In 2021 we made a tree change to the picturesque twin townships of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.

It’s an area we knew well, having lived in the region with our families in the 1990s. We also met during this time and married in 2002 at The Lakehouse. Despite spending much of our lives in big cities (Sydney and Melbourne), we always planned to return to the beautiful landscape and community of Hepburn Shire.

Terrara is our home, which we share with our two dogs, Beatrice and Evangeline, and our mixed flock of heritage breed chickens. It is a place of inspiration and tranquillity.

In naming our property, we wanted to honour the people who came before us.

The earth of this region is rich in gold. The old mines at the far end of our property are a reminder of how the quest for this metal has shaped the community in more recent times.

In the mid-1800s Swiss-Italians arrived, staying after gold fever had subsided. These families built many of the distinctive stone buildings in the area, with some of the residents being instrumental in protecting the mineral waters from the impacts of mining.

Our house is built of rammed earth, and it is the earth of this place that allows us to grow and sustain our garden. Terra is the Italian word for ‘earth’ – we live on and within the Terra.

But of course, it was the Indigenous tribes of the Dja Dja Wurrung who lived on the land for countless generations before Europeans arrived. The Djaara word for gold is Kara Kara.

Our naming of Terrara is an acknowledgment of the ancient and modern history of this place, as we continue to build our lives, adding merely another layer – or strata, perhaps – to its story.

We want Terrara to be a place of possibilities:

• Growing produce that can be turned into makes and bakes.

• Sparking our creativity and the creativity of all those who visit.

• Enjoying the benefits of tranquillity and gentle reflection.