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As for Bruce, he’s embraced the quiet life, too.
“I couldn’t fi nd a farmer but quite happily found
Bruce and tried to turn him into a farmer,” Simone
says. “He grows magnifi cent garlic, vegies and fruit
trees.” The bounty of Hillview comes courtesy of
an orchard abundant with mango, avocado and
citrus trees and the resident hens who deliver
breakfast each morning.
It’s a hard place to leave, but working for an
airline has its perks and the family jets off once
a year to explore other parts of the world. While
they’re away, their country haven is rented to
others. And if you happen to score a stay, you
may notice a famous name in the guest book. “We
were lucky enough to have Cate Blanchett and her
delightful family stay at Hillview for four months
while she shot Thor at Movie World,” Simone
beams. She was approached by the movie star’sagent and decided that moving her own family
out for a short while to make way for Hollywood
royalty was worth the inconvenience. “That was
very special,” she recalls. “Cate was in the process
of a planned relocation from Sydney to a country
home in Sussex, in the UK, so was very interested
in farm life,” Simone adds. “She was really keen on
our vegie patch, chickens and the fruit trees in
our orchard. Hillview was also a central meeting
point for the nannies on the set of Thor and
the actors’ children. Hillview often hosted Mark
Ruff alo and Chris Hemsworth’s kids in the pool
and for sleepovers.”
Of course, the gorgeous homestead and farm
have also become a huge draw for Simone and
Bruce’s extended family and friends keen on a
country getaway. “Because the homestead sleeps 16,
we often hold large overnight gatherings,Above: Dining
comes with views.
Opposite:
Entertaining is part
of life in the hills
so the kitchen is a
much-used space.