The good life
LIVING THE DREAM
The good life is it possible to have it all? with equal measures of hard work and play, this sydney family is determined to achieve a close-to-idyllic lifestyle. By Alice Griffin, photography Ken Brass
CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: Anna and Andrew’s organic skincare range, People for Plants, has gone from strength to strength since its conception a mere two years ago; the hard-working family always makes time for some fun and games together.
100
A farmhouse on stilts is Australian Country’s first impression of the home of Anna Addicoat and Andrew Brown. Upon arrival, we are greeted by key members of the family. An avalanche of dogs bounds to our feet, their yaps and yelps creating the illusion of a pack much larger than the three pups they amount to. The energetic welcome also extends to the human members of the family. Only mildly disappointed by their interrupted game of handball, the children, Tiger, Angel and Lucien, lead us upstairs, with the youngest, Eli, taking charge. The kids seem unfazed by visitors, even those with large cameras from the elusive world of journalism. However, with media-savvy parents, Andrew and Anna, this family is used to the limelight.
australiancountry.net.au
No newcomer to the public eye, Andrew is one of five children of high-profile parents. His mother, businesswoman, media personality and author Jan Murray, and father, politician John Brown, have undergone the peaks and troughs of life in the public eye. Andrew followed his parents’ lead and worked as a public servant and in private business before founding his own company, People for Plants, with Anna and their long-time friend, landscape designer and television personality Jamie Durie. As former deputy mayor of Mosman, Andrew was recognised for his campaign against smoking in the community’s alfresco bars and cafes. Following the Mosman Council’s initiative, antismoking legislation was appointed across NSW. No stranger to the business world herself, Anna enjoyed a successful career in merchandising, her talents utilised at 20th Century Fox and Channel Nine. Despite this background, discovering a diamond-in-the-rough property north-west of Sydney shifted the couple’s career paths in an entirely new direction. Purchased as a weekend getaway, the couple considered the Windsor property the perfect escape from their hectic city lives. Yet life down on the farm is far from the slow-paced tree change they envisioned. In acquiring the derelict residence, the family faced a rude awakening. The property bore little more than the house itself, with the surrounding vegetation vastly dried out. “There was not a blade of grass so we had to start from scratch,” Andrew recalls. The lake, arguably the property’s biggest attraction, was obscured by shrubbery. In addition to the dense bush, the waterfront’s sloped surface was a graveyard for decrepit utes and motorcycles, a parting gift from the previous owners. Nevertheless, the couple soldiered on, determined to turn their farm-life dream into reality. It was no easy task. The lakeside bushes and leftover motor scraps alone were arduous to clear. After chainsawing the entire area, Andrew replanted more than 3000 trees to restore the environment. Two years on, “they have grown like buggery,” he says proudly. “Although nature does all the work, we just gave a helping hand along the way,” he adds. The transformation complete, Windsor Farm’s foreshore now boasts a stunning alfresco space where kids and adults alike can enjoy the view. “In the summer, we set up a screen down here,” Andrew says. “The kids love having their own twilight cinema.” The youngsters don’t get to have all the fun, though. Andrew has recently built his own play toy “for big kids” — the ominous-
australiancountry.net.au
101
LIVING THE DREAM looking swing tower, which, at more than three metres in the air, propels fearless participants into the water at great speed. Playful badgering by the family to “have a go” is politely declined by the Australian Country team. The future plans for the property are equally impressive. A slippery slide, lakeside treehouse and motor bike park for the kids to enjoy are in the pipeline. At Windsor Farm, working hard and playing hard is a way of life. It wasn’t long before the family’s love for the property outweighed their ties to their home in Sydney’s east. “We were struggling to live the lifestyle we wanted in the city,” Anna says. “We wanted to give our kids a different sort of upbringing.” The decision to move to Windsor Farm full-time was a risk that certainly seems to have paid off. Under the couple’s care, the property is now home to a flock of animals and livestock and is a haven for fresh produce. With aviaries, chicken coops, an orchard, duck ponds and pig pens, it is difficult to believe that the land was barren less than a decade ago. Constructed almost entirely by Andrew’s own hands, the result reflects the couple’s can-do attitude. Armed with little more than a few loosely laid ideas and a handful of helpful family members to assist, the estate was built from bottom up. “We didn’t have a plan for how we wanted the farm to function.” Andrew explains. “Each time we came up with an idea, we just made it happen.” While the evolution of Windsor Farm may sound haphazard, Andrew and Anna’s vision for their life on the land has remained the same. “It’s a lifestyle choice,” Anna says. “We wanted to provide the kids with the space to play and really be kids.” The country lifestyle aligns with their family focus and teaches the children those valuable
CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: The expansive property is home to a herd of aminals, including geese; pigs; and cattle; members of the family play as
102
australiancountry.net.au
hard as they work, as indicated by the overwater swing; living on Windsor Farm enables the family to live almost entirely from paddock to plate.
