, his contributions range from design (he worked closely with Bragg on the new kitchen and toilet block) to project management (of the new build) and manual labour (digging out the floor of the cellar was one of his more ‘fun’ jobs). And he works the bar at weddings. Rick too has been integral to the restoration process. ‘He has incredible vision,’ says Cindy, ‘it’s been fantastic seeing him bring it all to life.’

There is much to discover at Woodburn Homestead.

A magnificent Moreton Bay Fig offers welcome shade and a little whimsy in the form of a swing hanging from one of its substantial boughs.

Underlying everything is Cindy’s passion for this place and the work she does. She’s having a ‘special birthday’ this year (her 60th she confides), but this impending milestone seems to only spur her on. ‘I love what I do,’ she says, ‘I love the fact that I get to meet and work with young people, including my own children, it keeps me young.’ It’s this incredible energy that enlivens this surprising property at the end of the long driveway, turning it into something truly special.

Story by Kate Le Gallez.

Photography by Robert Geh.

Styling by Marcus Syvertsen.