{"id":668970,"date":"2026-05-13T20:56:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/668970\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T20:56:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:56:53","slug":"little-burradoo-house-a-multi-generational-southern-highlands-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/668970\/","title":{"rendered":"Little Burradoo House: A Multi-Generational Southern Highlands Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

When mother-daughter duo Cara and Christel Higgins bought an idyllic property in the NSW Southern Highlands<\/a> 10 years ago, it was the tranquil antidote they\u2019d sought from Sydney\u2019s busy eastern suburbs. But life has a funny way of working out. The pair never imagined the property would one day become a multigenerational home<\/a> filled with the busy comings and goings of three young children, as well as a family catering business.<\/p>\n

Little Burradoo House is located in the quiet, rural enclave of Burradoo, just outside Bowral on the lands of the Gundungurra and Dharawal people. \u201cIt has a wonderful history,\u201d Christel explains. \u201cLittle Burradoo House, the main house, was part of the Clydesdale stable complex for a large, stately manor nearby. It was subdivided many years ago and I believe we are only its third owners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Retired hairdresser Cara, now 82, was looking to make a tree change after selling her property in Vaucluse. \u201cIt was love at first sight for Mum and we purchased the house immediately after the first inspection,\u201d Christel, 49, says.<\/p>\n

\"AFinn, Bianca, Christel, Harper, Winter and Cara with cavoodle Ziggy, 14, and Jasmine, the five-year-old Parson Jack Russell. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

\u201cMum had hair salons in Sydney and lived a very busy life until she retired. Growing up, I spent considerable time in the Highlands riding horses with my grandfather, who was a jockey and horse trainer. Mum and I moved to the Highlands for the quieter life and to enjoy the outdoors more.\u201d <\/p>\n

In 2020, Christel and Cara added a second home, Little Burradoo Cottage, to the property. The two-bedroom cottage was built to accommodate family and friends visiting from Sydney. As the two houses are quite close to each other, the cottage was designed to be sympathetic to the main home\u2019s elegant, heritage-country feel. The small circular windows in the bedrooms are a nod to the years Christel spent working as a nanny in Nantucket and the Hamptons in the United States, and the gable roof and raked ceilings an ode to her time in the Cotswolds in England.<\/p>\n

\"AnYou can always tell what season it is from the ivy,\u201d says Christel. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

\"ABold Dulux Snap-Shot anchors the kitchen cabinetry, with gleaming tapware from The English Tapware Company, brass fittings from Temple & Webster and soft greenery providing contrast. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

\"AThe bedroom doors usher in sunlight, with nature\u2019s shades reflected in the cushions from Suzie Anderson Home, and throws from Island Luxe and Ha\u2019veli of Byron Bay. The curtains were handmade locally by Sue Campbell, while the artworks were gifted by a friend. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

In 2020, the intended use of the recently completed cottage evolved when Christel was joined by her partner Bianca Monley, and Bianca\u2019s three children, Harper, now 12, Winter, 11, and Finn, 10. Originally from Wanaka in New Zealand, Bianca had also moved to the Southern Highlands from Sydney five years earlier in search of a quieter life. \u201cIt\u2019s such a beautiful community and everyone\u2019s super-friendly,\u201d Bianca, 46, says. \u201cThere\u2019s no traffic and everything is only five minutes away. We\u2019re an outdoor family and the Highlands has provided the children with so much space.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ChristelChristel (left) and Bianca love their inviting country home. Paintings by family friend James Erskine adorn the kitchen wall. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

\"AThe cottage exterior is painted in Dulux P\u016bkaki Half, with Chalford natural stone tiles from Eco Outdoor. Hat from Will & Bear, bag from Suzie Anderson Home and wall hooks by Barbara\u2019s Storehouse in Bowral. \u201cWe spend a lot of time cooking outside around the fire. It\u2019s like an outdoor lounge room,\u201d says Bianca. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

The family have spent considerable time refining the property\u2019s gardens \u2013 originally designed by landscape designer Peter Fudge<\/a> \u2013 over the past 10 years. \u201cThey\u2019ve been our focus because we entertain so much,\u201d Christel says. \u201cWe really do use the gardens as our living rooms and there are multiple dining and seating spaces. We\u2019re out from dawn till dusk working in them and enjoying them. We do fire feasts on Friday afternoons, which are lovely family-and-friend gatherings. The children bring their friends and we have grazing boards and cook on the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ThreeSnack time in the garden. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

\"ABianca whipped up the delicious cherry tomato tart. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

\"ACara cherishes her heirloom antique cutlery. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

Not only do the gardens allow the family plenty of space to live and entertain, they also provided the inspiration for Christel and Bianca to start Little Burradoo Chefs, their paddock-to-plate catering business. Bianca has a long history with the hospitality industry \u2013 at 21 she founded a wholefoods delivery service, eventually delivering 10,000 meals a week across Sydney and Melbourne.<\/p>\n

\"AEgg basket from Dirty Janes and plates from Suzie Anderson Home. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

\"ACushions from Salt Living add cosiness on the twin beds. The landscape artwork is by James Erskine. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

The couple grow produce for their artisan pantry items, boxed drop-off catering packages, high-end event catering and grazing tables. They also curate gift hampers that are shipped nationwide. \u201cThe property has been an incredible aspect of our business,\u201d says Christel. \u201cThe garden is all north-facing, allowing us to grow produce year-round. We make our own botanical gin, and flavoured salts from our rosemary and sage. Every day we\u2019re replanting, propagating, harvesting and thinking about the change of season. Everything\u2019s organic, there are no pesticides. We can\u2019t grow it all ourselves so we source the rest from local businesses and markets. We\u2019re so spoilt for choice here. The children also play a large part and are very capable in the kitchen.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"AThe bathrooms were designed by Candana Designs Woollahra and feature Italian tiles from Don Ceramics. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

Christel says although the original vision she and Cara had for the property has evolved since they moved, they couldn\u2019t be happier. \u201cNever in our wildest dreams did we believe Little Burradoo House would be filled with children. We\u2019re thrilled it\u2019s so full. We have family and friends coming and going; it\u2019s a busy, busy home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ARomantic surrounds. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

\"ALavender lines the reflection pond. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

Christel says the creation of their gourmet catering business has been a bonus as they\u2019re able to work from home and be with the children, Cara and their puppies every day. \u201cWe all have dinner together every night,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re so grateful to Mum for inviting us to all be together here \u2013 she\u2019s the matriarch of the family. She\u2019s very involved with the children and helps with drop-offs and pick-ups \u2013 and hamper deliveries as well. She\u2019ll tell you she\u2019s busier than ever! We came down to the Highlands for a slower-paced life, however we\u2019re just as busy \u2013 but in a very different way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AMagnificent golden elms, Mexican pines, dogwoods and liquidambars create a screen behind the houses. (Photography: Brigid Arnott | Styling: Sharon Misko)<\/p>\n

Visit littleburradoochefs.com.au<\/a> or @littleburradoochefs<\/a><\/p>\n

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