Out To Pasture

AN ACCLAIMED ARCHITECTURAL RETREAT IN SOUTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES, DOVECOTE OFFERS A RARE AND MAGICAL ESCAPE.

- RODERICK EIME

My view across the headland and out into the vast expanse of Pacific Ocean is interrupted only by a squad of dairy cows munching contentedly on the bright green grass.

I barely warrant a sideways glance as they continue their movable feast around the 60 hectares of lush pasture that contrasts vividly with the lurid blues of the clear sky and ocean. At the southern boundary is Werri Lagoon and its namesake beach, renowned among surfers for its ideal point breaks at each end and calm swimming conditions. Beyond Werri I can see the township of Gerringong with its envied reputation as a seaside holiday destination.

Perched high on the slope of this estate, a lazy two hours south of Sydney, and with privacy impervious to all but the Hubble Telescope, is Dovecote. This futuristic, architecturally superb, luxury accommodation could equally be the redoubt of the next Bond villain or a romantic escape for camera-shy Hollywood glitterati. And clearly this reputation is spreading, as film crews are almost as frequent as guests.

Dovecote is the dream realisation of London-based Jeffrey Simpson, who saw the property while on an exploratory drive south to the location of his own childhood holidays. Jeffrey was initially drawn to the site so his children could experience some of the outdoor joys he once enjoyed himself. His next Sydney abode, an award-winning conversion of a derelict warehouse – Pidgeon Shed – in Chippendale, was another of his passion projects. Convenient, but lacking in the open air and wild spaces a country estate could offer him and his family.