The Sustainable Homes Story

Hi! I’m Vesna…..If you’re wondering about my background, my mother gave me an ancient Slavic name meaning “goddess of Spring”. Perhaps that’s why I love nature so much and so here, I want to tell you a little about my story how I started our boutique accommodation business in paradise.

It was Summer 2002 when we visited a small coastal village called Callala Beach in Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast of Australia. We drove around the sleepy town and stumbled across a new land subdivision, uncleared, sandy, full of trees and shrubs, and with a caravan just a 100 metres from the white sand beach. This was the sales agent’s office and they were selling 87 lots in the most pristine environment we ever saw!

Dad knows best

We often hear the line “history repeats itself”, and as someone who learns from doing I realised in my early thirties that Dad sure knows best. After being married a number of years with a good job and then moving to the next stage of life planning a family, I realised I had to get on with it as far as investing in our dream. I recall Dad talking about Callala and how he bought land for a few thousand dollars as part of his investment plan. Some property cycles later he tripled his money, and the saying land appreciates, buildings depreciate rang true.

A South Coast girl at heart, my husband and I decided to design and build our new home in an affordable place by the beach. As it turned out, a few hours out of Sydney in spectacular Jervis Bay was the place for us.

Baby on the way

We had heard about Callala and visited the area briefly with family on a few occasions, but had no idea Jervis Bay is a protected marine park, actually famous and has some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world!

We were excited when the bank approved the loan for our land purchase, wasn’t easy compared to the good ol’ days, where relationships were truly valued, and the world a simpler and kinder place.

Designing a real sustainable home

Our dream was to design an affordable, healthy, low maintenance home – a place where our baby can freely connect with mother nature, experience unspoilt Australia away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle.

The flat block of land was perfect, except for one thing that truly mattered. There was a magical scribbly gum tree located in the middle of the block. But that’s what became our inspiration, to respectfully maintain the tree and design our lifestyle home around it. In Glenn Murcutt’s words, it had to “touch the earth lightly“.

Economic crisis

Then the GFC hit, (and Corona), and it changed everything. Take 2 – history repeating?! What a devastating time. Building our business on the South Coast was cut short by the economic environment. I had to think fast and made the decision to offer for rent our new home so guests could breathe, connect with nature and experience a little slice of paradise.

Over the years we warmly welcomed people from all over the country and indeed the world providing the highest level of service and privacy. Partnering with like-minded family businesses so everyone could thrive made our little venture all the more worthwhile.

Home at Callala Beach, Jervis Bay

On completion of the project we tested our architectural design skills and were honoured and humbled when Hazelwood Beach House was awarded the Best Use of Western Red Cedar category in the 2009 Australian Timber Design Awards. Our property was featured in many magazines as well as Australia’s Best Beach Houses book. Goes to show the benefits true sustainability i.e. recycling and re-use, passive and biophilic design, waste minimisation and local sourcing of construction materials can bring your business, the environment, let alone the health, happiness and well-being of your family, friends and guests. And in 2019, another humbling moment when Booderee Villas was awarded finalist in the HIA Australian Housing Awards Townhouse / Villa Development.

The value we bring a small coastal village and our community lives on beyond the construction of a building and the rental of a property. NB: There’s no room for #fake here.

A bright and positive future: We look forward to warmly welcoming you!

In the complex and uncertain environment of today, where technology is fast diminishing the community spirit, natural connection and personal touch, down the tools, escape city life and live in the present at White Sand Jervis Bay.

Invest in your life, your health, happiness and your dreams. Explore local, cherish priceless memories and enjoy this stunning natural part of Australia we call home.

So see you soon – we can’t wait to meet you! 

Vesna 🙂