Our Story
Our house was built in 1870 and is the heart of the property.
We’re Shane & Yuko, originally from warm, tropical Cairns but now located in the pristine wilderness and idyllic, calm surrounds of the Meander Valley. Dreaming big, we wanted to find a place where we could live sustainably off the land but also maintain the modern comforts of our connected world.
Only a short distance from incredible natural wonders such as Cradle Mountain, Mole Creek Caves and the Great Western Tiers, our very own 'Escape to the Country' has provided the ideal location to explore all our hobbies and dreams and to start and raise our new family.
Cutting firewood from fallen trees on the property provides clean carbon-neutral heat, while sourcing water from the crystal-clear skies and growing food crops in our expansive greenhouse ensures that everything we consume is as natural and clean as can be.
“Coming originally from a highly-urbanised culture, Yuko thrives in the wide expanses and narrow alleys of the Blackwood Park gardens, with dreams to create a little slice of Zen and a beautiful fruit orchard.”
Clean living doesn't have to be all the mess and fuss typical of organic farming. Blackwood Park thrives with careful approaches to pest management and controlled management of compost and worm farms. Food is recycled via our poultry and our bee hives provide natural pollination.
We find ultimate joy in learning and applying new skills and experiencing a plethora of new activities. Caring for our sheep, goats, alpacas, assorted poultry, bees and a whole host of new and exciting plants is an amazing pleasure. The four distinct seasons bring an incredible diversity to our land that we relish. But our true calling of passion is being able to share our joy with our guests.
“A great challenge moving to the country is learning new skills. In the last few years, we’ve learned how to deliver and raise lambs; make our own cheese, lemon curd, vanilla essence and Sloe Gin; brew beer from 100% natural sources by growing barley and hops and wild harvesting yeast from our ancient cherry trees; and harvest strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and a whole selection of vegetables.”