What happens when you spend years driving back to Melbourne on a Sunday night wishing you could stay by the sea? You make the move, build your dream home and never look back. This week on our Home Life Series, we’re heading to Barwon Heads to meet Welsh-born physio Rachel Grace and have a look around her coastal home.

Built from the ground, Rachel’s home makes the most of its beachside setting, with timber details, natural textures and plenty of space for family life, while the surrounding landscape plays a starring role.

Come inside as Rachel talks coastal living, building a home from scratch and creating a space that feels as easygoing as life by the sea.

Hey Rachel, thank you so much for welcoming us into your beautiful Barwon Heads home. For those who may not know you, can you tell us a little about yourself, your work as a physio and who you share this home with?

I am a Welsh lass and live with my husband and three teenage children; Charlotte, Dylan and Caspa and our puppy.

You grew up in Wales before making the move to Australia. What first brought you here, and what do you remember most about those early years of building a life so far from home?

I met a Geelong boy in Notting Hill where we lived for 10 years before moving to Australia. Mark had had enough of the long, dark UK Winters and was desperate to move back. It was quite tough to start off with as I really missed my family and friends back home.

Before settling in Barwon Heads, you were living in Melbourne and spending plenty of time holidaying down the coast. What was it about this part of Victoria that kept drawing you back?

Definitely the ocean and the more relaxed way of life.

About seven years ago, you decided to make the move permanent. What finally gave you the push to swap Melbourne for coastal life, and how did that change day-to-day life for you and your family?

We used to come down on weekends and not want them to end. We would be so miserable driving back up the highway to Melbourne on a Sunday evening. We would talk about how we would finally move once the kids had finished school but came to the realisation that we did not want to wait 10+ years to make the dream a reality.

You’re raising three kids here now. What do you love most about bringing up a family by the coast, and are there parts of this lifestyle that remind you at all of growing up in Wales?

The kids have such freedom here; riding their bikes down the road for sunrise and sunset surfs. I love being able to finish work and within minutes be swimming in rock pools or walking Bailey on the beach. Life is definitely simpler, feels safe and there is a strong sense of community. In this way, it is similar to my childhood growing up in Wales. 

When you found this house, what was it about the home and its Barwon Heads setting that felt right for your family? 

We fell in love with the location between the golf course and beach. I love birds and this is a twitchers paradise! when the plot of land came up for sale, we snapped it up.

You’ve since taken the house through a 12-month major renovation. What was most important to you when creating a home that worked for the way your family actually lives?

We built the house which was a lengthy process, especially during covid times.  We wanted to make sure that we made the most of the natural habitat and that every space is used, feels warm and welcoming.

The finished home feels warm, relaxed and full of personality. How would you describe your interior style, and what did you want the house to feel like when people walked through the door?

Relaxed coastal with natural textures, soft neutral tones and timber; comfortable.

After living in Barwon Heads for seven years, what still feels special about calling this part of the world home?

Definitely our lovely friends and the special Barwon Heads community.