Bywong, NSW

Why live in a city box in Gungahlin when you can travel for the same or less time, and stay in a hidden valley surrounded by deep nature? Past the edge of the city there’s no traffic lights, just smoothly rolling landscapes. There you can wind the windows down, absorb the soft scent of country grass and feel the freedom in the air… When you arrive, the scent of eucalypts and chorus of frogs is a sensual change from the world you left behind… welcome to Bywong.

Sited at the end of a private road there’s no traffic - it’s been found to be a good writers retreat or work from home option. The house is perfectly north facing for solar efficiency and the insulation is maximum possible. At the same elevation as Black Mountain, often on winter mornings it’s bright and sunny here, while the city is blanketed in fog. Generous windows let in the changing light of the day and there’s blockout curtains throughout for the night. The layout is an open plan kitchen/dining lounge area separated by a door from three lockable bedrooms, one lockable study and the wet areas.

Utilities wise there is good quality wireless internet, rain water, LPG gas for the cooktop and standard power for everything else. In the winter we can keep the house warm day and night with the slow combustion stove, and/or use electricity for quick heat. Bills are split between the full time residents and myself as a part timer. Currently $45 per person per week is the year round average for full timers. There’s a dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. Bedroom furniture is negotiable and movable and the living rooms are fully furnished.

A large dam supplies all the garden water. And there’s 8 hectares of bush to enjoy and share with the kangaroos, … basically everything you see from the house is part of the block, neighbours (who are friendly) are out of sight and out of mind.

Currently three lockable rooms are available, see the photos of how it was when furnished. There's various furniture that can be moved around so rooms can be empty or partly furnished depending on everyone's needs. Two rooms are north facing and looking down onto a lily pond. See room 2 (smaller) photos 25-27, room 3 (larger) photos 28-29. There’s also the option of renting part or all of the south facing study for bedroom, storage, home office etc. - see photos 20-24 when it was a bedroom.