Infocus Summer 2025 - Coastal

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque

Pastoria district, just minutes from the

vibrant town of Kyneton, this hillside

property is filled with smart design

choices. The home seamlessly blends

modern finishes and local materials,

that harmonise with the breathtaking

natural surroundings. Set on 180 acres

of farmland, the property offers a new

lifestyle. We caught up with owner Ben,

to learn more about the build of this

beautiful modern farmhouse.

What was the initial vision for this build and how did the rural

setting in Kyneton influence the design?

The site and setting dictated both the size and shape of the building,

while we tried to complement the native palette with the selected

finishes. We always wanted to build a modern farmhouse, but the

design evolved with our needs. Initially we wanted a weekender,

but once we decided it was to be our full-time family home,

the footprint increased accordingly.

Tell us about the collaborative design process between yourself,

the architect and the builder.

We engaged with our builder first, as we were particularly

impressed by a project they had completed nearby. VR Builders then

introduced us to our architect Rilla from Small Studio. We were quite

settled on what we wanted from the house, but Rilla allowed us to

express that and introduced a lot of additional elements that have

certainly added to the liveability of the house.