Living history

A COUPLE’S PASSION FOR RESTORATION HAS GIVEN NEW LIFE TO TWO HERITAGE-LISTED HOUSES IN THE HUNTER VALLEY, NSW.

THERE’S SOMETHING QUITE MAGICAL about the Lower Hunter Valley. It starts near Gosford and the Central Coast of NSW and runs to Cessnock in the north-west across a region rich in colonial and agricultural history, home to one of Australia’s oldest and most popular wine regions. Less than an hour’s drive from Newcastle and two hours from Sydney is heritage-listed Wallalong House. When Ian and Bernadette Davidson first saw the home and its four hectares in 2015 they knew it was exactly what they wanted. “From the moment we drove onto the property, we were captivated by the views and the history,” says Bernadette. The couple had been looking for another property for more than a year to expand their wedding venue business. “Our other property is Mindaribba House, on the banks of the Paterson River in NSW,” says Bernadette. “The search for the second venue seemed to go on and on, until we found Wallalong House near Morpeth.” Ian was born in Young and his family farmed there for five generations. He left the South West Slopes town for Sydney, where he met Bernadette 20 years ago at the opening of an art gallery. Eight years later they married and started drafting their exit strategy from the city. The plan was to find a place in the country for themselves and their seven children, which could also be used for a wedding business. By 2015 it was clear that the couple were onto a great concept; private weddings in historic rural settings proved to be extremely popular and they purchased Wallalong House. Wallalong dates back to 1823 and was originally owned by ship’s surgeon, pastoralist and explorer Walter Scott. The main house, dating back to the mid-19th century, is built of stone and early brick, with cedar joinery and doors. High ornate ceilings soar above the spaces and all the major rooms lead out through French doors to the generous verandah wrapping around the house. Given its age, with Georgian and Victorian elements, the home was in amazing condition. The couple moved in and spent six months renovating nine bedrooms and the stables. “The previous owners really cared for the house; even the paint colours were good, so we only changed some of the bedroom colours,” says Bernadette. Ian got to work on the stables with the help of son Jasper and Jeffrey Reibel, who now manages the property. “We removed all the plaster and brought it back to the 1830s sandstone,” says Ian. Parts of the original roof, made from slate shipped from Wales, were also restored using extra tiles that had been stored in a hut nearby for more than 150 years. In Sydney, Bernadette had made a living buying and renovating homes, so she was excited to decorate this beautiful place for her and Ian to enjoy (they live there during the week and move between their three properties when weddings are booked). She concentrated on sourcing antique furniture and artworks from all over the world. After they purchased the property, the couple made an incredible discovery. “Ian and I found two attic rooms in the roof above the stables,” says Bernadette. “One had a small Rapunzel window, so I decided to make it our office. We are slowly turning the second room into a bedroom with a drop-down ladder for our own use.” >

“From the moment we drove onto the property, we were captivated by the views and the history.”

Below are the property’s original stables and carriage room. Bernadette combined these two spaces to create a gorgeous bedroom, complete with a 17th-century copper bath bought at auction. “It is my favourite because it reminds me of a very old Italian country villa, with rustic walls and a cobblestone floor covered with rugs,” she says. Initially, the Davidsons both loved adding to the gardens at Wallalong. One of their special places is the walled enclosure containing the herb, vegetable and citrus gardens, entered via a 200-year-old Javanese wooden door. However, now the businesses are at a point where there are bookings most weekends, they are often deployed elsewhere. Bernadette looks after the marketing and is the main point of contact for clients; Ian is hands on with the ongoing restoration of the properties, as well as making the odd piece of outdoor furniture, and maintaining the gardens. Whenever they have time to themselves at Wallalong, Bernadette says, they tend to do simple things. “We like to take a stroll across the lawn from the verandah and sit in the shade between the 200-year-old Moreton Bay fig trees. From there we look down to the valley and river below.” “After a full day of jobs, watching a vivid sunset at dusk is a great pleasure,” Ian adds. “We work harder than we did in Sydney, but it’s different work. It’s as though we can’t stop moving because we’re driven by the love of this place.” See wallalonghouse.com.au or mindaribbaweddings.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY PRUE RUSCOE MORPETH NSW HOME An outdoor setting at Mindaribba House, which Ian and Bernadette Davidson own along with Wallalong House in the Hunter Valley.

CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE The dining room features a five-metre table; Ian and Bernadette love the verandah’s wrought iron columns and the pair of 19th-century French railway benches they bought from Sydney store Elements I Love; French doors lead to the southern verandah; shutters hang on many of the windows.

CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE The stables and carriage room have been converted into a bedroom with a rustic, romantic feel; Ian, a former polo player, rides his Australian stock horses, Tinkerbell and Angelica; the 17th-century French copper bath is fully plumbed; crockery is stored in an antique cabinet. FACING PAGE The house is surrounded by four hectares of beautiful grounds.