Home Away From Home | Riverdale 1898
↑ Surrounded by gardens with big sky views over paddocks bordering the tranquil river, the original cottage ‘Riverdale 1898’ is a subtle mix of elegance, romance and simplicity.
↑ The farms along the Kalgan River grew pears and apples for export to the UK in the early days and for the local town of Albany. They also ran cattle and sheep on a small scale and cut hay in spring. One of the earliest residents of the cottage, the Powell family, set up a strawberry tea garden on the banks of the river, serving Devonshire tea to day trippers from Albany in the early 1900s.
↑ The north-facing sunroom makes the most of expansive views over paddocks with grazing cattle while kangaroos laze under the towering marri trees and a view of the Kalgan River. The skillion at the rear has been rebuilt to house a simple kitchen, laundry area, and bathroom. Image Hannah Puechmarin
↑ Inside, the spaces are decorated in a feminine mix of delicate, muted pale tones with an understated floral theme. The light-filled kitchen and dining area is the perfect place to while away the hours with a good book, tea and cake. Top & above images: Hannah Puechmarin
↑ The cottage is filled with books on the surrounding area, novels by local authors, interiors, floral design, and gardens, perfect for sleep ins in the cosy bedrooms. Quilts crafted in a mix of Liberty and linen fabrics are available for guests to enjoy on cooler days . Image above, Hannah Puechmarin
↑ The house, cottage, studio, and workshop spaces at Riverdale Farm are filled with various antique and vintage treasures and natural finds from the garden. Combining simple objects with earthy botanic delights creates a relaxed and rustic vibe.
↑ Sirens scented candles are ideal for Riverdale Farm and the cottage, Riverdale 1898 . The scent pays homage to the beauty of a country garden and the wild bush landscape. Our 100 acres, with a large country garden, are surrounded by beautiful natural marri and jarrah woodlands, which display an impressive array of wildflowers in spring.
The quinessential ‘home away from home’, Riverdale Cottage is a ‘perfectly imperfect’ two-bedroom cottage with a vintage vibe and plenty of creature comforts to help you settle in and feel at home. A curious collection of humble antiques lend a distinctive charm while outside, you’ll find big skies, expansive paddocks, and the sound of the Kalgan River gently rolling by. Owner Helen Leighton chats with Southern Wild Co about her ongoing passion project in Albany, WA.
What is the story behind Riverdale 1898? If the walls could talk, what would they say?
We purchased Riverdale Farm in 2004 and with passionate, hard work, it has evolved into the place it is today – a family home with extensive gardens and a small Pinot Noir vineyard. We run a herd of Murray Grey cattle and enjoy a busy and productive lifestyle. I have a cutting garden with a studio and workshop where I prepare wedding flowers with our garden-gathered blooms and host occasional workshops. Sharing my love of flowers and sustainable design with others is a joy.
In our original cottage, Riverdale 1898, the walls would speak of a story of hard-working pioneers cooking meals using homegrown produce and conversing at the dining table after a day’s hard work. It would’ve been a simple farm life connected to nature, peace and quiet, community and sharing stories with other early settlers
The farms along the Kalgan River grew pears and apples for export to the UK in the early days and for the local town of Albany. They also ran cattle and sheep on a small scale and cut hay in spring. One of the earliest residents of the cottage, the Powell family, set up a strawberry tea garden on the banks of the river, serving Devonshire tea to day trippers from Albany in the early 1900s. The visitors would arrive by boat and enjoy afternoon tea under a rustic bush pole pergola with a canopy of leafy branches. It is fitting that Riverdale Farm continues to host guests.
How did you go about decorating Riverdale Farm and making a home away from home for others?
The house, cottage, studio, and workshop spaces at Riverdale Farm are filled with various antique and vintage treasures and natural finds from the garden. Combining simple objects with earthy botanic delights creates a relaxed and rustic vibe. Collected items handed down to us evoke special memories and link us to previous generations who form our shared heritage.
With a background in design, I thoroughly embraced the process, delighting in the research and opportunity to hunt down time-worn, well-crafted items for decorative touches.
