Today’s feature story has a little of what you might call the ‘luck of the Irish’ about it. When Terry + Lynn decided to leave their busy city lives behind and move to the country, their search began for a property that ticked a few familiar tree-change boxes; proximity, services, transport etc. What the duo didn’t expect to find was a property that also ticked the ‘must feature a big granite stone that looks like a giant has thrown there’ box! But, as luck would have it …
Terry’s family comes from Rostrevor in County Down, Northern Ireland. Rostrevor is famous for a huge granite boulder weighing 30 tons (Clough Mhor) that sits 1,000 feet (300m) above the village. Whilst there are those who suggest the stone might be a ‘glacial erratic deposited by retreating ice during the last Ice Age’, residents of Rostrevor believe that Ruscaire, the Giant of Winter, threw it there during a battle with the Giant of Summer (Terry details the wonderful tale in his interview below). Every year at Easter, villagers make their way up the hill to the Clough Mhor stone where they celebrate the legend by rolling Easter eggs back down the slope. If you look closely at the photo of Terry + Lynn above, you will see a granite boulder in the background. How apt and amazing that Terry + Lynn’s property should happen to have such a natural feature and that it should be sitting atop a hill!
Terry + Lynn run Rostrevor Cottage as a B&B. With magnificent views of the Wombat State Forest and across to the Macedon Ranges, the cosy log cabin is a wonderful retreat. So, if you’re planning a weekend away (perhaps a tranquil space to return to after seeing The Rolling Stones concert at nearby Hanging Rock on 30 March 2014), then Rostrevor Cottage might be just what you’re looking for. Oh, and be sure to ask Terry to tell you the folkloric tale of Clough Mhor. It’s magical … to be sure, to be sure! Enjoy! x
The actual Clough Mhor Stone, Ireland.
Tell us about your background and what led you to where you are now?
When Lynn and I met 15 years ago, we discovered we had the same dream which was to one day move out of suburban life and experience country living. That plan was easy for both of us – I grew up in rural Ireland and always missed country living while Lynn grew up in Ocean Grove and missed the open space and fresh air.
Lynn had worked for over thirty years in Melbourne as a nurse. I worked mostly in retail and then in Job Network both for a private company and Government. About five years ago, we started exploring the area around Kyneton as a possible place for our tree-change. This area suited us as it was easily accessible to Melbourne and Geelong for family reasons and close to Bendigo for employment, health services and so on.
Eventually, the opportunity did arise when Lynn was offered a job with Monash University working on a clinical trial based in Bendigo, however, working in GP offices in the area around Kyneton. My contract with Government Job Network had just expired. Rather than look for new employment it was decided that I would manage the move to Kyneton while Lynn concentrated on her new job.
Your home, ‘Clough Mhor’, is set on a hill on 3.5 acres overlooking the Wombat State Forest. How did you find this magical small holding?
We rented in Kyneton while looking for a house to purchase and before long the estate agent (on the pretense this ideal home was on the outskirts of Kyneton), had us follow her to Lauriston then to Drummond. Standing outside the home overlooking Lauriston and the Macedon Ranges we were immediately taken by the view and enormous potential this property had to offer. We had to see beyond the gorse, blackberry and obvious neglect. Four visits later and still struggling to find a reason not to purchase, we knew that this was the place for us.
Terry you are from Rostrevor in Northern Ireland. Tell us a little of the legend of ‘Clough Mhor’ and the Giant of Summer.
I have been advised to give the short version of this true story, as the full version can be in parts a bit far-fetched!
Local legend, as in true story, has it that Fionn MacCumhaill (Finn McCool) giant of summer was resting against a large stone after a day of hunting. Everyone knew that this particular stone was put there by another giant called Ruscaire, giant of ice and winter and enemy of Finn. As Finn was resting, he could see in the distance the great Ruscaire. They each stood on top of a mountain, Finn on Carlingford and Ruscaire on Sleive Meen, also known as the Mourne Mountains.
With an instant dislike for each other, insults were soon the order of the day until swords were drawn and the battle commenced. Stretching across Carlingford Lough they fought with giant swords until exhausted and with dusk falling they both lay down to rest. Ruscaire had a very uneasy sleep and was bothered by an awful dream that the mountain would swallow him up. Next morning, angry and still exhausted, Ruscaire realised that his sword was now worn to half its original size so started to throw stones at Finn.
Finn decided to do the same and for hours they threw mighty stones across the great lough. Finally, with only the big stone that he rested upon remaining, Finn lifted it, the mightiest of all stones, and threw it with all his might. The enormous stone landed on top of Ruscaire; burying him into the mountain. Ruscaire’s troublesome dream had come true, the mountain did bury him and it was with the very stone that he put there many years earlier.
Finn was totally exhausted and lay down across the top of Carlingford mountain and slept for days. Sadly, though, the sun was very hot and baked poor Finn into the mountain. Bad timing, as it was probably the only two hot days for the year. Today, if you follow the line of Carlingford mountain you will see the outline of Finn, his head, chest and feet are clearly visible.
