THE WINE-DOWN

After 18 months touring Australia, Emma and Kieran Weir’s old life in Sydney felt too frenetic. So they moved to Margaret River, WA.

“In January 2021, we bought a caravan, put everything in storage, gave our pets to friends and hit the road,” says Emma, 44, a PR for wineries. “When we got to WA and the borders closed, we didn’t want to leave – it felt like a safe paradise. We fell in love with the south-west; its fresh air and big nature and its four seasons, which, being English, made us feel at home.

“When we went back to Sydney,

I felt like a rabbit in the headlights. We wanted a slower life. And after having the outback as our backyard for 18 months, we needed nature, and a patch of green to call our own.

“So in May 2022, we moved to Margaret River. Our plan of renting for a while – try before you buy – was impossible, as rentals are very hard to come by. We stayed in 10 holiday lets while trying to find somewhere, which was so unsettling for our sons Farran, 11, and Niven, nine. But we found this house, which has a huge deck, an orchard, and so many roses. We all love it – including Boo Cat and Harry and Potter, the guinea pigs!

“The farmers’ market every Saturday is gorgeous, we have 100 beaches with no-one else there, and we’re near woods and the river, where the boys kayak and swim. We made friends by saying yes to all invitations, and joining local Facebook groups.

“Adjusting to a new school has been hard for the boys, and I never realised how difficult it is to get specialist medical care in the country – we’ve waited months for appointments, and I have thought, ‘What have we done?’ Less seriously, everything closes early, which is a shock after city life!

“But we’re spoiled for wineries – great for my work. And Kieran, 44, has been able to change careers, from video games to coffee roasting. We got our slow life, and it’s lovely.” Follow Emma @weirhere >