A year ago my biggest building problem was mounting a monitor arm on a flat pack desk.

What on earth were we taking on?

For those who don’t know the backstory: early in 2024, Sarah wanted to be able to look after her dad, and our dream home in Oura, just outside of Wagga, we never imagined leaving just wasn’t going to cut it as it was 3 meters off the ground. So we started looking. It would have to be a nice place, to leave something we loved so much. I was still very tied to my web design business in Wagga so it couldn’t be too far away to drive in most days to Wagga. Over the last few years Sar and I also had some deep inkling that we would one day love to run music/dance camps along with retreats. Pipe dream. Didn’t think too much of it.

One day a listing came up early in our journey. Elm Grove at Goobarragandra. I remembered coming as a teenager to Camp Hudson for a weekend, and loved it. We had also always liked Tumut and used to come up to the caravan park on weekends. So, we thought we would have a look.

I just loved the Creek. Crystal clear flowing water. The magnificent Elms. The outdoor Chapel. The indoor Chapel. St Francis – also my favourite saint. But it was a long way away from Wagga. It was also so run down, and the owners wanted more than we could ever afford. That’s just impossible, sorry God, no can do. We walked away.

So over the next 9 months we looked. Banks not willing to lend much, us having no idea how much we would get for our house that we over-capitalised on as we were going to be there forever, and it was also in a floodplain.

What unfolded was quite staggering looking back now. God’s hand at play. At the time it was incredibly frustrating. We found a couple of nice places, but something always stopped us. Not enough funds. Something not quite perfect, etc etc.

Then for some reason we both knew it was time to go. We just knew.

We still didn’t have a place to move to, but trusted and put our house on the market. It turned out to be the perfect time to sell and we sold for a record amount in Oura to a buyer at the second open home. Looking back, if we tried to sell the same house today, we would certainly not have had enough to come out here.

Some other things conspired in this time. We met a broker that was able to get us a lot more money for a loan (it makes me laugh still – with the same bank). And one of my employees stepped up at work with an interest to be the manager. This would mean a lot less money for me, but again, that whisper in my ear was telling me it was time for change. We had to move out before Christmas, and one of my good friends offered her mum’s old house for us to stay in while we had nowhere. What a blessing. So we put everything in storage and relocated.

In this time of waiting, it was quite stressful thinking about where we would move to. I did check back in with the Elm Grove owners (this was around August) just asking if they would be willing to take a reasonably lower amount but there was nothing doing. They were quite happy to keep renting it out. I don’t actually know why I even asked, I think something was working away below the surface on me about that place.

But I don’t like to wait. So I made an offer on a place near Tumut with the asking price they wanted for it at auction. God’s turn to step in again and prevent my mistakes. They knocked it back, as they had a hunch they could make a bit more at the Auction.

Disappointed, and frustrated, I sat on our deck. It was close to November. I pulled out my phone.

G’day mate – I know this is way out of the ballpark. But I thought I’d check in. We have sold our house. We can only afford x. (It was significantly lower than what I texted in August). I know it’s nowhere near what you are after. Anyway just thought it was worth asking. Cheers, Pete

The next morning, the owner of Elm Grove called. He accepted the offer.

Oh my Lord. I rang Sar who was on holidays to tell her. I think she went into shock.

The day after, the real estate rang me from the other house near Tumut (the one for auction). It had had its auction and the owners were very happy to accept our offer as they hadn’t made what they wanted at auction. I thanked God for teaching me a lesson in impatience, and kindly declined the offer. I think that house only just sold (12 months later).

On Christmas Eve 2025 the loan settled. Goobarragandra – here we come. Off grid, no reception, and snakes. I hate snakes. And the mowing had been neglected with the grass up to our waists as we arrived.

The first thing I wrote in my journal when we arrived in February 2026 was a prayer: Dear God, please help this be the start of something new, and help us and our family love being here. The kids were super hesitant still. We all were a little. He’s been answering it ever since. Just not always the way I expected…

The learning curve

I have never had to think about a water supply or a power supply. Now I think about it most days. I have YouTubed more things in the last 8 months than I did in a decade of computer programming. Working with tractors, oil filters, solar arrays, electrical, building, plumbing on a daily basis, could make quite the comedy series.

It’s driven me around the bend.

With some hard work by the 20th of February my wife had our house liveable and a school room for the kids ready to go. The oven didn’t work and the solar panels were shaded, but hey. Good enough for the bush.

Over the last 8 months we have done a lot. Driveways sealed, fixing septic tanks, new wood heaters, guttering on buildings, running water pipes across a paddock to save pumping from the river, knocking out a kitchen and bathroom, deck repairs, enclosing an outdoor bathroom, knocking down about 15 old sheds, landscaping for full visibility as much as possible, and dealing with underground spring water affecting buildings, furnishing houses, getting comms set up and improving solar systems. I knew we would have to do some work, but had no concept on what was involved. Probably bitten off way more than we could chew and it has led to some great frustrations. Winter was actually really hard – it rained and rained and rained halting a lot of progress. But through it, I have felt God trying to teach me not to worship progress (which is so in my nature). When we have stopped, we have seen some great moments of peace and togetherness with the family. We have seen our relationship grow through all of this. We have seen our kids laugh and smile in simplicity. And we have grown closer to God every day (even when we fight him).

Some great occasions

We’ve been blessed with some amazing occasions. Sister Laurel, Brother Edwin and Michael’s first visit. What a gift to get to know the people behind the soul of this place! They have been a huge backing for us. A Men Alive working bee with our first mass in the chapel (It was full to the point people had to stand, and I still get teary every time that chapel gets full – it is such an amazing experience). We have had a lot of family come and stay. We had our induction into the Little Followers of St Francis recently with another full chapel service! We have gotten to know some of the wonderful Tumut community. Looking into the future, we have a few events coming up with the Elm Grove Trust AGM soon and a Men Alive full program weekend in November.

What’s next

We would love to finish off the Top House this year, finalise cleaning up and landscaping, and God willing, we will start pursuing programs, retreats, getaways in February 2027. Our dream one day is to build Yindi – a centre that would be incredible out here for programs.

Thank you

To everyone who has mowed, framed, wired, fed, prayed, delivered furniture, dropped off firewood or just sat by the fire with us: thank you. The place is still a boggy mess half the time. But Elm Grove is far more than our projects, you only need to be here to experience that. Most people that have come just can’t quite put a finger on what it is, but know its special. Praise God.

Come visit. Bring boots.

Cheers,

Pete