Andrew has recently built his own play toy “for big kids”— the ominous-looking swing tower, which, at more than10ft in the air, propels fearless participants into the water at great speed.
australiancountry.net.au
103
LIVING THE DREAM lessons that life in the city just couldn’t offer. Andrew says they live almost 100 per cent paddock to plate with all four children playing a role in planting, growing and harvesting produce. However, enlisting the children’s help in the orchard comes at a cost. “Fruit picking reaps little rewards,” Anna explains. ‘‘Eli is known for stealing all the raspberries.” The agrarian experience goes beyond the taste buds. The family’s eco-friendly, sustainable ethos extends to every aspect of their lives including their organic skincare company, People for Plants, which began during Anna’s first pregnancy with twin girls, Tiger and Angel, when she struggled to find any natural products to relieve her sensitive skin. In a bid to remedy his wife’s condition, Andrew enlisted the help of an expert in organic ingredients and created soothing balms. Realising the potential of their potions, the couple turned their specialty into a business venture. “We saw a market there, and we decided to go for it,” Andrew says. So People for Plants was developed with only certifiedorganic ingredients used in each product. Determined to deliver treatment with a difference, People for Plants sources its additives globally with the assistance of Jamie Durie. While the couple’s progression into plant-based skincare may seem predestined, developing the brand was far from smooth sailing, with endless amounts of determination required to keep both the business and country dream alive. Fortunately, though, the hard work paid off. Initially established as a modest online business, People for Plants has grown exponentially since its launch two years ago. Currently available in more than 1200 stores nationwide, People for Plants products are now sold
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A playful constrast of textures and ornamentals enlivens the living room; nothing is more enjoyable than feasting on a meal prepared with ingredients
104
australiancountry.net.au
straight from the land; the master bedroom is kept fresh and minimal with pops of bold features such as the dressing table mirror; a colourful child’s bedroom with a superb view of the countryside.
LIVING THE DREAM
australiancountry.net.au
105
LIVING THE DREAM
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: The youngest, Eli, about to take one of the family’s three dogs for a jaunt; a spot to enjoy the vast country outlook; taking the dogs for a stroll as a family; Anna and Andrew are proud of their livestock.
106
by retail heavyweights David Jones and Priceline. “It’s a really exciting time for us and the brand, we’re starting to get some big names behind us,” Anna says. Still keeping firm on the family focus, she adds, “the business gives us the lifestyle we want for us and the kids, and that’s the most important thing.” As People for Plants remains in its infancy, the couple labour on. Monday to Friday, Andrew commutes to the office headquarters in Sydney’s Surry Hills and Anna joins him for at least three days a week. Time away from family is tough but the couple agree the separation is worth it. “It’s all part of the long-term plan,” Anna says. “Once the business is more established and able to be maintained remotely, Andrew can spend more time at the property during the week.” “Working and living here is the dream,” Andrew adds. Although they’re not there yet, considering the couple’s tenacity, work ethic and devotion, the dream seems within reach. In the meantime, though, as we watch the fun and games, the animal menagerie, the food in the garden and the beautiful home around them, life seems close to perfect already.
australiancountry.net.au
The good life is it possible to have it all? with equal measures of hard work and play, this sydney family is determined to achieve a close-to-idyllic lifestyle. By Alice Griffin, photography Ken Brass
CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: Anna and Andrew’s organic skincare range, People for Plants, has gone from strength to strength since its conception a mere two years ago; the hard-working family always makes time for some fun and games together.
