Page 171 - Australian House & Garden (January 2020)

living H G

ON T HE ROA D

DrivingalongtheGreatOceanRoadisasdelightful
asthefinaldestination, writesSibella Court.

> OCEAN HOUSE
nestled into a hillside in north lorne, where
the forest meets the sea, Ocean House captures
all the romance of the great Ocean Road. The
tone for my visit was set on the two-hour drive
down from Melbourne, a journey marked by
dramatic skies, gum-lined roads speckled with
wattle blossoms, and vistas of wild seas. Pausing
along the way to photograph a rainbow and
the red-capped Split Point lighthouse, all the
stress and humdrum of city living had dissipated
by the time i arrived.
The shape of Ocean House reminds me
of the foundations of a lighthouse, at once
monumental and grounded in the landscape.
inside, the warmth is noticeable – not only in
temperature (the house has great thermal
properties), but through the softness and
intimacy of the curved and rendered walls,
formed concrete, pooling linen curtains and
narrow transition spaces.
The interior palette takes cues from the
bushscape behind the house; the flow from
bush to home is virtually seamless. Beautiful
trims and accents of timber on the door jambs
and windowsills (i particularly loved the
porthole window above the kitchenette!) add
to the nurturing ambience, with the colour of
the timber echoing the gums behind the house.
The rugged moods of the sea, seen from
the panoramic balcony, are forever enticing
soundscape of crashing waves. The view out
the back is just as magnetic: rain highlights
patterns on the tree trunks, wind makes the
leaves of the towering gums dance, and dappled
sunlight casts soft light on the underbrush.
A curious kookaburra checks in every now
and again as i work in the kitchen. #
TobookyourownstayatOceanHouse,
gotowww.oceanhouse.com.au.

> SIBELLA’S PACKING LIST
McTavish surfboard
The Society inc seafarer cap
The Society inc campfire toasting fork
Pendleton Australia beach towel
Carpenter’s axe

> LOCAL HOTSPOTS
Aireys Pubwww.aireyspub.com.au
Ipsos Restaurant & Bar
www.ipsosrestaurant.com.au
Brae Restuarantbraerestaurant.com
Split Point Lighthouse
splitpointlighthouse.com.au
Lorne Queenscliff Coastal Reserve
Foodworks Lorne (for last-minute groceries!)

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