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Hi, I'm Nicola, the Designer and co - owner of Smitten, 13 years ago I had a dream to design lightweight merino wool clothing that was stylish, comfortable and practical, and get it manufactured right here in Tasmania.

We had recently moved from WA to Tasmania and loved the climate, the people, the whole island, and especially the sheep! We wanted to know where all the wonderful wool was going, because we were cold and wanted to wear some. So I designed some pieces, and we decided to make it ourselves. We wanted to support Tasmania and be local. We wanted to create a unique Australian brand, and offer visitors and locals a Tassie souvenir that they could wear for years to come.

It's a Family Business – as Carl is Main Marketing Man, Nicola is the Designer and Photographer, Holly, our daughter is the face of smitten and part-time fab Salesperson, Brooke our other daughter is part-time smitten Model, and full-time Doctor in Tweed Heads, and Daniel, our skateboarding son, is hopefully taking over as Photographer for all our shoots (when he can direct the camera away from beetles and sheep…)

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Contents -----------08 Marketplace Our favourite products that make a house a home from some great local suppliers.

10 Lakeside luxe A relocated Queenslander in the hills behind Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is the perfect location for this English family.

16 Roadside bohemian Lisa Sheils lives with her family in a carnival of colour on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. This is her story.

26 Harvest home For interior decorator, passionate gardener and keen cook Mickey Robertson, restoring Glenmore House has been a labour of love.

34 Styled for summer Kim and Greg Kerr appear to have achieved the ultimate work-life balance at their home in Victoria’s central highlands.

42 Rural rookies The Festa family may be greenhorns when it comes to farming, but they’re learning fast and loving life in the Scenic Rim. 4 Australian Country HOMES

80

86

98 52 Flying colours The wonderful world of colour has opened doors to an absorbing new career for a former Sydney nurse.

62 Alliance Francaise A South Australian couple divide their time between the south of France and the Adelaide Hills.

70 For the love of laundry Laundry day might feel like a real chore, but a well-organised space can help lighten the load. It’s time to redesign your laundry space.

76 The functionality factor Avoid double trouble in the kitchen by choosing the right sink and tap for your needs.

80 Timber and tin Margaret Strelow welcomes us to her historic Rockhampton home.

86 A labour of love Beverley and Graham Thompson devoted three decades to transforming their Mt Wilson garden from a back paddock to a parkland.

98 Natural fusion The term Chinoiserie refers to the fusion of Asian and European influences.

That’s precisely what Dominic Wong has created at his Southern Highlands home.

108 The family trees A couple’s move to country Victoria sows the seeds for a thriving orchard and fruit tree nursery.

Subscribe today Receive 8 issues of Australian Country Homes. Turn to page 96 for details of this fantastic offer.

Australian Country HOMES 5

From the editor

H

ello readers, Welcome to the first issue of Australian Country Homes for 2021. This issue, we’re excited to bring you more new and inspiring features designed to help you style, renovate or build your dream home, right alongside feature articles that will warm your heart and inspire you. And let’s be honest — after 2020, we could all use an extra dose of inspiration.

In this edition, we look at one of the most functional rooms in the house that often gets overlooked when it comes to design: the laundry. We uncover some of the latest in technology alongside some practical design tips to help you ensure this area of your home is not only optimised for everyday use but looking good too.

Also, as per usual, we have some fascinating tales of everyday Australians who have truly

-

AUSTRALIAN

Homes 10

Designer Michaela Primiano

ORGEOUS HOM

ow w this grand sidence got a w lease on life

Photography Ken Brass, Commission Studio, John Downs, Anastasia Kariofyllidis, Jeremy Simons, Ross Williams

NO. 13 AUS $8.95* NZ $9.99 (both incl. GST)

SUCCULENT SUC

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SUSTAINABLE KITCHENS & BATHROOMS that will save your power bill

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29/10/2020 2:26:22 PM

Chairman/CEO Prema Perera Publisher Janice Williams Chief Financial Officer Vicky Mahadeva Associate Publisher Emma Perera Circulation Business Development Manager Mark McTaggart Creative Director Kate Podger

To subscribe visit universalshop.com.au or ring 1300 303 414

Australian Country Homes (No 14) is published by Universal Magazines, Unit 5, 6-8 Byfield Street, North Ryde NSW 2113. Phone: (02) 9805 0399, Fax: (02) 9805 0714. Melbourne office, Suite 4, Level 1, 150 Albert Road, South Melbourne Vic 3205. Phone (03) 9694 6444 Fax: (03) 9699 7890.

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6 Australian Country HOMES

ES

ou u'll fall in ove with

Features Editor Cassandra Elliott

ISSN 1323-9708/2208-1100 Copyright © Universal Magazines MMXXI ACN 003 026 944 umco.com.au

LAUREN CLARKE, editor

COUNTRY

Editor Lauren Clarke

Contributors Carrol Baker, Kathy Hill, Kirsty McKenzie, Ken Brass, Sue Stubbs, Tamara Simoneau, Ross Williams, Bronte Camilleri, John Downs, Chris Stafford, Kate Blood, Flissy Johnson Photography, Alexandra Longstaff

made a life for themselves in the country. Whether it’s one family’s rural escape, the eclectic and colourful design of a fabulous woman named Coco, or the family who split their time between the Adelaide hills and the French countryside, we have some tales that are both interesting and bound nd to give you some ideas for decorating around your home.

So sit back with a nice cup of tea (and maybe a notebook and a pen to capture your favourite ideas) and enjoy this issue of Australian Country Homes.

at the time of printing. They are not, however, in a position to make a guarantee to this effect and accept no liability in the event of any information proving inaccurate. Prices, addresses and phone numbers were, after investigation and to the best of our knowledge and belief, up to date at the time of printing, but the shifting sands of time may change them in some cases. It is not possible for the publishers to ensure that advertisements which appear in this publication comply with the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law. The responsibility must therefore be on the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisements for publication. While every endeavour has been made to ensure complete accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. * Recommended retail price

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Marketplace Make your house a home with these gorgeous products compiled by LAUREN CLARKE

DOGNAPPING IN STYLE Your dog will be napping in style on the Original Snooza Dog Bed. This bed is made to withstand harsh conditions, for dogs who play hard and snooze hard when they’re done. The frame is made from a steel tube that is galvanised on both sides, meaning it won’t rust from the inside out. A durable jute cover is then handsewn onto it — no cheap stapling techniques here.

The Original Snooza Dog Bed is made in Australia. snooza.com.au

SLEEP IN STYLE We fell in love with this stunning two-piece merino PJ set the second we laid our eyes on it, and it’s not hard to see why. Even in the photos, the 100 per cent merino jersey manages to look soft and luxurious — the perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep.

Long sleeves on the top and shorts on the bottom allow you to maintain the perfect body temperature as you drift off into the land of nod, and if you need a little extra warmth on some of those cooler nights, you can team it with a merino dressing gown to ensure you’re super cosy.

The two-piece merino PJ set from Smitten Merino is proudly made in Tasmania from Australian merino wool. This item is available in Angel Pink (as shown), as well as indigo and lilac. smittenmerino.com

8 Australian Country HOMES

BRIGHT AND BRILLIANT Q: What’s better than a glass of wine at the end of a hot summer’s day?

A: A jug, of course! And there’s no better jug to serve your drinks in than this hand-painted beauty from Sun Pots.

This jug is one product in a range of stunning handmade ceramics from Spain that will add a unique vibrance to your home. While no two pieces are exactly alike, one thing they all have in common is colour.

Bold, brilliant tones are celebrated in all Sun Pots products. If a wine jug isn’t for you, the range does include bowls, plates and olive oil pourers that are bound to catch your eye. sunpots.com.au

WHOA, NELLIE We have fallen head over hoof for the Nellie apron from Linen House. This gorgeous product is just one in a range that includes table runners, napkins, oven mitts and more.

The soft teal print celebrates the gorgeous muted greens of the Australian landscape, with various leaf- and floral-inspired shapes providing the perfect amount of detail. With this beauty in your wardrobe, you’ll look just as good while you’re cooking as you do when you take it off to dine. linenhouse.com.au

TIME FOR TEA It is a truth universally acknowledged that tea from a pot tastes best.

We’re sure Jane Austen would have agreed with that sentiment — especially if she drank her brew from a teapot as divine as the Oiva from Marimekko. This simple vessel walks the line between traditional and contemporary thanks to its rounded shape and subtle design details.

The Oiva suits a variety of homes, with its white stone body an easy match for many aesthetics and the simple wooden handle a perfect complement to the great Aussie bush. marimekko.com.au

ELEGANTLY ECO Save the animals and look good while doing it with this limited-edition range of shampoo and conditioner from Ethique World. The Wombar shampoo and Kookabara conditioner were created by Ethique in partnership with Bindi Irwin, with $1 from the sale of each bar going to The Irwins’ Wildlife Warriors Foundation.