As for the big stone that put an end to the once mighty Ruscaire, well, it still sits on the Mourne mountains. Every Easter, people from the village of Rostrevor walk up the mountain and visit Cloughmhor paying homage to the mighty Finn.
Thus the legend (true story) of Clough Mhor.
Amazingly, there are rocks on your property that look like they could have been thrown there! How do you explain such a co-incidence?
Large rocks are a feature around the property and it was this together with the fantastic views that reminded me of my home village in Ireland, Rostrevor, where the legend of Clough Mhor (Irish for ‘Big Stone’) originated.
As you look at the large stones on our property it may be worth pondering just how these mighty stones got here. Were these two giants that powerful? Stranger things have happened, I believe. It was only fitting then that we named our property “Clough Mhor” and our accommodation ‘Rostrevor Cottage’ after my village.
You moved from the city to the country about 3 years ago. Has the move been all you’d hoped it would be?
There has not been one day where we regret the decision to move to Drummond. The size of the job ahead when we moved here was obvious as both the house and the land needed a lot of TLC. Life here continues to be a huge learning curve yet one we enjoy enormously. We are very fortunate to have very helpful and supportive neighbours. They soon realised that we were fairly new to this country thing but were very serious about developing the property and there was no shortage of help and support.
We love every aspect of country life and found it easy to develop a new circle of friends. It was through our interests that we met new friends, Lynn joining a knitting group and me doing ‘coffee and cryptic crosswords’ in the local cafes every morning.
You share your delightful small holding with visitors to your B&B ‘Rostrevor Cottage’. What are the pros & cons of running a retreat in a little outpost such as Drummond?
When we first visited the property, Lynn and I thought that the little log cottage that you first see was the actual home. For a minute, we were shocked until we realised the driveway extended around a bend to show the real home.
Once settled, we had a discussion around what we should do with the cottage. A B&B was the obvious choice. At first we were concerned that the cottage was too remote for guests even though we are less than 10km from Kyneton. Would people see the appeal and advantage of staying in a log cabin B&B in Drummond? We soon agreed however that it is this point that is the attraction. We have peace, privacy, beautiful bird life and fantastic views. The cottage is fully self contained, is roomy, cosy, light filled and has a big open fire for those chilly winter nights. Sitting on a hill we enjoy lovely evening breezes which cool both the house and cottage during the hot summer months.
All this and ten minutes from Kyneton as well as being central to the other popular towns in the district.
What do you think your guests are seeking most of all when they stay at your retreat?
Our guests have many reasons for coming to stay at Rostrevor Cottage however the most common theme is for pure peace, quiet and privacy. A chance to recharge the batteries after a busy week. The open fireplace provides a wonderful atmosphere in the cottage during our ‘long’ winter. Some want to explore the surrounding towns and attractions while others park the car and set themselves up under a tree with a good book and something chilled!
After twelve months of operating our B&B, we are extremely pleased with the results and the very positive feedback we receive from our guests gives us great encouragement for the future. For those interested, please do check out our website.
What does a typical day in the life of Terry and Lynn the ‘Rostrevor Cottage Owners’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?
A typical day starts at 6.30 when Lynn gets up for work. I can usually tell at what stage Lynn is at by the sounds so when I hear the kettle boiling I know the bathroom is free and time to get up. Lynn heads off to either the office in Bendigo or to see her clinical trial participants in a GP clinic and can be anywhere between Gisborne, Romsey and Bendigo.
My first order of business is to drive down to Kyneton for coffee and shopping, as per the list left by Lynn. The usual coffee crew are around and we tend to frequent the same coffee spots like Duck, Duck, Goose & Larder, Little Swallow or St. Beans Provedore. It is here where a valiant attempt at meaningful discussion takes place and where world affairs are discussed and problems solved, however probably more are created if the truth be known. Cryptic crosswords are the order of the day and the Big Word also needs solving. So you can see, it is a busy morning! With all the world’s problems solved it is time to return to Clough Mhor.
The jobs of the day vary depending on if we have guests in the cottage. The first job is to check emails for guest inquiries. When the cottage is vacant it is an opportunity to get grass cut, wood chopped and and any maintenance in the cottage done.
Lynn usually returns around 6pm and we have a debrief on the days events. For health and safety reasons Lynn supervises the tea preparations and with my kitchen skills this is a wise move. After tea in the summer evenings we may take a walk around the property taking in the wildlife and great views, discussing current or future projects, sometimes its just about taking in the peace and quiet. By around 10 pm its usually bed time.
Guests arrival day is usually doing the finishing touches to the cottage and then we both do a final check. After two pm check-in time, we make sure one of us is on the property to welcome our guests. On a day when guests are leaving I prefer to stay around the house as I like to say goodbye when I get the opportunity and also to get some feedback. Then it’s into the cottage with my trusty cleaning kit and spend the next few hours preparing the cottage for our next guests.
Do you consider yourselves to be ‘Countryphiles’?
