This week on our Home Life Series, we’re heading to the rolling hills of Christmas Hills in Victoria’s Yarra Valley to meet Sharn and Josh, from Eco Timber Group.
Set across 124 acres with the Yarra River winding through the property, their family home is a beautiful expression of generous, grounded country living, complete with kids, animals and one resident wombat. With farmhouse bones thoughtfully reworked for modern family life, the home blends old and new with ease.
Recycled brick, timber-lined ceilings and solid blackbutt floors create a rich, textural foundation, balanced by considered renovations and landscaping that bring a sense of calm and longevity. Driven by a shared love of sustainable timber and timeless design, this is a home built to last. Keep reading to step inside this Yarra Valley haven and see how Sharn and Josh have shaped their family home.
Hi Sharn, thank you so much for welcoming us to Christmas Hills! Can you start by telling us about your beautiful place and who calls it home with you?
We are on a rural property of 124 acres, with the Yarra River flowing through the bottom of our property. I live here with my husband Josh (Director of Eco Timber Group), Tom (18), Grace (16), Annabel (12), Loki the dog, Winnie the cat, 8 ducks, 10 chickens and a resident wombat.
How did you discover this beautiful property, and what made you know it was the perfect place for your family’s next chapter?
We had been looking for a while as we had outgrown our home in the inner suburbs of Melbourne and wanted some more space for ourselves and our children. Tom was heading into Year 7 and Annabel into Prep, so we felt it was the right time to move. Josh had spent a lot of his younger years growing up in the suburbs close to Christmas Hills and myself in Tasmania, so it wasn’t foreign to us to be moving to the ‘country’. It meant the kids could have a trampoline and finally, a dog.
Since moving in, what renovations or special touches have you added to the home?
We have almost overhauled the whole house. It had a great farmhouse feel and good bones. We have tried to blend the old with the new as seamlessly as possible. The whole exterior was able to be re-clad and updated with our timber. Internally, we tried to work with the existing features of recycled brick and timber-lined ceilings; however, most other aspects like flooring, all the windows, kitchen and bathroom were all updates. The house vertically sat on a hill with little landscaping, so we have spent a lot of time making that a real feature of our home also.
Can you tell us about Eco Timber Group and how your passion for sustainable, beautiful timber shapes the way you live and design your spaces?
Our passion for timber influences everything: the projects we choose, the partnerships we build with architects, builders and clients, and the way we craft custom profiles at our mill to suit each unique vision. We design with longevity in mind - timeless architecture over trends, natural character over imitation, authenticity over mass production.
How has your work with Eco Timber influenced the way timber has been used throughout your home and garden?
Much of the timber throughout the garden is recycled. Our floors are solid blackbutt. Josh was keen to use as much timber as possible where we could, so I had to try and balance that with other materials so that it wouldn't be too much!
What advice would you give to homeowners or designers looking to incorporate eco-friendly timber into their projects without compromising on style or creativity?
We have so many profiles on offer at Eco, such as 2D and 3D profiles, and recycled timber that has been featured throughout, used as exposed beams for example, which adds emotional value to a space. There are different alternatives to stains that can be used to obtain a certain shade you may be after. Matching timbers to their environment allows you to be as creative as you like.
Nestled in a beautiful spot in the heart of the Yarra Valley, surrounded by rich wine regions and gorgeous local produce, walk us through the perfect day trip in Christmas Hills for readers travelling to the area.
You could start the day with a fresh air walk through Sugar Loaf Reserve, where you could then have a picnic or BBQ. Alternatively, after the walk, you could make your way to the Yarra Valley to one of the beautiful wineries or even a few. You could then take a stroll through the elegant Alowyn Gardens, which is next door to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery.
Healesville is also not too far away and is a quaint, authentic town with lovely cafes, wine bars and art studios.
