The glorious tree-lined road that winds its way up to Dominic & Marie’s beautiful home ‘Karori‘ on Mt Macedon. The autumn colour is nothing short of BREATHTAKING! Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

‘Karori‘ the stunning 6-acre hill station property on Mt Macedon restored to its former glory and preserved by owners Dominic & Marie Romeo. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

‘Karori’. An enchanting wonderland leads to a beautiful stately home. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

A hidden gem given a new lease of life by Dominic & Marie Romeo – ‘Karori‘. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Dominic & Marie Romeo at the entrance to their MAGNIFICENT home and most recent restoration and preservation project ‘Karori’ in Mt Macedon. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

WOW! Where do I start. Everyone I meet on The Countryphiles is AMAZING in their own and various ways (which is precisely why we feature them!). However, when The Countryphiles recently met husband and wife team Dominic and Marie Romeo ‘WHOOSH’ – up went the AMAZING stakes!

Marie is an established interior decorator and owner of ‘Bellholme‘ – a gorgeous home interiors and giftware store in Kyneton’s Piper Street while Dominic runs ‘Stalking Cat‘ in neighbouring Woodend – an amazing store that specialises in quality country house wares and antiques. But wait – there’s MORE! Dominic has received 20 awards in tourism and business, is a Fine Art Photographer (you can see his wonderful documentary photography here), is a Board member of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), sits on a number of National Trust committees in finance and conservation and is on the Yalari fund raising committee to provide educational opportunities for Indigenous children! I suggest you take a breath ’cause there’s still MORE. Dominic was also a competitive member of the Australian Acrobatic Ski Team and Coach for Team Buller! When not doing all those impressive things, the couple have spent their married life combining their skills, talents and passions to restore country heritage houses – in particular HUGE period country estates. And they don’t just restore the exteriors and interiors of the these MASSIVE homesteads, Dominic and Marie also restore and reinstate the grounds, which often include botanically and horticulturally SIGNIFICANT gardens, extensive lawns, flower beds, vegetable gardens, fruit tree groves and outbuildings. Oh, and they have two sons; Joel and Greg. PHEW! Don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted! AND what’s more … I’m very IMPRESSED and very PLEASED to know that Dominic and Marie devote their lives to preserving and honouring our precious country heritage!

Clearly, with all those awards in tow The Countryphiles can’t claim to have DISCOVERED these two! However, The Countryphiles did discover a little of the passion and essence that lies beneath and fuels Dominic and Marie’s REMARKABLE list of talents, honours, generosity and achievements. Enjoy! x

‘Burnewang‘ restored by Dominic & Marie in the 1990s. The grand 34-room Jacobean/Elizabethan country homestead was built in 1903 and is situated on the banks of the Campaspe River east of Elmore. Photo – supplied. Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

‘Rupertswood‘ restored by Dominc & Marie Romeo. The painstaking restoration included extensive gilding, wood graining, marbling and uncovering decorative wall frescos. After completing the restoration, Dominic and Marie ran Rupertswood as a leading conference, accommodation and function house so that the community could enjoy the fruits of their labour. Photo – supplied. Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

‘Benue Lodge‘ is a classic hill station on Mt Macedon. Restored by Dominic & Marie Romeo over a two-year period. The five-bedroom home also includes a potting shed, pergola and swimming pool. The 3-acre Victorian garden was revived and still contains original plantings including a Sawtooth Oak, Indian Bean Tree, Cedars, Douglas Firs and Weeping Elms.The restoration included the pathways winding through it, the walled rose garden, the orchard and the original tennis court. Photo – supplied. Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

‘Timsbury‘ another fine example of a hill station at Mt Macedon. Built in 1875, restoration included a maid’s quarters, a box room, an old scullery, a servant’s entrance vestibule, and grand formal rooms . Photo – supplied. Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

For many of us, the idea of renovating a bathroom is daunting enough, let alone restoring a 50-room Italianate mansion! Not so for this couple! So how did it all begin? Put simply – they worked very hard and they worked very well together. As young newly weds, Dominic and Marie’s first house was a Victorian cottage in Moonee Ponds. Before long they found themselves falling in love with, saving up, buying and restoring ‘Calder House’ in Maldon; a decision that unexpectedly launched them into a lifetime’s work and passion restoring heritage homes.

