Photography and styling: Abbie Mellé
Like many Sydneysiders, TV journalist and Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew and Neil Varcoe, a writer, dreamt of having a place in the country. Somewhere to unwind, where their future children could swap skyscrapers for hilly horizons and roam to a playlist of birdsong.
As 2015 drew to a close, they’d been on the lookout for land. “It was New Year’s Eve and we were doing a quiz in the weekend paper, which makes us sound like real ragers, but the question was, ‘What is the widest canyon in the world?’” recalls Edwina. “Neil piped up and said, ‘Oh, that’s the Capertee Valley’. He grew up nearby in Lithgow, so he was familiar with it.”
A quick search of properties for sale revealed an 1890s sandstone shearer’s cottage on 42 barren hectares, and they sprang into action. “We drove down on Australia Day in 2016 and purchased the property right then and there,” says Edwina.
She sat down with Home Beautiful to share stunning pics of the vast garden and charming country-inspired interiors. Plus, scroll on for all the details you need to book this idyllic farmstay for your own blissful getaway.
Edwina Bartholomew escapes to the country
“It’s honestly changed our lives. It’s been such an amazing project for both of us and an amazing base
Edwina Bartholomew
for our family.”
When Edwina Bartholomew and Neil Varcoe first inspected this property, they were greeted on the driveway by a friendly turtle. Upon buying the land, the couple named it ‘Warramba’, or ‘turtle’ in the local Wiradjuri language. The gentle pace of the farm is a refreshing contrast to their busy lives in Sydney.
After renovating the run-down interior and readying the charming three-bedroom farmhouse for short-term rentals, the couple turned to the exterior. “With the exception of the grapevine, there was no garden at all, not even a plant. There was one tree, a cedar, which we had to cut down because it was poisoning the water supply,” says Edwina. “There was grass right up to the verandah and that was it, not even a shrub, so we really started from scratch.”
Creating a country garden
What followed was a garden design driven more by site than style. “You can’t put in a traditional English-style garden out here without having to pump it full of water, so it made a lot more sense – both for the native wildlife and for the conditions – to lean into it, as opposed to fighting against it.”
“We needed the garden to be really low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and impactful.”
Edwina Bartholomew
Guided by Warren Walker of Wariapendi Native Nursery in the NSW Southern Highlands, the garden is now lush with hardy native and non-native plants that withstand the sub-zero winter nights and summer days of 40-plus degrees Celsius. “Warren took it to the next level, because instead of building a garden inside a fence, he designed a garden that incorporated the fence, so it flows in and out of the fence line and undulates beyond it,” explains Edwina.
The country wedding of Edwina Bartholomew and Neil Varcoe
Edwina and Neil tied the knot at Warramba in 2018, inviting guests to contribute a gift or a tree to their budding orchard. “All the trees in the orchard were bought by our friends, and now we’re starting to see them fruit and grow really tall. That’s been lovely,” says Edwina. They have since welcomed a daughter Molly, four, and son Tom, two, who love the garden.
In 2024, Edwina revealed she has received a cancer diagnosis and has begun treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia. She spent the following weeks at Warramba, where the family continue their pilgrimage and find solace with each visit. “When you’re there, even if it’s just for a weekend, it feels like days and days because you are in the garden,” she says. “It feels like time away from the world.”
Tour the country oasis
“It’s a free-flowing garden that has a little bit of order to it. As we change, the garden changes, too. It’s been an evolution.”
Edwina Bartholomew
“My favourite hangout is the front verandah with the big outdoor couch. Often in the mornings you’ll get kangaroos on the front lawn, so we’ll sit there, have our breakfast and watch the kangaroos go by,” says Edwina of the entry. Topiaries of Callistemon ‘White Anzac’, Philotheca ‘Winter Rouge’ and Rosmarinus officinalis frame the entry, adding structure to feathery fronds of Dianella grasses and kangaroo paw, a native perennial.
The yoga deck
On a distant hill, the couple built a raised yoga deck large enough to host sunset picnic dinners. “It has the most spectacular 360-degree views of the Capertee Valley,” shares Edwina.
The barbecue area
It wouldn’t be an Australian country garden without a barbecue. Edwina Bartholomew’s xeriscaped barbecue area is surrounded by paths lined with Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ groundcover. The pathway is illuminated by lighting from Gardens At Night.
The pool
The couple recently added the circular above-ground mineral pool, which is one of children Molly and Tom’s favourite spots. Edwina designed the pool with Allcast Precast in Queensland and had it clad in hardwood timber battens, which help it blend into the backdrop of slender poplar trees. “They change colours in autumn, which is beautiful,” says Edwina.
An old cedar was replaced with a peppercorn tree, which now towers over the cottage and pool.
The verandah
Edwina loves curling up on the Uniqwa Collections outdoor sofas with a cuppa resting on the vintage stools she found at Kabinett in Kyneton. “It’s a beautiful spot to read a book and relax,” she says.
The homestead’s original sandstone walls stand proud, harking back to its 1890s origins as a shearer’s cottage.
It’s Neil’s job to chop the firewood, which is piled up beneath the home’s storybook sash windows. Edwina keeps busy with other tasks. “I mowed the lawns last time I was there, and even though my lawns are a little bit like a bad haircut, I just love it,” says Edwina.
Meet Edwina Bartholomew’s pet cows
Edwina and Neil named their affectionate fold of Scottish Highland cows after illustrious real-life and fictional Scottish characters, including Susan Boyle, Jamie Fraser, Annie Lennox, Shirley Manson, Ewan McGregor and Andy Murray.
The family’s Scottish Highland cattle recently welcomed little Merida. But it’s not just the cattle, pet dog, or the property itself that Edwina Bartholomew and Neil Varcoe have blessed with names. Even the trusty four-wheel drive is worthy of a name, christened Reginald Warramba Varcoe the Land Rover.
SOURCE BOOK
Landscape design: Wariapendi Native Nursery, www.wariapendi.com.au
Landscaping: ED Landscapes, www.edlandscapes.com
Stay: Warramba is available for holiday rentals and sleeps up to six people. Visit Airbnb or www.warramba.com.au to book.
Tour Edwina Bartholomew’s country cottage
Set on 100 acres of regenerated farmland in the Greater Blue Mountains, the incredible restoration was completed with the help of Edwina’s good friend Felicity Slattery of design practice Studio Esteta.
As is so often the story, significant work was needed to create the stunning modern homestead we see today. “We didn’t realise at the time that there was a garden hose connecting the tank to the house as the main source of water, and a green tree frog living in the loo!” Edwina shares. Roping in the help of builder Ben from Pirie Homes, they decided they would eventually rent out the property, so invested in a comprehensive renovation to open up the living spaces, lay new flooring over the top of unsalvageable cement and wood floors, and address the aesthetics of the house and gardens over a six month period.
A country kitchen
The bathroom
Kitchen and dining
Bedroom
Bedroom
Bedroom
Stay at Edwina Bartholomew’s country escape
If you’re looking for a blissful country escape, hit the road and head west to enjoy quintessential wide open roads, culminating in majestic vistas of the Capertee valley. Lovingly restored as a bolthole for the world-weary, Warramba sleeps six guests in three beautifully appointed bedrooms and has one generous bathroom to share. The fully equipped kitchen to creates a cosy hub in which to cook and share meals in true country style. Or add a couple of swags to the mix and camp out under the stars to get even closer to nature.
Prices average $800 per night for two people with a two night minimum stay. Visit warramba.com.au or Book here.
