As the Convent gets her well-deserved make-over, I’m finding that sometimes it’s those small touches that can make such a difference.
I couldn’t have hoped for this outcome. Seriously beautiful, heavy door piece with lovely detailing
The tradies who have been working with me since the start have been incredibly helpful and patient. This weekend whilst in the midst of the big stuff – outside painting and just prior to the flooring – a few small touches have had a big impact. Firstly was the handle of the front door. I knew it was a nice old handle but was lost after years of being painted. Some stripping and polishing revealed a beautifully detailed heavy silver handle and matching lock.
The old concrete urns out the front which feature in all of the old photos of the Convent deserved a bit of freshening up. It’s amazing what a difference some paint can do! The Gazanias are now filling out nicely and are a perfect complement.
The front windows, as mentioned before, have had the old fibro from the bottom half removed and replaced with glass. Removal of the old flyscreen and some serious elbowgrease in cleaning the windows has made a huge difference. The views are more spectacular than ever. So different from the city when the neighbours across the street are calling out instructions and comments. No, I’m not doing your windows as well!
External doors I’ve never opened are seeing daylight and areas that have probably not been cleaned for decades are lapping up the attention.
The view from the front of the sunroom – a much clearer vista. And this is nothing compared to the views from the back of the Convent.View from the side sunroom window which was previously permanently covered.
The “Before” shot with the untreated fibro sheets at the base of the windowsThe “After” shot with full glass and street views. The neighbours like it too! Light now streams in making it the ideal location for those long Winter mornings.
The Convent seems to be enjoying all the treatment she is getting and is responding well. The painting inside is finished and the outside is getting pressure cleaned in parts and repainted for all the white areas which should make her glow.
The niche in the lounge room. The fireplace below is yet to be restored.
The detailing which was overlooked with more bland institutional painting is now apparent with picture rails, feature niches, detailed windows … all being highlighted. In the next few weeks the floors will be done – predominantly sanding and polishing cypress pine boards which look as they will be in varied condition- some pristine and never exposed, others with heavier use. And Black Japan finishing which I am learning is not a good thing. Bedrooms are being carpeted. There are some reservations expressed by others about me not carpeting the whole building. Cold keeps being mentioned. I’m hoping that lots of rugs, furniture and some wood fire heaters and eventually and AGA or something similar in stoves will help. Closed doors also work well! If the worst happens, I can always carpet the rest although obviously I hope this isn’t necessary. I love the character of timber floors and these are original thick tongue and groove boards.
Just so much fresher and displaying the original attention to detail, particularly the beautiful doors
One of the great successes (and cheapest) has been the front sunroom window. I had great plans of replacing this with a heavier timber structure of full length glass, but the glazier encouraged me to try just replacing the daggy untreated fibro panels down the bottom with glass for a few hundred dollars instead of an expensive carpentry exercise. The aluminium fitting is actually fitted into a solid timber frame and the new glass panels look great. The views are much improved from the loungeroom, the light floods in and it has become the dogs’ favourite hangout as they can watch the street activity whilst basking in the sun.
Post flooring will be curtains ordered from Mudgee Material World which I’m really happy about. Robyn has gone to great trouble to get me looking at magazines for ideas and has sourced curtain rails in keeping with the building. All the curtains are neutral but beautiful linens – from floaty light in some areas to much heavier texture in others and ranging from full length pleated curtains to Roman blinds.
With any luck floors and curtains could be finished by the end of September and me up there most of the time with my Sydney home on the market. There’s a long way to go yet, but all the basics should fall in place shortly.
The Chapel colours are more sympathetic to the amber leadlights. All the old fluoro lighting has been removed so photos are a bit more challenging.
A balanced lifestyle – this seemed like the ideal – a utopia that so many seem to be seeking. Being at a stage of life where my children are independent, I have a level of financial stability and the chance to both work and have a country lifestyle. Sounds idyllic. And I probably could have pulled it off. But what if you fall in love with one of the lifestyles? What if being in the country means also wanting to be part of the community and participating in activities? What if you want to add to the animal collection – chooks, cat, another dog? What if it becomes a wrench every time you have to head back to the city for work (which you still enjoy, but not as much as the other option)?
