Hillplains House and Hillplains Cottage, designed by Wolveridge Architects and previously the home of founder Jerry Wolveridge and Christina Thedorou are now available for stays through Flophouse Accommodation. Having stayed at the property (in the name of guest research) what really sets this offer apart is the fact that the luxury feel is combined with a 100% off-grid experience.

The house and the cottage are beautifully appointed, in Metcalfe, 100kms from Melbourne, with panoramic views of Mount Macedon, Heathcote and Greenhill ranges. The very private location backs on to the state forest and is home to a large mob of kangaroos and other native fauna.

Inspired by the agricultural setting, the Architect Owners have created two dwellings, made from typically agricultural materials. Timbers, plywood, steel framing, polished concrete and concrete masonry brickwork are used to great effect to create not only a dramatic aesthetic but for thermal properties and fire resistance.

A richly textured garden, by landscape designers Tim Nicholas and Mel Ogden softens the industrial elements and provides privacy for guests that wish to book separately. Guests have the choice to book the main house which sleeps up to six guests and comprises three bedrooms and a generous living and dining area or the cottage, a luxurious one-bedroom villa that is privy to the natural pool and private courtyard.

Designed and constructed using Ecologically Sustainable Design principles at the forefront. While there are no “domestic finishes” the house feels intrinsically comfortable. The house and cottage are powered by solar, a backup battery and a generator. Heating is supplied via a wood-burning furnace that heats panel heaters in the main house and two wood-combustion fires in the house and cottage.