Home grown

Built as a rural refuge for a family of five, this holiday home in the Southern Highlands radiates quiet charm

- REBECCA HOOTON

Yearning for a peaceful country escape from their busy city lives, Natasha and Brian set their sights on the scenic Southern Highlands in NSW. "We wanted a place where our then-young boys could ride dirt bikes, make bonfires, camp and help with non-city things like feeding and looking after cattle, fencing and starting a veggie garden," says Natasha.

They chose the area for its "unspoilt" landscape. "It's the nearest we could find to the green grass feeling of England, with especially colourful autumns," she shares. The setting is so picturesque, it's where the Australian film Babe was shot.