Five question’s in five minutes with our inspiring friends from Anlaby.
Tell us a little about you & how you ended up restoring such a beautiful old girl back to her former glory?
The short answer is we were originally looking for a weekender. After a two year search Anlaby came on the market. Even though we were not looking in South Australia, Anlaby was too good to miss. So for the first 4 years we travelled from Sydney for weekends and holidays. That was 19 years ago – now we live here full time. The 150 acres we first purchased has now grown to just under 2,000 acres. We run the Anlaby merino stud, manufacture and sell a range of Anlaby wool products, have extended and restored the garden to its original size, renovated cottages as high-end B&B’s and run tours of the house and garden – amongst other things.
Can you tell us a little about a day in the life of you both?
To say each day is varied is an understatement – We can be doing anything from working in the shearing shed, taking tours and serving scones and cups of tea, or painting… or weeding… and then heading to the office to pay some bills!
Favourite highlights from your time so far (eg restoring the folly, a special flower or tree in bloom, visitors, events?)
Discovering and restoring the Rockery and Reflection Pond – The rockery had been fenced off as a horse paddock and lost – and the reflection pond had elm trees growing in it!
Restoring the Coachmans’ cottage – its been transformed from an uninhabitable corrugated cottage into a stunning 2 bedroom, 5 star self-contained B&B. Our friend Malcolm Sheldrake of Riddell Marley in Melbourne was instrumental in helping with the design, colours, fabrics and furnishings. Its stunning.
The significant tree project has also been a major achievement. A two year research project with horticulturalist, Charlie Buttigieg. Culminating in the listing of the documentation and listing of 640 trees on the National Trust Significant Tree Register. Anlaby has the largest collection of trees on the register in the country.
The merino stud is another -we have taken the stud from a 26 micron flock to a 19micron, non-mulesed and Responsible Wool Standard certified. We have also developed an range of Pure, Luxury, Merino products made exclusively from the Anlaby wool. Anlaby is the oldest merino stud in South Australia.
What does the future hold for Anlaby, what can we look forward to, to put in the diary?
Spring Festival 14/15th October 2023
More concerts and performing arts events are being planned – watch this space!
We’d love to rebuild the glass conservatory – which was the largest in the southern hemisphere when it was built in 1891. We have a grant to help commence restoration of some of the stone walls.
Top five dream guests at your dinner table?
Maggie Beer -She is one of our favourite people to have for dinner!
Fiona Bruce – Antiques Roadshow and BBC news reader.
The King – an avid gardener and supporter of both heritage and youth. He is a leader in responsible farming practises and a champion for the climate.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – The man is amazing. What more can we say!
Joanna Lumley – Joanna would bring a smile to everyone at the table. She would be gracious and be so interesting to listen to.
I can’t finish without acknowledging the support and enthusiasm of the wonderful staff we have at Anlaby! As well as the team of trades people that support us – and of course our friends and family. Everyone embraces our vision and becomes part of Anlaby’s history – and more importantly its future! None of this could be possible without their ongoing support.
