Extravagant Europe meets simple Australia in this Gundaroo country estate

In 2007, Wolfgang and Antje set out to create a country estate which took elements from their European roots and combined it with Gundaroo’s historical past and life in the harsh Australian climate.

The result is ‘Vogelweide’ – or ‘Bird’s Meadow’ – at 1a Rosamel Street, and it’s immediately clear they nailed the brief. The bespoke home resonates personality and instantly welcomes.

Ray White Canberra real estate agent Chris Dixon says it’s easy to over-modernise a home at the expense of its soul.

“The current owners have deliberately avoided this, creating instead a Georgian-inspired masterpiece where the spartan interiors allow the opulent features and fittings to be the hero,” Chris says.

Such examples include hand-forged Bouvet hardware on the drawers, doors and windows; marble kitchen bench tops sourced from Tuscany; hand-painted Delft style tiles; a Lacanche oven; flagstone floors; custom made Tasmanian Oak solid doors; and tilt-and-turn windows (double glazed) created by Paarhammer Joinery in Victoria.

“Double-brick construction was the obvious choice for weathering hot summers and cold winters and this is where the in-floor hydronic heating comes into its own,” Chris says.

This is fuelled by a heat pump and supported by a 6 kW solar panel system. An in-built Jotul brick fireplace in the lounge and a Jotul stove in the studio combine with ducted evaporative cooling to keep you comfortable year-round.

The floor plan has been designed to harness the sun while providing flexibility for guests to stay in their own space separated by a breezeway. All rooms are afforded glimpses out to verdant grounds with many rooms opening out through generously sized French doors to shady verandas.

The commitment and thought given to the design and construction of the residence is also mirrored outdoors in the outstanding country gardens.

Vogelweide’s grounds were even featured in a 2017 article by the Australian Garden History Society which describes its gardens as “guided by the principles of beauty, simplicity and usefulness, as well as a liking for asymmetry and a longing for shade and privacy”.

The residence rests at the centre of 5,695 square metres of landscaped grounds with native and non-indigenous plantings, fully irrigated from the licensed bore.

Two sheltered courtyards are shaded by large plane trees, while the outdoor kitchen, workshop and garage are hidden under a wisteria arbour and bush roses in full bloom. You get the feeling of walking in an arboretum thanks to the maple trees, umbrella pines, Cyprus, juniper and even a 3.5 metre Wollemi pine providing structure and a micro-climate for lush plantings of many old world roses, peonies, spring bulbs and Mediterranean herbs.

It truly is a sight to behold, designed for year-round colour while also attracting and providing a home for birdlife and maximising privacy.

As for the location, Gundaroo consists of local shops, a primary school and eateries and it’s just a 30-minute drive from Canberra’s Inner City for everything else. School buses depart from the village to all of Canberra’s major high schools and colleges.

Vogelweide is due to be auctioned on 5 February 2022, if not sold prior.

To find out more, or to arrange an inspection of 1a Rosamel Street in Gundaroo, call Ray White Canberra real estate agent Chris Dixon on 0414 819 377 or Alexandra Deschanel on 0417 407 249.

Article was originally written and published by The RiotAct.