Garden lovers Amanda and Brad Scott's idyllic country cottage that dates back to 1851

• Owners: Garden lovers and renovators Amanda and Brad Scott
• Address: 350 Meangora Road, Nerriga, NSW
• Type of property: Rural property featuring two dwellings: a historic cottage used as boutique accommodation and a barn transformed into a private residence
• Price guide: $1.45 million

Nestled in the tranquil Endrick Valley in NSW and bordering the Morton National Park, you’ll find the secluded Stone House, a quaint two-bedroom cottage dating back to 1851.

It was once home to an Irish Catholic settler and his 13 children. Back then, they grew potato crops in the fertile basalt soil.

Fast forward 172 years, and that quaint cottage has undergone a loving restoration by its current owners, Amanda and Brad Scott, who have transformed it into an idyllic escape on 12 hectares and surrounded by gorgeous green gardens. 

Having renovated properties in the past after 20 years in the Shoalhaven region, the Scotts embarked on their most ambitious project yet.

“We fell in love with the potential of this place. [It] is by far the biggest undertaking we’ve ever done,” Amanda says.

After purchasing the property in 2017, the couple lived in the cottage while preparing a second dwelling on the land – an old barn – for renovation. 

“It had hessian ceilings. It was all mission brown or mustard-coloured inside. It just needed revamping,” Amanda says. 

The couple rehomed found collectibles and memorabilia, but salvaged timber slabs to use throughout and breathe new life into the structure, giving it a rustic charm. 

After the barn was completed, the Scotts moved in and made it their private residence, then worked hard to prepare the cottage for its new role as an Airbnb getaway.

Amanda, the creative mind behind the cottage’s interior, describes herself as an “interiors tragic”. She favours a white backdrop with a fusion of vintage pieces.

She credits her mother’s style as an enormous influence, and many of the antiques and cherished artworks that decorate the cottage belonged to her mother. 

“She was a creative spirit,” Amanda says.

The renovation took three years to complete, and in 2020 the couple welcomed their first guests to the cottage. 

“We’ve had writers, garden lovers, artistic types. People that are into interiors,” Amanda says.

It has become a beloved destination, attracting repeat guests, not just because of Amanda’s hosting skills – she bakes homemade bread, cuts fresh flowers and collects fresh eggs from her dozen chickens in preparation for guests arrival – but for the incredible surroundings.

There’s 2.5 hectares of beautifully manicured gardens and cows and alpacas graze the farmland.

The cold-climate garden was Amanda’s vision and her husband set about creating it. Together, they have cultivated over 500 trees, transforming the plot into a botanical wonderland. Fragrant cherry blossoms and over 60 rose varieties grace the air with their sweet scents. There’s a vibrant vegetable patch, a thriving orchard and an outdoor fireplace that guests often gravitate to.

“The bird life is superb,” Amanda says. “And the wildlife out here is incredible. There’s no light pollution. There’s just nobody. It’s just freedom out here.” 

The property is just 50 minutes from Jervis Bay, making beach getaways an easy day trip. It’s an hour’s drive to Nowra, another hour to Goulburn, and just 45 minutes to Braidwood, providing a perfect balance between seclusion and convenience.

Amanda likes to describe their location as, “in the middle of nowhere, but in the middle of everywhere”. 

SOLD - $1,400,000

350 Meangora Road, Nerriga NSW 2622

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