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COMING UP ROSES

A former miner’s cottage in Australia brought not only a new business to this expat Kiwi but romance too

An expat Kiwi’s pretty-as-a-picture miner’s cottage in Australia.

When New Zealand-born Sandy McKinley decided to swap her city career in marketing for life in the country, she ended up not only with a wellness retreat, wedding venue and sustainable micro flower farm, but a charmingly renovated cottage and a new partner. Establishing the property, called Acre of Roses, has been a labour of love in more ways than one. “I grew up with a desire to create a guest retreat, in a country location surrounded by land and flowers,’’ says Sandy. “My late father was an aviation designer for Air New Zealand and our home was always alive with neighbours, friends and international colleagues, sharing their vibrant stories and experiences. This had a huge influence and I wanted to recreate that energy.”

For 20 years, Sandy’s work took a different path, until in 2007, she made the move from Melbourne to Trentham, part of Victoria’s historic Daylesford spa region. “I was surrounded by stress and wanted to take a step back, to create something more mindful and relaxed.”

Introduced to the area by friends, Sandy knew instantly that the timber-framed miner’s cottage, built in the 1860s, was the place to realise her dream. Owned originally by foundry worker Ernie Elliott, the family were well-known in the area for their community spirit and

flourishing market garden. Says Sandy: “I could sense the connection with the land and although wild and rambling, it resonated with good vibes.”

With the help of local master builder Rob Roy – a specialist in period properties – work on the cottage began. What started out as a friendship between Sandy and Rob slowly developed and last year the couple were married. “I joke that it was the draw of great coffee and Rob’s love of my Irish wheaten terrier, Keegan, that kept bringing him back. The reality is we became soul mates, which made the renovation even more special.”

Internally, two smaller bedrooms were combined to create a larger bedroom; a dated 1970s extension was raised to incorporate a master bedroom and bathroom, a mud room was built and the original pine floors were insulated and restored.

Sandy describes the interior style as “Hamptons meets country” and says it references her childhood on the Kāpiti Coast in New Zealand and the couple’s shared love of the country.

“I worked with inspirational Belle Hemming from Inside Story, to help me develop the interior with select hero pieces,

such as the Fornasetti wallpaper and Jessica Zoob handmade fabric cushions.”

Walls painted in Dulux Whisper White are joined by gentle hues of green, grey and stone along with warmer pops of mustard. “I wanted a luxury finish, but with an effortless, relaxed feel. Belle curated colours, textiles and my favourite antiques and heirlooms, including my hutch dresser – after 30 years of travel with me, it has many stories to tell.”

Rob also has a keen eye for salvage and has turned dilapidated finds into statement features: a Victorian miner’s front door – recycled, scrubbed and lacquered – and antique boards repurposed as a striking headboard.

“Rob has built an indoor/outdoor movie theatre room, complete with underfloor insulation, a fireplace and fibreglass blinds,” says Sandy. Enjoyed to the max, even in colder winter months you can hop between this and the couple’s latest addition – a cedar wood hot tub that uses mineral salts and rain water. Therapeutic, indulgent and with a joyous garden vista, it’s no surprise that this is everyone’s favourite spot in the house.

Having always harboured a love of flowers, Sandy jumped at the chance to learn floral skills: studying floristry with her retired florist neighbour in Melbourne and attending a rose farming course in Santa Barbara in the US.

When the opportunity arose to buy 1500 David Austin rose plants from a local merchant, the couple couldn’t resist. Planted in the paddock behind the house, Acre of Roses has become a work of art and the roses, along with seasonal cut flowers and herbs, are used regularly for intimate events and weddings, hosted on the property. “We are a bee-friendly, sustainable closed loop, microflower farm,” says Sandy. “No pesticides, herbicides or floral foam.”

More recently the couple has transformed another small outbuilding, called The Potting Shed, into a personality-filled accommodation space. “The time felt right to develop the main cottage and studio as Airbnb stays and we haven’t looked back,” says Sandy. Acre of Roses also offers creative pursuits with collaborative local talent: colour, floral and forest therapy workshops, yoga classes and artist retreats.

“The property has become more than just four walls with an attractive interior – it has soul, purpose and meaning and seems to reset the natural rhythm for everyone who stays. We feel like the custodians of something special that is very rewarding and we never take it for granted.”

Visit acreofroses.com.au or follow @acreofroses on Instagram

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2022-01-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-01T08:00:00.0000000Z

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