Original subtitles

From its barren beauty to lush landscapes,...

the Australian countryside is as beautiful as it is breathtaking.

Many Australians are discovering rural life and making the move,

so I'm on the hunt to help everyday Australians find their perfect country house.

www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023

Grab your guitar, chuck on your Akubra and giddy up.

We're off to outback New South Wales to explore three houses in Tamworth.

There are some places that I'll show you that you can still see people walking down the street ona horse,

but here you'll see people in golf buggies, and what's the bet you don't play golf?

- I don't. - No, we don't.

- I knew it!

We have got man caves and yabbying, an in-ground pool beneath the gum trees, plus red dirt.

- I see red dirt, and I― on TV, I just about cry, and there's red dirt there, so―

- Cry in a good way? Cry in a bad way?

- No, in a good way. Just makes me homesick, yeah.

- Oh, does it? - Yeah, it's― it really does.

- Join me as I try and find Glenda and Geoff's perfect new home in the country.

You are in serious yeehah country here, people.

Tamworth is absolutely booming. You have major sporting, equine, medical facilities, wonderfulschools,

extraordinary agriculture and, hello, world's best country-musical festival.

Who wouldn't wanna live in Tamworth?

- So, I was still at school. There was― The local bus driver ran a youth club,

which he did square dancing. And, um― and, uh,

so he sort of invited me along, and Geoff was from another― in sort of, like, the next little town,

and, um, their youth club came and joined us, and, yeah, we met there.

Within ― what was it ― 12 months, 18 months, we were married.

She chased me, by the way, not― not the other way round.

- Geoff has retired, and Glenda now works from home.

And now that their adult children have moved out, Geoff and Glenda have decided on Tamworth

because it offers a whole range of amenities, but it still has that― that small-town kind of feel.

So, let's find out what is on their wish list.

- Like a pool. Geoff would like a big shed, um, still, so that's kind of why we want a few acres,

and we also have four dogs which we have to cater for.

- If it's got everything, we'd pay up to a million.

If it hasn't got that, the price needs to reflect it so that then we can put it in.

- You know, these are the things that I think we've got to our time of life

where we've worked really hard for a lot of years,

where we can say, 'Hey, this is― This is for us, you know? We get to pick.'

So, yeah― So it is― It's going to be exciting.

- But this is no ordinary house hunt.

It's essential that their new house offers peace and quiet for Geoff,

who lives with post-traumatic stress disorder.

- At times, noise and hustle and bustle, um, can be really grating.

Mine's an accumulative that's built up over years from, um, fatalities in underground mining.

And one really hurt me, cos I warned him not to go to a particular job, cos I'd worked therebefore,

but he stayed and, unfortunately, it was him and an offsider were caught in a 400-ton rock burst.

And the thing that got me was he actually― The offsider died instantly,

and he died in the ambulance, and to me― And it probably wasn't the case,

but all I could think of was, 'He's thinking, "Geoff was right."'

You know, and that really― It really bit into me, you know, and it―

Yeah, it really― You know, even today I still think about it, you know,

and it really hurts, you know?

You just gotta find what brings you peace and quiet, and then you live quite happily, you know?

- Tamworth sits about 250 K's inland from the New South Wales coast.

Positioned smack bang between Sydney and Brissie, the town was established in the early 1800s,

with fertile soil and water supply ideal for grazing sheep and cattle.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival is the second biggest in the world

and is a huge drawcard for tourists all year round.

So, let's get to it and see if we can find a suitable home for Glenda and Geoff.

I am curious. Why have you chosen Tamworth?

- Uh, I― I prefer, um, smaller places. - Yes.

- But this has still got a country feel. - Yes.

- And I do like places that have good incomes. Um, we lived in Kalgoorlie once,

and a high-paying job ― it makes the town hum.

You know, the caffs are full and things like that, so, yeah, it's nice―

- Yeah, it's got a great buzz. - Yeah.

- I did notice your opal, actually, by the way. Is that from Kalgoorlie? - No. No.

- Oh, of course not. - Coober Pedy, actually. - Coober Pedy.

- I actually found it. - What are you looking for in a home? - Definitely a pool. I want apool.

Big kitchen. Um, I love to cook, and I have got into making jams and things like that,

so I like to spread out and make a mess. Yes. - OK, great. Great.

- And then Geoff wants other things. - I want a good shed.

- OK, I will show you a few different places today. Each of them will meet your wish list in different forms ―

one form or another. So, the first place is in this incredible little town

that's five minutes from the city, but the electric gates ― boom. You can do that from up the street.