I have found myself in this position. What seemed like the perfect lifestyle balance actually ended up as having to make some hard choices – I just want to be at the Convent most of the time and not “balance” – which was becoming making sacrifices rather than getting the best of both worlds. I know I’m extremely fortunate to be in this position. However I have the choice between a balance of work and lifestyle or an idyllic lifestyle – I’m opting for the latter.
My workplace has been great – they were there when I found the Convent and have participated in my excitement all the way through. I’m planning on continuing to play a role for them, albeit more remote, helping with some of the work that I really love but Convent-style.
This lifestyle stuff can be challenging – it’s when you start thinking of trade-offs v choices – are you giving things up or just getting more? There’s no right answer. Balance is not an analytical equation and means making some very personal decisions. I hope I’m making the right ones – I obviously think I am.
A close colleague once explained to me that life comes in cycles – especially for women. The first 25 years is becoming a person – growing up, no longer being a child and becoming an independent individual. The second 25 years is often being something to others – a wife, a mother, an employee. I think I’ve done this plus a lot more. I’ve had over 30 years in corporate life and nearly quarter of a century in a marriage and as a mother (which I will always continue to be). Post 50, the next 25 years becomes yours. The children are no longer dependent, you hopefully have more flexibility financially and you can make some major decisions for the remainder of your life. I guess I feel I have paid my dues and am now making my decisions. I also know that this will require some major changes and readjustments.
By the end of the year I hope to be permanently residing in the Convent at Kandos. I’m not quite sure what all of this will mean. I know I will have a lovely home, I will love and nurture my garden, including being as self-sufficient as possible. I know I will get more involved in the community and contribute to a town that has made me so welcome. I know I will get more creatures, and I know I will continue to do some ‘work’ work but no longer crank up 60 – 80 hours of pressure. I will also continue to be a Mum.
It’s exciting but also a bit scary. One of the more adult decisions and for the first time, it’s one I’m making just for me …
When I first thought of a country property, one of my key requirements was ‘No Work Required’. I’m not sure how I missed this with the Convent but tend to think it was price, the Convent, the area and falling in love. Anyway, it has put me into the unfamiliar territory of a complete renovation – and lots and lots of decisions.
Even the old bathroom looks so much better
At this point I’d have to qualify that most of the work is purely cosmetic. The building itself is very solid and in good condition. And whilst it was purpose-built as a Convent, it is currently very practical, whether for me and family/friends or for commercial purposes. I’m not building or knocking anything down. For the most part, I am working with the current building, layout and infrastructure. The changes are mainly more of a cosmetic nature, but that is still significant.
I’ve been lucky in my tradies. Being in the country is a totally different dynamic. The downside is:
there is a limited marketplace. This is a small town and some tradies come from Mudgee which they regard almost as a different state and can charge a travelling fee. It’s maybe 40 minutes which is nothing in Sydney but in rural terms when you don’t need to travel, can add significantly to cost.
Good tradies are well-known and busy. They are in significant demand so queue up and be prepared to follow up. If you need something very specialised, you may struggle or need to compromise. Don’t get too trendy.
The upside well outweighs the negatives:
If you get a tradie by word of mouth, they will be keen to please. They know their business depends on reputation, referral and existing business (that’s why they are so busy in the first place). It’s a small community and word travels fast.
They are locals/neighbours and likely to be your friends in the future and want referrals from you – they genuinely care that you are happy with the job, you like them and can look each other in the face in future.
For the Convent, they often have a connection or value the building so are keen to do a job that is sustainable and they are aware that it will be public and often have strong views themselves as to how things should be done.
In the country, you don’t pay Sydney prices. Whilst the locals may think as a small town they get charged highly as tradies travel (there’s what’s known as a ‘Mudgee tax’ if you utilise goods and services from Mudgee) it’s not Sydney prices for labour.
