Stonework, light and views make Bangalay an ideal home between Canberra and Braidwood. Photos: Supplied.
Country surgeon Dick Varley embraced sustainability and loved working with rocks. And now, his craftsmanship and love of the Australian bush are evident in a new, magnificent north-facing home 30 minutes from Braidwood.
Earth-coloured rock walls enhance ‘Bangalay’ inside and outside alongside a sparkling lap pool thanks to Dick, or as his children and grandchildren call him – Rocky.
His stonework remains at his parents’ place in Queensland and two homes in Coonabarabran and Grafton.
He retired to Braidwood because of its proximity to Canberra and the South Coast, and immersed himself in the strong, eco-aware community men’s shed and Gundillion Community Hall.
Sadly, Dick passed away in April last year as ‘Bangalay’ neared completion. His daughters finished the landscaping, and the three-bedroom, off-grid home at 158 Harts Road, Krawarree, is listed for sale for $1,690,000 with Denver Shoemark and Mitchell Smithers, Ray White Braidwood.
The property sits on a 365-hectare site.
On a rise overlooking open paddocks, a tree-lined water course and blue mountains in the distance, the home’s design and aspect were carefully considered by Dick who wanted to create as small a footprint on the environment as possible.
Solar-powered and built with green bricks and double-glazed windows, the home’s main bedroom on the mezzanine level is large with dormer windows to capture views of the rolling hills and bushland outside on the 365- hectare property.
Rooms offer unrivalled views of the bush.
He designed the downstairs bedrooms and bathroom as a guest wing and an alfresco area for entertaining friends and his family. A study lined with bookshelves was to hold his large book collection.
A modern kitchen opens to spacious living areas on a polished concrete floor and soaring ceilings above. Abundant natural light falls on the Tasmanian oak timber doors and staircase. Remote-controlled skylights, blinds and an opening roof over the alfresco area allow full enjoyment of the sunlight and close for relief of the summer heat.
Double-glazed windows to capture views of the rolling hills and bushland outside.
Low impact, effective high-tech features include: abundant 8.3KW of power and battery storage capacity of 60KW hours, reverse cycle air-conditioning, NBN, and satellite phone.
The home would be ideal for a family, a farm house or a weekender between Canberra and the South Coast, that could be locked up with minimum maintenance.
Raised vegetable garden beds under bird netting outside.
A vegetarian, Dick had established raised vegetable garden beds under bird netting outside. Since the 1970s he had bred mohair goats and planned to continue this once his house was completed.
Other outside features include the 12-metre solar-heated lap pool, sauna, landscaped native rock gardens, circular drive, garage and workroom.
The property has mainly open pastures and 55 hectares of native woodland, is fully fenced into seven paddocks, and recently ran 110 cattle and 110 sheep. Naturally well-watered, the property has 10 dams, some spring-fed), and rain water tanks for 200,000 litres.
Improvements include two large sheds: a four-bay machinery shed and a four-roller door shed with separate lock up section.
Bangalay on 158 Harts Road, Krawarree is on the market for $1,690,000. For more information, call Denver Shoemark on 0408 762 517 or Mitchell Smithers on 0427 637 257.
The home would be ideal for a family, a farm house or a weekender between Canberra and the South Coast.
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