Episode 2: Built with Care – Linnaeus Farm by Linnaeus Collection

Born from an innovative concept, Linnaeus Farm has blossomed into a beautiful and tranquil place under the new ownership of its current owner, Peter. Central to Peter’s reimagining of the farm was retaining its integrity and the vision of its previous owner, Jaime, which he does seamlessly.

Rather than buy the farm and take it on a new journey, Peter gracefully accepted the baton and assisted in bringing Jaime’s aspirations to fruition. Part of this process involved developing an evolving brief with Vic Lake Architects, which enabled a seamless and organic approach to the farm’s development alongside the Linnaeus Collection.

A major aspect of maintaining the integrity of the farm comes from daily maintenance and care of its sprawling grounds.

A major aspect of maintaining the integrity of the farm comes from daily maintenance and care of its sprawling grounds. Geoff Collins, the groundskeeper and general maintenance man for Linnaeus Farm as well as Peter’s father-in-law, oversees the grounds with meticulous care. Geoff, Peter and everyone else involved work tirelessly to showcase the amazing work that Jaime had already done at the stunning Berry site.

Set near the lake house, a pool, edible gardens, orchards and olive trees sits an original cottage that is a central feature on the farm. It is a two-storey structure with a pitched metal roof and exposed brickwork that stands proudly amid the landscape. It was built by Jaime who was also a skilful carpenter – he built the structure out of large timber flitches that offer a special quality, revealing an intelligible construction logic and providing an authentic, cabin-like aesthetic that feels especially nurturing in the vast landscape of the farm.

With so many learnings and unique qualities intertwined within its grounds, Linnaeus Farm is one of those rare places with many elements to appreciate.

Another main feature of the property is Jaime’s barn. Providing the perfect counterpoint for the cottage, it is a well-organised and simple structure with lots of timber that imbues warmth, while its sheer volume and the large scale of its interiors are immediately impressive. Perhaps most significant is the way the barn has been built, like a piece of joinery. All the connections of the rafters and posts are done with timber plugs – a skill that has almost been lost to modern carpentry. As such, its existence at the farm helps people understand more about the history of construction in a subtle yet powerful way.

With so many learnings and unique qualities intertwined within its grounds, Linnaeus Farm is one of those rare places with many elements to appreciate. The care that went into its origin, its preservation and its future is evident in the profound effect it has on anyone who walks through the gate.