The air con's going. The beer fridge is waiting.

- Let's go in and check out possibly your new castle. Let's head on in.

I'm looking around. I'm thinking all the bells and whistles are covered.

You've got the walk-in pantry, big benches. You saw the pool on the way in.

That's a magnesium pool, so guaranteed you'll look 20 years younger.

But I'm kind of looking towards you for the first comment, because I know that you're into jams.

What do you make of these beautiful benches, the big pantry, easy access to the dining area?

- Probably a little bit more bench space would be nice, but... - Yeah.

- ...I love a walk-in pantry, so... - Do you? - Yeah.

Shut the doors and you can't see it, and, yeah. - Yeah, yeah. Mess goes there.

- Yeah. - So, um, I've heard you're a great cook.

Yeah, no.

- I don't even like eating something I cooked. I― That's just the way I am, yeah.

- I did notice that when you came in, you― you touched the benches. You― You like the benches or―?

- Well, I look more at the quality, because I've built six of me own homes.

You know, they've got waterfall ends on it. They've thickened up the edge.

- Yeah. - You know, they've doubled the thickness. It just looks nice.

Makes you appreciate who built it. - Well, look, let's move on from here.

Take a little look inside and, when you're ready, meet me outside, OK?

- OK. - All right, lovely. - No problem.

Oh, this is― this is quite a nice size for a― - Again, the colours are...

- Yeah. - ...not out of what we would choose.

- Yeah, that's right, and it's still got en suite and a walk-in robe,

but it's still not on the acreage. - It's real suburban too. - Yeah.

- There are some children just down by the creek there yabbying.

You've got acres of farmland, but don't worry.

- You don't have to look after it. - That's great.

- You don't have to look after it all.

- And this entertaining area is gorgeous, but―

- And you've got grandchildren too. Is that right?

- Yeah, we've got seven scattered all over Australia. - Oh.

- But, yeah. - But you need entertaining space. - Yes, yes, yes.

- So, I know that you want to downsize,

but you mentioned that― that you don't want to be too close to neighbours. Why is that?

- Well, I live with PTSD, and, um, it's gotten a lot better over the years,

but sometimes when it's bad, like, even a...

knife dropping on the floor will, you know, set me off. - OK.

- So, you know, you have a kid or something throw a ball over the fence or...

- What's that from? - It's actually from fatalities in underground mining.

- I hope you don't mind me asking. - No, no. I don't. I don't at all. - I was just curious.

- Um, talking about it is one of the best treatments out, so it really―

- Well, I really appreciate that, because I would never have guessed,

and, for us, it's something that we have to keep in mind, and I feel that we can― we can help youwith that.

- Thank you. - Well, for the fun of it,

what do you think this place is on the market for?

- Maybe 850. - OK, very close.

It's 900. Around 900.

- Pretty reasonable, although I was hoping to get a― you know, an acre or two in that price range,

so, yeah.

- Up next, we tour a community title location with an indoor pool that's just across the road.

And then later on, we are under the gum trees a little further out of town.

Yeehah! I am in outback New South Wales, around Tamworth,

looking for the perfect country home for Geoff and Glenda.

Now, we first toured a home with an impressive man cave

and outdoor entertaining area, but it's now time for something completely different.

You're curious.

- I have brought you to what is Tamworth's latest community title location,

so what that actually means is you pay a nominal fee,

and that goes towards the upkeep of your own private park, your own sporting facilities,

with a massive lap pool, spa, gym. There is a golf course just beyond.

But how do you feel as I bring you here?

- Initial thoughts is I'm not as keen. - Fine. That's OK.

- Yeah. Uh, I don't know that I wanna walk somewhere to go to the pool.

Oh, this is gonna go really well.

It is too busy here. Definitely.

- Let's just have fun and check out this one just for now, cos it's right there.

- OK. - OK.

- So, you can tell this is set up as an Airbnb.

It's very schmick. What I think is quite lovely is the sense of space and the natural light.

What do you think so far as you walk in?

- Kn― Knowing... - OK, just go. Just go.

- Oh, I don't see the space. I'm afraid it― it's...

- It seems a bit small. - ...small to me. - OK.

- Mm. - Yeah.

- What did you think about the facade of the house?

- Oh. - Yeah, not really me either. - No.

- I'm afraid it's a little bit dainty sort of a― - Oh. Right.

- Yeah. - What is your kind of look?