100
A farmhouse on stilts is Australian Country’s first impression of the home of Anna Addicoat and Andrew Brown. Upon arrival, we are greeted by key members of the family. An avalanche of dogs bounds to our feet, their yaps and yelps creating the illusion of a pack much larger than the three pups they amount to. The energetic welcome also extends to the human members of the family. Only mildly disappointed by their interrupted game of handball, the children, Tiger, Angel and Lucien, lead us upstairs, with the youngest, Eli, taking charge. The kids seem unfazed by visitors, even those with large cameras from the elusive world of journalism. However, with media-savvy parents, Andrew and Anna, this family is used to the limelight.
australiancountry.net.au
No newcomer to the public eye, Andrew is one of five children of high-profile parents. His mother, businesswoman, media personality and author Jan Murray, and father, politician John Brown, have undergone the peaks and troughs of life in the public eye. Andrew followed his parents’ lead and worked as a public servant and in private business before founding his own company, People for Plants, with Anna and their long-time friend, landscape designer and television personality Jamie Durie. As former deputy mayor of Mosman, Andrew was recognised for his campaign against smoking in the community’s alfresco bars and cafes. Following the Mosman Council’s initiative, antismoking legislation was appointed across NSW. No stranger to the business world herself, Anna enjoyed a successful career in merchandising, her talents utilised at 20th Century Fox and Channel Nine. Despite this background, discovering a diamond-in-the-rough property north-west of Sydney shifted the couple’s career paths in an entirely new direction. Purchased as a weekend getaway, the couple considered the Windsor property the perfect escape from their hectic city lives. Yet life down on the farm is far from the slow-paced tree change they envisioned. In acquiring the derelict residence, the family faced a rude awakening. The property bore little more than the house itself, with the surrounding vegetation vastly dried out. “There was not a blade of grass so we had to start from scratch,” Andrew recalls. The lake, arguably the property’s biggest attraction, was obscured by shrubbery. In addition to the dense bush, the waterfront’s sloped surface was a graveyard for decrepit utes and motorcycles, a parting gift from the previous owners. Nevertheless, the couple soldiered on, determined to turn their farm-life dream into reality. It was no easy task. The lakeside bushes and leftover motor scraps alone were arduous to clear. After chainsawing the entire area, Andrew replanted more than 3000 trees to restore the environment. Two years on, “they have grown like buggery,” he says proudly. “Although nature does all the work, we just gave a helping hand along the way,” he adds. The transformation complete, Windsor Farm’s foreshore now boasts a stunning alfresco space where kids and adults alike can enjoy the view. “In the summer, we set up a screen down here,” Andrew says. “The kids love having their own twilight cinema.” The youngsters don’t get to have all the fun, though. Andrew has recently built his own play toy “for big kids” — the ominous-
australiancountry.net.au
101
LIVING THE DREAM looking swing tower, which, at more than three metres in the air, propels fearless participants into the water at great speed. Playful badgering by the family to “have a go” is politely declined by the Australian Country team. The future plans for the property are equally impressive. A slippery slide, lakeside treehouse and motor bike park for the kids to enjoy are in the pipeline. At Windsor Farm, working hard and playing hard is a way of life. It wasn’t long before the family’s love for the property outweighed their ties to their home in Sydney’s east. “We were struggling to live the lifestyle we wanted in the city,” Anna says. “We wanted to give our kids a different sort of upbringing.” The decision to move to Windsor Farm full-time was a risk that certainly seems to have paid off. Under the couple’s care, the property is now home to a flock of animals and livestock and is a haven for fresh produce. With aviaries, chicken coops, an orchard, duck ponds and pig pens, it is difficult to believe that the land was barren less than a decade ago. Constructed almost entirely by Andrew’s own hands, the result reflects the couple’s can-do attitude. Armed with little more than a few loosely laid ideas and a handful of helpful family members to assist, the estate was built from bottom up. “We didn’t have a plan for how we wanted the farm to function.” Andrew explains. “Each time we came up with an idea, we just made it happen.” While the evolution of Windsor Farm may sound haphazard, Andrew and Anna’s vision for their life on the land has remained the same. “It’s a lifestyle choice,” Anna says. “We wanted to provide the kids with the space to play and really be kids.” The country lifestyle aligns with their family focus and teaches the children those valuable
CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: The expansive property is home to a herd of aminals, including geese; pigs; and cattle; members of the family play as
102
australiancountry.net.au
hard as they work, as indicated by the overwater swing; living on Windsor Farm enables the family to live almost entirely from paddock to plate.
