Stories

Having lived in amongst a farming community for so many years now, I feel as though myself, among many locals here in Yarrawonga/Mulwala and closely surrounding towns, take the beauty of the farm country for granted. The ability to gaze over hectares of luscious crop and see no sign of any major infrastructure interfering with the canvas like panorama that sits before you is blissful. It makes it seem like the land never ends and as you stare way out in to the distance it’s almost as though you can see the land just roll over the edge of the earth – a similar experience to looking over the open ocean.

The ‘Sheppard’s delight’ sunsets at this time of year that make the whole sky glow with rippling waves of vibrant, warm colours illuminating the whole troposphere around you makes you feel as though you’ve entered a different world; there’s a reason photographers chase this kind of photo-op and creatives do art workinspired by this extravagant display in the sky – its simply stunning!

I’ve seen plenty of sunsets over the ocean and the high country, and boy are they impressive! But, I don’t think I’ll ever not be completely captured and mesmerised by the sunset over flat, open farm land – It’s a different experience all together and it is just as beautiful. In my opinion, it’s even a little more unique as there are few people who opt to holiday in the flat, ‘middle of nowhere’ farm country and therefore, we don’t see these views snapped and splashed all over the internet as often.

There are so many people out there who would have never witnessed this kind of landscape and aren’t to know where to look until someone points it out to them.

My wonderful new found friend Alison Plunkett and her family are so very lucky to own and run a cropping farm here in Mulwala NSW (when I say lucky, I keep in mind that they are dedicated to putting in the hard yards to be able to do so!) on a beautiful property called ‘Bellfield’ where for around 5 years now, they have been settled in to life on the farm. Having Matt - Alison's Husband run the farming business on the property for quite some time prior to the family making the move all the way from Ocean Grove, the Plunketts’ used to treat the old farm house on Bellfield as a holiday home to visit him on weekends and school holiday periods until they eventually gave the run down house a bit of replenishing TLC to make for a comfortable, reorganised new place to call their family home.

These guys have got. It. Right. They have created the perfect outdoor living space by reconstructing a big beautiful outdoor area from one of the oldest structures left standing on the farm that was said to be built in the 1880’s, as well as building a small, self-contained, bungalow style guest cottage right beside it, originally with the intent to house family and friends.

The outdoor living space welcomes the morning sunrise in with open arms, looks over a beautiful big pool area with the crops as the back drop and is equipped with an outdoor dining table, a lounge, hammock, barbeque and beer fridge; Ideal for bringing family and friends together to sit back, relax and socialise over good food, a couple of beers, weather appropriate wine and in the cooler months – warmed by the open fire place. The age-old brick fire place is an original centrepiece of the living area in an age-old home that they assume housed a family who were some of the first residents in the region back in the day! How amazing!

The Plunkett family make much use of the fantastic, antiquated outdoor open living and entertaining area and soak up the peaceful, secluded, stunning tranquillity of the farm – Oh how I wish I could step out the back door every evening and be greeted by these surroundings! This kicks my little courtyard-like back yards’ butt!

Excitingly though, and how blessed are we, that a combination of Alison’s sociable, bubbly and welcoming persona, her willingness to form new, friendly relationships with people as well as her recognition of just how beautiful the area is and how many people are simply starved of the opportunity to experience what is right outside her back door, was the perfect formula to prompt the lightbulb moment for her that lead to a new idea - To open up a fantastic opportunity for others and offer the spare bungalow on the property for a holiday rental, allowing others to experience the true farm life that she and her family lead each day.

“The more people that I talk to the more I hear about the desire to experience which made me realise we really had something to offer… open spaces, gorgeous sunrise and sunset ad small taste of farm life.” - Alison Plunkett

The accommodation is named ‘Bellfield Cottage’ and is a fantastic country getaway as a real point of difference to other offerings in the area. The family invite you in to not only make yourself at home in the bungalow and explore the farm but also to come in and share their outdoor living space with them and use it at your leisure if you please.

I recently stayed in the Bellfield Cottage with my partner and like it a lot we sure did! It was such an idyllic setting and one that anybody can enjoy – you don’t have to be the outdoorsy type to be able to handle the cottage. When you hear of something categorised as ‘self-contained’ and ‘outback cottage’ you can’t help but think BYO towels, linen, soaps, and definitely keep thongs on hand to shower and for the short trek to the long drop toilet – but I assure you this isn’t like that at all! The cottage is fully equipped with the necessities for a comfortable stay and is the perfect example of simple living. It consists of one main bedroom with a queen size bed, kitchenette, breakfast bar and hanging space for clothing, an ensuite with a shower and toilet as well as a gorgeous little porch out the front that is set up with vintage, cane arm chairs, an electric BBQ, outdoor dining table and chairs and an open fire pit – What more do you need, really?!