- I mean, you look next door. We noticed that house. I could easily grab that.

- Oh. - The tiles, the rustic look and things like that, you know?

- What am I doing? - I'll knock on the door.

- So, when you're ready, I'll meet you out with the crickets. - OK.

- OK, so, this is the main, and it's got an en suite and a built-in robe, so that's good.

And what do you think about the pool being across the road? You know,... - Yeah.

- ...like, the idea was that I could be able to walk outside whenever I wanted.

- Yeah. I reckon we go see Catriona and tell her she's got to do a bit more work, I think.

- The bees are having an absolute field day with this little passion-fruit flower here.

So, you can see beautifully right across to the golf course here. - Yeah.

- It's like a moving picture. And in this community,

there are some places that I'll show you that you can still see people walking down the street ona horse.

But here you'll see people in golf buggies everywhere.

You can get the golf buggy from your garage and take it straight to the clubhouse.

And what's the bet you don't play golf?

- I don't. - No, we don't.

- I knew it! - But I do like the views.

- My heart's in my mouth a little bit as I ask you ― what did you think? - It's... not us.

- Yeah. - Ultimately, yeah, it's just not― not us at all.

- Just humour me. What do you think it's on the market for?

- I wouldn't be paying much more than 850, I think. - Well, good,

because it's on the market for 750. - Oh. There you go. - Oh, there you go.

- And― And this will be snapped up probably online from somebody almost immediately.

- The price surprised me. Um, it is gonna attract a different sort of person, but it's justnot us.

- Let's move on to our third place and pray that you like it. Pray that you like it.

No golf, OK? - No golf. - No golf.

Next up, it is bye-bye, golf course, and hello, house number three,

as I take Geoff and Glenda through our final property.

I'm in Tamworth, touring houses with Glenda and Geoff.

Now, obviously, Tamworth is known for its ties to country music,

but, of course, there is so much more on offer,

so I have stopped by the Tamworth Regional Gallery to learn about the area's creative scene morebroadly.

How do you explain so much creativity coming out of one region,

whether it's the music, the art, the beautiful writing?

How do you explain it? Is it the air? Is it the soil?

- I actually think it's the landscape.

The landscape inspires artists all around the region.

And here at the gallery, it's obviously that visual inspiration,

so we've got amazing works that respond to the landscape.

Yes, country music is a big part of our narrative,

but there is so much more. - Mm.

- We work a lot with our regional artists, so, for example,

in Gallery Two at the moment, we have an exhibition by Hanna Kay, one of our regional artists.

We want to support those infant industries that are starting up as well,

whether it's First Nations weavers that have got... you know, local produce,

or a writer or a filmmaker. There's so many opportunities here to actually grow your business

and/or live in a beautiful community.

- And there's such a pumping, positive energy just to Tamworth.

I know that you moved here, uh, from Albury. What is it about the locals that you love that keepsyou here?

- Ah, the locals ― they're very resourceful,

so if they decide that they wanna do something, it's like,

'Right, let's get it. Let's go. Let's do it,' which is fantastic.

But it― I think it does link back to that long history of having to do things independently

and being inspired, again, by the landscape.

- Time to bring Glenda and Geoff through our final Tamworth house.

Now, this one is a little bit further out of town,

but I am hoping that the quieter surrounds will make up for it.

I'm madly reading faces, trying to― trying to take all of this in. I've got a question for you,first up.

What can you hear? - Silence. - The wind.

- The wind. - This is a good thing.

We came through the gates, so you can keep dogs in, kangaroos out. - Out.

You know, maybe not as stunning as the first house but still got street appeal.

If you were building the same building again, you'd pick a different colour brick, you know?

- Yeah, it's the brown brick that ages it, really.

- Are you ready to take a look inside?

- Yes. - We'd love to, yes. - OK, let's take a wander.

- Yes. - This way.

Massive walk-in pantry. Also has the laundry. Also has a second loo.

Go straight through to the garage so you can bring in the shopping.

There you go.

- Only thing I'd change, and I can certainly live with it the way it is,...

- Yes? - ...is push-to-open doors.

- Oh yeah. - I really don't like 'em, cos when you're doing the dishes,

you're― they're always opening on you. - Give me a handle any day.

- Yeah. - OK, got it. Now I'm going to quiz you in the next area,

so let's move forward into that living space.

The other places I've shown you have been move-in ready ― completely set up, good to go.

This... Well, it's kind of the opposite. Is that OK for you two?

