The Miner’s Cottage

The Miner's Cottage in the Cockatoo Valley
View from picnic table
Interior
Loo out the back

I wish I could make time stand still. I felt this way when we lived in a 400 year old cottage in Headley nr. Epsom, UK. When an environment is so perfect, suits me so well, I’d like to stay forever. I am sitting at the picnic table behind The Miner’s Cottage in the Cockatoo Valley outside the Barossa wine region of South Australia. I’m looking at Godfrey’s back garden framed by Eucalypt forest. Last night at Godfrey’s direction we took a walk at dusk to see a herd of kangaroos in a nearby paddock, then surprised two hopping right by the cottage, across the yard and out the drive, right in front of Godfrey who was riding his bike. The trees overhead were literally filled with cockatoos! Like Godfrey I want to stay here forever!

We owe our presence here to our Toronto friends, David and Bill, who stayed here several years ago. I was intrigued when they described it and decided right then and there that I wanted to visit. It is an old Miner’s Cottage that dates to the end of the 19th century and is both rustic and luxurious. The owner, Gregory, immigrated from NZ in 1981 and says he loves Australia and is now a citizen. He has created a little piece of paradise here with all the amenities. The cottage consists of two rooms, a sitting room and a bedroom, with the loo out back. One must exit the cottage as in the old days to visit the facilities. But what facilities! Adjacent to the back door is another door to the bathroom with heated floor tiles, claw foot tub, shower etc. The cottage is similar to those I imagine exist in rural France with 2 foot thick walls, period furnishings and modern bathrooms. In another building, formerly a garage I think, Godfrey installed has a full kitchen with stove and dishwasher and LCD TV/DVD. Behind this is another bedroom with shower and behind a cupboard a washing machine. It is a perfect meld of the old and new. There is a Bose Docking Station for the i Pod but no WiFi – we’ll have to go to the library to get online.