Dairy Flat: Greener pastures

An innovative residential concept allows you to enjoy life on the farm without the hard yakka, writes Catherine Smith.

2 Melchizedik Dr, Goodland Country Estate, Dairy Flat.

City dwellers dreaming of their country escape long for wide-open views of pastures, a few picturesque animals, and long lunches on the terrace overlooking the farm. But for most owners of country properties the reality is a lot more hard yakka, and a lot less of the good life while you're shifting and feeding stock, maintaining fences and mowing expanses of lawn.

But now there's the Goodland Estate in Dairy Flat, just north of Albany village. Here, 109ha of farm has been split into 60 manageable properties of around 2800sq m which also share in a working farm. The farmer runs the farm and the residents get to enjoy the lifestyle and a shared community centre, without the sweat.

Enter Tony Fraser of Nautica Homes and Mark Wilson, architectural designer of Masonry Design Solutions.

"We wanted to create a true family home while maintaining a close association with the farmland," says Tony. Mark created a design that reflects a country feel, with the masonry warmth, quietness and permanence.

The pair have worked with masonry for more than 20 years, largely in country properties. After many years of French or Tuscan style country houses, Mark noticed that his clients were ready for a more natural New Zealand style.

"I certainly wouldn't call it pretty-pretty, but the pitched roofs and gutsy timber are more suited to our wetter country climate," he notes. There's also a hint of the modern, almost Balinese use of symmetry, and pavilions opening out to the garden.

Tony and Mark sourced enormous recycled tie beams, sandblasting them to a warm roughened finish for beams and posts, or milling them for the massive (3.3m) front door and a sliding barn door in the living room. Jarrah sleepers from Australia were milled and polished for the floors, giving a rich warm welcome to the house. The handmade concrete bench in the kitchen features shells and stones gathered from the area. A formal living and dining room opens off one side of the kitchen, a casual family/media room off the other.

Floor-to-ceiling windows slide away to the terrace, and a dining cabana with built-in fireplace. The central swimming pool is flanked by bubbling water features and tropical planting, and takes in views of the farm paddocks and distant hills over the fence.

Bedrooms are all placed to take in the garden and farm views. The kids' wing also features a sound-proof media room. Like the rest of the house, it is fully wired for sound, computers and security. A guest room with its own en suite, a laundry and walk-in linen room complete the accommodation.

Mark and Tony thought carefully about siting the house on its section to look as if it has been there for years. The large double garage (with a separate kids' garage for quad bikes, sports gear and more) is set back from the house, linked by a glass and wood beam gallery to resemble a farm addition.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 2800sq m, one of 60 sections sharing a 109ha farm; house 510sq m

PRICE INDICATION: Buyers over $2 million; $1000 per year for use of shared facilities.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 10am to 4pm, Wed 10am-2pm, Thursday 3-8pm.

CONTACT: Marion Jones, Nautica Homes, ph 415 3200.

FEATURES: New architect-designed home of masonry hot block, recycled timber beams and shingle roof. Entry lobby with wine cellar, open plan gourmet kitchen and family room, separate formal living and dining room, two fireplaces, and separate media or rumpus room. Study, utility and storage rooms. Outdoor cabana features built in fireplace, pool and water features. Under floor heating, central vacuum, sound and security. Shared community centre featuring function room, barn, playground, petanque and tennis courts.