889 Skyline Road, Christmas Hills VIC 3775

Hamish Knox and Loretta Childs, pioneers of Big Hill, are bidding farewell to their beloved 12-acre property nestled in the Yarra Valley after two decades of nurturing it into a haven. At ages 70 and 65 respectively, they're embarking on a new chapter. Loretta, a well-established landscape designer with a penchant for native plants and large rock work, hails from Eltham, while Hamish, son of the famed Melbourne architect Alistair Knox, is a builder, designer, and mentor extraordinaire.

Big Hill boasts a breathtaking panorama stretching from Yarra Glen to Mt Macedon and the Warburton Ranges. The property has been transformed into a stunning representation of the Knox/Eltham style, adorned with recycled leadlight windows, huge wharf timber beams and Tasmanian Oak walls and floors. Every piece of building material has a story. Hamish's keen eye for potential led to the creation of multiple buildings on the property, each infused with character from their eclectic material origins.

Water, the cornerstone of their vision, required considerable effort to secure. A bore drilled 180m deep has been reticulated throughout the property. This sustainable water supply not only services the expansive gardens but is also of drinking quality. Every element of Big Hill has a story, from the English AGA stove with roots in Hamish's early mud brick endeavours, to the towering ironbark wharf timbers and French doors adorning the structures.

Loretta's landscape design, featured in publications, mirrors the ethos of repurposing materials and integration with nature. Water sits at the heart of the garden with four natural ponds and swimming pool. Garden rooms abound and are defined with the use of large basalt rock, recycled wharf timbers, unique sculpture and a native flora. The tragic tale of ‘Lucy Montsalvat, a symbol of Hamish's familial heritage, adds depth to the property's narrative.

Big Hill is not just any old country property; it is a testament to sustainability, community, and craftsmanship. It offers a wealth of opportunity with a once established BnB business, Big Hill has the scope of being a multiple use property, wellbeing centre, hospitality venue or artists’ studios (stca). It is a great opportunity for the true entrepreneur beckoning those seeking a sanctuary steeped in history and soul—a place to build dreams upon the foundation laid by two visionaries.

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