Another thing we love about these beauty bars is in the name. Ethique World was started to minimise the excess of plastic waste, with beauty bars the perfect alternative to liquid that has to be housed in a plastic container.

But that’s not the only reason to purchase these products. Nourishing cocoa butter features in both the shampoo and conditioner, ensuring your locks will love you and look good too. And, thanks to the eucalyptus and lavender fragrance, you’ll smell simply divine as well. ethiqueworld.com.au

GARDEN BEAUTY Add a sense of elegance to your garden with a bronze crane or heron from Bronze and Marble Gallery. These graceful birds are available as water features which will add a true sense of Zen to your outdoor space, and come plumbed and ready for use. Alternatively, they make striking statues both outdoors and in.

These birds are true bronzes and made using the lost wax method, which allows the intricate details of the statues to really shine. They come in two-tone bronze patina or verdigris (green) patina. The bronze cranes and herons from Bronze and Marble Gallery are always sold in pairs, with one head directed toward the sky and the other toward the ground. They’re available in 73cm, 96cm and 152cm sizes. bronzeandmarblegallery.com

Australian Country HOMES 9

LAKESIDE LUXE A relocated Queenslander in the hills behind the Sunshine Coast is the perfect location for this English family.

-------------------By CARROL BAKER , photography K ATHY HILL

10 Australian Country HOMES

Australian Country HOMES 11

S

ometimes in life you just have to take a leap of faith. That’s exactly what a young English couple did when they swapped the glamour and glitz of the Gold Coast for a luxurious rural retreat on the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Neil Holmes and his wife, Heidi, moved to Australia from England. After settling on the Gold Coast for several years, the busy tourist destination had them yearning for a quieter lifestyle.

Their adventure all began with a four-day escape to the country.

“I’d lived in rural England and was desperate to get away,” Heidi remembers.

“For my birthday we spent a few days in the hinterland by the lake and fell in love with it. I said to Neil we just had to live here,” she says.

Neil quickly adds, “The first thing I thought was, ‘Uh-oh — this is going to be one very expensive birthday present.’”

The flexibility of their dual creative careers meant they could relocate without jeopardising their jobs. Heidi specialises in interior design, and also does hand-sewing on wedding gowns and fascinators. Neil, on the other hand, is a computer programmer and a selfconfessed geek. “But I am trying to break the mould of the geek stereotype,” he says.

With a spring in their step and a twinkle in their eye, it’s easily apparent this inspiring pair shares a deep affection for each other and for their adopted home.

Heidi, Neil, their son, Luca, and their Chihuahua, Kiki, all embraced the rural countryside with delight. Neil and 12 Australian Country HOMES

Heidi are also revelling in the joys of parenthood. “It changes your life, of course,” Neil says. “It’s been a massive learning curve, but it’s become even more enjoyable raising Luca here with the extra space we have.”

Finding their slice of rural paradise was pure serendipity. That very same birthday long weekend they spotted a for-sale sign on a lakeside property, and after

negotiating with the owner, they bought the leafy macadamia farm. There was an old house on the block, and a packing shed located in the prime position to catch the gorgeous rural vista.

“We saw huge potential in it and we both had a very similar vision,” Heidi says.

“We wanted to replace the house with a Queenslander and make the most of the panoramic views overlooking that lake.”

›

These pages: The house now has four bedrooms; Heidi and Neil relax in the living area; the upstairs balcony overlooks the lake; bright flowers add a pop of colour to the white facade.

Australian Country HOMES 13

These pages: Monochrome tiles add a classic touch to the bathroom; the entrance hall sets the tone of the home; the family enjoys farm life; Heidi relaxes on the balcony.

After selling their Gold Coast home, they sourced an original Queenslander to relocate for the block. It arrived in the early hours one morning on the back of two trucks.

“One of the major challenges of the project was the drainage,” Neil says. “It was so muddy we had red clay waterfalls, which Luca loved, but I really can’t say the same for us.”

“During the renovations when we were knee deep in red mud, I’d wake up in a cold sweat thinking, ‘Oh no. Did we really do this?’” Heidi adds. “I think we knew at that point it was either going to be a spectacular failure or a spectacular success.”

Anyone fortunate enough to stroll through the leafy grounds and cosy country home would definitely vote for the latter.

The stylish Queenslander has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a media room. Heidi describes the interiors as French provincial with a twist inspired by her childhood holidays in France.

With a fine eye for detail, Neil and Heidi have transformed the stately Queenslander. Over a period of two years they painstakingly stripped back the 14 Australian Country HOMES

original building to its bare bones and rebuilt it, adding on another level below.

The home has a neutral colour palette with colour accents. Each piece of furniture and décor has been lovingly handpicked, with some sourced via markets and opportunity shops, and other pieces brought out from England.

Heidi says when decorating this home she opted for the less-is-more approach.

“I think this works, especially when you have one-off pieces that speak for themselves,” she says. Indeed, if the walls of this home could talk, they’d have some colourful tales to share. The home was originally a dance classroom and music room called Charma Place from St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School in Brisbane.

When all the hard work was done, the family enjoyed relaxing and relishing in their rural lifestyle. Neil enjoyed cruising the grounds (and mowing the grass) on his fabulous toy — a ride-on mower. “I must confess I’ve always wanted one of these.

They’re a lot of fun,” he says.

The rural retreat is currently being rented out as a luxury accommodation called Lake Terrace. For more information visit laketerrace.com.au ACH

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ROADSIDE BOHEMIAN Lisa Sheils lives with her family in a carnival of colour on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Thanks to a texting typo for xoxo, her husband, Mike, changed her name to Coco. This is Coco’s story.

--------------------

By KIRSTY MCKENZIE , photography KEN BR ASS

16 Australian Country HOMES

Australian Country HOMES 17

A

These pages: Of course there’s a cubby house; what others might dismiss as junk finds new life in Coco’s home; a swan rocker becomes a planter; a windmill in the backyard and a bath to fill; bright flowers add to the gorgeous chaos of colour that is dominant in this home

18 Australian Country HOMES

ccording to Coco Sheils, if you were to compare her style with that of her sister Lamb, she is Vivienne Westwood to Lamb’s Collette Dinnigan.

The two women run an endearing mutual admiration society, but it’s easy to understand the analogy. While Lamb is elegant and restrained, Coco’s signature is whirlwind, all colour and movement.

Coco, who is a marriage celebrant and jewellery designer, and Mike, who has his own security company, live with their two children Fallon and Nash.

Coco also has two adult children, Kieran and Brittany, and family is clearly very important to them all.

The couple bought their land on the Mornington Peninsula in 2005 and moved into a shed at the back of the block. In 2009, they found a derelict house nearby that they moved to the site. Their budget was extremely limited, so even from the outset they knew they needed to be resourceful. ›

Australian Country HOMES 19

“Whenever friends would visit, they would just shake their heads and say ‘lotta work’,” Coco recalls. “We did most of it ourselves. We stripped off the ugly cladding to reveal the original weatherboards below and I scoured the internet for windows and doors.

Mike is sent from heaven and he would drive all over the country to pick up my finds. He even went to Adelaide once and Queensland on another occasion.

Fortunately, he is very handy and the only tradespeople we had to employ were a plumber, plasterer and someone to fix the roof.

“Still, it was two years of constant work at night and on weekends before we could move in. But in the end we got there. The funny thing was that when we finally moved in the kids were so used to us all living in one room that they were like battery hens. They didn’t understand that it was OK to go to their own rooms to play.”

The hard yards completed, Coco was then able to indulge her considerable decorating skills and keen eye for colour in the interior refurbishment. With her consummate eye for a bargain, she 20 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: The dining area provides plenty of visual interest; despite the comprehensive colour scheme, it feels as if everything has a place; shades of red are dominant in this house.

›

Australian Country HOMES 21

These pages: A Chesty Bonds mannequin and fairground clown were among the many items on Coco’s collector’s wishlist; Coco has a passion for bold and beautiful shades; Fallon’s bedroom has received her mother’s signature makeover with a mix of worn and wonky and a carnival of colours.

scoured op shops, roadside collection points and eBay for furniture, fittings and decorator items and set to work restoring them.

“I’ve been doing it all my life,” Coco says.

“My mum was a single mother and there were five of us kids, so everything in our house came from the Salvos or the side of the road. But nobody would have known because she just had a flair for putting things together and she was always being complimented on her home. I guess some of that rubbed off on me and Lamb.”

Coco adds that she likes to mix things up and respect the patina of age rather than restore everything to mint condition. “Just as I might wear makeup, but I wouldn’t have a facelift, I like things to show their character,” she says.