Andrew has recently built his own play toy “for big kids”— the ominous-looking swing tower, which, at more than10ft in the air, propels fearless participants into the water at great speed.
australiancountry.net.au
103
LIVING THE DREAM lessons that life in the city just couldn’t offer. Andrew says they live almost 100 per cent paddock to plate with all four children playing a role in planting, growing and harvesting produce. However, enlisting the children’s help in the orchard comes at a cost. “Fruit picking reaps little rewards,” Anna explains. ‘‘Eli is known for stealing all the raspberries.” The agrarian experience goes beyond the taste buds. The family’s eco-friendly, sustainable ethos extends to every aspect of their lives including their organic skincare company, People for Plants, which began during Anna’s first pregnancy with twin girls, Tiger and Angel, when she struggled to find any natural products to relieve her sensitive skin. In a bid to remedy his wife’s condition, Andrew enlisted the help of an expert in organic ingredients and created soothing balms. Realising the potential of their potions, the couple turned their specialty into a business venture. “We saw a market there, and we decided to go for it,” Andrew says. So People for Plants was developed with only certifiedorganic ingredients used in each product. Determined to deliver treatment with a difference, People for Plants sources its additives globally with the assistance of Jamie Durie. While the couple’s progression into plant-based skincare may seem predestined, developing the brand was far from smooth sailing, with endless amounts of determination required to keep both the business and country dream alive. Fortunately, though, the hard work paid off. Initially established as a modest online business, People for Plants has grown exponentially since its launch two years ago. Currently available in more than 1200 stores nationwide, People for Plants products are now sold
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A playful constrast of textures and ornamentals enlivens the living room; nothing is more enjoyable than feasting on a meal prepared with ingredients
104
australiancountry.net.au
straight from the land; the master bedroom is kept fresh and minimal with pops of bold features such as the dressing table mirror; a colourful child’s bedroom with a superb view of the countryside.
LIVING THE DREAM
australiancountry.net.au
105
LIVING THE DREAM
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: The youngest, Eli, about to take one of the family’s three dogs for a jaunt; a spot to enjoy the vast country outlook; taking the dogs for a stroll as a family; Anna and Andrew are proud of their livestock.
106
by retail heavyweights David Jones and Priceline. “It’s a really exciting time for us and the brand, we’re starting to get some big names behind us,” Anna says. Still keeping firm on the family focus, she adds, “the business gives us the lifestyle we want for us and the kids, and that’s the most important thing.” As People for Plants remains in its infancy, the couple labour on. Monday to Friday, Andrew commutes to the office headquarters in Sydney’s Surry Hills and Anna joins him for at least three days a week. Time away from family is tough but the couple agree the separation is worth it. “It’s all part of the long-term plan,” Anna says. “Once the business is more established and able to be maintained remotely, Andrew can spend more time at the property during the week.” “Working and living here is the dream,” Andrew adds. Although they’re not there yet, considering the couple’s tenacity, work ethic and devotion, the dream seems within reach. In the meantime, though, as we watch the fun and games, the animal menagerie, the food in the garden and the beautiful home around them, life seems close to perfect already.
australiancountry.net.au
