After looking around the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker in particular, Mark and Bronnie realised the perfect spot for their next, and probably last, new-home build was within the beautiful, natural surrounds of Newenham in the Adelaide Hills.
Mark and Bronnie’s story began with the pair first meeting when they were both children and later reuniting to start a relationship which continues to flourish today.
As Mark recalls, “Bronnie and I met in Hobart when we were both six years old. I left Tassie with my family just before my eighth birthday, but Bronnie and I ‘caught up’ again when I was 20. We have been married 40 years this coming December.”
The proud couple has three grown sons, Cameron, Jayden and Sam. Cameron is upper-level management at Australia Post, while Jay and Sam are both in banking — Bendigo Bank in the City for Jay, and ANZ in Mount Barker for Sam. Sam is enjoying living at Newenham with Mark and Bronnie.
However, there are another two members of the family that are also receiving special attention.
“Bronnie and I have two adorable grandsons…Jacob and Franklin, whose parents are Cameron and Kerrylea,” Mark boasts.
No stranger to Mount Barker, Mark and Bronnie had been looking around the area for somewhere to downsize as they approach retirement. Newenham ticked all the boxes and then some.
“We are both in our early 60’s, and we first took note of Newenham when we decided to downsize from our (almost) two-acre property in Martindale Estate on the other side of Mount Barker. I guess you could say the move to Newenham is the first phase of our retirement plan,” says Mark.
The couple looked at all developments in and around Mount Barker but found the quality of homes and the development in Newenham to be streets ahead of the rest. They loved the layout with all the trees and little reserves, the large blocks on offer, the rustic outlook, and that there were no stretches of townhouses or terraced homes.
Mark is quick to add, “We decided to purchase our block in Newenham because of the location, the surrounds and the general ‘feel’. The whole process started for us in October 2018. We purchased the block early in 2019, with work starting soon after. The house build commenced in August, and we were proud owners with the keys in hand by March.”
For Mark and Bronnie, this home is their third build, and the fourth place they have lived since tying the knot some 40 years ago.
“We lived on The Esplanade in Glenelg North for 18 months, before moving to our newly built home in Happy Valley, where we lived for about 16 years. We sold there and moved to Martindale Estate in Mount Barker, where we lived for around 22 years. In April 2020, we sold this house after moving into our beautiful new home at Newenha in March.”
While Bronnie is a nurse at Restvale in Lobethal, Mark has been in the building industry since he left school. After hanging up his hammer and tool belt in his 30s, he now focuses on sales/management as State Sales Manager at Stegbar. Perhaps his familiarity and background in building (he still has his builder’s license) is a reason why building another home wasn’t as daunting to this couple as it may be to others.
“We chose Oakford Homes for this build, mainly because I know the business very well, and the General Manager has been a friend of mine for almost two decades. We built a modern home with sandstone pillars at the front, four bedrooms, and three living areas including a large alfresco area at the rear,” Mark explains.
For their latest home, Mark and Bronnie had set criteria that had to be met when selecting a design for their home. The ‘must-haves’ included a study/office, home theatre, butler’s pantry, separate WC room in the ensuite, four bedrooms and spacious living areas with lots of room for comfortable seating to relax and entertain.
“We have achieved exactly what we wanted, and are now working on the garden,” enthuses Mark. “Our house is everything we hoped it would be. The Oakford Homes experience was extremely smooth!”
The couple also has grand plans for their garden with stonework to be a feature of the property.
“I have always loved stone, so as soon as we moved in, we engaged a stonemason, who has built the most amazing bluestone walls, garden beds and rockeries as the basis for our front yard,” says Mark. “Our garden is slowly coming together. We have engaged a turf layer to do the front and side, and we are purchasing four advanced trees very soon, plus all the plants for the front.”
While they looked around Mount Barker before deciding to build, the Agars were drawn to Newenham by the location, the proximity to the Mount Barker township, the layout of the development incorporating a number of breakout reserves and the retention of the large established trees, plus the amazing community.
And with plans well underway to incorporate a private school, a produce farm and market cafe, a retail precinct with main street shopping, sports and recreation areas, and more community facilities, this thriving community was an obvious drawcard.
“We have become friends with more neighbours in Newenham than we ever did at the three other places combined, largely due to the community spirit fostered and encouraged by the staff at Newenham,” says Mark. “Everyone seems to have a real community spirit. People look out for each other, and the kids seem to have a bit of freedom to explore because the parents feel there’s a degree of safety here.”
Away from their idyllic location, Mark and Bronnie are getting to know their neighbourhood a little more each day. And excursions to Adelaide Hills eateries and wineries are proving to be a bonus.
“We love the walks around Newenham and the proximity to the centre of Mount Barker. Our favourite café is Sazon in the main street, and we are also fond of the Prancing Pony pizzas! We also like the restaurant strip in Hahndorf, and most of the wineries offer great dining experiences too. Anderson Hill Winery would be a favourite, and I’m lucky enough to be distantly related to the owners,” Mark explains.
Mark and Bronnie are now settled in their Newenham home and looking forward to improving their property in readiness for their eventual retirement. And, as Mark confirms, they have big ideas for their future and Newenham is very much a part of those plans.
“Within a few years, Bronnie and I want to have the garden under control but will still be content if it’s not 100% complete. When we retire the plan is we want to travel a little, read more (Bronnie and I are big readers), play more golf but, most importantly, spend more time with our family and new friends.”
If you’d like to know more about joining our growing community or securing your future at Newenham, simply contact our Sales Team on 0429 107 497 or on sales@newenham.com.au. You can find the Sales & Information Centre opening hours here.
We recommend booking a 1-on-1 tour, even on weekends, to ensure we can provide you with the excellent service we are known for.
We look forward to welcoming you to Newenham soon.