If you prefer a fancy hotel, this one may not be for you! Don’t expect 5 star facilities as seen in some cottage stays in the hills with a ginormous king size bed, coffee machine, spa bath, vintage leather sofas and modernised facilities; the little cottage is made from corrugated tin sheets, polished concrete floors and has been plastered and tiled on the inside with a bathroom and kitchenette fitout big enough to suit two adults, nothing too extravagant added to it – you are on a farm in the country after all! It wouldn’t be the real deal if it were anything too upmarket and lavish!

What you can expect though, is a 5 star experience – It’s peaceful, there’s enough on offer to keep you entertained but not too busy to relax, you enjoy each other’s company during your stay rather than being too distracted by other happenings, there are bikes to ride around to get to know your surroundings, chickens - Penny, Prudence, Phillipa and Peggies eggs to collect, a gorgeous little Border Collie ‘farm dog’ (that is more concerned about making new friends than herding any sort of farm animal) that goes by the name of Maggie. She makes you feel very welcome and is sure be the first face you see when you wake up in the morning as she greets you at your door! 

The views outside your window are amazing, the star gazing opportunities on a clear night are like no other, the fresh air is invigorating and the whole atmosphere and feel of the farm is something you can’t not stop to immerse yourself in and truly live in the moment.

You have the option to spend your stay completely secluded in the cottage, making the most of being in a quiet, outback retreat by your own fire pit and outdoor setting if you need a break and some time to yourselves. Or, you can get to know the family over quality, home-made food and drinks in their fantastic outdoor area and pool. Alison offers to have you join them for dinner where she caters for you with a delicious, platter or a wholesome meal, a beer if you like and offers you a taste of 'Sam'- the Victorian grown and made wine by Matts brother that goes by the name of ‘Wine X Sam’ and is a great drop if you ask me!

Alison shares with you a few of her favourite hot spots in town to shop, eat, grab coffee etc. etc. upon your arrival in case you wish to make a trip in to town (only a short 7km in to Mulwala by car). Boasted with the BBQ and necessary utensils right outside your door and a fridge filled with hearty breaky essentials, you have the option to cook up a feast! You can also head in to town to the grocery stores, local butchers or the farmers market and collect ingredients to have a cook up of your own for dinner if you wish.

You know when you meet certain people for the first time and you needn’t spend any more than half an hour chatting to them to feel as though you’ve been friends for years? Well, this is the Plunkett family (I love meeting people like this!). They’re so welcoming, chatty and easy to relate to - networking and acquiring new relationships with people, learning of their life experiences and exchanging stories is what they look forward to when having guests come to enjoy their property. You can tell they are genuinely interested in you and any story you have to tell - they have willingly created the opportunity for themselves to share their beautiful farm with people who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to grasp anything like it. So many people, whether they be from the country or the city who are used to more confined areas have the desire to seek wide open spaces and beautiful land scapes as a contrast to their day to day life and will be blown away by the Bellfield property - I guarantee it.

“We feel very privileged to live in such a beautiful part of the world and wanted to be able to offer the chance for people to experience something special and unique - especially people who do not live in the country.” Alison shared.

It’s not often you go and stay somewhere where the host is happy to let you utilise sections of their own family home and are willing to sit and have a chat with you over a nice bottle of wine and offer to whip up a beautiful, wholesome home cooked meal for you! I strongly advise making the most of your stay this way!

Nothing beats leaving your normal, everyday busy surroundings or city lights behind for a few days to get a breath of fresh air in the elemental outdoors; only camping isn’t for everyone! So why not stay in a cosy cottage where you get the best of both worlds – a comfortable bed, shower and toilet as well as the open fire and the outdoorsy experience. This is definitely something to add to your bucket list, even if you are a local. Now I might be bias, as kicking back, having a good yarn whilst enjoying alfresco dining and a glass of red and soaking up the ambience of being by the open fire is my absolute favourite thing to do! So it was inevitable that I was going to love Bellfield, but I can honestly say you'll never get a true taste of the farm/country lifestyle in a holiday rental that is quite as authentic as this!

Check it out for yourself!

Facebook: Bellfield Cottage

Instagram: @bellfieldcottage 

Book a stay:  airbnb - bellfield cottage  

Contact:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone: 0400 050 981

Recently I was fortunate enough to be able to take the tour of one of Yarrawonga’s most recently refurbished homes - a majestic, original Victorian style, 110+ year old heritage building that blew my mind away.