“Fortunately, I am surrounded by a group 22 Australian Country HOMES

of artistic friends and the house has turned into a shrine to their talents.”

Among the many works this selfconfessed “modern-day try-hard Sunday Reed” displays in her home are paintings by local artists Justine McNamara, Julie Niekamp, Anthony Wood, Jeff Raglus, Di Harris and Alex O’Halloran; sculptural works by Leisa Warington, Sarah Dingwall, Kaye Clancy, Mel Kenyon and Sandra Leslie; Jo Anderson’s fairy tales under glass; teepees by Nola Siemering; and jewellery by Flick Pope, Alison Gibbs and Megan Greenwood.

Ever tenacious on the internet, Coco compiled a wish list of collectables that she needed to complete the carnival atmosphere of her home. A red phone booth, laughing clown head, Chesty Bonds bust and Peters ice-cream light

›

Australian Country HOMES 23

These pages: Mike and Coco in their jewellery studio; a scooter makes a unique form of wall art; old school lockers make great storage in Nash’s bedroom; there’s lots to love in Coco’s repertoire.

have already been crossed off the holy grail inventory, but there will always be other items Coco can’t live without and will find room in her home for.

Coco and Mike also turned the shed that was their temporary home into a workshop for a jewellery label, Love.

War. Religion. Made from recycled and repurposed objects, from lead soldiers and other vintage toys through to belt buckles and religious iconography, the range was accepted into the Mornington Peninsula’s annual Christmas at The Studio fair, which Coco likens to “winning Arty Farty Idol”. ‘‘The great thing about Mike and me is we make things happen,” she says. “I’m out there and hare-brained and Mike’s the sensible, practical one who gets on with it. We balance each other out and we have fun every day.” ACH 24 Australian Country HOMES

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HARVEST HOME For interior decorator, passionate gardener and keen cook Mickey Robertson, restoring Glenmore House was a labour of love but one that delivered both a lifestyle change and a new career direction.

--------------------

By KIRSTY MCKENZIE , photography KEN BR ASS

26 Australian Country HOMES

Australian Country HOMES 27

These pages: The agaves are a nod to colonial times, when exotic plants were traded around the globe; the Robertsons extended the original 1840s sandstone cottage.

M

ickey Robertson would probably hoot with laughter at being called a domestic goddess, but on hearing her philosophy on household duties the phrase keeps coming to mind.

Take laundry for example: “We all have to do it,” she says in her pragmatic way. “So we might as well embrace it. I make doing the washing a joyous event. There are no plastic baskets or utilitarian pegs in my laundry. I have beautiful cane baskets and lovely wooden pegs. I keep in mind the unbeatable smell of sun-dried washing, which makes the chore worthwhile.

And then I iron with lovely linen water so everything smells fresh and fragrant when you use it.”

Always a glass-half-full kind of person, Mickey has applied this philosophy to the restoration of the home she shares with her leadership advisor husband, Larry, and their daughters Bonnie and Clementine. They found the 28-acre property in the foothills of the Razorback Range near Camden in Sydney’s southwest in 1988, when they were looking for a site for English friends to develop a conference centre.

“Even the real estate person told Larry he didn’t want to look at the place as it wouldn’t be suitable,” Mickey says. “But we inspected, fell in love with the 1840s sandstone cottage and that was it. The beginning of the beginning. Or perhaps the beginning of the end, because we have been working on it ever since.”

The land on which Glenmore House stands was part of an 1834 grant made to Hannibal Macarthur, pastoralist, politician and nephew of 28 Australian Country HOMES

›

Australian Country HOMES 29

Merino industry pioneers John and Elizabeth Macarthur. The estate was later subdivided and sold to various members of the Moore family, who continued to have a presence in the district for many years after.

Glenmore House came with a collection of dilapidated early colonial outbuildings, so as well as restoring and extending the cottage, Mickey and Larry have progressively given new life to the former cow shed, dairy, stables, hay shed, barn and store room. Step by step, they have linked the buildings together with new fences, drystone walls, paths, steps, hedges and gardens.

“In the early days it was just mad,” Mickey recalls. “I was still working in Sydney, so we’d come down on weekends and work on making the house habitable and clearing the grounds. After about a year, we could finally stay overnight.

Then it became our weekender and finally we moved down here permanently, though of course we both still go to the city for work.”

Mickey then set about making the buildings support themselves by turning them into a kitchen garden school.

“Although I was raised between a flat in inner-Sydney and a boat on the harbour, 30 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: The garden provides an abundance of produce; the commercial kitchen where the classes are held; the Robertsons have progressively restored the outbuildings; the property supports a small herd of red Angus.

as a child my imaginary home was something out of Beatrix Potter,” Mickey explains. “I’ve always loved gardens and garden plans, so was delighted at the opportunity to create a real vegie garden when we moved down here. Predictably enough, though, I stuffed up my first attempt. It was then that I realised you actually need to learn how to make a garden work. And then I set about finding someone to show me how to do it. I practically scoured the entire Sydney basin

trying to find someone similar to Sarah Raven [the English writer, broadcaster and expert on all things to grow, cut and eat from the garden].

“Finally I met Linda Ross, who has qualifications in landscape architecture and horticulture and is passionate about growing her own organic vegies. So we started kitchen garden classes, which actually take people through what needs to happen in the garden month by month. So this month it might be all about harvesting ›

Australian Country HOMES 31

These pages: Mickey in the gift shop she runs in conjunction with her classes; big straw hats are Mickey’s signature and she has finally settled on a style created by New York-based Australian designer Annabel Ingall; everything has a place in this gorgeous home.

this season’s crops and preparing the soil and next month it might be about planting the garden and showing them how to build tunnels and wigwams and triangle trellises for tomatoes.”

Along the way, Mickey’s own kitchen garden has become an object lesson in sustainability, with beds set out to demonstrate rotation cropping (to keep the soil healthy), companion planting (of complementary plants for shade or pest control purposes) and succession planting (which allows two crops which produce at different times to grow in the one row). In between there are various shelters housing chooks, which are “let out to do their job of scratching the soil” at appropriate times.

“I’ve got a bit of an obsession with rows,” Mickey observes. “But I’ve had to let go of that to embrace guild planting, which basically aims to increase the productivity 32 Australian Country HOMES

of a garden by integrating the components, be they plants, animals or structures. So I might plant spring onions, calendula and fennel together in a higgledy-piggledy fashion to confuse the pests, which generally are specific to one plant and move down the bed from one to the next.

Amazingly enough, it works.”

As part of the kitchen garden experience, Mickey started “spoiling the guests” by serving treats based on whatever was really new in the garden, whether it was peas fresh from the vine, new season’s asparagus or baby artichokes. “I’m just a home cook, but having a kitchen garden teaches you to cook, because it forces you to use what you have on hand,” she says.

“The kitchen garden people started asking me how I’d made things, so I thought I might as well start cooking

classes as well. Because when you have a productive garden you’ll often have a glut, so it’s great to be able to create jams, preserves and chutneys to make the most of the surplus. We’ve had soup days, cake days, marmalade days.”

Mickey also supplements the cooking class calendar with classes by visiting chefs, who demonstrate how to make the most of what’s in the garden. She is also looking at expanding the curriculum with art and craft workshops.

“I’ve always loved domestic life,” she says. “That’s why I love decorating, cooking and beautiful gardens. I’m just incredibly lucky that Glenmore House has allowed me to bring all that together and turn it into a business and lifestyle.”

For more information on the kitchen garden and cooking classes visit glenmorehouse.com.au ACH

STYLED FOR SUMMER Kim and Greg Kerr appear to have achieved the ultimate work-life balance at their home in Victoria’s central highlands.

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By KIRSTY MCKENZIE , photography KEN BR ASS

34 Australian Country HOMES

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These pages: A cosy sitting area is styled for ultimate comfort; Kim’s signature lemon drizzle cake; the island bench in the kitchen is both a prep and casual dining space; a selection of beverages, presented beautifully; Kim has a soft spot for splendid light fittings.

T

he old adage about truth being stranger than fiction could well be applied to Ararat real estate agents Kim and Greg Kerr. As Kim takes up their story, she “won” Greg in a scavenger hunt.

“I grew up in Horsham in the Wimmera region and Greg was originally from Ararat, although he has lived all over,” she explains. “We dated briefly as youngsters, but went our separate ways and married other partners.”

Roll forward 20-something years and Kim was on a bus-tour hen’s party outing to Ararat when she spotted Greg’s office as they drove past. When she announced to her fellow travellers that

36 Australian Country HOMES

she used to go out with a guy from the agency, her friends offered 20 bonus points in the game they were playing if she went in and said hello.

“The rest is history,” she recalls.

