The Gibbons Retreat

The Gibbons Retreat A house bought from Bunnings in Frankston, before the buldozer moved in, cut in half, transported 300km to Loch Sport and there she is living a new life.

Loch Sport

03/03/2017

checked in ....looking good.

Why we call it our retreat. Magic little corner of the world. Looks like the view from the causeway over Lake Reeve. The...
05/12/2015

Why we call it our retreat. Magic little corner of the world. Looks like the view from the causeway over Lake Reeve. The sun is in the direction of about Melbourne 300km west. In the morning turn right around and you can get the sun rise over lake Reeve towards Bunga arm to the East. (90 degrees south (left) is Ninety mile beach. The haze in the far distance would be the largest coal power station in the country in the Latrobe valley. Where were the Mozzies? Thanks Davies.

09/11/2015

Since the family have been living there we have had the lowest Power and Internet Bill ever. Go figure. A huge credit to Camille indeed. Sunny days help with the solar and may be the fact I have not fixed the Air conditioner yet and have just put in a new Hot water service that seems to be more efficient helps. :)

15/10/2015

Stage 1 complete - This is now officially the David, Oscar, Oliver Gibbons and Camille Schoenfelder residence until Xmas. 55 Central Avenue Loch Sport. 3851. CMB430.

Phew what a week for them selling, shifting and settling in down there. Camille has already booked kids into play group and etc. Stage 2 is lift off at Xmas and stage 3 is anyone's guess...but I do not want to be a fly on the wall I can tell you. Jimbo and self will go down tomorrow while Ann tends to the other kids and grand kids demands and needs here. We will deliver a truck full of stuff plus take our camper trailer down for our visits then bring David back to work. I have his here to work it up to road ready for Xmas.

Update inside. HWS done and dusted. And my new echidna by the front door with the light house. Seen more echidnas down ...
19/09/2015

Update inside. HWS done and dusted. And my new echidna by the front door with the light house. Seen more echidnas down here recently so I grabbed a metal one while in Sale this morning for the front door as a welcome feature. Duck and Rabbit... and now fish on the wall on the outside, Echidna on the inside.

18/09/2015

Hot water on its way pending a non return valve (thanks wendy at moons) and some er ....work. The things one does for ones kids.....who I doubt really appreciate it ....NO ... THEY never will really appreciate it....we always seem to fall short in some way and I am at the top of their list it seems..

That is life I guess....using parents and regretting after they are gone ...unless they leave a debt....

The roos seem to have multiplied, the kookaburrras are laughing at night and I have never seen so many echidnas in my life. That will change with school holidays.

All one can hope is that they do not wreck it all and one gets to reap some benefits at some stage.......some time ....but i doubt it.

12/09/2015

Oh well after 15 years the Hot water service blew up 5am this morrning. Bang, bubbling and water running everywhere. Kaput.

Checked the unit and date says 1995 so 20 years is not too bad considering 15 years ago it cost me $80.

Now the problems start. Clearly it is all MY FAULT. One kid is booked to use week after next with half a dozen ppl, another looming for may be 3 month stay as soon as his house is sold and we are having cold showers and ruined our rare much needed away as a couple.

So home again, do the research (Gas or Electric - solar too exe and no good on holiday houses) put up with the crap, find a $1000 I simply do not have on hand, cancel all holiday plans. buy new one in melb, go back Install and such is life.

That on top of the $750 sewer install any time soon and $3850 Garage slab permits, transport and construction. Oh and a small (well not so small) Tax bill to pay.

My life plans are set for a while now. But this place is magic and worth it all. Wattle is out wildflowers are too and the Birds are different.

20/07/2015

Rhys has booked the first week of sept school holidays and promised to do some work. Now to work out what. Sanding and painting is the priority but definately not amenable with kids around and not a real holiday so I think lawns, pulling out Bracken and especially cleaning the windows will do.

07/07/2015

Well :
Done the bathroom completely and it is good. One room finished after 15 years....got tiles for Kitchen and Laundry which are next.
Kidified the house - Removed billiard table and all tools to shed and opened up the Lounge. Wow the change is huge.
Started sorting Shed but lots to go out. Trailer goes down next time.
Cleared rear of block, leveled and marked out for double garage slab. Getting permits next. Slab estimate was $3000. Need extra $1000 to provide rain water out flow to shed.
Looking at getting Gas instant hot water replacement in lieu electric as much cheaper and more efficient and unfortunately solar is not an option as they do not like extended periods without use and would cost twice and would still need added heater.
Back next week to install rain water leaf busters on down pipes and flush the system. Then plaster tidy up and paint inside, carpet bedrooms polish floor boards.

26/06/2015

Watched keenly in the back yard yesterday at the spot cleared and leveled for the new garage. A Kookaburra watched also as a Roo stopped at the edge and started messing with it's tummy. A moment later out tumbled a small Joey who rather stunned tried to get back in. Mum was having none of that and nudged it away. Then we saw the small Joey hopping about the cleared area like wild fire back and forth at great speed returning periodically to mum who sent it away again. This continued for 5 minutes during which time mum, head in pouch, was house cleaning. Then last time Joey hopped head first back in and mum and Joey went on her way. A fascinating display of nature and life rarely seen. Interactions of 3 different species that all saw as natural and thought...been there....at least that is what the missus indicated. I don't know of many places like this. Very special.

Now all I was doing was marking out my garage layout and apart from the missus supervising I had 2 Roos and a Kookaburra...
21/06/2015

Now all I was doing was marking out my garage layout and apart from the missus supervising I had 2 Roos and a Kookaburra supervising. I wonder what it is that makes the Kookaburra come check out my work ...sitting on the shed then now on the marker pegs immediately they go in? So it looks like moving again another 3 m west. Then I have the Shire to contend with.

Clearing way for double garage. Next is permits (slow part) and slab (expensive part) then construction (hard part), alr...
20/06/2015

Clearing way for double garage. Next is permits (slow part) and slab (expensive part) then construction (hard part), already got the kit shed)...Got told off yesterday by the local Kookaburra who used to sit in the tree and watch the comings and goings. Now has to sit on my shed roof and he is not happy. Progress. Got told off from the missus also as she said I done it backwards. Should check site, get permits, clear, slab and buy shed and put up instead of buy shed wait 5 years, clear block, work out where you want it, line up slab , then apply for permits . She and the Kookaburra might have something in common apart from the noisy expression of annoyance but where is the adventure in that? Besides I would not be able to afford the shed at today's prices. :). Footnote ; in 2007 it took 2 years and $700 to get a permit for a carport here through the shire and then I never built it on account of me going to WA to volunteer and stayed while that permit expired. The Car port I previously purchased is going home to get put up there now so where there is a will there is a way.

Address

55 Central Avenue
Loch Sport, VIC
3851

Telephone

0351460070 - Emergencies or family bookings 0397835937

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