Nestled in amongst other homes on Ely St that don’t quite carry the same age-old significance is the ‘House Of Figs’ in a league of its own– A property originally purchased by a couple as an investment with intent to bring the tired, run down weatherboard structure back to life and make her liveable again, without jeopardising a lot of the original, Victorian style features. This meant that knocking it down and doing the full rebuild wasn’t an option.. So, the couple faced the fact that there was a lot of thorough examination, planning, time, patience and of course a significant amount of money needed to both prepare for and eventually complete the project they’d singed themselves up for.

This plan diminished after it presented itself to be a little too much effort at quite a large expense, but! thankfully, Tegan Whinray (daughter of the owners) came up with the perfect solution to revitalise her parents investment home and bring it out of its neglected state that would still mean an invasive reno, just not quite to the extent of the original plans. The result of her recognition of the homes potential, combined with a business plan inspired by a weekend away in a beautiful Daylesford Bed and Breakfast with her husband, Craig, sparked a lightbulb moment for Tegan – to turn the home in to a Holiday rental that would make for the most relaxing, dreamy weekend getaway. She hoped to allow potential residents to kick back, relax, take in a breath of fresh, country air, recognise the finer details of the old building, appreciate the hard work put in to creating the surroundings and of course, to simply disregard their day to day responsibilities and enjoy themselves.

This lightbulb moment prompted Tegan to take her ideas and put them forward to her Dad, Robert. From there, collectively, the two started from scratch and set out to create a boutique style, rustic retreat for Yarrawonga. The house was like a blank canvas to experiment with - withholding hidden and not so welcomed treasures beneath the walls that is! – as many reno projects go, there were some unexpected ‘features’ unveiled and the pair were confronted with several obstacles, forcing them to stray from original plans.

“What started out to be a minor renovation became quite major. We ended up having to replace the entire floor, re-plaster sections of the walls, gut and re-do the bathroom and kitchen, restore windows and doors, rebuild the chimney, demolish an extension room and do a complete overhaul of the garden.” - Tegan told me.

Trust me when I say you won’t be disappointed when you feast your eyes on the finished product and recognise the hard yakka that has gone in to the structural redesign, refurbishing, furnishing and decorating the home.. Especially when you see the before and after shots!

So without further a do, it’s with absolute pleasure I present to you the completed project, the outright grand achievement for the father and daughter duo that is the ‘House of Figs’.

The house backs on to its hero pieces – the two enormous Fig Trees (hence the name) with branches that line the back fence and span so wide over the yard it’s as if they’re welcoming you with open arms as you walk out the back doors.

The house had been tampered with over the years with ad ons and flooring material changes, creating a major cluster beneath the skin and clashing of interior stylings from different eras!

H.O.F now has a running vintage theme throughout to suit the late Victorian style architecture from the original configuration - using old, used Australian farm/workshop materials as well as furniture and ornaments that served multiple purposed in their heyday to deck out both the interior and exterior of the home. The fact that almost every piece of furniture and trinket, both functional and decorative has a long-established history and most likely an interesting story behind it ads charisma and mystery to the overall ambiance and setting.

With Robert having an undying love and passion for digging up old, preloved furniture and restoring it to a similar state to what it had been in its glory days - A skill he’d perfected over many years – made him an asset in the renovation planning process as he had an exceptional judgement of what was worth preserving. Expectedly, this passion and proficiency rubbed off on Tegan and for many years prior to H.O.F, they have worked as a team to dig up neglected bits and pieces perceived invaluable to most people and give them a wow factor again.

Fortunately for people like me who have zero patience, nor the adequate skill set to do the same - the pair put their creative, perfectionistic minds together and started up a furniture sales/hire business called ‘Hand Picked Crop’ - a platform allowing them to share their work with the broader community by giving striking pieces (mostly dug up from auctions, second hand stores and clearing sales) the ultimate makeover and offering them for both event hire and purchase..

“Collecting busted up, tired but unique furniture from auctions, second hand stores and clearing sales and restoring them to their former glory has always been a love for both Dad and I. We have been doing this for years.." 

Together, they are the heart, soul and brains of Hand Picked Crop with a knack for rustic interior styling, renting out trinkets and furniture that give any event a vintage, comely look. So, naturally, you expect their most recent buiz direction – the House of Figs to look somewhat like an elegant, age-old yet beautifully refurbished boutique chalet that thrives off its deliberately accentuated, perfect imperfections - mirroring the design approach they take when doing up vintage furniture.