- If it just needs minor things and touch-ups and stuff like that,

and I think this is kind of― would lend itself to that more than anything. Yeah.

The split level, um, yes, you've got to go up and down the stairs,

so that's something to consider, as we're getting older.

But at the same token, I actually think it makes it open to everything,

and I like the fact that the bedrooms are all up the top,

and then down the bottom is all your living area and kitchen, so you've got that separation.

- Go and take a wander, check it out. When you're ready, I'll meet at the jewel in the backyard.

- OK, so, this is the main. Um, it's not huge. - Well, it takes the king.

- It does, although not a walk-in, which we had in the last house.

- And no en suite. - En suite.

- So, I know that pool was on the wish list. - Yes.

- But I also thought it might be important for you to know that the current owner is a dog lover,

therefore the fencing is pretty darn fantastic.

- One of my little dogs is a― needs to be penned in and― and have secure fencing,

so that would be something that we would have to do if it wasn't there. - Yes.

- That's a big expense that you don't have to deal with straight away.

The only thing ― - Oh, what? Oh, what? - there's no shed.

- Oh. - Yes. - Well, you can build your own.

- Yes. - Might have to.

- But the space is there, so this is beautiful, yes. - OK.

- It's my sort of country. I love the drier country. - Mm.

- I see red dirt, and I― on TV, I just about cry, and there's red dirt there, so...

- Cry in a good way. Cry in a bad way? - No, in a good way.

It just makes me homesick, yeah. - Oh, does it? - It really does.

- We spent a lot of years in and out of Western Australia.

Um, Geoff was involved with mining for a long time, and a couple of our kids were born in Kalgoorlie,

so we have, you know, great ties to that area.

- So you've got the red dirt without the work? - Yeah.

- Exactly, yeah. - I actually think it's lovely,

cos I can see the mountains... - Yes.

- ...straight beyond where you are going to be having your morning coffee.

This is a good one for us to end on. - This is a good one, yes.

- Have a guess at the price. - I don't know. I'd go around the nines, probably,...

- Lower. Lower! - ...with the land as well. Oh, well done.

- I feel like I'm on a game show now. Lower! - Lower? Ooh.

- It's around 850. - Oh.

- So that will give you a pretty good shed.

- In this market, I think― I think it's acceptable.

I don't think it's overpriced. Probably not underpriced either.

- You've gotta remember that you are getting the 5 acres with it.

- That's a first for me ― somebody getting nostalgic over red dirt. I couldn't have picked that.

However, I hope that Geoff finds that the peace and quiet of this region works well for his PTSD.

I didn't actually mention this area is hot property.

Rarely do places like this come up for sale. They'll need to be decisive.

Coming up, it's decision time for Glenda and Geoff.

Well, I've given Geoff and Glenda a little time to think things through

for the three homes that we have toured around Tamworth.

It's now time to catch up again and see if they've come to a decision.

I would like to say thank you so much for being open with us about the challenges of your PTSD,

because, for me, I would never have― have fostered that into the decision that you've had tomake.

It explains why, for the first place, here I was, thinking,

'Look, you've got this beautiful view that you don't have to worry about, you don't have to care for.'

- But it was too enclosed, the first house. Is that fair? - Yes.

- But the house itself was really lovely. - How about the man cave?

- Yeah, yeah, the man cave. - I think if you took the houses and just sat them on the same block,

that house would win hands down. - Yeah. - It was by far the best.

- It was― It was a lovely house, yes.

- Absolutely. And so with the second home, that had the pool across the road,...

- Right. - ...had the― the golf course...

- You don't play golf. - No. No.

- What was the hiccup there, do you think?

- Not really into sharing facilities. - Yeah.

- Um... - Yeah, and the house there seemed very small.

It just had that sense, for― for me, anyway, that it just didn't seem as big and open.

- I also could not have picked, as we walked into the third property,

how your eyes would immediately go to the dog fence.

- For you, that was ticking all the boxes straight away, wasn't it? - It was. It was.

- And because that place was under budget, you could build a shed of all dreams.

- All your dreams come true with that shed. - Come true. Yeah.

- Yeah. - Yeah. - So, what do you think you will do?

- I seriously think the third house we will offer on.

- Keep us posted. We wish you all the very best of luck with your new country house.

- Country house. - Thank you. - Thank you.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Glenda and Geoff made an offer on the third house, which,

yes, was accepted.

All the very best to you both as you enjoy the next chapter in your perfect country home.