A young family build their dream house on a Goondiwindi farm

FOR THIS YOUNG FAMILY AND THEIR MENAGERIE OF FARM ANIMALS, A CATTLE PROPERTY NEAR GOONDIWINDI HAS GIVEN THEM SPACE TO GROW.

WHEN THE MCDONALD children pile out of the car at the end of the school day, there’s always an enthusiastic welcoming committee waiting to greet them. Dot, a three-year-old blue heeler, and Tractor, a vivacious two-year-old Jack Russell, are the first to hurtle off the verandah, while Kevin the pet pig trots up from the paddock at the 2630-hectare cattle property near Goondiwindi. After shedding backpacks in the mudroom, the children dart off to a sprawling rivergum in the paddock and play in its limbs until it’s almost dark. Being surrounded by animals was part of Ryan and Rebecca Mcdonald’s plan when they moved Matilda, 10, eight-year-old Tommy, Annabel, six, and four-year-old Elsie from Brisbane to Goondiwindi, four hours to the south west. “We wanted the children to have the responsibility of looking after animals and to grow up on the land with the space and freedom to learn new skills,” says Rebecca, 37. Rebecca, a school teacher, is from Texas, south Queensland, while 37-year-old Ryan grew up in Brisbane but worked on cattle properties in west Queensland in his school holidays. Ryan’s has a building business based in Brisbane, but his interest in cattle and farming led them to buy Evergreen, a cattle property at Talwood, where they run some of their black Angus breeders. When the Goondiwindi property, now known as Victoria Park Farm, came on the market four and a half years ago, the couple jumped at the opportunity to expand their cattle business and give their children a country upbringing in a vibrant rural community. >

Before starting from scratch on this project, the couple had renovated eight houses. Luckily, Ryan’s building expertise combined with Rebecca’s flair for interiors meant they had the skills to create a spacious and beautiful family home. “We knew from previous renovations what we wanted — open-plan living, a mudroom, a northern aspect and verandahs. We needed to be practical so we went for a modern farmhouse look with weatherboard, and lots of French doors and windows,” says Rebecca. “I also incorporated different areas for the kids that would carry them through to their teenage years.” Ryan and his team built the six-bedroom house and the nearby guest cottage in approximately 10 months, and the Mcdonald family moved in just before Christmas in 2016. “I really enjoyed the process of drawing up plans, choosing different materials and decorating, and it’s good to have Ryan’s knowledge as well,” Rebecca says. The couple chose materials that could withstand their busy family life and an ever-expanding menagerie of animals — such as piglets, goslings and even emu chicks — that sometimes make their way into the home. “We didn’t want it to be precious,” says Rebecca. “It’s very family oriented.” Rebecca has decorated with a mix of old and new pieces, cleverly combining family antiques, vintage finds and kerbside pickups with linen, ticking and patterned fabrics. However, she recommends investing wisely in furniture that is used regularly and needs to last. “Keep these big buys classic as they won’t date, then accessorise with some expensive pieces and some inexpensive pieces,” she says. Since moving into the house at Victoria Park Farm, a steady stream of friends and family have come to visit, which prompted Rebecca to open the separate cottage with pool and tennis court as a guesthouse in April 2018. “I can’t quite believe how busy it has been,” she exclaims. “It’s fascinating meeting so many different people.” The family now run 600 cows and 800 weaners between Evergreen and Victoria Park Farm, and hope to further increase the herd in the future. “I love the lifestyle here,” says Ryan, who juggles the cattle properties with running his Brisbane building business. “We enjoy the work and I get to spend more time with the kids.” Meanwhile, the family has settled into the close-knit Goondiwindi community. “It really is the best of both worlds,” says Rebecca. “The kids can go for hours down the creek or to the treehouse. They get to work with Ryan on the property but also have their sport in town.” Best of all, there’s always room for a few more animals at Victoria Park Farm. Follow @victoriaparkfarm on Instagram, or visit Airbnb to book the cottage. For more on Goondiwindi, turn to page 106.

“It really is the best of both worlds. The kids can go for hours down the creek or to the treehouse.”

HOME GOONDIWINDI QUEENSLAND Annabel and Matilda Mcdonald in front of a collection of work hats in the laundry at their family’s Goondiwindi farmhouse. FACING PAGE A rivergum near the house at Victoria Park Farm is a favourite play spot for the children with pet pig Kevin Bacon and horses Wrangler and Snowy.

HOME GOONDIWINDI QUEENSLAND A cane pendant light from St Barts hangs above a wool classing table, which was found in the shearing shed at the family’s other property Evergreen, near Talwood.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Rebecca and Ryan with children Matilda (holding Jack Russell Tractor), Elsie, Annabel and Tom; Annabel loves climbing trees; the light-filled sitting room features artwork Vapor from Melbourne’s On Trend Decor above a Stocksund sofa from IKEA. The floral ottoman is covered in Pindler and Pindler Nebula Sapphire fabric; Ryan heading down the paddock; linen sofas from Globe West in the living room; one of the family’s Angus bulls. For stockist details, see page 136.

GOONDIWINDI QUEENSLAND HOME Tractor, sitting on a chair that Rebecca spray-painted, in front of the gallery wall. A mix of vintage finds and personal pieces, including a pencil sketch of Tommy by Brisbane artist Meredith Howse, a painting of the family’s first home in Charleville by Ryan’s grandmother (directly above the chair below) and above that, a colourful abstract work by artist and designer Kerri Shipp from Driftwood Interiors. Dot the blue heeler sits on a sisal rug from IKEA and the sideboard is from Pottery Barn. For stockist details, see page 136.

HOME GOONDIWINDI QUEENSLAND Elsie dancing in the paddock. Ryan and Rebecca love that they’re able to give their children a rural upbringing.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Ryan with Wrangler, the horse Rebecca rode as a teenager; the sitting room is a pretty mix of colourful fabrics and natural materials, such as the cane pendant from St Barts; Kevin likes being in the action; the Strandmon velvet armchairs and footstools in the master are from IKEA. The lampshade was covered by Rebecca; Matilda checks on the cattle; the inviting guesthouse; Tommy climbing up the rivergum. For stockist details, see page 136.