On a working sheep and cattle property at Avenue Range, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, Bull Island has been held by the same family since settlement in 1880. For generations, The Quarters was where shearers and shed staff slept during shearing. Today, it is a luxurious stay with historic roots.
By 2022, the owners had set out to restore what was close to a ruin: retaining the shell of the original stone building and transforming it into a private retreat for two.
The idea was to honour what the building already was. Wool, timber and other organic textures run throughout the interiors, giving the place a sense of the old property, its sheep, paddocks and the working-farm history.
Inside, the restoration is a beautiful balance of stone, wool and wood. Genuine wool rugs lie scattered underfoot, a dream to walk on barefoot. Brass warms the bathroom, which features a deep stone bath. There is a king bedroom fitted with local wool bedding, heated floors in the bathroom and kitchenette, robes, slippers and all the small luxuries, like handmade ceramics by Margot. The kitchenette covers the basics: a fridge, Nespresso machine and microwave/convection oven/air fryer. Wi-Fi, a smart TV, books and games fill the living space. Outside, there is a wood-fired hot tub and firepit table.
At dusk, you can watch the sun fall away over endless pasture, vastness captured in a single view.
Because the address is genuinely remote, gourmet ready-to-heat meals can be arranged before arrival, and herbs can be picked from the garden.
The Quarters sits between Adelaide and Melbourne, making it a useful stop on a road trip, or a destination in its own right for a couple seeking stone walls, wool-soft interiors, paddock views and a sense of farm life, elevated with a touch of luxury.
Stay at Bull Island, The Quarters.
