Welcome to Australia's secret suburb, Bend of Islands, where no pets or fences are allowed

No schools, supermarkets, phone reception, fences and permits required for dogs. No, this isn’t the apocalypse. This is what life is like at Bend of Islands, Australia’s “secret suburb” 30 kilometres north-east of Melbourne.

According to the 2016 census, the suburb has a population of 295 and just 104 dwellings spread across 634 hectares of natural bushland. It has combined environmental conservation with residential use for the better part of 40 years in efforts to protect the native flora and fauna.

“It’s Australia’s only environmental living zone,” Allen, a resident of the area for 30 years, told Your Domain.  “It’s a unique concept. Back in the ’70s, it was used as an example of environmental living at a United Nations conference.”

If you’re wanting to get away from cramped city life, it sounds ideal. But be warned, living here comes with a unique list of rules.

“It’s like a national park – no fencing, no non-indigenous planting, no introduced animals,” Allen said.

“I suppose to some people it can be restrictive. When we found the area, we embraced [it] and thought it was wonderful. It’s a unique existence that comes with living in national park. You just don’t get that anywhere else.”

There are only two homes currently listed for sale within Bend of Islands on Domain, one of which is a Santa Fe-inspired mudbrick home. It was built by vendors Tom and Carol Ann in the 1980s by bricks they crafted by hand.

Homes in the area are required to blend into the natural surroundings. They need to use natural colours and can’t exceed five metres in height. Tom and Carol Ann’s home only has one right angle after the designer Ross Henry was inspired by the earth buildings in Palestine.

Tom and Carol Ann said it was wonderful community to be a part of, but any interested buyers would need to be comfortable with the lifestyle that defined Bend of Islands.

“They’ve got to be comfortable – more than comfortable, enthusiastic – about the environment, and maintain or [enhance] the local environment. Commitment to conservation is very important,” Tom told Your Domain.

Artists Ona and Syd moved to Bend of Islands in 1979, calling it home for 41 years with no plans to ever leave. Ditching the grind of city life in favour of practising their art surrounded by nature was the ultimate drawcard.

“Lifestyle is more important than the big dollar in the sky,” Ona said.

“I love the fact that the bush is protected. I really love the fact that we have all these really unusual birds and animals, and yet we can be in town in 40 to 45 minutes.”

No fences are allowed inside Bends of Islands so that animal movement in the area isn’t restricted by humans.

The nature-loving residents of the suburb hold strict on their no-pets and no hoofed animals policy, in order to protect the native wildlife in the area. However, a roaming goat remains in the area.

“It was introduced some times ago by a rogue resident of the time,” Allen said. “The current resident is trying to catch it and relocate it, but it doesn’t want to go at this time.”

Your Domain airs at 10am on Saturdays on Nine. Catch up on all episodes on 9Now.