Surrounded by gardens with big sky views over paddocks bordering the tranquil river, Riverdale 1898 is a subtle mix of elegance, romance and simplicity. But it certainly needed a lot of work to begin with! Above all, Riverdale 1898 is a spot to relax, connect with loved ones, and create memories in an environment that inspires creativity through its connection to the land.
Riverdale 1898 is the original settlers’ cottage at Riverdale Farm, built from granite from the property in the early 1900s. It was initially a four-room cottage, which has grown organically over time for function rather than form. We decided to make only minor modifications to honour this. A dwelling rooted in practicality.
Nature provided the colour palette for the cottage exterior – woodland grey and a soft lichen green, referencing the marri and jarrah woodland and granite outcrops. A rusted steel screen mirrors the colour of the redgum from the marri trees. Inside, the spaces are decorated in a feminine mix of delicate, muted pale tones with an understated floral theme.
My approach to styling is to use the beautiful pieces I have collected over the years. I am nostalgic about the past, which inspires my choice of vessels to sustainably arrange and style my flowers and table setups. I adore the imperfect beauty in the foxing of mirror glass, in crazed porcelain, the rusty patinas of urns and the muted earthy tones of terracotta.
I filled one shelf in the cottage with books on the surrounding area, novels by local authors, and the other with books about interiors, floral design, and gardens. I made quilts in a mix of Liberty and linen fabrics for guests to enjoy on cooler days. The fenced cottage garden is a delightful place to read, enjoy a cuppa, or wander off and walk. The Luke Pen walk begins at our boundary, following the river upstream for 7.4km.
The sunroom faces north, but when we purchased the property, it had windows that could only be looked out of by standing up. The sills have been dropped to make the most of the expansive views over paddocks, with cattle grazing the pasture while kangaroos laze under the towering marri trees and a view of the Kalgan River. The skillion at the rear has been rebuilt to house a simple kitchen, laundry area, and bathroom.
Where do you recommend your guests visit for local experiences that appeal to the heart, mind, eyes and belly?
Gather picnic supplies from the Albany Farmers Market and enjoy the National Parks and beaches within easy reach of Riverdale Farm. Little Beach is a beautiful place in Two Peoples Bay National Park. Castle Rock in Porongurup National Park is a great climb and affords views over the surrounding farm country and landscapes. Mt Martin is a beautiful walk in Gull Rock National Park. The wildflowers delight in spring, and the walk rewards you with spectacular coastal views. Time spent outdoors is perfect for the heart, mind and eyes, with the additional benefit of the sounds of plentiful birdlife.
A short drive from Riverdale Farm is Monty’s Leap Winery, which serves delicious meals using local produce. The views over the vineyard and the Kalgan River provide a beautiful outlook.
What is your favourite time of day, your favourite season, and your favourite spot at Riverdale Farm?
Early morning and late afternoon are my favourite times when the light is special. The golden light of the late afternoons in autumn is gorgeous, and I often reach for the camera to capture its beauty. The days are shorter, and the mornings are crisp and cool.
My studio is a place of calm and inspiration. I love to gather blooms from the garden and arrange them at my leisure between busy periods.
What rituals make you feel at home, wherever you may be in the world?
I am an early riser and enjoy the solitude of an early morning walk followed by a brewed coffee and breakfast. Sometimes, I just wander in the garden with my camera. The camera sharpens my focus on details, and I enjoy the unhurried and creative start to the day. I observe the light and how it falls in the garden, which is an opportunity to check the progress of plantings in the cutting garden.
I love to light a candle on those rare days when the weather is perfect for reading and writing.
Which Southern Wild Co scent is the perfect fit for Riverdale Farm and cottage and why?
Sirens scented candles are ideal for Riverdale Farm and the cottage, Riverdale 1898. The scent pays homage to the beauty of a country garden and the wild bush landscape. Our 100 acres, with a large country garden, are surrounded by beautiful natural marri and jarrah woodlands, which display an impressive array of wildflowers in spring.
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