The Dairy at Yandoit Creek Farm

The Dairy is a beautiful piece of history set in 21 hectares of rolling pasture. When you visit you'll be on Djaara country. Built by Italian settlers in the 1860s, the stone building has been sensitively renovated to create a studio retreat of rustic calm. The space The stone stable has been converted to a studio dwelling, with a reading nook up the ladder on the mezzanine. Architecturally unique, the thick rendered walls and stone floor coupled with abundant natural light make for a serene, stylish space. Step out from the kitchen into the dairy. Actively used for storage of farm equipment, it remains unrenovated and is complete with stalls for the 19th century cows that once were milked here. I have designed for simplicity and to encourage a truly restorative break for guests. It's a deliberately low-fi space, and a perfect place to unplug (but rest assured there is phone reception!) There is a full kitchen for cooking plus a wood fire in winter to keep you toasty warm. Firewood is provided. Pantry provisions include quality basics like milk, olive oil, vinegars, s&p, butter, coffee beans & loose leaf tea. Plus a home-baked country loaf. The bathroom has great natural light, a claw foot bath and a separate waterless composting toilet - the 'loveable loo'. The bookshelf is full of novels, plus gardening, cooking and design books. For music, there are speakers for you to plug into. Being situated in the countryside, there are animals and insects all around. Squeaky microbats and little birds nest in the outside walls, native phascogales rustle about. There are good flyscreens on all windows so the wildlife will stay outside where it belongs! Terraces to the north and west encourage hill gazing and kangaroo spotting. Watch wedge-tailed eagles, sulphur-crested cockatoos, galahs and a multitude of smaller birds swoop and soar. I am at times asked if I accommodate dogs, and whilst I really understand the desire to holiday with your pooch, I never make exceptions to the no-dog rule. There are neighbours nearby who do offer great pet-friendly accommodation. Guest access In addition to The Dairy, you have access to the whole 21 hectare property. Stroll over the hills and flats, past giant eucalypts along the seasonal creek. You are likely to see lots of birds (and kangaroos too, if you're out at dawn or dusk.) I provide a map of the immediate neighbourhood so you know where you're walking. Access to the property is just behind The Dairy, with parking on the grass in a marked area - head for the sign saying "Hi!! Park here". Other things to note Minimum stay is two nights.