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27 Nov 2025
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Description
We are semi retired, creatives, who love connecting with the people who have helped us manage our small property, Mistybank. In return we will share our beautiful home, our culture and knowledge.
We have 8 acres of native regeneration on the banks of the Mongarlowe River, within spitting distance of Monga National Park, where we are nurturing beautiful unimproved native pastures, tending to our veggies and an ancient orchard that mainly feeds the abundant bird life here.
We were impacted by the 2019/20 Black Sumer Fires. The regrowth and the weed infestation after the fires was phenomenal, far more than we could cope with.
With the the help of many fabulous Woofers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) we have transformed Mistybank, by removing tons of bush litter, dead or dying trees, thinning regrowth and managing weed.
We are on the doorstep of Monga National Park. An ancient Gondwana remanent forest type and the source of the Mongarlowe River.
The small parcel of land we live on, was cleared agricultural land, when it subdivided off a much larger property to the west of us. We are at the top of the Clyde Mountain, part of the Great Dividing Range we are close to the edge of the escarpment.
We have a large food garden, primarily for personal use. We do propagate and pot up plants to sell and share.
We are 17 km from the nearest town - we can provide some transport to and from town where needed. Travellers with a manual driver’s licence or a car of their own would be ideal.
The regrowth since the fires is significant - large tracts of Acacia’s and Christmas bush remain in some areas and they are growing so densely that without thinning, they will reach "lock up'. Lock up is where the regrowth is so thick that water no longer penetrates the soil which can become hydrophobic.
With the help of volunteers over the last 2 years, we have thinned most of the regrowth. There are still some areas that need attention and fire clearing, removing dead trees, splitting firewood, clearing bush litter, are ongoing tasks too.
We have separate guest accommodation. A well appointed three roomed building that we call the Hut. There is a large fully equipped kitchen, with your own bathroom, laundry facilities and a comfortable bedroom with a view out over the river.
Patrick is a carpenter. there is a fully equipped Carpenters workshop and my studio, that I use as my office, where I sew and make and repair things for home, to sell on line, and for the local monthly markets.
I work part time in the local Post Office and I have a small mentoring practice.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House and pet sitting
Interests
Politics / Social justice
Sustainability
Culture
Self development
Music
History
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Photography
Gardening
Cooking & food
Writing
Nature
Fitness
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I have found that having others stay helps me to appreciate what we have here and how much I know about this part of the country. About the forest, the birds, insects and animals.
We have lots of books and movies - we love to talk about our life experiences, about different societies, people, and politics.
There will be opportunities to see the country side, to explore Braidwood and if you have your own transport, to check out places near by too.
Braidwood is a lively, creative community, that is very welcoming of travellers. Some have picked up work locally too.
Help
The help we are looking for is with managing life here at Mistybank, helping us with whatever needs doing, and there's always something that needs attention.
There's the garden, there's the ongoing job of fire clearing. Gathering and removing bush litter. Thinning regrowth, cutting and splitting firewood. Pruning, weeding and brush cutting.
We have all the tools for these tasks and the protective gear you'll need.
There's also maintenance and help around the house, anything from helping me bake bread, to light painting or repairing a chair, whatever needs doing and of course, weather often impacts what we can and can't do.
If you stay with us, you will get a real insight into our day-to-day life here. We recommend a 4 week stay, time for us to show you all the different things we do here day to day, time for you to get know our property and the range of things you can help with, and time to see some of the local attractions as well.
Initially we would be working together as we show you how things work and where they are - once you know your way around there is a degree of autonomy. Different people like different types of work and once you know your way around you can mix it up a bit to keep it interesting and to suit changing conditions day to day.
Those who stay help us with house sitting too – allowing us to visit places nearby together, where normally, one of us always remains here.
Most people who have stayed for less than 4 weeks have felt like they only just scratched the surface. We both have lots of skills to share, Patrick is a carpenter, I am a mentor, a photographer and maker. I love to cook; we bake our own bread. I love help in the kitchen and there will be times where you can cook for yourself too.
We love having other people here - it makes it possible for us to keep living in this beautiful place, it makes it safer for us to be here and we love sharing what we know and love with new people.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a three roomed hut with all the amenity you need to live independently.
There is a large fully equipped kitchen, that's shared because I bake my bread in the hut. There's a longe/ bedroom combined and a good sized bathroom with shower, toilet and washing machine.
We also have good spaces for people who might be happy to camp too. The hut really only accommodates two people to sleep - so we could only take more than that if people are willing to camp out.
We provide food, some as shared meals, some that you will be able to access to at your convenience in the main house, and some they you prepare for yourselves.
What else ...
We would prefer non smokers. As Pensioners, with only a small property, there are limits to what we can provide. For example, when three people have stayed, they contributed a little more, buying their own specialty items, and preparing their own meals more often.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
internet access cab be a little patchy, there is a lot of traffic and there are times when there is too much demand. I use a combination for Satellite broadband and the mobile wireless network, and between the two, generally have what I need to work on line. I put limited internet access because there are limitations - but generally, it's not to difficult to work around them. If you are working online a lot, we may need to negotiate how we share the cost of internet.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a small undercover area that's out the front of our hut and I have 4 one man tents. We also have a large flat area that's suitable for Mobile homes and camper vans . As pensioners, any more than two people and those staying here would need to help out with the cost of food. Campers would generally be sharing facilities (kitchen and bathroom) with those staying in our hut. We do have a camp kitchen we could set up if needed too, but the hut kitchen is quite generous. We could accept more than two people where you have a camper or are willing to camp.
Can possibly accept pets
Maybe. We live close to a highway, so any dog needs to be well behaved and containable. We have a dog, she has learnt not to go on the highway - having a dog run where we could shut her in helped with that training. Generally, she's not aggressive, she may not get along with another dog - be great if they did though!
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Katzee