“We’ve hardly stopped talking since.”

The romantic fairy tale continued when Greg proposed with a surprise Christmas present of an engagement ring. “He’d gone to such trouble to arrange it all,” Kim adds. “I’m never speechless, but on this occasion we were both blubbering messes.”

The couple married at an event that masqueraded as Kim’s birthday party. “It was a beautiful day at Sault restaurant in Daylesford,” she says. “We announced

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Australian Country HOMES 37

that we were getting married when all the guests arrived.”

Shortly after, they moved into their spacious home on the outskirts of Ararat, a thriving regional centre of around 9000. She and Greg share the residence with Dottie the dog and Rosie the cat, and their three adult sons are regular visitors. “We’re midway between Victoria’s Western District and the Wimmera,” Kim says. “The town is the only one in Australia to be settled by Chinese, as they arrived there as they were on their way from South Australia to the central goldfields. They found gold and set up a tent city, which gradually became more permanent buildings.

So there’s lots of Chinese history here, which is commemorated in the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre. There’s also a bit of notoriety in the former J Ward and Aradale lunatic asylums, which now attract visitors for ghost tours. We’re the eastern gateway to the Grampians, which is famous as a bush-walking and rock-climbing destination, and the region completes the total package by being close to lots of wineries including Montara, Grampians Estate, Seppelt Great Western, Best’s and Mount Langi 38 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: The outdoor terrace is a summer favourite; with so many unique outdoor areas, guests are never at a loss for a place to explore; the living room enjoys a neutral colour palette.

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Australian Country HOMES 39

These pages: Grey notes in a guest bedroom; a beautiful bathroom in the guest section; a master bedroom corner.

Ghiran. So there’s lots happening here and we’re only one hour from Ballarat and two hours from Melbourne.”

Kim grew up in a family of foodies and was strongly influenced by her grandparents, who kept chickens and a vegie garden and taught her to make everything from butter to cakes from scratch. She followed a food-oriented career and had coffee shops and cooking jobs until she took a detour into administration at the local hospital.

Later, she joined Greg in the real estate business, which meant their home became more of a sanctuary than ever.

“The phone never goes away, but we do try to close the big black door on the 40 Australian Country HOMES

business and switch off from time to time,” she says. “We still entertain, but in a very relaxed way as we don’t have a lot of down time. When we do, we tend to have drinks in the summer house and then a barbecue or grazing plates.”

The summer house, or Champagne hut, as Kim calls it, is a feature of their spacious backyard that looks out to the towering gum trees of their semibushland setting. “I’m a huge fan of [landscape designer]Paul Bangay, so I wanted a fairly formal setting. We don’t have a lot of time for gardening, so it had to be low-maintenance and we seem to have achieved that. My son, Jack, who is a carpenter, built the hut from cypress that

had fallen nearby and was milled by a local lumberjack.”

Internally, the Kerrs have divided the house between public and guest rooms.

“I’ve always been interested in interior design,” Kim adds. “I’m a right-brain person, hence the art, food and creative aspects of my personality. So decorating the house is a hobby for me. I love curating a space and finding the right pieces to go in it. We know we are very lucky to have arrived in this beautiful place that we can share with family and friends. It’s amazing to think that it might never have happened if I hadn’t been on the bus trip. It really is true that you never know what’s around the corner.” ACH

42 Australian Country HOMES

RURAL ROOKIES The Festa family may be greenhorns when it comes to farming, but they’re learning fast and loving life in the Scenic Rim. --------------------

By TAMAR A SIMONEAU, photography JOHN DOWNS

Australian Country HOMES 43

K

ate and Sam Festa aren’t sure where their country calling emanated from. All they know is that they heard and felt it loud and clear. “Neither of us is from a farming background,” Kate says. “Growing up, my family went camping in national parks every Easter and that was my country exposure. Prior to meeting me, Sam had camped one time, for one night with his dad and brother!”

A fateful family holiday away from their busy lives running an interior decorating business in Brisbane to a farm stay in Queensland’s picturesque Scenic Rim ignited a relentless tug towards all things rural.

“I was pregnant with my third son and we decided it might be a good idea to find a weekender with lots of space for three boys to run around,” Kate recalls. “We were looking for a property in a location where we potentially had a farming contact who could teach us what to do in regards to all the basics of farming. ‘‘When this property came up and it happened to be in the same street where

44 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: The Festas have brought their interior design skills and a boots-’n’-all attitude to the renovation of their weekender in the Scenic Rim.

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Australian Country HOMES 45

we had stayed during the farm-stay holiday that prompted the whole idea, we knew it was meant to be.”

With two homes on 100 acres (40 hectares), and expansive views of lush valleys and mountains near Darlington, things were serendipitously falling into place. Even a run-down farmhouse taken over by local birdlife couldn’t deter the couple. “The main house was a multicoloured patchwork inside and very dark with a confusing floorplan,” Kate says. ”It only had one bathroom, which was accessed by going outside the house, so it wasn’t functional at all with three little kids who were scared of the dark!

The grass was up to our hips and we had swallows living in the house.”

Over the course of a year, Kate and Sam put their interior decorating skills to the test to transform the rickety old main house into a beautiful sanctuary hidden away from the busy world beyond. There’s a luxe farmhouse feel throughout with intricate harlequin wallpapers and a showstopping copper bath in the main bathroom. “I wanted 46 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: Two homes grace this 100-acre property; the Festa children enjoy farm life; a verandah like this was just made for conversation and congregation; chickens are recent additions to the poperty.

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These pages: White walls allow rugs like this to shine; this home is brought to life with statement pieces like the lamps and lightshades; royal blue is the perfect match for paprika in the bedroom; the copper bath came from the US

something that was traditional to be in keeping with the age of the home (built in the 1800s), without being your typical claw-footed bath,” Kate says. “I was hunting for a statement piece and had the idea of a copper bath but I had no idea where to find one or even if they existed.

After some research, I found a supplier in Texas, USA, and had it shipped over.”

At the same time, the couple was familiarising themselves with the realities of farm life. “We both love learning about new things and Sam, in particular, is very good at taking on a new hobby and researching and learning everything there is to know about it,” Kate says. “In just 12 short months, 48 Australian Country HOMES

we learnt a lot with the help of Google and YouTube. Sam learned to pull apart his Toro ride-on to fix the fan belt and sharpen its blades. He loves using a chainsaw and has learnt the physics of cutting down a tree safely. I became skilled at splitting wood and building electric fences and pig shelters.”

The innate generosity of those who live on the land surrounding the farm has also been instrumental in helping them settle in. “Our new farmer friends are so willing to share their knowledge and their extremely valuable time to assist us in a very hands-on way,” Kate says. “Sometimes the payment is lunch and the promise of a piglet.”

Their menagerie grew to include chickens, ducklings, a pair of sheep, pigs and two horses. “We also have an olive grove of 250 trees, which we recently finished pruning,” Kate adds.

“So, hopefully, we will at some point have some olives.”

Sons Rocco, Raphael and Theodore relish their weekends at the farm, where time seems to stand still and life is reminiscent of days gone by.

“They can run around and be free to get down and dirty and they’re learning about nature and the cycle of life,” Kate says. “We do everything together as a family here, whether it’s feeding the animals, building a vegetable ›

Australian Country HOMES 49

These pages: A charming bird motif makes a great feature wallpaper in the bathroom; an inviting balcony setting; Kate used some Tigger Hall Design fabrics for bedheads and they became the anchor from which all the other selections were drawn.

50 Australian Country HOMES

patch or bush walking our three mountain ridges.”

Drives north back along the highway to the city at the end of a blissful weekend are always tinged with a little sadness, but full of excited chatter about plans for the future. “We’re keen to start breeding our heritage pigs and see where that goes,” Kate says. “And we may look at holiday letting the old dairy shed once we’ve renovated. It will have an outdoor kitchen, ‘help yourself’ herb and vegie garden and a bonfire pit.”

Three children, two homes, a business and a farm … Kate and Sam manage quite the juggle, but they wouldn’t want it any other way, and their new happy place has awakened a country kinship that’s changed their lives. “It is paradise,” Kate says. “My favourite time is at the end of the day at happy hour when the sun is going down, the mountains are pink and purple and the birds are still out, and it just feels calm. It’s a truly grounding place where it brings life back into perspective. The things to worry about are what to eat, how to look after the animals and the property, and the weather. Everything else pales in importance.” Spoken like a true woman of the land. ACH

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FLYING COLOURS The wonderful world of colour has opened doors to an absorbing new career for a former Sydney nurse.

-------------------By KIRSTY MCKENZIE , photography SUE STUBBS

52 Australian Country HOMES

Australian Country HOMES 53

T

o most of us, colour is a passing interest, generally noticed only when it’s used badly. But to colour consultant Sue Lenehan, colour is both a precise science and an absorbing career path.