Of course the Chapel gets special treatment
Carpet for the bedrooms. Polished boards for the rest.
For me, this renovation is a quantum leap and has been made so much easier by having local tradespeople that have been so open in helping and suggesting solutions, which are often outside their special expertise. I’m finding that much of 30 years of corporate life of building relationships with trusted suppliers who understand the value of sustainable relationships, understanding clients and long term relationships works the same in the country. In fact, when corporations seek “a consistent quality client experience”, they are just trying to corporatise the best of what local businesses who understand relationships consistently deliver as a matter of course. In corporate land we sometimes forget this – this is the source of the service experience we seek to deliver.
Anyway, so far I have been so happy with the people who are helping me with the Convent. This week I’ve locked in carpets and curtains, major decisions but ones I am very happy with. It’s all very daunting, particularly whilst managing a job back in Sydney and a Sydney property that will have another future… but exciting and rewarding as well.
Coming up well – the end bedroom known as ‘Her Mother Superior’s Room’ or, in latter stages, ‘The Bishop’s Room’
The old Church sign, found inside the garage and now housed outside the garage.
I’m trying to rehome as many things as I can at the Convent – some of this is consciously not wasting. Another motivation is the desire to retain as much history as possible and make use of it in practical ways which pay homage to its heritage.
I’ve managed to find a number of different Church items in the garage, such as an old Church services sign, a processional cross and brass order of the mass plaque. An unintended re-use was when I made a garden bed just under the Chapel glass windows from a piece of timber which I later found out was from the kneeler section of a Church pew – quite serendipitous.
I don’t think this part of a kneeler though it would end up outside the Chapel as part of a flower bed.
I’m also hoping the old curtains will make good braid or rag rugs for some of the many hallways. Every piece of timber or brick (or rock) seems to find a use somewhere.
A favourite but once barren corner. Old rescued rough cast pots, old iron edging and kneeler garden bed edging.
All recyclable scraps go into one of two recycle bins and leaves and other garden clippings mostly end up there as well or topping up garden beds. A mulcher is the newest addition to help with garden refuse. I’m always seeking additional soil and mulch for the many (and growing) garden beds. This also cuts down on the tips to the trip and helps gobble up the seemingly never ending growth from the ivy.
The old hardwood fence posts are now edging three garden beds.
My favourite reuse has been the old hardwood fence posts from the damaged section of fence that was replaced. It has already been used to expand the pumpkin patch and now to edge what was a pretty but unstructured bed near my bedroom verandah. The other posts are so heavy, I can’t budge them. They are edging the privet hedge bed for now, which required just a small nudge to get them in place. If all goes to plan and the fence is finally removed, there should be plenty of extra sleepers for both the side fence and maybe even the front wall. The wire mesh for climbers – chokos and cucumbers – was rescued from life as a grid enclosing the side verandah.
I have now grown quite fond of the old wardrobes that were left post the auction of contents (‘cos no-one wanted them and were too big to move) and they are being relocated to the garage for storage. They are currently in full usage. I now don’t know what I would’ve done without them.
I’m not sure it’s legitimate recycling, but I also seem to have some sort of sewerage leak from a front pipe which I think is just from the waste pipe in the kitchen (does not appear to be the “worst” type, if you know what I mean). I have a call in with the plumber but in the meantime the roses are just loving it.
The Convent is a practical building and has been in a service role for over 80 years. It seems appropriate that she continues to “make do” where she can and I embrace her heritage.
Painting gear set up in the Chapel. The Mission brown has already been painted out from the stained glass windows. This is just an undercoat.
The old girl hasn’t really had much attention for many decades. A lick of paint from time to time in some rooms and a few low key renovations to suit changing needs of Church inhabitants. But no serious updates.
Her time has now come. And it’s not one of those reality-type challenges. Some of the work will happen over the next year or two (like the kitchen), but the main work is being done now. The exterior of the building is a textured concrete painted a traditional ochre and is in good condition, but the timber work, fascias, columns and detailing are all very shabby and being restored, which is much more than a quick paint job.
