Bywong

Description of the home

Why live in a city box in Gungahlin when you can travel for the same or less time, and stay in a hidden valley surrounded by deep nature? Past the edge of the city there’s no traffic lights, just smoothly rolling landscapes. There you can wind the windows down, absorb the soft scent of country grass and feel the freedom in the air… When you arrive, the scent of eucalypts and chorus of frogs is a sensual change from the world you left behind… welcome to Bywong.

Sited at the end of a private road there’s no traffic - it’s been found to be a good writers retreat or work from home option. The house is perfectly north facing for solar efficiency and the insulation is maximum possible. At the same elevation as Black Mountain, often on winter mornings it’s bright and sunny here, while the city is blanketed in fog. Generous windows let in the changing light of the day and there’s blockout curtains throughout for the night. The layout is an open plan kitchen/dining lounge area separated from 4 lockable bedrooms and wet areas by a door.

Utilities wise there is wireless internet (soon to be optical fibre), rain water, LPG gas for the cooktop and standard power for everything else. In the winter we can keep the house warm day and night with the slow combustion stove, and/or use electricity for quick heat. Bills are split between the full time residents and myself as a part timer. There’s a dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. I’m planning to get the shared living area airconditioned this summer. Bedroom furniture is negotiable and movable and the living rooms are fully furnished.

A large dam supplies all the garden water. And there’s 8 hectares of bush to enjoy and share with the kangaroos, … basically everything you see from the house is part of the block, neighbours (who are friendly) are out of sight and out of mind.

Coming out of a period of renovations, there’s 2 empty spaces at the moment. Room 1 is south facing and quietest, Room 3 is north facing and looking down onto a lily pond.

Home features

• Ceiling fans
• Living area heating
• Broadband Internet
• Dishwasher
• Clothes washer
• Clothes dryer
• Study or office
• Balcony, patio or deck
• Water views
• Electronic security

Bills and expenses

electricity, gas, internet, septic, firewood averaged annually at $90pf per room