updated   Last minute

Experience genuine hospitality in my artistic home in the rainforests of the Dandenong Ranges, Australia

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I have a large artistic house and garden in the Dandenong Ranges of outer Melbourne, near Belgrave. I have 4 children in their twenties who have just left home. I am used to a house full of people and have travelled through many countries. The travels I have enjoyed the most are when I have stayed with local people and developed relationships with them and shared our countries, language and lives. So, when my youngest daughter left home, I decided to fill their rooms with workaways. I am an architect, designer and project manager and work some days from home. I am also a qualified chef and pastry chef. I have a focus on sustainability and my house uses reclaimed timbers and recycled furniture and pieces made by my father a wood craftsman. Puffing Billy a vintage steam train runs along the back of my property, and we have views across to the sea.
    The Dandenong ranges are an area where many tourists come. We have beautiful walks though temperate Mountain Ash forests, tea and coffee shops and many public gardens.
    There is a bus stop that is 3 mins away which will take you to the train station, which takes you to Melbourne city. I am 45km from the city by car and the train takes around 60-70 mins. The bus runs every 30 mins until 9.30pm. If you travel to the city for the evening you will need to catch a taxi or Uber to my home. I will always be here to advise and help you and give you any information that you need. Please be aware that it is quiet and peaceful in the hills, and you are 8 mins by bus from the local shops/village and train. If you want a party house or lots of action you may need to look at Workaway hosts closer to the city.
    I am a warm and welcoming person, who loves hospitality, and I don't expect you to do anything I wouldn't. But I do work hard. I have 3 rooms available with a shared bathroom. My house is yours while you are.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    In my experience it is the cultural exchange that benefits us all. Learning language, sharing our lives. Specifically gardening, composting and seed raising. Design and building projects. And in the house, pickling, breadmaking, sourdough, fermenting and preserving, jam making and anything food related.

  • Help

    Help

    I am looking for workaways happy and experienced with projects around the garden specifically, which will involve digging, weeding, moving soil and mulch, planting and if you have the right skills, I work fulltime and don't have the time to teach you basic skills. Therefore I expect you have used garden tools, know that plants need watering and how you do that. I am also building a greenhouse and shed so experience in carpentry is preffered. There is also painting and general jobs around the house.
    I have sheds to clean and sort and pergolas to build. I have a pool that I need help to maintain. Whilst there are some general cleaning jobs inside and of course weekly housekeeping, most of the projects are in the garden and outside.

    If it is raining or you feel the weather is too hot or cold, you may not be able to help those days and will need to make up the hours by working longer on more suitable days. I need you to work on the days I work from home (2 days) so I can help advise you and answer questions. This means you days off will be Tuesday- Thursday.
    Your work is 6.30 hours on 4 days. You will have more three free full days to explore or chill. I excpect you to start work by 8.30am and treat the working days like a job.
    My minimum stay is a month. Please don't agree to that and then change flights, get jobs, and think it is okay to leave early. It is not a flexible arrangement. If you agree to month then you stay a month.
    Days of arrival have to work with my work so Wednesday - Saturday. I will generally pick you up at the station at 5.30pm and welcome you home.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    German: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    I am learning German and would love to learn how to speak it. I am also interested in understanding all languages and love to learn new words from everyone

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You will have you own room with a double bed, a couple of friends or partners will share a double bed, depending on availability. I provide towels, there is wardrobe space and bedside lamps, spare blankets and washing machine available. There is a shared bathroom and 2 living areas in my home, TV and some streaming services. Plenty of outside space, a large decks, courtyard and lawns to lay on. Shared kitchen. Swimming pool. There is free WIFI.

    I will provide you with food and make evening meals when I am home, I cook cuisines from many countries. I eat some fish but provide mainly vegetarian meals.I encourage workaways to cook dinners to share with us all. . You are welcome to cook your own food and have access to many of the items in the fridge and pantry. If you wish to eat meat you will need to buy this and cook your own meal. Please feel at home and make your own breakfast and lunch, picnic or takeaway of needed when you are out travelling for the day. I think it is great to eat together when we are all home so we can get to know one another.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    There are many walks around the hills. It is a bush environment with many artists living here. Some need you to catch a bus and others you can walk from here. We have many parks and gardens that are worth visiting. Coffee shops and tourist shops. I can take you to some places when I can and drop you off when I am out and about. There are a couple of walk around here where you will see kangaroos or wallabies and lyrebirds which I am happy to show you.
    With easy access to the city there is also the opportunity to enjoy galleries, art, museums and cultural events there. There is always something happening. Just let me know what you are interested in and i can help you with an itinerary.
    I expect people to help willingly and see the exchange of help as an equal exchange for your room and food and my hospitality. I will provide a list of jobs needed and show you what they are and the tools needed the night or day before. There will be priorities on the list which will need to bed done first and then inside jibs if it is raining. Again I don't except you to do anything I wouldn't do.

    I have internet access. I have 2 cats and it is a non smoking house

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    I work from home some days and the internet connection is fine

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    I have a large front drive that park your motorhome and an extension lead for power if needed.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 245165877699

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