Land Of Plenty

The textures and tones of the surrounding environment are subtly woven into the interiors of this rural NSW weekender.

- Elizabeth Wilson

Every second weekend or so, the Sydney-based owners of this home excitedly pack their bags and head north out of the city to travel here, their bush retreat. It’s been the same for the past 20 years, ever since they bought this beloved 50 hectares of undulating bushland. “We’ve always spent a lot of time here and it was a big part of our now-adult children’s childhoods,” says the owner. “It’s been our destination for Easters, Christmases and family celebrations.”

The property is nestled into a valley in the NSW Central Coast hinterland, about 90 minutes’ drive from the Sydney CBD. The allure is obvious: it’s tranquil, the air is fresh, and there are unending bush views in every direction. But the magnetic pull has become even stronger since the recent addition of this gorgeous new home on the site. “When we bought the property 20 years ago, there was a log cabin here, which was our home for the first 18 years,” says the owner. “But we have a large family and it’s growing all the time – soon we’ll have eight grandchildren – so we wanted a house that could fit everyone comfortably. Renovating the cabin would have been a massive job, so we decided to build something more modern with a family focus.”

They enlisted Sydney architect Michael Robilliard to design a two-storey residence that would sit harmoniously within the landscape. Built on the same site as the old log cabin, the new rendered-brick structure is designed in an L-shape, with the ground level consisting of an entry, two guestrooms, bathroom, and a large pitched-roof pavilion that accommodates an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room. Upstairs are the main bedroom suite, family room and a study.