It pays to take the time to wander in and out of every room upon your stay at H.O.F, even if you aren’t using each bedroom just to take a thorough look around and acknowledge every little ornament, knick-knack, bed spread, furniture piece (many of which are pieces from the Hand Picked Crop range!) and finish of the ceilings, walls and floors to truly appreciate the fact that so much of it has historical significance, but also, to realise how much work and attention to detail has gone in to the interior design workings.

Unfortunately, photographs just don’t do it justice… It’s so much more beneficial to physically walk through and gain your own visual impression and feel for the place…

Think polished hardwood floors, classic cornice and architraves, an open fire place that is over a century old, mosaic tiles, original, stained bay windows, natural light beaming through the north facing kitchen window, new era facilities but still a consistent vintage theme throughout to preserve the heritage aspect of the property as well as preloved, mismatched, character rich furniture, each carrying its own mystery and ‘once upon a time’ story, leaving its chronicle up to your imagination.

With a focus on traditional, technology free, communal dining and big outdoor spaces, House of Figs is the perfect getaway. The accommodation is aimed primarily at couples who’re after an intimate, dreamy holiday retreat, with intentions to take a step away from their day to day reality, spend a little more one on one time together by sitting in the dining room sipping on a local wine, overlooking the backyard through the large bay windows, or, chill out on the day bed and read a book with a cuppa to simply just unwind and relax.

Fortunately though, H.O.F is also perfect to accommodate a small group of friends who enjoy kicking back, having a social drink and a good old catch up while sitting under the outdoor dining table shaded by a blanket of Wisteria in the warmer months or lazing on the couch by the fire place in the winter - Or, potentially a family who will fill all 3 bedrooms, utilise the ping pong table and big open lawn to play on, cook up a big BBQ and play the provided board games indoors to spend quality time soaking up the surroundings and enjoying each-others company.

“Our ideal guests would be people who share a love of the old, unique, beautiful items and quirks of the house, those people that realise that the house is over 100 years old… People who will love it the most I think are those that love character homes and decor but live in a more modern dwelling.” - Tegan shared.

Check out the before and after shots to see the amazing transformation and what has become of this beautiful heritage home.. 

I was so pleased that Tegan was interested when I approached her about potentially touring and writing about the beautiful home, wondering through and learning about the whole process and also about herself and her Dad personally was such a treat! I couldn’t help but picture myself lazing out on the lush lawn under the shade of the enormous Fig trees on a picnic rug with an antipasto platter, glass of wine and a magazine - Or.. soaking in the cast iron claw foot bath (that was rescued from an old local farmhouse and had seen better days before Tegan and Rob brought it back to life!) with a book or easy listening acoustic music - Or.. cooking up a nice, country style homemade dinner utilising the herb garden just outside the kitchen!

It would be such a tranquil, mentally and physically revitalising night stay as it forces you to switch off and takes you back in time a little. Those who love antiques and collector’s items would have a field day sifting through all of the trinkets in every nook throughout the home. You would think they’ve spent a fortune on furnishings, but really, they’re just clever, educated and savvy collectors that have a decent work ethic and a lot of patience! Not to mention they love doing what they do! 

I asked Tegan what her favourite feature of H.O.F was, this is a bloody tough question for someone with such an emotional connection to the home, but! she did manage to choose and I couldn’t agree more with her answer… “If I had to (choose) it would be the entire backyard. I love that even though you are right in town you feel like you are a world away from neighbors especially in the morning when all you can hear is the chirping of birds. The backyard is perfect for those who just want to relax by sitting on a deck chair or a picnic rug on the lawn or those who are a little more energetic and want to play with one of our lawn games or have a hit of table tennis on our vintage table.”

 All in all, Tegan, Rob and their families as helping hands have done a fabulous job!

The house stands out in Ely street as such a beautiful bold and elegant structure, I love the contemporary edge added to the home with the use of colour placement and composition. The paint colours - fresh, stark white window frames, door frames and trimmings on the exterior paired with a slightly creamier weather board contrasts perfectly with the harsh black tin roof and front door. This dramatic flair inflicted by a clashing colour pallet emphasises architectural character and is carried through to the interior also, making for a chic bathroom and an exceptional fireplace – if the limelight isn’t stolen by the stunning timber beaded chandelier that is! (see my snaps below). A refreshing white now coats majority of the walls - which I think is genius in adding a bit of brightness and new life to any home. It’s something about naturally lit, bright spaces that make you feel a little more uplifted!

For me, the absolute stand out features in the House of Figs (just to list a few...!) were:

• The beautiful archway at the entrance draped with greenery.

• The restored furniture that is quirky and one of a kind.

• The 100+ year old windows.

• The Chandelier that centres and absolutely MAKES the lounge room!

