Fleurieu Living Magazine – April 2019

Philip Scrivener. On one side, lawn stretches out beyond the

plantings of roses, lavender and daisies towards a magnificent

Moreton Bay Fig. Its unexpected presence on the plains offers

welcome shade and a little whimsy in the form of a swing hanging

from one of its substantial boughs.

Inside, the cosmetic enhancements continued. The four bedrooms,

which sleep up to ten people, have been decorated in a heritage style.

They’re serviced by three fully-renovated bathrooms and a beautifully

appointed country-style kitchen. All the historic features you might

expect are present, like fireplaces and leadlight glass, but the house

also offers some unusual treats. A belvedere attic reached via a steep

staircase rewards visitors with 360 degree views across the plains.

Outside, carefully restored stone steps lead down into a half-sunken

cellar, accented by exposed beams and brick fireplace, which is now

a hideaway for cosy winter dinners.

A short distance from the house, a generous lawn now covers what

was previously horse yards. The lawn is framed by the sandstone

chaff shed, corrugated iron-clad stables and newly-built toilet and

kitchen block. An overgrown mess when they bought the place, the

chaff shed has been expertly revived by stonemason Rick Wheatley

and now functions as an open-air chapel. The absence of a roof adds

drama, the should-be roofline now a marriage of golden sandstone,

red brick and blue sky. Beyond the far wall, a windmill, repositioned

from elsewhere on the property, solemnly keeps watch.

The interior of the stables was gutted to open up the space, which

now comfortably seats eighty. The corrugated iron shell and exposed

wooden studwork remain, while tools reclaimed from the buildings

and nearby paddocks readily remind guests of the building’s former

agricultural life. The need for more light was met by installing a large

window at one end, a treasure salvaged from a demolition sale.

The most significant new build on the property is the toilet and

kitchen block adjoining the stables. The toilets provide necessary

facilities for guests with a slicker, more modern fit-out than the main

house, while the kitchen is the hub of Cindy’s catering business,

Cindy’s Classic Gourmet. Designed by Amanda Bragg and built by

Delatorre Constructions, it’s no shrinking violet despite housing the

back-office operations.

The original plan was to clad the amenities block in tin, but builder

Todd Delatorre suggested stone instead. When it came to finding >

Situated on forty-two acres cradled by the Angas River, Woodburn Homestead was

built in 1864 by Matthew Rankine, son of William Rankine, one of the earliest European

settlers in the area.

Previous page top and bottom left: The chaff shed has been expertly revived by stonemason Rick Wheatley and now functions as an open-air chapel. Bottom right: The
corrugated iron stables hold a great deal of charm. This page above: The master bedroom has generous windows that open out to the wraparound verandah and garden.