How’s the serenity?

Careful planning and creative design have created an oasis of sustainable living in the bush, with form and function merging seamlessly into the surrounding landscape.

STORY: NICOLA CECCATO. PHOTOGRAPHY: MEGAN FISHER

Deep in Strathbogie Shire, out past Euroa, sits a home completely camouflaged by the surrounding dry Australian bushland. Bare and plain on the outside, the home still exudes a quiet beauty—with its cement walls, timber garage doors and ornamental grapevine draping down the pergola. Catherine and Guy Cameron bought the 162-hectare property in 2010, with the intention to keep the area as untouched as possible, protect the native species and highlight the natural beauty of the area. “Part of the design was to hide the house in the landscape. When people arrive, we want their eyes to go to the hill above, not the house,” Catherine said. “We are all a part of the earth’s ecosystem, we wanted to make sure the animals felt comfortable here,” Guy said. “We’re passionate about the environment, both globally and locally, and would like to do our little bit towards making the world a better place for future generations.” These ideas were put into practice with varieties of native Australian flora subtly planted around the home, allowing it to blend into the surrounding landscape. Architect Edwina Thomson, from About Architecture, knew the site needed careful planning and took great care to design a home that complemented its natural beauty. Story continues on page 10.

The creek’s water pours over a stunning waterfall, only a minute’s walk from the house.

The home’s interior is simple but stunning, using natural tones to bring it all together.

The home was designed to hide in the bush and highlight the beauty of the surrounding scenery.

The Camerons are passionate about using solar principles to keep their home at the right temperature.

WHY SELL WITH US?

We’re a family-owned and operated company and we pride ourselves on our trustworthy approach to all property transactions. We have a strong team of highly experienced real estate professionals, committed to customer service and achieving great results. That’s why I’m proud to say, we’re the team to trust. Kevin Hicks

We’re an REIV member – this gives you confi dence in our standard of service. All staff are REIV accredited, we operate under an industry code of conduct and adhere to the REIV rules of practice. This reassures you of the highest levels of honesty and integrity.

226 Wyndham Street, Shepparton T: 03 5821 8388 1-3 Melville Street, Numurkah T: 03 5862 2611

“When you’ve got such a natural and raw site, the challenge is to not overdo the architecture,” Edwina said. “When Catherine and Guy first came to me, part of their brief were pictures of bunkers and as an architect that is so exciting for a client to not show a typical home. “It gives you scope to do something out of the ordinary … The passion they had for the site allowed us to test these ideas.” This passion for sustainability flows throughout the home, with the incorporation of solar and building principles that make use of, and care for, the environment.

Artwork from Papua New Guinea and Indigenous Australia add to the home’s interior aesthetic. The double-glazed windows and precise position of the eaves take advantage of the sun’s seasonal movements to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home all year round. The concrete walls, padded with insulation and brick, also help maintain the home’s temperature, making it as energy efficient as possible. These materials were chosen not only for their insulating properties, but also because they are fireresistant—fire is always a threat when living in the Australian bush. As a passive solar home, the Camerons make use of the sun’s energy with a solar-powered heat pump that provides them with hot water and heating to the floors. Another aspect of Catherine and Guy’s environmentally planned home is their careful use of water sourcing and waste disposal. A spring-fed creek provides them with their water supply, which is gravity fed into tanks and distributed across the home. Black and grey water waste is processed through a worm septic farm underground and once the liquid is extracted, it’s pumped away from the creek area to realm drains on the property. Not only functional and selfsustaining, the home is also aesthetically stunning. Outside sits a pool that makes use of natural water and overlooks the property, with the nearby creek and a waterfall only a stone’s throw away. A verdant hill stands behind the house highlighting the natural beauty of the area and providing a breathtaking view from the couple’s balcony. The home’s interior is filled with beige, brown and cream tones sporting collections of dried flowers, books and artefacts. This—alongside the eclectic style of Papua New Guinea and Indigenous Australian artwork, collected by the Camerons on their travels—gives the home a natural, colourful aesthetic.

Catherine and Guy Cameron prioritised keeping their 162ha property as untouched as possible.

The home is filled with dried flowers and common native Australian plants, complementing the various plants and grasses outside.