An historic Jerrara property on Long Brush Road is emerging from an almost $5 million transformation, after being bought in 2019, to become one of the premier holiday destinations in the region.

Illawarra Shorthorn farmer George Grey and his wife Susan (nee Lee) may recognise the exterior of their 200 acre 1850’s Long Brush Road property, clad in the corrugated iron Australian vernacular, but they would surely be blown away by the present day interiors.

Greyleigh is now a six star accommodation enterprise, featuring a three bedroom Homestead to sleep 10, plus a three bedroom Guesthouse to sleep six, all painted in the original terracotta.

Property and accommodation managers Erica Warren and Michelle Higgins feel as if they are walking on a cloud as they glide about the buildings.

“Weeks before we were appointed to this position, Erica and I met for dinner to talk about how we might work together to do something amazing. Then Greyleigh

arrived!” says Michelle.

Walking into the accommodation, with interiors designed by Dominique Brammah and Shannon Shlomm from We Are Duet, is like walking into the pages of the sumptuous English Country Life magazine, but with a much more relaxed Australian feel – “a delightful blend of grand and quaint, eclectic and whimsical,” says the website.

No expense has been spared.

On the one hand an electric car charger is being installed on site, and there’s a modern full length pool, a spa/meditation room for facials, massage and hair and makeup, and on the other a delightful Victorian-style gazebo, a rediscovered metal rose arch, the original silos in which George stored his maize, and historic dry stone walls.

Modern is juxtaposed with antique furnishings, and everywhere you turn there are delights like collectible wall sconces, Italian majolica pottery dishes on the kitchen walls, French chandeliers and comfortable window seats in reading nooks.

The Homestead has an upstairs, very private, master bedroom with clawed bath on a marble plinth at one end, looking out over rolling green hills dotted with cabbage palms to the Pacific Ocean.

The king sized modern four poster bed sits behind the bathtub and further back is a shower bathroom which opens onto a Juliet balcony.

In the landscaped gardens, ancient fig trees spread their arms across walkways to secret gardens, the orchard, the chicken caravan and other buildings on the property.

“We have a market garden with seasonal vegetables that chefs working on site can use. Our orchard is filled with citrus, avocado, mango, plums, mulberry, pomegranate, fig and Macadamia trees.

“We have already made Greyleigh marmalade, jams and marinated figs,” says Erica.

“The honey from our hives is being extracted next week.”

The property managers are keen to recreate the history of the property, blending old with new.

“Along with the accommodation we plan to have Greyleigh Gems, named after George’s cows which were called the Gems of Greyleigh.

“Our Gems are things like sourdough making workshops, art experiences and other add on extras,” says Erica.

The artworks that fill the walls are curated by the owners of the Art Bar in Kiama, who run a local artist in residence program.

“All works are for sale,” says Erica.

“We’ve already sold one piece to our project manager.”

The property is world class – everything is quality and the designs and build are beautifully executed.

“We think big, and we know that this accommodation has been so well executed that it will easily attract a local and global audience,” says Michelle.

“The gardens are filled with birds, we see kangaroos on the paddocks and we have a resident bowerbird.”

The next stage will be to apply to host events, such as weddings.

Photos by The Mann Project