Lynn and I have taken to this life style with the greatest of ease. We love the fresh air, the peace and quiet and just the right amount of privacy. We have met lots of genuinely nice people and we value there friendship highly. We have been very fortunate in finding what we were looking for and we certainly consider ourselves Countryphiles. We often comment on the fact that we are finally in the stage of our life when we are living the life we want, rather than planning and waiting to get to where we want to be. A luxury we highly value.
Finding neighbours and friends who were more than willing to help and advise was a huge bonus but not unexpected from country people. We have a network of friends who like us who had started off many years ago unsure, inexperienced and at times naïve and they are always willing to offer tips and suggestions based on there experience.
Do you love country life? If so, why?
We are thriving on country life! We love the fact that we have the best of both worlds. We have our privacy, room to breath, fresh air, the excitement of continuing to develop this lovely property and yet we only minutes from town. Also the added bonus of managing a B&B which has given us the opportunity to meet many very interesting and lovely people and lots who we now consider friends.
For those women at the stage of life where they have been colouring their hair to cover the grey for many years and think that it would be too much of a shock to stop this, country life is the perfect answer! When we moved here Lynn grasped the opportunity to stop colouring the ‘grey hair’ and just let the ‘silver highlights’ shine through! A great time and money saving decision.
What are the challenging aspects of country life?
New words such as water tank, inlet pipes, outlet pipes, water pump and bore water became part of our general conversation and then we had to find out how they all worked!
Then there is weed control, tree health and general property management which can all be a challenge when you come straight from suburban life. Understanding the jargon when various machines or bits have to be replaced was a sure challenge as was learning the hard way that maintenance jobs organised by previous owners were not always completed to health and safety standards.
So far the score of putting spades through water pipes is four to me and one to Lynn. It was for this reason that I have started a diary, documenting with diagrams any little challenges we find or works that we have done. Its a great reference point when considering the next project.
Another challenge was reassuring the family who looked at you in a strange way when you tell them you are doing what you always said you would do and moving to the country. Then when you say it is to to Drummond and the GPS suddenly appears on their phone and they are saying “spell that”!
Do you prefer Tea or Coffee?
Coffee for me and tea for Lynn. We have a few favourite spots, Duck, Duck Goose & Larder, St. Beans and Little Swallow. They all make excellent coffee however Duck Duck Goose & Larder has the added benefit of good coffee and a fruit &veg store … so I can complete the shopping on the list from Lynn with just one stop!
Glenlyon General Store is another favourite. Lynn and I often go there for breakfast as we enjoy the cosy, open fire, friendly atmosphere and very good food and coffee. Again it has that good old country feel about it and it’s all about relaxing and taking your time.
Where was the last great meal you enjoyed in the country?
Lynn and I just ticked off another name on our list of places we wanted to visit. This was almost two years later than planned, however, we finally got there last week and it was well worth the wait when we dined at The Royal George. Everything about the meal, wine and service was superb and we left more than satisfied.
Would you encourage others to live a country life?
For us, this move has worked in many ways. We shared the same dream and at the same time we agreed it was time to do something about it. We built a plan, did lots of research and visited the district over many weekends. Then an opportunity arose to own something where we did not have to make a significant compromise. For us, it was all here and all it needed was some vision, hard work and patience.
I would definitely encourage those who are considering a move to take the first step. Most people I have spoken to, who have moved up here, have have no intentions of returning to suburban or city life. I think it was John Lennon who wrote, ”planning is what happens as life passes you by”, or words to that effect.
What advice would you give those dreaming of making a tree change?
If considering a move, have a clear picture of what you want and why. Take the time to visit the area of you choice as many times as it takes and check out what’s on offer. Depending on individual circumstances check out the level of education, public transport, medical and employment availability. Rent first if it suits, less pressure as you have time to see if the option is working for you. Be realistic when looking at land, lots of acres generally needs lots of care and equals $’s. We went from our initial idea of twenty acres to three. This proved to be a good decision for us.
Be prepared to get out there and establish new friendships and get involved.
What can we expect next from you/your business in the future?
As we continue to develop the property and the B&B the dream project for me would be to build another cabin. The Minister for Finance just smiles at this idea and moves on.
Lynn has turned her hobby of knitting into a business, when last year a friend who had a shop in Piper Street asked her to knit fingerless mittens. These turned out to be extremely popular and it was hard for her to keep up with the demand. Lynn will continue to supply these mittens next winter, but is also planning on branching out on her own and knitting dog coats to order! A few orders have already been placed but this business is still in the planning phase of selecting wool and trying out patterns. But, if anyone out there wants a hand knitted dog coat for their beloved pet for next winter they can email Lynn through the Rostrevor Cottage website! These will very quickly become high-demand products we are sure.
Can you list us 5 specific things you turn to /do when you need a ‘dose’ of city life?
Take a nap and wait for the feeling to pass, it won’t take long.Since moving, Lynn and I have never needed a dose of city life so we can’t answer this question!
Terry + Lynn
Rostrevor Cottage
39 Lauriston-Drummond Rd
Drummond VIC
0407 537 923