From the very beginning, the dynamic duo shared a DREAM to ‘one day’ own a large country estate homestead. Along the way, they came to realise they also shared what it took: a strong work ethic, great planning and research skills, self-belief, talent, passion and a ‘can-do’ attitude. Decades later, their dream has come true – a few times over. Dominic and Marie have restored 10 such homesteads including Burnewang (34-room Jacobean-Elizabethan homestead), Rupertswood (50-room Italianate mansion), Timsbury (including 5-acres of garden), Benue Lodge (five bedrooms each with an ensuite) and most recently Karori in Mt Macedon.

‘Karori‘ pictured during the process of restoration. Dominic and Marie’s project work is thorough, coordinated and devoted in equal measure. A great deal of time and energy is put into paying painstaking attention to detail, which requires sourcing colours, wallpaper, fabric, carpet designs, furniture and fittings sympathetic to the architectural period of each property. Photo – supplied. Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

The finished project. ‘Russia’ – Dominic and Marie’s beautiful Husky – is very much at home in the crisp mountain air that often envelops ‘Karori’. Dominic and Marie have just put Karori on the market – so you can get a sneak peek inside here! Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Along with sourcing and selling lovely homewares at her store Bellholme in Kyneton’s Piper Street (the store takes its name from the marriage of Amy Bell to Harry Holme who commissioned ‘Burnewang’ be built in 1902), Marie runs an interior decorating consultancy. Ever since she was quite young Marie has enjoyed interior styling. It was when she re-discovered the timeless quality of the William Morris collection of fabrics that Marie began to hone her already keen eye and passion for quality finishes and furnishings. Wherever possible, Marie prefers to source quality, australian foundation pieces made by family-owned companies that build things to last. She also works with clients to see if their existing pieces can be upcycled rather than discarded.

Bellholme Marie’s interior decoration, styling and home wares store in Piper Street, Kyneton. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Bellholme home wares and gifts. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Bellholme in Piper Street, Kyneton. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countrphiles.

Morris & Co. one of the outstanding and timeless interior wallpaper and textile suppliers that Marie has come to love. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Since his teen years, Dominic has had what he describes as a “compulsion” for discovering “the beautiful and the battered”. His interest in Australian Antiques and passion for Australian history developed during his teen years. As the son of Italian migrants from a peasant village, Dominic grew up in a brick veneer house in the Western Suburbs. He found inspiration in the stately period homes of some of his mates and in objects that told a story. His love of the Australian country landscape was consolidated during a year spent as a boarder at Timbertop in Mansfield.

During the 1980’s, Dominic began scouting the countryside collecting early country antiques, primitive and depression furniture. Provenance and genuine original pieces matter greatly to Dominic. Saving pieces of history – no matter how small – is what drives him. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a rustic kitchen chair or a grand country estate homestead, I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing we have saved, restored, preserved something so it can be honoured, enjoyed and admired into the future.” Dominic’s store Stalking Cat in the historic village of Woodend is full of many such wonderful and unique pieces. It TRULY is worth a visit! If you can’t make it, you can shop on line. AND for all those stylists and photographers out there in search of the perfect props, well, Stalking Cat offers furniture and prop hire too!

Stalking Cat located in historic Woodend specialises in early Australian home wares and antiques from primitive through depression. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Dominic named his store Stalking Cat after an antique version of a tin stalking cat used to deter birds from eating fruit in the garden. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Stalking Cat is a treasure trove; full of delightful, unique, quality pieces particularly original early settlement, depression, primitive, rural antiques and country house furniture and wares. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Something for everyone. Where history and style collide. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Dominic travels the country in search of old wares from old properties. Each piece tells its own story as well as the story of early Australia. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Stalking Cat also offers pieces for ‘prop hire’. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Tell us a little bit about your background – what path led you to where you are now?

Dominic: My parents migrated from Italy during the mid-1950s. I was born in Melbourne and grew up in a 1960’s brick veneer in the Western Suburbs. At 13, I was sent to Boarding School. I loved boarding life – it taught me to be independent. My interests included rock climbing, bush walking, ballet, photography and I became a competitive member of the Australian  Acrobatic Ski team and  coach for Team Buller. I gained a BA in Business Management and a BA in Fine Art Photography. I am on the National Trust of Australia (Vic) Board and Finance Committee, Yalari Fundraising Committee and Gallipoli Oaks Project and have been involved in the restoration of some of the States most important homes. I believe life at boarding school was the catalyst to where I am now.

Marie: I became an interior designer out of necessity, but looking back at my childhood, I guess there were clues that I’d end up styling for a living. I remember constantly moving things around whether the other members of my large Italian family wanted me to or not; most of the time they indulged me – when it came to picking paint colours and wallpapers. In small ways I’d restyle my bedrooms every couple of weeks or so – and frequently “stage” it as if it were about to be photographed for an interiors magazine.

