This is a story of generations connected by an extraordinary piece of rural land. It began with a modest one-room brick cottage in the 1840s, followed some forty years later by a traditional homestead overlooking the valley, before RMA carefully introduced a contemporary addition that continues the story for generations to come.
Rob Mills
Set within Victoria's magnificent Goulburn Valley, this residence formed part of the eldest son's inheritance. He engaged RMA to reimagine the family homestead for the next chapter of its life, creating a home that would support a young family while strengthening its relationship with the surrounding landscape and the Goulburn River beyond. As one of the earliest residences established in the valley, the original homestead carried significant heritage importance. The planning process demanded a thoughtful and disciplined approach, carefully balancing the preservation of its historic character with the needs of contemporary family living.
Time was an important consideration throughout the project. Our clients were expecting their third child, and together we worked towards welcoming both a new generation and a renewed family home at the same moment.
– Rob Mills
Our response was to introduce a contemporary glazed pavilion containing the kitchen, dining and living spaces, positioned alongside the original homestead and connected by a light-filled breezeway. The contrast between old and new is deliberate. Within the pavilion, almost nothing separates daily life from the landscape, while returning to the bedrooms of the original residence brings a sense of being cocooned within thick walls and smaller windows. Carefully orientated to embrace both the productive landscape and expansive river views, the addition allows contemporary and traditional architecture to coexist while each retains its own character. Today, another generation continues to create memories on land their family has called home for generations.
The things we choose to live with become part of the story of our lives. A favourite chair, a work of art, an object discovered while travelling or something passed from one generation to the next can hold meaning far beyond its function. We believe a home should make space for these things and allow new memories to gather around them. Furniture, art and objects are therefore never simply the finishing touches. They help transform architecture into something deeply personal: a home that could belong to no one else.
RMA’s creativity is cradled by its strategic management ensuring all decisions are one with each other. Delivering the project on time, on budget, to the desired quality. Projects of this scale demand careful coordination and disciplined project leadership. Through comprehensive documentation, integrated workflows and close collaboration with consultants, craftspeople and builders, RMA maintained clarity throughout the delivery process, protecting time, cost and quality while ensuring the finished residence remained true to the original vision.
