ARTISTS in residence
A SEARCH FOR SPACE AND AN ESCAPE FROM THE CITY LED TWO CREATIVES TO FIND A HOME – AND LASHINGS OF INSPIRATION – IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
The seasons change with full dramatic effect over the NSW Southern Highlands, so there’s no shortage of visual inspiration for artists Noel and Wendy, who now call this picturesque corner of the world home. “The changing seasons are very clearly and beautifully defined here,” says Noel. “As the garden is slowly becoming more established, it’s hard to decide whether autumn or spring is the more exciting. They both make for great spectator sport!”
This slice of paradise – a one-acre block in a beautifully preserved Georgian- style village – has been a labour of love for the couple, who took a roundabout route to their tree change. They met while living in Sydney, but each dreamed of a rural escape. However, the siren song of the country lured them a touch too far, to a remote property in Tasmania. “It was a bit of an overcorrection,” says Noel, a three-time Archibald Prize finalist. “We didn’t need to get that far away from Sydney!” After four years, the beauty of the spot was outweighed by its seclusion, and the couple found it was time to move on.
Still determined to pursue a rural life, this country spot, two hours’ drive from Sydney, was a good compromise. Plus, the couple found one of the last remaining empty blocks close to the township on which they could build a new home. “We spent most of the time in Tasmania renovating and we learned a lot from that, so we thought we’d be able to do a better job if we started from scratch,” explains Noel.
This acquired knowledge included an understanding of – and enthusiasm for – environmentally savvy construction, so the pair was open to using new materials, including cement-rendered Rmax walls, an expanded polystyrene product recommended by their builder. “It’s resulted in phenomenally good insulation,” says Noel. “The house maintains a near-constant comfortable living temperature throughout the hottest summer days or sub-zero winter nights.” Double-glazing also helps to keep the home’s even temperature, while a set of solar roof panels adds to the building’s eco credentials.
As well as essentially designing the main building and the couple’s studios himself, Noel took a hands-on approach to the construction process, working as a labourer on-site to save on costs. This also gave him the opportunity to add a few distinctive design touches along the way, including the custom recycled timber and mirror glass panelling on the front of the kitchen island and above the fireplace.
While Noel was at work on the house, Wendy turned her attention outside, transforming a bare paddock into a gorgeous garden, full of grassy terraces, meandering garden beds and soon-to-be-towering shade trees. She may be quick to downplay her landscaping expertise – “I just plant as I go and, if they don’t work, I dig them up and move them,” she says – but the resulting grounds are both divinely tranquil and artistically inspiring. Whether it’s the visual appeal of autumn’s turning leaves, or the meditative effect of seemingly endless weeding, it is clear that these two creative souls have finally found a home in which to bloom.