Set in one of the most sought-after and convenient locations in Wine Country, this private country property offers an immaculate home, excellent views and an outstanding energy efficiency score of 10 out of 10 demonstrating how orientation, natural airflow and the right materials can work together to create a more comfortable home.
Set on approximately 10 hectares with excellent views of the Brokenback Range, the property occupies a convenient position along one of Hunter Valley's best known tourist trails. Clipped hedges and neat paving create an attractive arrival, while established gardens provide privacy and seclusion. It feels removed from the activity around it, yet is right in the middle of it all.
The home's solar-passive design responds to the changing angle of the sun throughout the year. In summer, the eaves shade the glazing and black slate floor. In winter, the lower sun reaches into the living spaces, warming the floor, which absorbs heat and releases it gradually as the day cools. This use of thermal mass helps moderate internal temperature fluctuations and reduce demand for heating and cooling.
Double-glazed cedar windows and doors complement the design. North-facing glass louvres allow warm air to escape and encourage cooler air to move through the home from the shaded southern side, where ponds, water features and vegetation create a cool sheltered environment. The design uses natural ventilation alongside shade and thermal masskey principles of passive cooling.
The open-plan living area has excellent natural light, with a Rayburn stove providing a distinctive centrepiece in the kitchen. Three bedrooms accommodate family and guests, while a spectacular bathroom features a sunken spa and a glass wall overlooking a pond. A second loo is located in the laundry room and a covered area on the northern side provides a comfortable place to sit outside and enjoy the gardens in all seasons.
Solar panels and battery storage are supported by a mains power connection, combining renewable energy generation with the convenience of grid access.
Across the grounds, the owner has established native vegetation that provides shade, helps create a cooler environment around the house and offers habitat for local fauna. For buyers interested in native gardens and biodiversity, there is space to appreciate what has been established and continue that work and for others needing space for animals or other pursuits, the flexibility is there too.
A vegetable patch adds to the property's practical appeal, along with fruit trees, four sheds and two earth dams. One dam is covered in water lilies; the other provides a useful source of irrigation water.
Private, carefully maintained and closely connected to its surroundings, this property offers a considered approach to country living. Its appeal lies in both the setting and the way the home functions: making use of the sun, shade and airflow, with energy efficiency integral to its design.
Inspection by private appointment.
