Why the new bypass has made Berry an even lovelier place to live

Berry has always been lovely, but with the completion of the Berry bypass last year, the centre of town has become a whole lot lovelier.

You can cross the main street without fear of being skittled by a semi-trailer and linger over coffee and croissants at Berry Bakery or Milkwood Bakery, minus the morning traffic hum.

“It’s so much better in town since the bypass,” says local interior designer Victoria Hampshire. “There was definitely an initial slump in business but then all of a sudden it picked up with people choosing to pull off to Berry as a destination. They’ve got time, they’re more relaxed, they can find parking and spend money on retail and food.”

Victoria moved from Sydney with her young family four years ago, following in the footsteps of her mother Jilly Hampshire, co-founder of former Sydney shopping mecca Hampshire and Lowndes and, in more recent years, Vintage Cargo.

In March, the mother-daughter duo opened up Hampshire Interiors in Albert Street, just off the town’s main thoroughfare.

“It’s our interior design studio,” says Victoria.  “We can meet with clients, show them products we frequently work with and display furniture for styling homes for sale and to live in.”

Victoria says there’s no shortage of work in a town where people truly appreciate having nice homes.

“There’s a lot of rejuvenation going on, a lot of new life coming to the town and a lot more younger people moving in,” she says. “And it’s a slower pace here. Yes, everybody works, and they’re passionate about what they do, but they also want to parent well and run a good family life.”

• Related: The country town ideal for renters and buyers
• Related: Victoria’s most overlooked coastal haven?
• Related: What I learned from going country

Agent Carrie Bond of South Coast Prestige Properties says Berry is firmly on the radar of Sydney buyers looking for a weekender or a more permanent tree change.

“Every second person I talk to is saying ‘I’ve had enough, it’s just so busy in Sydney’,” she says. “They want to get away, but still have a connection with the city.

“Berry is the ideal location for that. You’ve got beautiful properties here, and the lifestyle of both country and coast.”

Carrie says property prices in town have risen since the bypass opened and many buyers are purchasing now with plans to retire to the region in the future. And while Berry may offer respite from city hustle and bustle, there’s no shortage of things to see and do.

“We’ve got beautiful shops in Berry, homewares, clothing, eateries – it has a bit of everything,” says Carrie. There are vineyards and galleries, markets and heritage walking trails, and it’s only a matter of weeks until the annual Celtic Festival, to be held at the Berry Showground on May 26.

Property spotlight: Wire Lane wonder hits the market

The wet-edge pool at 181 Wire Lane, Berry. Photo: Supplied

This 101-hectare working farm at 181 Wire Lane, Berry comes with a swoon-worthy, architecturally-designed residence with a wet-edge pool and bright and breezy living spaces, divided by a stone feature wall and boasting a timber reading nook.

The kitchen has Miele appliances and north-facing sliding doors that open onto the deck.

The interiors are airy and contemporary. Photo: Supplied

Outside you’ll find 10 paddocks, cattle yards and storage sheds as well as nine spring-fed dams.

It’s for sale through South Coast Prestige Properties with a guide of $6 million to $6.5 million.