The boys hard at work.
The inside is being painted from head to toe – every room. As well as being well sanded back, having all the cracks repaired and the dark timber painted out. The floors currently have every carpet imaginable on them – every room is different and sometimes there are many layers (some of which I have kept for posterity). Whilst I keep being told it will be cold, I’m getting all the floorboards bar the bedrooms polished whilst the bedrooms will be carpeted. I tend to think that lots of rugs and runners will give the place more character and cover the warmth aspect. There’s also the possibility that to warm rooms, you can always put a heater on and shut the door! I won’t be trying to warm this whole house at once.
The Chapel is the centre of action
The painters have now moved in – and with a vengeance. Stott’s are based at Mudgee and have quite a team which means that once they start, they can put quite a few people on and just go gangbusters, rather than stop and start with multiple jobs on the go. The work only started this week and I can see heaps of progress – mainly just in preparation, gap filling, undercoating out all the ‘mission brown’ woodwork, which is making the place look lighter and more modern already.
What will be my craft studio
The boys are only working on one half of the building (not the section I’m living in) so there isn’t much disruption yet, particularly now I have the plumbing working again down my end of the house! I’m sure it won’t stay that way for long (the painting, not the plumbing, hopefully!). Anyway, I’m looking at at least three more weeks of painting inside then the floors are booked in. …then come the curtains. After the floors are done, the plan is to actually move in some furniture which will be exciting and let me clean up the Sydney home to get it on the market!
This weekend I harvested my first set of root veg. Apparently root vegetables are the standard fare to plant for Winter. I love my soups, casseroles and roasts so this is hardly a hardship.
I was so excited this weekend to be in a position where I could harvest enough for two nights roasts (well, only one Beetroot was big enough to pick…). I managed to collect Parsnip, Swede, Turnip, Beetroot and Carrots (which were small but perfect) as well as Broccoli (which has been prolific) and Sugar Snap Peas.
I’m learning by mistakes – I will NEVER EVER plant beans again so close to Winter. I had several types in and the frosts wiped each out very early, even though they had been growing strongly. Strangely enough, most of the leafy veg – Kale, Rocket, Spinach… has gone well. The Peas seem to flourish in the cold, as do Broad Beans, although they (hopefully) crop later.
I’ll be braver in future with seeds. The seedlings I planted out from punnets have been fine, but I only have limited plants (6 – 8 as per the punnets) whereas for the seeds planted, my biggest problem is having the discipline to thin them. So I only have a small crop of Beetroot, however the neighbours are under strict instruction to start culling Turnips and any of the leafy greens that were planted by seed.
I’m very happy with the outcome for my first year of veg, but hope the soil will continue to be as giving with future crops.
This was a weekend of all steps forward. As an added bonus, I also had friends staying. Whilst it’s hardly resort-style with us all on airbeds with sleeping bags, I really appreciate them making the trek and seeing the Convent during its different stages.
After many many months of my tumbled down fence post Cementa, it was finally fixed. And what a difference! It gives me a good idea of how it will look when the whole of the galavised iron fence comes down sometime in the future. It’s also a treat to get a working driveway gate back and gives me more area to plant climbers on – Atomic Blonde climbing rose quickly found a home and the Crepuscule which was already there was readjusted after losing its old climbing frame.
From this …… to this.
In an additional win, I used some of the old timbers to rebuild and enlarge the original pumpkin patch. Fuelled with success from my first Summer, I want to plant more pumpkins, zucchini and cucumbers. The first two take up so much space that I really don’t want to sacrifice in the veg beds, so this seemed like a great idea. The mesh wiring from the verandah makes a great climbing frame as well. It’s rewarding to be able to reuse materials where possible.
The extended pumpkin patch
The other big advancement was the demolition of the enclosure for the back verandah, which gives me a lovely protected balcony/verandah/porch off the back bedroom and lounge with fantastic views. The original verandah was an eyesore, but this is even better than expected.
