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Anise Boulot still remembers the first time she set foot on Woolbrook Homestead. The property had been in her partner Lachie’s family for over five generations. Knowing the emotional significance of the property to Lachie, she’d hoped she’d fall in love with the old country home. Thankfully, she did.
“I remember how magic it felt arriving at Woolbrook for the first time,” Anise reflects on the property 30 minutes from Geelong.
Even as she walked down the driveway, captivated by the winding path of old gums leading the way to the house itself - thanks to some clever forethought by Lachie’s Grandma ‘Jimmy’ - she knew she was discovering something special.
“It feels like you’ve entered an oasis with big beautiful trees everywhere you look, surrounding one very gorgeous bluestone homestead,” she says. “Stepping foot inside the first things I noticed were the high ceilings and the artwork that graced every wall. They were hand picked by Lachie’s dad, Andrew, who is a very keen art enthusiast.”
As the young couple took on a 10-year lease of the property, they had some big plans in mind. They wanted to make Woolbrook into a retreat and a wedding venue. But to do so, they had to add their own flare.
“We discovered interior stylists like Belle From Belle Bright Interiors and Lynda Gardener on Instagram and their knack for creating beautiful spaces spoke to what we wanted to do with Woolbrook,” Anise explains. “We wanted to take the house from being a family home to elevating it to be destination accommodation. Somewhere where families can come together to experience country life at its finest.”
But with such rich history attached to the homestead, which was built in 1857, they knew they’d have to find the right balance between the old and the new.
“The house was already so beautiful, we just wanted to let the house speak for itself,” Anise shares.
Then, it only took a styling revamp and a few minor renovations to create the show-stopping homestead we see today.
“We were living in this huge house with just two of us but each room felt cramped because of these huge, beautiful ornate pieces,” she says. “We decluttered a lot of antique furniture and took the china off display. Then we stripped off the carpet and polished the floorboards.
Every room had so much character it was a shame not to show off the original features.”
Now, with the homestead of their dreams, Lachie and Anise, are excited to share it with the public by hosting guests in accommodation, weddings and events.
Want to find out more about Anise, Lachie and Woolbrook Homestead? Head to their website here or follow them on instagram at @woolbrookhomestead
5 things we learnt from Woolbrook Homestead’s stunning renovation
Woolbrook homestead has been a passion project for Anise Boulot and Lachie Morrison. After all, the stunning Teesdale property has been in Lachie’s family for five generations.
When it came into their capable hands, the young couple knew they’d have to make some changes if they wanted to turn it into a luxury destination for retreats, weddings and events. Here is Anise’s top five tips for a jaw-dropping country renovation.
1. Let the homes do the talking.
Country homes have such character and are truly unique so strip it back and show off the bones
2. Less is more.
Farm houses often collect so many amazing pieces that remain after each generation leaves. It’s so easy to clutter and so hard to move them on. The result is crowded rooms that feel small even though you have all the space in the world
3. Kikuyu lawns.
They are so hardy and require such minimal watering to stay green all through summer. The best part is how forgiving it is given how quickly it spreads
4. Hire an interior stylist for a consultation.
They give you such confidence in making decisions going forward and can work with your style. As long as you’re happy to do the sourcing, they are also easy on the budget
5. Back yourself.
Don’t be held back by what previous generations and owners, or even your neighbours think. It’s your house so live how you want.
