204 Wirrimbirra Ln, Cedar Brush Creek NSW 2259, Australia

Cheney’s Chapel is a 114.36-acre private bush haven built with predominantly recycled materials. The decision was made for economic as well as sustainable reasons to reuse, recycle, repurpose Entry to the home is through the uniquely custom designed and hand-crafted solid hardwood timber front door on unique custom pivot hinges giving it strength and resistance to the elements. The lion head door knocker was purchased from a 2nd hand shop in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

The sandstone and timber home* is stand-alone off grid solar and comprises of 3 bedrooms plus 4th bedroom or study. The open plan living, dining and kitchen area open out through bi-fold full glass doors onto a sun filled north facing outdoor entertaining area.

The owners choose to build with stone due to its obvious natural thermal insulation qualities with the stone at the front of the house sourced from demolition works at Barangaroo redevelopment, with many of the stones carrying the marks of convict work, and the remainder of the stone was sourced from the property itself. The exposed structural supports use hardwood timbers from the property and there are also railway sleepers salvaged from demolition yards, On the one above the front door, you can see the word LIDCOMBE. The bricks in the kitchen and foyer wall and down the hallway were reclaimed from a home in Stanmore.

The timber and stone in the living area provide a warm and cosy environment and winter days are perfect to snuggle up in front of the slow combustion heater which also doubles as a water heater.

The kitchen features a separate walk-in pantry and the bench tops were purchased as raw timber slabs from a supplier in Panania NSW. He sourced the timbers from fallen trees on his property in the Southern Highlands and they were sanded, stained, and oiled once in place.

The telephone system is based on Telstra and is 4G broadband fed from a 25m tower at the entrance to the property getting signal from Mangrove Mountain and distributed throughout the house via a Cel-Fi smart antenna that allows mobile access throughout the home, with the entire property running on solar power – 5700W from panels at the dam and 7000W from panels on the home. Powered by 4 x SMA solar inverters feeding one off-grid inverter with a 6000W dump load for internal heating or swimming pool heating. Backed up by a 21.7Kva Pramac generator. All power information has been logged on Sunny Portal since 2007.

Drinking water supply is one main 165,000L rainwater tank with 2 other tanks holding a total of 12,000L. There is a 25,000L garden tank that is filled via pump from the dam. Hot water system is also solar with 240V backup.

The Cabin was built by previous owners in the 1970’s. The split logs were from the surrounding bush. The current owners resided in this cabin for 8 years while they built the new home. It brought them joy in ways that cannot be described. Living at one with nature, they had a 12V system and only a small generator – and went to bed at sunset and rose with the sun. Candlelight was an everyday occurrence, fires in the Rayburn kept them toasty and created the most delicious meals that cannot be replicated in an electric oven. The wonderful smell of timber is unique to the Cabin and hearing the rain on the tin roof brings your breathing to a slow and steady pace making for deep sleep in the cosy and snug loft.

Swimming in the fresh water pond every summer instantly removes all signs of stress and tension. It is unlike any other water. It has an energy that envelopes and heals. The animals are ever present at its edges – drinking, resting, swimming, and cleaning themselves in a safe environment.

The owners love the peace and privacy. Being able to hear the call of the lyrebirds, bell birds, black and sulphur crested cockatoos, bower birds to name but a few. Sitting and watching the tiny fire eaters skip over the lawn in search of little bugs is a joy and brings a sense of serenity and oneness with nature. The yearly visit from the swallows to breed denotes the change of the seasons in a way not noticed in the city.

Goannas, wallabies, potoroos, koalas, snakes, skinks, geckos, water dragons and echidnas all inhabit the area, and we consider it a privilege to live among them. You can have a bird fly past your face 2 inches away and dip itself into the water. Moments like this make me smile and feel glad to be alive.

Zoned C3 Environmental Management – permitted without consent, home occupations, some permitted with consent, bed and breakfast accommodation; dual occupancies; eco-tourist facilities home businesses; home industries; information and education facilities.

Cheney’s Chapel has brought the current owners much joy and peace. Now, it is time for new owners to create their own memories.

58 mins to Northconnex Wahroonga, 44 mins to Gosford Railway Station, West Gosford Shopping centre and Westfield Tuggerah 42mins.