Sidd, James & Ivan the Pug
What brings you to the Hills ?
After many years living in our small apartment in the inner city, it was time to look for a place to call home.
Our search began in Abbotsford, but after a New Year's trip to Tasmania, we fell in love with the idea of a beautiful old home surrounded by nature.
Sidd had some convincing to do and while Tassie was a bit of a stretch, we thought that the Hills may be a good compromise, providing easy access to the city, while offering the natural beauty and country way of life.
After all, most of Melbourne is flat and brown, but here we have a slice of rainforest on the city's doorstep !
We stumbled upon this character-filled old home for sale in Ferny Creek while we were on the Spirit of Tassie and booked an inspection as soon as we could. When we came to inspect "Wordsleigh" for the first time, it was love at first sight !
Can you describe your home style or any unique features it has that makes it special to you ?
Our home, "Wordsleigh", is an eclectic mix of Tutor Revival, so popular in the Hills in the early 20th century, and French Provincial.
You could easily miss the home as you drive up the Tourist Road through the Hills, but nestled into the mountain it lies.
Our favourite aspect of the design is the experience of moving through different areas.
For example, moving up through the rustic terracotta laundry, through the subterranean downstairs living room and rock-walled cellar,
up the dark and moody staircase,
and into the warm and cosy lounge and dining area that spills out onto the wraparound balcony looking out over the forest. It feels like you are arriving into a completely different world, and it is such a beautiful surprise every time you walk into a new space.
We also love the subtle play of light and shadow at different times of the day, especially in the afternoon as the mottled light spills into the farmhouse kitchen. It adds to the ever-changing experience of the home.
Do you know much about the history of your home, perhaps its story of who else once lived here ?
Wordsleigh was originally shipped from England in the 1910s, as a weekend escape for Alfred Lawrence, a teacher living in Canterbury, and his mysterious 'best friend', Henry Thomas, a doctor.
The home has only had a handful of owners since, and has evolved over the years. The downstairs rock wall and chimney were built by hand, each rock collected during travels around Australia, and the Baltic pine floors were lovingly repurposed and restored.
We have had the honour of connecting with a handful of previous custodians of Wordsleigh - we say 'custodians', as we have come to understand that no-one truly owns "Wordsleigh", and all who have lived here have an ongoing spiritual and interpersonal connection to this home and the land.
It is said that ghosts of Wordseigh's past still walk its halls, and poems have been written in her honour.
Old newspapers from a bygone era insulate its walls, some that have been collected and now displayed to inspire those who pass through.
What do you love about your home ?
For Sidd, his favourite room is the French inspired kitchen with its quaint pitched roof, where he cooks up a storm for James while they share stories of their day around the large island bench.
For James, it’s the sun-drenched library, where you can while away the hours in the afternoon sun, reading and staring out into the rainforest, with all manner of bird life greeting you at the window.
There is also a quirky haberdashery nook hidden above the stairwell, where it is said that the previous custodians sewed their garments and where we are told the ghost of Wordsleigh resides. A painting hangs in that stairwell, that has been handed down from the original owners, and is not allowed to be moved for fear of disturbing the ghost.
Are there any particular themes, colour or elements throughout your home that reflect your personality or interests ?
We love raw, rustic materials, patinated wood, brass and copper, as well as hand thrown ceramics, and these all play a role in the latest iteration of the home.
We've recently updated the laundry, bringing it in line with the rest of the house. We used an organic colour palate, including terracotta lime wash and an exposed timber workbench.
We love natural, imperfect finishes, and this laundry follows that theme. Many fixtures in the house were either found on the property or repurposed (e.g. the rainforest rhododendron shower, using the trunk of a fallen rhodie that was once on the property).
We like to say that Wordsleigh is perfectly imperfect, and that is what makes it special.
What do you love about living in the hills ?
The Hills are Melbourne's little slice of paradise.
We love that you can be so close to a beautiful cosmopolitan city and also be in a temperate rainforest surrounded by nature at the end of the day.
There is something about the air up here, and about the people who choose to call this place home.
What best captures our love of the Hills is a Japanese word called 'shinrin-yoku', which loosely translates to 'forest bathing'.
We have recently created an outdoor wellness space, where we can soak in the gorgeous surrounds, even in the depths of winter while the fog rolls in, or in Autumn while our giant maples turn red and drop their leaves.
How does living in the hills influence your daily life or routine ?
The property includes a small cottage, which Sidd has been able to use for his psychotherapy practice.
The Hills ambiance has been incredible for Sidd and his clients, and the easy commute to work is great too! James still works in the city a few days a week so is able to get his city fix - it is an easy express train into the city from Upper Gully.
We have also become much more in tune with nature since moving up here. We see the weather changing as we move through the seasons and appreciate what each season brings.
How do you like to spend your weekends ?
We watch far less television!
Instead, we find ourselves reading a book by the fire, chatting with friends in the sun-drenched library, or looking out over the ferns from our barrel sauna in the forest.
Sidd has been loving his new kitchen, and has turned his hand to pickling and baking fresh sourdough on the weekends.
We also go for hikes with our pug, Ivan
and enjoy supporting the quaint cafes and restaurants in the Hills.
Do you have a favourite place to visit (walk / eat / shop) ?
We have enjoyed getting to know the people who volunteer at the local indigenous nursery, to re-vegetate our property and carry out some gardening on the weekends.
They have an incredible seed bank of flora that is native to the local area, and have taught us how to deal with the English ivy problem.
We also gain inspiration from Sunday strolls around the Cloudehill Gardens.
We love dining out at House of Fras on the weekends, or popping down to Proserpina for a pastry during the week.