This land we call Supplejack Gardens was gifted to the Lutheran Church by the government approximately 160 years ago.

When we purchased it from the church in late 2010, about 4 hectares was planted in hops and there was a small 1 acre parcel of original native bush. Encouraged by a passionate local, the church had the bush fenced from cattle and surveyed in 2006. The lower area where the waterway now lies was just a swampy paddock and the 10 acres we now call home was used for grazing cattle.

We had the driveway formed and lived in a bus with our baby daughter while we built a ‘shed’. We lived in the ‘shed’ for about 4 years while we set about planting trees, making gardens and landscaping, slowly forming the waterways to enhance the natural lay of the land and filling in the difficult areas to maintain with native plantings.

We built our house in 2014 and converted the ‘shed’ into the cottage in 2019 and have been running it as an accommodation since then.

In 2023 we dismantled a hectare of hop garden so we are more connected to the river area. We are now working to control pest weeds and replanting the riverbanks in natives. Half of the property is still a working hop garden.

We try where possible to grow most of our own food year round and we feel very grateful to be guardians of this beautiful paradise and hope we can continue to make a positive impact.