The painters will be starting within the next week with both the interior and exterior getting the attention it so badly deserves. Then come the floors …
A photo that showed so much. I haven’t seen this front porch up close before – it is now a sunroom. Also note the hedge to the left and bountiful bed of annuals.
The other week I spent some time at the wonderful Kandos Museum which is a treasure trove of Kandos social history, looking up old photos of the garden. The purpose was two-fold: both for personal interest given I’m restoring and creating the garden, as well as thinking that attendees for the Kandos Garden Fair would be interested in seeing the original photos when the Convent gardens are open for viewing in November.
The garden provided a backdrop for many school photos. The Convent had many locals captured on film a the front steps. Here we can see the formal garden bed which is well established. Also note the conifers framing the photo.
The visit paid off. The Museum has plenty of information and photos on the Convent over the years, however it was a little bittersweet as I realised how much of the beautiful gardens has been lost over the years.
The Good Samaritan nuns lived at the Convent from 1930 into the ’70s when the school closed. That was the hey-day for the gardens with obviously keen gardeners ably supported by locals and recruited school boys.
An early photo of a long-gone driveway and the beginnings of a hedge that was and no longer is.
The garden was considered an important part of the Convent with an original garden layout planned. Whilst the garden changed over the years whilst the nuns were in residence, it always featured formal hedges, many roses and abundant flower beds. I understand the nuns also grew their own veg which would have been in keeping with their humble and frugal practices.
I was surprised to see that there had been a substantial trimmed hedge down the left side of the house where I knew at one time there had been driveway access. Locals had told me before that the now rampant sky-high privet on the other side fence had also once been a neat and trim hedge.
I also found that there had been other formal garden beds within the front lawn and that a path had once run across the front of the house, with prolific flower beds.The formal circular garden bed at the front of the Convent had always been a showpiece – until the ’70s when the ‘bush rock’ garden was installed which has significantly damaged the concrete. At once stage the paths were all beautifully edged and roses sprawled along trellises.
Nuns at the front circular bed. Note the path capping which has now gone. I suspect all this concrete has been replaced given these cracks now don’t show. Also note the rose trellises in the background.
The photos fell off after the nuns departed in the ’70s and the building was used as a Presbytery for the resident Priest. With a single person living there, the gardens appear to have been adapted to low maintenance.
Whilst I don’t intend to reproduce the garden, it does give me some good ideas and inspiration. I’m endeavouring to restore the privet hedge along the right side, I’m certainly replanting the central circular garden bed as a feature, the front urns remain and are in use at the front steps and the Grotto will probably look better than ever. The roses which were once such a feature are going back in at an alarming rate.
Most likely taken in the ’80s with the ‘modernised’ bush rock central bed.
Gardens are always works in progress and this one is no exception. Just that there’s a lot of work which will take many years to come to fruition. The Convent is a patient building which I’m sure plans to be around for many more years to come and seems to be happily overseeing the efforts to date.
Another new aspect of the Convent for me. I can’t imagine plantings down the right side looking a the Convent today. I also think this shows part of the now dismantled old septic structure. Note the dramatic backdrop of the Coomber Mellon ranges.This photo did trigger some regret at what it was and could have been – seeing the old structured path and what appears to be garden paths running across the front of the building which are no longer there.
These were by no means the most productive plant I’ve grown. Only a few pods appeared on most plants (although in all fairness, they were not sown in the more productive soil). However were probably the most satisfying. The plants came up quickly and the pods were so pretty. It was surprising to see the beans reflected the colourful pods so closely.
Also, whilst most other plants need to be dealt with immediately, you have the luxury of letting these mature and age on the vine before picking them and then can just dry them. I only have a small jar from my efforts, but am very proud of them and treat them like they are Jack’s beans from Jack and the Beanstalk.
I plan to use them in future in a very special Minestrone. Expect more Borlotti Beans in my future.
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The old concrete urns out the front which feature in all of the old photos of the Convent deserved a bit of freshening up. It’s amazing what a difference some paint can do! The Gazanias are now filling out nicely and are a perfect complement.
CONVENT AND CHAPEL 