• The outdoor dining area completely shaded by Wisteria that makes for a beautiful, cool and comfortable spot to chill out.

• The oh so impressive Fig trees that are so characteristic being so chunky and magnificently large! And lastly,

• The comforting, homely vibe you get when you’re in the home – it makes you feel like you’ve been visiting for years!

This is a fantastic asset to Yarrawonga and one that I hope even locals will treat themselves to when they need to switch off for a night or two. It’s walking distance from the main street - ideal for wandering down to grab a coffee in the morning or go and enjoy dinner and a few drinks at night time. The Yarrawonga foreshore is also only 3 blocks away, so taking a nice lakeside walk or jog is a must do in the time you’re staying.

If you’re reading this and you have any questions or have been before and wish to share your own experience, please pop a comment below! 

Check it out for yourself!

Facebook: House of Figs Yarrawonga

Instagram: @houseoffigsyarrawonga

Keen to get your hands on some unique, vintage furniture from Hand Picked Crop for your home or event?

Facebook: hand picked crop

Instagram: @handpickedcrop

Enquire via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contact:

Phone:0407 080 677

book: AirBNB

Location:46 Ely STreet Yarrawonga, VIC 3730

#2 Taste number 5 at Yarrawonga Noodle House - don't forget to order a dim sim on the side! 

#3 Go to the driving range at The Black Bull Golf Course in Silverwoods or the Mulwala Golf Club for a fun hit with friends. Yarrawong/Mulwala is extremely popular for Golf trips, if you're a golfer, be sure to go and check out both of the courses. 

#5 Hire SUP boards or kayaks from Skin Ski and Surf Pro Shop Mulwala.

#6 Go for a walk around Chinamans Island and finish up with a swim at the Yacht Club Yarrawonga.

#9 Have a beer out on the Cri Deck Yarrawonga under the mist fans overlooking the Lake.

#10 Order a burger at the Naked Tree Restaurant Yarrawonga.

#11 Enjoy a big thyme breaky at Thyme for Coffee Yarrawonga

#13 Head out on the P.S Cumberoona for drinks, lunch or dinner and beautiful lake views.

#15 Hire a pontoon from Lake Mulwala Barby Boats.

#16 Cruise up the Murray River by boat on a calm night. 

#17 Order a slice of cake from Burkes Hotel Yarrawonga and have a full desert meal rather than dinner!

#18 Pick your favourite Parma in town after you've treated yourself to a few - they're on offer from most of our pubs and clubs in Yarrawonga, Mulwala and Bundalong!

#19 Go out to the Byramine Homestead and Brewery for a platter and home brewed beers and ciders.

#20 purchase yourself some premium quality olive oil and enjoy a coffee and cake at Rich Glen Olive Grove Yarrawonga. 

#21 For the big eaters – do the bundy burger challenge at the Bundling Tavern

#22 Go windsurfing with Yarrawonga Windsurfing School (located at the Yacht Club Yarrawonga)

#23 Have a cocktail on the deck at the Mulwala Water Ski Club.

#24 Order pizza and pasta and enjoy BYO alcohol at Athenaeum Yarrawonga.

#25 Find a sandy beach along the river and have a beach party, BBQ and a day sesh!

#26 Get a late night iceacream from Avalanche Icecreamery.

#27 There is live music at the Bundalong Tav on a Saturday night! go and soak up the great atmosphere!

#28 Buy floating rings and float down-stream from the Yarrawonga weir boat ramp.

#29 Go to the gold class style cinema at the Mulwala Golf Club

#32 Go and get a hair treatment, wash and blow wave at one of our hair salons to paper yourself!

#33 Go and get a facial or a massage at one of our spas or beauty clinics.

#34 Take bocce or a cricket set down to the lawn at the yacht club.

#35 Go shopping, there are many beautiful little giftware stores, florists, clothing stores and fashion boutiques in town to purchase some goodies for yourself!

#36 Go to Stone Grill at the Mulwala Golf Club for steak and seafood.

#37 Eat out or takeaway some Chinese from The Oriental Pearl at Club Mulwala (Make sure Special Fried Rice is in your order!)

#39 Buy a Loaf of fresh Flourish Sourdough from Souleiado Yarrawonga - there are a bunch of different flavour options and they're all delicious! 

#40 Learn to water ski or improve and pick up something new! you can have lessons from the guys at the Skin Ski and Surf Pro Shop in Mulwala.

These are just a few suggestions among the many amazing things to do, see and most importantly eat in our wonderful township!

If you're a local or someone who loves coming to visit the area and have some suggestions to add, please do! comment below with any 'must do' additions for our readers :)