The search for the ideal location wasn’t short. We spent several months going through real estate listings and for drives looking for land. My initial criteria was under $250k, at least 5 acres with a good north aspect. After looking at a lot of rubbish we fell in love with 100 acres of wild undulating bush in Bullio, near the end of a bumpy dirt road. Jaimie, a good friend of mine has an earth moving business and grew up in the country so I called upon his keen eye for advice. He gave the nod and we offered $250k which was accepted and we rejoiced.
The next day the agent called to tell us they had a better offer. My heart sank, rock bottom. The following weekend we went to see another property, this time 25acres at Big Hill, it was literally a Big Hill covered in rocks, no trees, hard ground, very exposed, not impressed. We asked that agent if he had anything else, he seemed to be out of options when he said “Oh, there is this one place but its been on the market a long while and theres not much to see.” We are here, might as well show us.
We opened the front gate, Jen and I looked at each other with an inner knowing, this was it! We walked the fencelines, checked out the dam, held up the compass to check north and the slope and aspect was perfect. The asking price $230k, we bought the place on our first visit with the condition that it came with build entitlement, something you have to check for properties for under 100 acres. It is hard to explain but this place just felt right to both of us. As an absolute bonus the access was great with a good sealed road and only 90 minutes from our home in Sydney, in beautiful Marulan. It was only after we’d purchased that I came to understand the unique geometry our property was located at, the only town in the world on the 150th meridian, the one place where the sun rises at exactly 6am and sets at exactly 6pm on the equinox, balance.
The weekend after we had an agronomist inspection for the weed report and to educate us a bit on how to improve the land. At that time I’d heard of permaculture but was quite ignorant, since then I’ve researched, read and listened to everything I can find. I still haven’t done a PDC (Permaculture Design Course) but expect I’ll end up hosting one eventually.
“Home is not a place…it’s a feeling.” someone who knew what they were talking about.
Wellgrounded life 