September 2020

20 years ago Cherrie and I sold out of Sydney and bought two hours south, just out of Berry, at Woodhill.  We purchased a 5.8ha property called Sundance Park.  It didn’t take us long to change that name – to Quamby (place of rest, to settle down. Don’t believe everything you read about the meaning of an Aboriginal place name).

We had wonderful years at Quamby, and effectively farmed 11ha, since our land adjoined a 5ha Council block which was unfenced and neglected.  We took care of that land too, fenced it and grazed it.  Well, we didn’t personally graze it, but we did put our small Limousin herd on it

And they fattened nicely, thank you very much. So did I.

We were pretty self sufficient (not eating the chooks but enjoying their beautiful eggs) as well as wonderful vegetables

And talked daily to our gorgeous boy, Luzzie

Who we didn’t ride. Weight for age, you know.

We worked hard at Quamby, and we improved it tremendously. Cherrie did most of the outside work, and while I spent a lot of time checking out the purpose built wine room, she purpose built the most spectacular garden, which changed magnificently each season.

AUTUMN

WINTER

SPRING

SUMMER

Wildlife moved in

• 

Not all of it welcome

In September 2018 we took a holiday. A planned five week drive to Perth in a rented campervan. We got to day two when I had a little fall

It was a long recovery

And, against all odds, I was walking again within a year. However, uneven ground is not kind to me, and that’s no way for a farmer. Even a Pitt St one. So last year we made the difficult decision to sell Quamby

And in September we waved goodbye. Sadly.

We’re not leaving Berry, we are currently renting whilst we build our grand design in town. That build is the subject of this blog. We shall try to update you regularly, with the triumphs and the disasters. We have watched enough GRAND DESIGNS to know that we will go over budget and behind schedule, and that Kevin may not approve of everything.