Media executive Amanda Watts lists Eden Farm for $4.3m-$4.5m

• Owners: Media executive Amanda Watts and husband Grant
• The property: Eden Farm, a six-bedroom mud-brick farmhouse on a lush two-hectare block
• Address: 301 Sallys Corner Road, Exeter, NSW
• Price guide: $4.3 million-$4.5 million
• Agent: The Agency, Suzi Bryant 0414 679 259

When media executive Amanda Watts and her husband Grant first stepped inside the house at Eden Farm, they felt something intangible.

“The house had a calming presence,” says Amanda. “It felt private and restorative. There was an immediate sense of quiet and space – both physical and emotional.”

The pair soon learned that the farmhouse, which sits on a two-hectare block, was constructed of mud brick, and that the mud was sourced directly from the property.

“There is now a pond where the earth was excavated,” says Amanda. “The land quite literally shaped the home.”

Outside, the pair soaked up more good energy. “The landscape felt gentle rather than imposing,” Amanda recalls.

The Sydney-based couple decided to purchase the Southern Highlands property as a bolthole for themselves, their children and their extended family.

“Afterwards, we learned that Eden Farm had been used as a women’s refuge before we owned it,” says Amanda.

“It was chosen for its privacy, calm and ability to support healing. That history resonated deeply with us. It’s a place where you arrive carrying the noise of life and leave feeling centred.”

They soon embarked on a full internal renovation.

“Our approach was never about stripping the home back or modernising for the sake of it,” says Amanda. “Instead, we focused on elevating comfort, functionality and flow, while protecting the soul of the property.”

The pair worked with Southern Highlands tradespeople and sourced materials locally whenever possible.

In the kitchen, for instance, they installed a 260-kilogram butcher’s block, made from aged timber sourced in the nearby village of Exeter.

“That butcher’s block has helped the kitchen become the heart of the house,” says Amanda. “It anchors the space and tells a story.”

The home has no shortage of characterful spaces: in addition to six bedrooms with skylights, there is a cosy library, a games room, and a combined living and dining room with a fireplace. The generous back deck offers views across the fields.

“The main living areas connect directly to the deck, making it easy to move between cooking, dining, relaxing and being outside,” says Amanda.

“In warmer months, doors are open and the house breathes; in winter, those same spaces feel enclosed, warm and deeply comforting.”

Outside, Amanda and Grant added a sizeable Colorbond shed to complement a pre-existing self-contained studio.

They also re-fenced all the paddocks using curved lines, allowing the boundaries to blend naturally into the surrounding landscape.

A fire pit, the pond and established gardens ring the homestead. Mature plantings include lavender, various herbs and fig, olive and citrus trees.

“Together, they create a subtle, relaxing aroma that drifts through the indoor and outdoor spaces,” says Amanda.

The couple and their children have spent the past few years weekending at the property and have also offered it for short-term lettings.

“From our home in northern Sydney, Eden Farm is an easy drive of under two hours, which meant it could be part of our regular life rather than a place we only visited occasionally,” notes Amanda.

It has proven to be a versatile, all-seasons retreat.

“The mud-brick construction provides exceptional natural insulation,” Amanda says.

“Beyond that, there’s a sense of solidity and calm that comes from living within walls made of the land itself. Guests often describe the home as grounding or nurturing. It’s not something you immediately see – you feel it once you’re inside.”

The couple hope to find a “like-minded” buyer for the property. Eden Farm’s proximity to Exeter and Bowral is likely to be a draw.

Contact Agent

301 Sallys Corner Road, Exeter NSW 2579

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“The monthly Exeter Village Markets are widely regarded as among the best in the region, and the Exeter General Store does great scrambled eggs,” says Amanda. Local wineries are just minutes away by car.

“We’re selling simply because it’s time for a new phase for us,” says Amanda. “We’re immensely proud of what has been created here.”