lyrebirdgully Outline

A house in a rainforest on the south coast below Sydney NSW.


The new garden within the rainforest is made up of entirely endemic species of the sub-tropical forest.

The house was bought 20 years ago (this is now 2019) and was then 30 years or so old, mostly uninhabited at first and the rainforest was recovering from previous rural activities. At the time of our purchase, the house was gas lit and in need of some more help. The residents of the prior 5 years were keen botanists and started the process of renewal. The following owners (the Mackenzies) have spent most of the 20 years building and improving the garden and the house. It is used as a weekender and is now solar powered, has a nearby creek with a new (and small) dam installed supplying water to the house. An alternative supply is tanked on site. The house and garden are a welcome escape from the city… and the local community, some permanent and some as visitors, appreciate their new or alternate homes. Of some importance is the fact that the rainforest garden has finally become an almost no-maintenance situation other than the normal household requirements.