Sue began her working life as a nurse and diverged into sales and marketing for a pharmaceutical company. But at the back of her mind she always knew there must be something more fulfilling. She’d always had a strong interest in interior design, so when she heard about the Sydney International School of Colour and Design she decided to take a career break and enrol in a year-long course.

The experience opened her eyes to the wonderful world of colour and, by the time she went back to work, she was well on her way to forging a new career in that field. She began dabbling in colour consultancy and before long her after-hours job was taking up so much of her time that she took the leap into self-employment. Further studies added to her CV and she began work full time as a consultant, advising on schemes for residential and commercial properties.

“They say there are no rules when it comes to colour,” Sue says. “But the more you learn about it, the more you realise there are some pretty strong guidelines.

For example, people imagine that complementary colours are simply colours that go together. In fact, they are colours that are opposite each other on the colour

54 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: This window seat invites you to sit, relax and take it all in; pride of place in the lounge room goes to an 1865 cedar serving table made by John’s great-great grandfather; the kitchen combines modern appliances with a traditional style; flowers and extensive windows create a great sense of connection with the outdoors.

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Australian Country HOMES 55

wheel and, when mixed together, they produce a neutral colour (black, grey or white). When you team them together they accentuate each other.”

At the time of this interview Sue worked part time for paint manufacturer Dulux, as well as taking on freelance commissions. Dulux’s colour atlas, bursting with more than 4000 paint options, was her trusted manual. “Each page begins with one of the 48 colours on the wheel and every swatch on that page is either strengthened with black or grey or diluted with white,” she explains. “So all the colours on a page will work well together because they have the same base colour.”

Sue generally advises people to start their colour schemes with the kitchen, particularly if it is open plan, as that should then relate to all the spaces it connects to. She adds that it is impossible to choose precise colour schemes for a 56 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: Sue adheres to the principle of using splashes of colour to enliven a neutral palette.

Rugs, throws, cushions, flowers and artworks all have roles to play.

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These pages: Sue blends antiques and contemporary furniture with decorative elements for a seemingly effortless finished look; the perfect spot for a breakfast bite; with so many outdoor dining locations, Sue is spoilt for choice.

58 Australian Country HOMES

new house until the walls are up and she is able to ascertain precisely how the light falls in each room and how it will affect the colours in them.

“Choosing the right colours can be confusing for a novice,” she admits. “It really does pay to give it considerable thought and seek professional advice.

And that professional should always paint a significant block of colour on a board, or pin an A4 sheet of card in the colour to the wall so the client can live with the colour for a while and make an informed decision. Paint lasts such a long time and it costs a lot to paint a house. If you don’t get it right, you’re stuck with it.”

At her home on Sydney’s north shore, Sue has opted for a fairly neutral base palette of creams and off-whites and introduces colour through the rugs, paintings and soft furnishings. The home she shares with her telecommunications marketing executive husband, John, was built as a cottage on a large block in 1905 and divided into two semis in 1925. Since Sue and John have lived there, they’ve added a self-contained guest room in a ›

HOMES Australian Country 59

These pages: Sue and John enjoy spending time outdoors; flower clippings from the glorious garden; an inviting spot to sit and read.

cabin in the back garden and expanded the living areas by enclosing the verandah that wraps around the house.

This has allowed Sue to create a home office on one side of the kitchen and a spacious dining room on the other. Pride of place in the formal lounge goes to an 1865 cedar serving table made by colonial cabinet maker Andrew Lenehan, John’s great-great-grandfather.

Sue says that far from being a random thing, fashions in colour and design are carefully monitored by forecasters who then advise everyone from clothing and makeup manufacturers to architects, builders and designers.

“We’re actually quite predictable,” she says. “When times are good we go for bold statements and lots of bling, so plenty of bright colours and metallics.

But at times like now, when things are less certain, we become more muted and restrained. With all the nesting that’s going on, people going back to traditional pursuits such as knitting and cooking, we prefer textured surfaces and a more neutral palette. It’s fascinating, really, how broad the world of colour is once you start looking at it closely.” ACH 60 Australian Country HOMES

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE A South Australian couple divide their time between the south of France and the Adelaide Hills.

-------------------By TAMAR A SIMONEAU, photography ROSS WILLIAMS, styling BRONTE CAMILLERI

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These pages: The French farmhouse-inspired property is in the Adelaide Hills; Michael and Judy have certainly brought the Mediterranean ambience home; Michael built the kitchen himself; the outdoor areas feel a world away from South Australia.

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e’ve all read those travel memoirs written by a wander-lusting expat who throws caution to the wind and sets up camp in the European countryside. The restoration of an old character-filled house is usually part of the storyline, as is the charmingly challenging adaptation to rural life in an enchanting foreign land.

For South Australian couple Michael Norris and Judy Richards, that narrative is one they know well. Very well. “We live the dream in two small villages,” Judy says. “One is in one of the most beautiful regions of France and the other is here in the Hills, in my opinion, one of the world’s most stunning places.”

The adventurous couple have known each other for more than three decades and tied the knot in 2008. That was when they began living an enviable double life.

“We have spent three to four months most years since then restoring houses in southwest France, in Lot-et-Garonne,” Judy says.

“It’s been a fabulous experience, and we have been accepted by the local community who supply us with fruit and vegetables and invite us to all the local events.”

It makes sense that Judy and Michael would bring those European influences home with them. Their Aussie abode is more French farmhouse than typical country home. “We found our Clarendon property a decade ago,” Michael says. “We were driving down one of our favourite ›

Australian Country HOMES 65

roads in the Adelaide Hills, which is known for its beautiful European feel.”

Set on 13 acres (five hectares), dotted with olive, apple, plum and peach trees, and featuring a large pond where the couple’s grandchildren paddle the weekends away in a little boat, it’s a magical property with an intriguing history to match. “The property has been added to through the years, beginning as a market garden and orchard of the earlysettler Richards family,” Michael says.

“Originally, in the late 1800s, there was a two-storey stone blacksmith shop and small residence. In the 50s it was added to by a farmer and his wife, who, due to the restrictions of building materials after WWII, made concrete bricks on site for the dwelling with the help of their two sons.”

The property has had many industrious inhabitants, including Michael. A skilled craftsman and builder, he was hands-on with any renovations and extensions and made most of their furniture himself. And evidence of the couple’s French love affair is all around.

“We’ve brought back from France many locks, hinges and hardware, linen, paintings, tapestries and curios from vide greniers (village markets), brocantes (old wares stores) and antique shops,” he says.

The couple call the property Shimla after a village they fell in love with during travels to India, where Michael ran a forged-iron furniture-making business from 1999 to 2005. Their Hills life is an idyllic existence, and a labour of love. “We 66 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: Michael at home in the Hills; gardening is a shared passion; natural light filters throughout the home; wooden beams add interest and a sense of history to the hall.

are always finding things to do, adding new interesting plants, paths and garden features,” Michael adds. “Recently we planted a new avenue of Italian cyprus trees that line the path to the cabin.”

The cabin sits beside a creek that runs through the property and was once used

by orchard workers. It’s Michael’s answer to a man-cave.

“The cabin is Michael’s haven and his favourite place,” Judy explains. “It has the feeling of a Depression-era shanty. It just needs a rocking chair and a banjo to complete the feel.” ›

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These pages: The cabin is Michael’s haven; the couple has brought home many souvenirs from France; the cabin includes guest beds.

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Judy has her own little happy place back inside the main house. “There’s a secret Narnia passage behind an armoire façade, which fascinates the grandchildren and visitors,” Michael says.

“Its passage takes you down to Judy’s studio, where she writes for a local paper and paints.”

When she’s not working in her studio, you’ll find Judy elbow-deep in the garden beds. “In different homes I have lived in over the years, I have established, restored and added to many old gardens,” she says. “It’s an interest that came from my passionate gardener mother, Rita.

Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit her green fingers and often have to struggle to get the effect I want.”

They call the garden rustic highmaintenance, but it all adds to the appeal for visitors — of the human and animal kind. Judy says Shimla’s rambling grounds attract “small birds, echidnas, koalas and bandicoots, kangaroos and believe it or not, large deer that have escaped”.

And there’s never a shortage of family stopping by. “I have two sons and when I married Judy I inherited another son and three daughters,” Michael says. “Together we have 15 grandchildren who keep us very happy and busy.”

Their French fairy-tale getaways add to their already full schedules. “We’ve made many wonderful friends,” Judy says. “We really do have two interwoven lives: one in France and one here in the Hills.” ACH

Chelsea Park

…a boutique bed and breakfast with a difference

Chelsea Park is a glamorously restored Art Deco mansion, painted in a mellow, period cream to highlight the classic Deco lines and dramatic curves. When you arrive at this Bowral gem, you soon appreciate why Chelsea Park is called Hollywood in the Highland dss.

