LONG FARM

NESTLED AT THE END OF A TREE LINED ROAD IS THE SPRAWLING PROPERTY, LONG FARM

IMAGES AND WORDS BY

CARIN GARLAND

The original homestead, built 150 years ago, sits at the top of a gentle hill, watching life and the seasons change around it, listening to the chatter of its custodians; the effervescent and skilled duo of Kalvin (a shopfitter and cabinet maker) and Samantha (an Interior Designer) along with their son, Jah.

Only the second family outside of the Humphries line to have owned the property since the homestead was built, Samantha and Kalvin have lovingly and expertly renovated and restored the original homestead, ensuring the cottages remained as authentic and as close to the original as possible.

After purchasing the property, Kalvin, Samantha, and Jah spent the first 6 months living around the corner in their other home so they could design and plan whilst waiting for construction to begin on July 1st, 2019. Samantha drafted floor plans for the builder, Ted Kerwin of Kerwin Homes, and other trades. It was at this time she also selected the finishes and new fixtures.

Enamoured with the history of the home, they prioritised re-registering the home as Long Farm, as it was known as in 1908 when Egbert Albert Humphries inherited it from his aunt, Emily Clarkston, and her husband William Clarkston, honouring the history and original owners.

Since 2019, power points have been installed throughout the home as previously there were none. “It was wild,” Sam comments. “There were power points inside the power box, allowing the previous tenant that lived here to use extension leads to have power to the homestead. The water was gravity fed only; it really was like stepping back in time.”

Termites had eaten the structure of the original kitchen and had to be demolished. When designing the new kitchen, timber windows now fill two side walls to take in the beautiful views at the rear of the cottage. This overlooks a 200+ year old Camphor Laurel and the original farm shed.

The beautiful, century old original doors and windows remain hanging and in use. All reusable timber from the restoration was salvaged and is being repurposed around the property; cute fences, a tree fort for Jah, and the kitchen of their separate dwelling on the property, The Dairy