Your combined styling and restoration skills are highly regarded. Can you give us a little insight into your complimentary creative processes?

Marie: Dominic and I work really well together and even though we have different skill sets we complement each other. After many restoration projects together we just get on with our respective jobs – obviously, we discuss the overall approach to the project and budgets. I do all the internals – decoration and colour schemes and Dominic project manages all the tradespeople, structural, restoration and garden plans.

Where or who or what do you draw your inspiration and passion from?

Marie: When our boys were still quite young we started flirting with the idea of a house in the country. What followed was a series of country homes and because we were prepared to take on some very challenging projects we were rewarded with the opportunity of working with some incredible heritage properties.

Dominic: We are losing our heritage at an alarming rate. You only need to look at our suburbs being destroyed with no regard to streetscape or aesthetics. This inspires me to save historic homes and gardens.

You are so good at so many things! Photography, Styling, Home Restorations as well as owning two outstanding businesses ‘Stalking Cat’ and ‘Bellholme’. How do you manage to juggle these various intertwined projects?

These projects and businesses are exciting and linked in some form. Stalking Cat is about saving our social and cultural history. Bellholme is about saving our built history – rescuing historic houses and gardens. Photography is about my heritage and allows me to be creative in an artistic sense.

Have you always lived a country life? What path led you to move to the country?

When Marie and I married in 1987, we purchased a Victorian cottage in Moonee Ponds. Six years later we decided to do the “tree change” – despite the shock and horror from our family, we moved.

Do you consider yourself/selves to be ‘Countryphile/s’? Do you love country life? Why?

Yes we are Countryphiles! We love country life – the open spaces, the seasons, the people and country town life.

What does a typical day in the life of Dom & Marie look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

Dominic: Get up at 6.30am after restoring an old abandoned mansion in my dreams! Cook breakfast, feed and walk the dogs, go down to Stalking Cat at 9:30am with coffee in hand. My day at Stalking Cat comprises of responding to emails relating to anything from finding rustic furniture to someone wanting advice on a restoration, constant talking on the phone, reading papers for various committees, stock market trading, researching property trends and currently organising trades people, quotations and time schedules for a large restoration project in the Western District. On top of all that – selling furniture and items at Stalking Cat. Time flies – the day is too short.  At 4.00pm I head home, light the fires, play with the dogs Russia and Tuki, cook, sit down in front of the fire and TV  usually with the Weekly Times or a book on historic Tasmanian homes and talking all thinks restoration, interior decorating or property with Marie until 11.30pm (well not always about restoration!).

What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?

Dominic: I love every aspect of country life. The fact that winter is here and the garden is changing. I have never liked the heat – living at 830m above sea level on the Southern slopes of Mt. Macedon is heaven.

What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life?

I don’t think there is a challenging part of country life or at least I have not found one yet.

Do you prefer Coffee or Tea? Your favourite country café and why?

My favourite café is the Trading Post in the Mt.Macedon Village. The staff are experienced, knowledgeable, friendly and they know how to make a good coffee; however, in saying that Woodend and Kyneton are full of fantastic cafes too.

What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

The last great meal I enjoyed was at home – an Italian spicy Lamb stew with a great table wine and my dad’s authentic sour dough he has perfected since 1955 – with our good French friend Claude.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

On a Saturday morning I always start with the property section of The Age, then you will most likely find me on a farm looking for rustic pieces or viewing  country property.

YOUR country town’s best kept secret?

The whole mountain (Mt Macedon) is a secret – it is possibly one of the nicest places in Australia! – amazing gardens, history, a wonderful village atmosphere and no development!

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?

Yes I do recommend country life! Why? Peace, quiet, healthy for your mind. Why not? I can’t think of any negatives.

What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?

Think of what is important to you in the country and don’t think you live a million miles from civilisation.

What can we expect NEXT from you/your business in the future?

I am about to project manage one of the great bluestone homesteads of the Western District – it is an amazing 26-room home owned by a wonderful couple.

What are you looking FORWARD to and why?

I’m looking forward to July – I love the cold

What would be your DREAM project?

My dream project is to restore one of Tasmania’s great Georgian country houses.

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?

I can list 5 reasons why I don’t need a dose of city life!

Dominic & Marie Romeo

Bellholme 0401 057 054

Stalking Cat 0423 316 914