Sweeping up the driveway to Chelsea Park, you feel transported back in time and the mood continues inside as you are welcomed into a 1930s environment.

Arcadia House Arcadia House is a country-style home located close to the heart of Bowral. Fully self-contained accommodation for families and groups. Five comfortable bedrooms, two spacious bathrooms and all linen provided. Your home in the country, child friendly and close to all the attractions. Savour the lifestyle, sit and relax in a little bit of heaven known as the Southern Highlands.

More information at www.chelseaparkbnb.com or www.arcadia-house.com 589 Moss Vale Road Burradoo NSW 2576 T: (02) 4861 7046 E: chelsea@netkey.com.au

FOR THE LOVE OF LAUNDRY Laundry day might feel like a real chore, but a well-organised space can help lighten the load. Turn your laundry into a welcoming room with some clever design, pops of colour, smart appliances and functional fixtures and fittings.

-------------------By ALEX ANDR A LONGSTAFF

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In laundries with ample space, place appliances side by side. This provides for a generous benchtop and a comfortable working surface. elcorteingles.es; featured norsuHOME (opposite page)

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These pages: The Bosch i-DOS Series 8 front loader washing machine boasts exceptional water- and energy-efficiency. bosch-home.com.au; the Fisher & Paykel WH8560F1 8.5kg front loader washer with FabricSmart™ can be stacked expertly with the Fisher & Paykel DH8060P1 8kg condensing dryer with SmartTouch™ control dial, making them great options for smaller spaces calling for an integrated laundry.

Photography: Shannon McGrath, design by Sarah Wolfendale. fisherpaykel.com

Creating the perfect laundry Crafting a laundry space that works seamlessly can turn laundry day into a fuss-free experience — one that could even be, dare we say it, enjoyable. The biggest mistake you can make when it comes to setting up your new laundry is not asking yourself some key questions about your needs. From budget to layout to silent appliances to highly organised spaces, there’s a lot to think about. Here are a few tips and tricks that will ensure your laundry is top-of-the-range and, more importantly, works perfectly for your family’s needs.

All about space The amount of space you have access to is key to the planning of your laundry. Start by analysing what you 72 Australian Country HOMES

can feasibly fit in the amount of space you have. For smaller rooms, or even laundries that sit within other rooms like the bathroom or kitchen, it can be really beneficial to stack items or tuck them away in cabinetry. According to Maja Pejovic, brand manager for Bosch Home Appliances, selecting the right appliances will depend on the space available. “When designing a laundry, it’s good to think about the appliances early on as the design of the laundry layout will be determined by how you use the space,” explains Maja. “Ergonomic factors will come into play and thinking about whether you want your washing machine and dryer side by side, or on top of each other with the use of a stacking kit, will make a big difference in the laundry design.”

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These pages: Up the ante on laundry organisation with these extras from Garden Trading. gardentrading.co.uk; the Series 6 washer dryer from Bosch allows you to wash and dry your clothes in one smart appliance. bosch-home.com.au

Technology rocks Think of your laundry as a long-term investment. It’s worth investing in the most innovative technology now so that each appliance ages gracefully with you and you get the longest lifespan out of it. “One mistake that people make when buying laundry appliances is that they look at the price of an appliance without taking into consideration the technology, innovative programs, and even the size of the washer or dryer and how that might impact the laundry performance and suitability of the appliance based on their family or living situation,” explains Maja.

Also, consider technology that benefits the whole family. “Bosch laundry appliances have innovative features like VarioPerfect, which lets you choose between saving time or energy, special programs for different types of fabrics or stains, and even the Bosch i-DOS technology, which automatically doses the precise amount of laundry detergent required for the wash,” adds Maja.

The green light We live in times where it’s more important than ever before to consider our environmental impact. Energy consumption, water usage, recyclability and water pollution are directly related to the appliances you select for your laundry space. You can make a real difference if you make smart, sustainable choices.

There are some amazing options out there that take environmental impact very seriously. “Bosch washing machines and dryers have been engineered to be more intelligent and energy-efficient,” confirms Maja. “Thanks to the innovative technology in our Bosch appliances, savings can be made in a number of different ways. The Bosch i-DOS Series 8 front loader washing machine is one of the most water- and energy-efficient washing machines from Bosch, boasting 74 Australian Country HOMES

a 4.5-star energy rating and a 4.5-star WELS water rating.

“The Bosch i-DOS integrated automatic dosing system adds the optimum amount of liquid detergent for every load, down to the very millilitre, which saves on both detergent and water in the long run. The precise automatic dosing system allows your washing machine to save up to 7062 litres of

water per year. Bosch dryers have up to 8-star energy-efficiency ratings, thanks to the innovative ActiveAir heat pump technology, which is designed to work without conventional heating and reuses the heat generated during the drying process. Investing in energy- and waterefficient washing machines and dryers can certainly be a strong economical choice in the long run.” ACH

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THE FUNCTIONALITY FACTOR Avoid double trouble in your kitchen by choosing the right sink and tap combo for your family’s needs -------------------by NISHI AMAR ATUNGA

This page norsuHOME

76 Australian Country HOMES

W

ith so many products on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when choosing a sink and tap when you’re renovating your kitchen. Here we’ve rounded up some sinks and taps from the very top of our dream kitchen wish list, complete with information on their unique features, to help you choose the ideal combo when creating a new culinary space.

Box it up The perfect combination of washing area and food prep space, the Franke Box Centre is the ideal solution for those who want to add extra functionality to the ever-important working triangle.

It features two tap and button configurations and several accessories, including chopping boards, knives, knife holders, colanders and more, which can be organised neatly into the compartment bowl.

Box Centre, franke.com/au

Just flawless Crafted from stainless steel, the KWC Era tap’s flawless finish is among its most impressive features. Available in a choice of four different spouts, it can be customised to suit your lifestyle. Change the way you wash with the swivel range, which can be adjusted from 150° to 360°. Era tap, kwc.com

Colour your world This unique collection of kitchen mixers facilitates an on-trend aesthetic through unique pairing.

Zimi is a versatile range that allows for 27 unique colour and finish combinations. The interchangeable handles assist homeowners to inject personality into their kitchen space with ease. Zimi collection, phoenixtapware.com.au

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One with nature A sink and mixer that can withstand the elements are essential for every alfresco kitchen, and Abey has you covered in this department. Its resilient range of 316 marine-grade stainless-steel sinks and kitchen mixers is functional as well as inspirational. The sinks are available in three sizes and feature a modern rectangular bowl with a drain tray included, while the taps are manufactured in Europe and boast three design options. 316 marine-grade stainless-steel sinks and taps, abey.com.au

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78 Australian Country HOMES

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TIMBER AND TIN Margaret Strelow welcomes us to her historic Rockhampton home.

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By KIRSTY MCKENZIE , photography KEN BR ASS

80 Australian Country HOMES

Australian Country HOMES 81

M

argaret Strelow has a slew of qualifications in education and history, but it’s her certificates in horticulture that she says are among her proudest achievements.

The self-confessed “perpetual student” and previous mayor of the central Queensland city of Rockhampton has used all those skills plus some in her previous occupations, which include stints as a councillor, directing a childcare centre, running a wedding venue and hosting a bed and breakfast.

Australian Country Homes can testify she could also add “gracious host” and “dab hand in the kitchen” to that CV as she took time out to welcome us to the historic Queenslander she shares with her husband, Darryl, in Rockhampton’s CBD. In between showing us around, filling us in on the history of her home, providing lively commentary on the issues of the day and her region’s many attractions, Margaret briefly excused herself and returned with afternoon tea including a batch of scones she had just whipped up.

Margaret has lived in Rockhampton for most of her adult life, having done her teacher training at the local college, which is now the Central Queensland University. Insurance consultant Darryl is Rocky born and bred. His father was a plumber with Queensland Railways and the Strelows’ children are the sixth generation of the family to call Rockhampton home.

Given Darryl’s family connection and Margaret’s passion for history, it seemed entirely appropriate when Goldston House came on the market in 1993 that the Strelows should buy it. The timber and tin (corrugated iron) house was constructed in 1865 as the railway offices for the yet-to-be constructed western railway. The building housed the team overseeing the construction of the line 82 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: An impressive entrance hall forms the house’s axis; the home’s exterior is casual yet inviting; the master bedroom features a suite originally intended for a 1949 royal tour; the shower screen was a confessional in its former life; toile and florals in a guest bedroom.

until the new railway station, with its professional offices, was opened in 1867.

At that time, Goldston House became the residence for the traffic manager and continued to be used as the home of the top railway official in central Queensland until it was sold to private owners in 1974.

