This abandoned shearing shed has been turned into a cosy farmstay

Yvette Smart was definitely in the latter camp when she moved to her partner Oliver Willsallen’s 2000 hectare family property Widgeongully, at Jugiong on the South Western Slopes of New South Wales, in 2016. Instead of the shearing quarters that had not been used for 20 years and the derelict huts, Yvette saw potential to boost their farm income and allow visitors to enjoy three unique buildings and a slice of rural life. Seven years and two children later, the couple are among the growing number of rural families who have added a successful farmstay operation to their business model. Yvette shares the inside info on how they made it happen.

What was the renovating journey like?
Long, very long, and a LOT of work. It took us three years. It’s such a big space and there was absolutely everything to do. We started the journey with another couple, who we are forever thankful to, as I don’t think we would have ever started without them. Unfortunately, midway through the process they moved away. Then we got hit with the drought, so everything was pulled to a grinding halt as the farm work went into overdrive. During this time, I also fell pregnant and gave birth to my first child, which added to the delays. We finally pulled our fingers out in January 2021 when we received our first booking for that coming March and had to make a mad crazy dash to the finish line.

What advice would you give to others setting up a farmstay?
If you have something unique, go for it. While the market has become a bit flooded, people are always looking for that unique escape. And, as boring as it sounds, figure out who’s going to clean it and who’s going to be washing the sheets. If you can’t access a linen service, then buy a bigger washing machine.

The interior looks fantastic. Were you an interior designer in a past life?
Sometimes I wish I was, as it might have made it a bit easier. I spent countless nights thinking about how things would work and what would look good. It is constantly evolving and looks fairly different now than it did when we first opened. I can’t take all of the credit either. Ollie has impeccable style and we were always bouncing ideas off each other.

Is it hard juggling a business and children [three-year-old Oki and Winter, 14 months]?
While I know I’m pretty lucky with my situation — there are many self-employed mothers out there doing it harder than me — it’s not easy. Being a stay-at-home mum and running a business can be a bit like torture at times; never finishing emails, always being interrupted. I currently have a 14-month-old crawling all over me trying to shove things in my face and smash the computer keyboard!

Trying to thoroughly clean a space with a toddler in tow is impossible — they love putting their dirty hands on the windows. So you either need someone to look after the kids or a cleaner. We were incredibly lucky to find our cleaner one month before I gave birth to my second child. I have no idea how I would have gotten through that newborn stage last year without her.

Best decision you made?
To start. While it was such a huge undertaking, it was definitely worth it. I couldn’t believe it when we first started taking bookings and seeing the positive reviews that followed. Plus, it’s fantastic having that space fixed up for everyone on the farm to enjoy. It makes a great place for family birthdays and Christmas.

What do you like most about where you live?
The little commune we have here on the farm, made up of Ollie’s immediate family and their kids. That, and the landscape. The scenery here is stunning and I’m always banging on about ‘the view’. Most weekends we have campfires and picnics either down on the river or up in the paddocks.
I’ve also met a fantastic bunch of people since moving down here [Yvette is originally from Goulburn]. It’s great when we manage to organise a catch-up. It makes me feel a bit more human after spending days and days at home.

What do you love most about running a farmstay?
Making it look as good as it can before the guests arrive, and hearing how much they enjoyed the space. I’m also very grateful it has given me the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mum while still earning a decent wage. I really enjoy my time with the kids, and I know it won’t be long until they are off to school, so I’m just trying to soak it all up.