Burke’s Backyard visited the hacienda of Buko and Helga Vogel at Bald Rock Bush Retreat on the edge of the Bald Rock National Park near Tenterfield in northern NSW. Buko Vogel is a builder and has built Paul Hogan’s house at Byron Bay. He was born in Germany and spent his younger years in Spain but couldn’t buy land there. They moved to Australia and Buko believes that “Australia’s the only place on earth where you can make dreams come true”.
The Hacienda
The Spanish inspired adobe style homestead is about two thirds finished and includes the main house (not yet completed), guest accommodation and stables designed by Buko. The complex is built from brick and then rendered to complete the adobe style and give the appearance of mud bricks. The render is Buko’s own recipe of white beach sand, white cement combined with yellow and red coloured oxide which produces a burnished coloured render. The flat roof is made from timber with a concrete slab to keep out the rain. The top of the roof is paved with granite flagstones collected from the surrounding area. The idea behind the guest stables is that horse owners will bring their horses on holidays with them. The garden maintains the Santa Fe style with Spanish terracotta pots of geraniums on the wall, cacti, yuccas, agaves and climbers in the courtyard and surrounds.
Further information
Bald Rock Bush Retreat has guest accommodation as well as horse accommodation. For more information and rates contact Buko and Helga Vogel at Bald Rock Bush Retreat, Mount Lindsay Road, via Tenterfield or Stanthorpe. Phone: (076) 861 227.