“Although the design is now considered classic Queenslander because of its single timber skin with external stud framing and tin roof, it was an innovative design for its time,” Margaret explains. “We believe the house is possibly the state’s oldest surviving version of what has become known as the Queenslander, although I must admit I have a sneaking suspicion there is an even earlier house in Rockhampton.

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Australian Country HOMES 83

84 Australian Country HOMES

“The decision to build a railway was highly political, as people in the north of the state were incensed to the point of calling for secession from the south by the high cost of the lines that were being built in the southeast corner of the state.”

Political imperative to placate the northerners, combined with the shortage of sawn timber in the district at the time, probably influenced the decision to use a pre-cut (prefabricated) building. The designer remains in doubt, though it is generally credited to the chief engineer of the Northern Railways, Henry Plews.

The signature Queenslander elements of broad verandahs, elevation off the ground on stumps and central hallway or breezeway all acknowledge the need for ventilation in the tropical summers.

The lattice infill on the verandahs was another early attempt at passive solar control, devised to ventilate and shade the house in summer and let filtered sunlight in during the cooler months. Although the original casement windows with fanlights above have been replaced by either French doors or double-hung sash windows, their placement has not changed.

“The house had not been lived in for 20 years when we moved in,” Margaret explains, “so there was a lot of work to do.

The whole building was on a tilt and had to be restumped, the roof needed repairs, there was lead paint peeling everywhere and it had to be rewired and replumbed.

“I remember the time as being kind of manic. Our children were aged

These pages: Statuary and sweeping lawns are features of the sprawling grounds; tea and scones? Don’t mind if we do.

seven, nine, 11 and 12 at the time and if I managed to get home from work by 7.30pm I didn’t consider it a night out.

Fortunately, Darryl’s office was close by so he was able to make sure the kids didn’t kill each other after school.”

Always with a keen eye for potential, Margaret salvaged old pieces of furniture from wherever she could and restored them herself. She was also lucky to source a splendid bedroom suite, originally made

by Brisbane furniture craftsman John Hicks for the 1949 royal tour planned for King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, but cancelled due to the King’s ill health.

Other antiques and collectables to have found a home at Goldston House include panels from a former church confessional which now form a shower screen, and a wonderful old dresser reborn as bathroom cabinetry.

Margaret adds that the garden, with its massive Moreton Bay fig tree and sprawling lawns, provided a great stress reliever during this hectic time.

Throughout her time living on the property she trained a guard of honour of Duranta ‘Geisha Girl’ at the front of the house, replaced palms to shield the home and planted a screen of magnolias on one boundary. ACH HOMES Australian Country 85

A LABOUR OF LOVE Beverley and Graham Thompson devoted three decades to transforming their Mt Wilson garden from a back paddock to a parkland.

-------------------By KIRSTY MCKENZIE , photography KEN BR ASS

86 Australian Country HOMES

Australian Country HOMES 87

W These pages: A Monet bridge over the waterlily pond; white Wirrimbirra waratah Alberta spruce allée bordered by flowering cherries; the garden is an oasis of green and pink.

88 Australian Country HOMES

hen the Thompsons first visited the Mt Wilson property that was to become their home in the NSW Blue Mountains, their responses could not have been more opposite. Beverley saw a block that was bare except for marauding masses of blackberries, bracken, thornbush and native undergrowth. Graham saw only great potential to create the landscape of his dreams, a sentiment reminiscent of one of his garden heroes, 18th-century English landscape architect Lancelot “Capability” Brown.

Thirty years after that initial viewing, it’s hard to imagine that the four-hectare showpiece garden inspired by the sweeping lawns and water features of English country parks was not always so. “Initially, Beverley thought I was out of my mind,” Graham says. “At first I probably was as it took us four years to clear the land and build the homestead.

The only plants remaining were the ›

Australian Country HOMES 89

towering gums and ferns, which are protected by conservation orders for being native to the surrounding Blue Mountains National Park.”

During his long career in manufacturing, Graham had spent many weekends while travelling for work visiting both public and private gardens in the UK, Europe and Asia. When he ventured into private consultancy, Beverley was able to accompany him and together they developed a clear vision of the type of garden they wanted to create.

“From the outset we knew we didn’t want a fussy garden,” Beverley says. “We are both fans of Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edwin Lutyens, so we wanted to achieve expanses rather than vignettes.”

The first of hundreds of rhododendrons and azaleas went in along the northern boundary in 1984. Feature trees including cherries, magnolias, dogwoods and maples were added to give filtered sunlight. The Thompsons then added an entry avenue of alternate plantings of tulip trees and liquidambars. To soften the driveway, a curved garden bed of small to medium rhododendrons was established along with a canopy planting 90 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: Water adds a sense of calm to the property; redwing azaleas beneath a canopy of flowering cherry blossoms; the garden enjoys more structured features such as the hedges alongside nature’s random beauty.

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Australian Country HOMES 91

These pages: Flowers are truly everywhere in this blooming garden; a bronze sculpture by David Mackay Harrison against a backdrop of vibrant redwing azaleas.

of spring flowering trees. Two natural rock gardens were created where the rocks were too numerous or large to move. In spring, masses of bulbs — mainly bluebells and daffodils — carpet the ground and add interest before the deciduous trees burst into leaf.

Each year brings new projects. On alternate years in the early 1990s, Beverley and Graham attended garden summer schools at Oxford University and came home fired with new enthusiasms and plans. A dam that was a remnant of the days when the property supported cattle was turned into a lake, which was lined so it could become a haven for 200 rainbow trout. In the mid ’90s a second lake was constructed, now home to a family of 13 carp including the spectacular Red Riding Hood and 92 Australian Country HOMES

10-year-old Hoover, so named for his prodigious appetite.

The major project for 1995 was the planting of an Alberta spruce allée with a granite fountain — a replica of one in Singapore’s Raffles Hotel — as its centrepiece. The entry to this section is via an Asian feature known as a moongate, which frames porthole vignettes of the garden. In spring, flowering cherries, wisteria and crabapples lend a profusion of pastels; in autumn, claret and golden ash, maples, golden elms and copper beech are ablaze with colour. Massed plantings of waratahs are thriving in their elevated position near the barn and in early spring they come alive with blooms ranging from creamy white to deep pink and scarlet.

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These pages: View through the moongate to the Alberta spruce allée; a sandstone birdbath beneath a Floribunda crabapple in blossom; early spring growth on tulip trees with views to the lake.

The Thompsons also have a charming tradition of celebrating significant anniversaries with additions to the garden rather than conventional gifts.

Their ruby wedding anniversary was celebrated with plantings of Cornus rubra dogwoods; the sundial was installed for Graham’s 65th birthday; Blue Mountains sculptor Tom Coley created Motherhood for a commanding position overlooking one of the expanses of lawn; and a bronze

by David Mackay Harrison stands by the western side of the house.

Astonishingly, Beverley and Graham managed the garden with the help of a gardener for just four hours twice a week.

At time of this article’s first print, they devoted three days to its upkeep and Beverley said that mowing the lawns took up two full days. Graham was in charge of the water supply, for which the property is entirely self-sufficient thanks to a combination of rainwater tanks and bore water.

“It will always be a work in progress,” Beverley says. “There’s always something needs doing, but that’s how we like it. The aim has been to create something that will continue to give pleasure long after we’re gone.” ACH 94 Australian Country HOMES

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NATURAL FUSION The term Chinoiserie refers to the fusion of Asian and European influences. That’s precisely what Dominic Wong created at his Southern Highlands home.

By KIRSTY MCKENZIE , photography KEN BR ASS

98 Australian Country HOMES

Australian Country HOMES 99

T These pages: Dominic surrounded by his beloved tree peonies; Dominic constantly strives to grow the perfect peony; the garden is awash with colour; a bridge over the water feature.

100 Australian Country HOMES

he peony is the Chinese national flower, a symbol of beauty, perfection and prosperity. Traditionally, peonies were expensive to grow so they were exclusive to imperial gardens. Lucky for Dominic Wong, no such rules apply in contemporary Australia. He’s devoted the best part of 30 years to growing the perfect peony specimen.

Dominic grew up in the Malaysian city of Ipoh, famous for its tropical orchids.

As the youngest in a family of keen gardeners he was accustomed to tagging along on visits to nurseries. From an early age, Dominic started his own garden from cuttings and plants his elders discarded.

Little wonder that when he moved to Australia in 1988 and established a hairdressing business from his home in western Sydney, the first thing he did was start a garden.

