Sometimes all it takes is hard work, determination and time to succeed and for Helen and Gary Sivesind, time has certainly been the key.
They bought their dream property named Little Iowa on Gunbower Island 30 years ago — a cute little country block complete with a farmhouse and what was at the time, a small working dairy.
The couple always had a vision to one day convert the dairy into accommodation but as with everything, life can sometimes get in the way.
But finally three decades later, the dairy has been transformed into a boutique farm stay (Fox Island Farm Stay) and the old dairy is again open for business, all be it in a very different form to its previous life.
It wasn’t until about 10 years ago the real renovations started in earnest.
At the time Gary was diagnosed with cancer and was taking a year off work for treatment and recovery, he tore down an old house for a family friend salvaging the timber.
All of a sudden he had enough old wood to begin building windows and so began the renovation journey which has been interrupted over the years by work, health, COVID and life in general.
“We live in such a beautiful part of the world out here on Gunbower Island and we always wanted to be able to share that with people at some point in time and now we can,” Helen said.
While Gary has done a lot of the work himself, including filling in the pit with concrete, polishing the cement and general handyman stuff, he has had to rely on local tradies to get the big jobs like electricity, plumbing and building done.
“My nephew Marcus is a builder and was between jobs and would come up with his family and help and in the end, he really owned the renovation and did a great job,” Gary said.
All up Gary reckons it took around two years of solid building to get the work done.
The old engine room has been converted into a bathroom, the vat room into a bedroom and the platform into the kitchen, living and an additional bedroom.
“It was important to us that the bathroom be the best room in the dairy and it has turned out perfect.
“The kitchen bench is made from timber and pipework from the old cattle yards so we could keep things authentic without being too rough and it is really nice to look around and see all the bits and pieces we have been able to recycle,” Gary said.
Helen said it is hard to believe cows once walked through what is now a comfy little home.
“When we first came to look at the place they were still milking in this dairy,” she said.
Outside the couple has spent countless hours pulling down the old yards and picking up cracked cement — now the dairy is surrounded by green lawn and a thriving orchard.
A local artist has painted a mural on the old shed, depicting all the things Gary and Helen love about where they live including the Gunbower Creek and the beautiful birdlife.
“We have beautiful sunrises and sunsets and we are only a couple of kilometres away from Gunbower. There is always plenty of wood for a fire in winter and it’s just a nice quite place to bring the family and unwind,” Helen said.
Helen and Gary are no strangers to accommodating guests as they have been running Annesley House in Echuca for the last six years.
“We love looking after families and whether they are staying in Echuca or here at Gunbower with us, we will always ensure you have a great time,” she said.