Duckcottage: quaint stone cottage

Duckcottage is a five room stone settlers cottage built in 1853 on five acres of bushland at Second Valley. The property is now a refuge for wildlife so it is NOT suitable for dogs or cats. We call it 'duck' cottage because of the height of the doorways. It has been lovingly restored, and the habitat for birds and native animals has been established through revegetation. The property is secluded (there are no neighbours in sight) but it is a short drive to the beach. The space The cottage is nestled into a five acre garden in the undulating hills of the Fleurieu Peninsula. It has been lovingly restored and is maintained by a local builder. It has been our summer cottage for 50 years and is full of memories for us. When we first bought the cottage the land around it was entirely bare, except for a row of pine trees along the roadside boundary and some ancient trees near the house which are wonderful for climbing or for supporting the hammock. Now the hillside is a flourishing bushland and the garden surrounding the cottage is full of birds and flowers. It is lush and sunny in the cooler months and shady but much dryer and less colourful in summer. Inside the cottage we have introduced the best of modern conveniences but kept them compatible with the era. We have an air-conditioner powered by solar panels to supplement the passive cooling of wide verandah and 'cool' stone floor and thick walls. In winter an open fire at night adds to the warmth and ambience. Although passive heating and cooling had been adequate in the past it is no longer sufficient for our extreme temperatures, so we have supplemented it with reverse cycle air-conditioning powered with solar panels. The cottage boasts a nicely appointed lounge, two bedrooms a bathroom and kitchen, We have chosen to have a minimum of electronic devices throughout- there are no screens or clocks or WIFI but there is a CD player and a selection of books and games to enjoy in front of the huge open fire - or outside in the hammock. Mobile phone coverage is quite good ... so those who need screens can bring them. There are two living areas, the lounge room with its retro settee and open fire is warm in winter and cool in summer. The large country kitchen /dining room has up-to-date kitchen appliances as well as the original wood stove which once added warmth and nostalgia. (it no longer works, as an oven and smokes horribly if lit). The small bedroom has two single beds, and the main bedroom has a queen sized bed. All have high quality linen, pillows and doonas (with cotton blankets for summer) Supplementary heating and cooling is provided by electric heaters and fans. Duck cottage is a private, restorative space which is a perfect 'get-away'. Guest access Guests have exclusive use of the entire cottage and surrounding property. The cottage is nicely appointed with good quality linen and furnishings suited to the era. The kitchen has everything you need - except food- although basic condiments, tea and sugar are supplied. There is dry firewood provided and the open fire will be set ready for you to light when you arrive. Firewood is costly and we ask you to only light the fire in the evening. Use the air-con if needed during the day. There is plenty of car parking with one space undercover. Guests are welcome to explore the gully paddock and the bushland hill paddock in addition to the garden surrounding the cottage. There are no neighbours to disturb so you are welcome to practice your bagpipes or open your lungs, however the quieter you are the more of the local wildlife you will see. Other things to note Although the cottage itself is peaceful, there can be road noise noticeable outdoors from time to time. This is not constant but is usually just when cars are heading to or from the Kangaroo Island ferry. The traffic noise has only become noticeable since the millennium drought killed most of the large pine-trees which were along the boundary. These had been providing a sound barrier. We have undertaken an extensive revegetation program along the boundary and the plants are flourishing however it will take several years for them to provide a complete sound screen, so in the meantime we have constructed a long 'wall' of hay bales along the roadside boundary.