“If I had any free time between clients I’d dash outside and work in the garden,” he recalls. “In the end I’d used up all the ›

Australian Country HOMES 101

available space and I moved onto the nature strip.’’ His enthusiasm paid off as Dominic was rewarded for his efforts with many awards culminating in a Garden of the Year gong from Your Garden magazine. About this time he also started growing tree peonies which, although notoriously difficult to grow, were better suited to the Sydney climate than their herbaceous cousins. “I love anything with colour,” he says. “So I guess it was inevitable that I would arrive at peonies which, although challenging, have a brief but brilliant display.”

Having “run out of room” on their 500 square-metre block, Dominic and his partner, Chris Styles, started looking farther afield for more space in which to build the garden of their dreams. In 1998 they found what they were looking for in the NSW Southern Highlands village of Mittagong, where they bought a 5000-square-metre vacant site. “It was a blank canvas,” Dominic recalls. “It allowed us to purpose-build a house with two discrete sections so we could run a B&B and live there without encroaching on our guests’ privacy. And it also gave me the space to build a garden from scratch 102 Australian Country HOMES

These pages: Even the chicken coop is covered in flowers; every corner of this garden is a delight; a splash of pink; poppy perfection; purple shades are true delights; fully blown roses add to the fragrant mix.

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Australian Country HOMES 103

These pages: An Asian-inspired pavilion overlooks the water garden; flowers and vegetables coexist happily in the cottage garden; garden ornaments add a touch of whimsy; the garden is a rainbow of colour; irises guard a pathway down to the bird house.

and explore all the new challenges of a cooler climate.”

He began the garden before the house was finished and has been working on it pretty much constantly ever since. “It will always be a work-in-progress,” he says.

“But it has allowed me to grow things I never could have dreamt of back in Malaysia and to create a space that draws attention and gives pleasure to visitors from all over the world.”

Dominic and Chris named their property Chinoiserie, a term used to describe a fusion of Asian and European influences, which perfectly describes their own home and lifestyle. They’ve used a neutral palette for their interiors and enlivened them with bold artworks, many with a Chinese accent. Peony motifs feature prominently, echoing 104 Australian Country HOMES

the spring display in the garden, which becomes more impressive with every year. Even the breakfast menu is a cross-cultural melange with dumplings and other yum cha offerings alongside the more conventional bacon and egg options. Meanwhile, the garden is the drawcard in spring. At the time of this interview, visitors flocked in to see the fruits of years of hard work. Chinoiserie features many rare and unusual plants and also includes potager and alpine gardens, a water garden and herbaceous borders. There’s a chicken coop tucked in one corner supplying the freshest possible eggs for the breakfast table, and a willow-framed pergola beside a water course for enjoying sundowner drinks and soaking up the heady perfume of all those flowers blooming at once. The

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› Australian Country HOMES 105

These pages: The garden is divided by trellises; a bird bath attracts local wildlife.

106 Australian Country HOMES

springtime display includes more than 100 varieties of peonies — Chinese, Japanese, European and American tree peonies in every shade from white and yellow through to pinks, reds, purples and almost black. They are flanked by flowering fruit trees, a wisteria-draped bird house, poppies, roses, sweet peas, tulips, daffodils and a host of other plants competing for attention. “We planted lavender and daisies purely to attract bees,” Dominic explains. “The worldwide bee population is in crisis thanks to overuse of chemicals and monocultures so we try to do our bit to help that situation. If you don’t have bees you don’t have pollination and that would be a disaster for food production, not to mention flower growers and sellers.”

He acknowledges lots of generous people who have shared their knowledge to get the garden to its present stage and adds that he couldn’t do it without Chris’s help with lawn mowing and hedge trimming. “I’ve learned a lot from gardeners from all over the world,” he says. “I’m constantly gleaning from magazines and TV shows, and fellow gardeners are amazing when it comes to providing tips and advice.” Now the wheel has turned full circle and Dominic says there aren’t many people he can’t help with advice on how to grow peonies. “It’s a bit like a baby — you just need to work out what it needs,” he says. “But also like a baby, a great garden needs pretty much constant attention.”

However, he and Chris do allow themselves an annual break, which will often find them travelling the world visiting other people’s gardens. “I love to go to England and Europe and see what’s possible there,” Dominic says.

“I defy anyone to visit a garden such as Sissinghurst in Kent or Beth Chatto in Essex and not come home inspired to try something new. It gives me the motivation to keep striving for that elusive something special.” ACH

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THE FAMILY TREES A couple’s move to country Victoria sows the seeds for a thriving orchard and fruit tree nursery -------------------By CHRIS STAFFORD, photography by K ATE BLOOD except five by FLISSY JOHNSON PHOTOGR APHY

108 Australian Country HOMES

Australian Country HOMES 109

These pages: Professional horticulturists Kate Blood and Rob Pelletier have spent nearly two decades creating a garden, orchard and thriving fruit tree nursery.

A

few kilometres outside the town of Beaufort in western Victoria is Glenview Park Farm, a 145-acre property owned by husband and wife Rob Pelletier and Kate Blood. The farm comprises many acres of bushland, some pastured areas, an orchard and a fruit tree nursery.

No one driving past would guess the extent of the garden hidden behind the hedges. The front of the house is mown grass with well-spaced trees and behind the house is a “relaxed perennial garden” with deciduous trees.

“There are several different areas in our garden and bushfire protection is a big influence on their location and design,” says Kate. “We have larger areas of grass with curved hedges, specimen trees and avenues of deciduous trees.”

Rob and Kate are both horticulture graduates from Burnley in Melbourne.

He’s well known as a radio and TV gardening broadcaster and, with the help of Kate and nursery staff, has managed Heritage Fruit Trees for nearly two decades. Kate also works off-farm in conservation.

It’s a family thing and the couple have lived their lives in gardens. Rob’s parents were both avid gardeners and Kate grew up with a milking goat, chickens and a father with a flourishing vegetable garden that kept her mum busy trying to keep up with processing and preserving the produce. Kate’s first choice of career, up to the age of 10, was to become a florist.

Their extended families continue to grow fruit and vegetables and share the harvests between them.

Away from the gardens, Rob enjoys woodwork and cooking for family and friends, while Kate does various crafts including garment making and ecoprint dyeing onto natural fabrics using plants from the farm.

110 Australian Country HOMES

The gardens Beaufort, an old goldmining town between Ballarat and Ararat, is nearly 400m above sea level. Its temperate climate ranges from hot, dry summer extremes of 40°C to cold winters with the occasional -6°C frost and even the odd snowfall: in short, an ideal climate for fruit trees.

The Glenview Park gardens comprise roughly an acre with nearly another whole acre given over to the main collection orchard.

“The Pear Garden is a large formal hedged garden containing a central avenue of eating and perry pear trees,” says Kate. “In this half-acre garden there is a formal rose garden with 52 different varieties, a contemporary parterre of Buxus species and Japanese maples, raspberry beds (six varieties), about 150 trellised fruit trees (80 varieties of apples, pears, apricots and plums) and a large vegetable garden with a netted tomato hoop house.”

› Australian Country HOMES 111

These pages: An early-morning summer garden; alpacas and sheep make perfect companions.

The collection orchard includes more than 350 varieties of apples, 40 mostly table grapes and 40 mixed fruit trees including many fig varieties. The scion orchard contains about 100 apple varieties and over 50 pear varieties including Asian, European and perry pears.

“We grow rootstock and propagate many fruit trees sold in our nursery,” says Kate. “We follow many organic gardening principles. We compost, have a worm farm, generate solar electricity, recycle and harvest rainwater from our house and sheds. Mulching and drip lines help reduce our water use in the gardens,” she adds.

The property’s large areas of bushland are home to many native animals, including a big mob of kangaroos, while 112 Australian Country HOMES

frogs, reptiles and birds visit and live in the gardens. “It’s a treat to watch nesting fairy wrens and mistletoe birds raise their clutch each spring.”

The produce As well as Wiltshire Horn sheep, llamas and alpacas, the property has a number of chickens to keep up the supply of breakfast eggs and the couple eat and preserve produce from the orchards and vegetable garden.

They preserve tomatoes, basil in pesto, fruit, berries and other produce to use throughout the year in the kitchen.

“Rob’s homemade pizzas are loved by friends in Australia and overseas,” says Kate. “We think the home-grown tomatoes help give that extra zing.

“Visitors enjoy our homemade cakes that often contain berries and other fruit from the garden. We preserve many berries each season in the freezer and use Mum’s old Fowlers jars to store lots of fruit and tomatoes.”

Since they moved to Beaufort in 2001, Rob and Kate have slowly built the gardens and orchards. “We’re particularly proud of the collection of rare fruit trees we grow and make available to others through our workshops and nursery.

“Farm visitors including our workshop participants enjoy exploring the gardens and orchards.” ACH Heritage Fruit Trees is active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and its website, heritagefruittrees.com.au

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114 Australian Country HOMES

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