Nyangbul people
New South Wales
Victoria Park Road runs along the eastern edge of lush tablelands just outside of Alstonville. Â This land is rich in volcanic soil with waterfalls, rainforest pockets with prospect to the east.
The farm house site rewards the undulating drive from Alstonville to Victoria Park Road passing rainforest and grazing land, taking you through native forest and opening to the house. Â
Approach is through ornamental garden which sits directly west of the house, a garden for gathering and outdoor cooking… this is arriving at the house.Â
Victoria Park Road defies many two story houses that prioritise living on top floors to gain a view, consequently lacking connection with outdoors and opportunity for social connection between floors. Â
Instead, Victoria Park Road, through protected outdoor spaces, verandas and gardens, allows you to wake with the morning sun, cook with the setting sun, gather inside, gather outside and gather continually in between. A village.Â
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We live on the farm enjoying daily rituals and family, but also enjoy connections with local community. Friends visit, family stay and food is shared.
My work is from home and Zoe manages the farm. We're both on the farm but feel as though we've left the house. We go outside through public space like a village square to go to work. This place encourages us to have connection with our close and distant landscape.
Time at home is about gathering, art, girls study, making and enjoying food with family and friends and taking time to enjoy just being here.