The Straw House, huge pet-friendly family farmhouse
- house250 m²
- Sleeps: 14
- Bedrooms: 7
- Bathrooms: 3
- Min. Stay: 2–5 nights
6/7 bedroom farmhouse with 3 bathrooms, games room and set in 35 rural acres
Bedrooms
Bedroom 6
Bedroom 1
Bedroom 3
Bedroom 5
Bedroom 2
Bedroom 4
Bedroom 7
Amenities
Featured
- Internet
- Pets Welcome
- Fireplace
- TV
- Satellite or Cable
- Children Welcome
- Parking
- No Smoking
- Heater
Bathrooms
- Bathrooms: 3
Safety features
- Smoke detectorLobby next to the 2 rear bedrooms and lobby adjacent to the ensuite bedroom
- First-aid kitUnder the sink in the kitchen
- Fire extinguisherOn a wall bracket close to the rear kitchen door
- Exterior lighting
Location Type
- Near the ocean5 minutes by car to glorious Redgate Beach, with a selection of coves perfect for both surfers and non-surfers, fishers or non-fishers. Best beach in the world!
- RuralSet in farm and bushland, surrounded by towering gum trees and birds galore, away from the sound of traffic.
General
- launderette
- HeatingLarge wood heater with plenty of firewood supplied. Electric blankets and heaters in all bedrooms.
- Linens providedAll beds are made up with fresh, sun dried sheets. Guests to bring their own towels whenever possible. Towels can be included on request for overseas/interstate guests.
- Washing machine
- Fireplace
- Parking availableAmple
- InternetSatellite nbn supplied, but our monthly allowance is limited. Please avoid streaming/downloading, and restrict internet use to browsing, emails and posting fab photos to social media!
- Wireless Internet
- Wood stoveLarge wood stove with plenty of firewood.
- Iron & board
- Hair dryer
- Paper towels
- Basic soaps
- Toilet paper
- Living Room2 large living rooms with TVs
- Baby Gate
Kitchen
- Fridge2 large fridge/freezers
- HobGas
- OvenElectric wall oven
- Microwave2 microwaves
- BBQ
- Coffee maker
- Toaster
- Blender
- Dishes & utensilsMany many many!
- KitchenFull, well-equipped kitchen
- Kettle
Dining
- Dining area
- Childs highchair
Entertainment
- TelevisionOne in each living room
- Satellite/CableFree to air TV via satellite
- Stereo
- DVD player
- BooksLarge library of books
- Table football
- Games roomTable tennis and foosball
- GamesLoads of board games, toys and books
- Games for kids
- Ping pong table
- Toys
- Video libraryDozens of DVDs
Outside
- Garden
- Balcony
- Veranda
- Deck/Patio
- Outdoor Furniture
Policies
Cancellation Policy
- 100% refund if you cancel at least 30 days before check-in.
- 50% refund (minus the service fee) if you cancel at least 14 days before check-in.
- No refund if you cancel less than 14 days before check-in.
Damage and Incidentals
You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property that is caused by you or your party during your stay.
House Rules
Children allowed
Pets allowed
No events
No smoking
Max guests: 14
Cleaning practices
High-touch surfaces cleaned with disinfectant (e.g. countertops, light switches, handles and taps)
Check in and check out with no person-to-person contact
All towels and bedding washed in hot water that’s at least 60ºC
Cleaned with disinfectant
Property has guest safety measures
Map
The Straw House is perfectly located for all the best things to do in the area. The caves and forests, beaches, wineries, Cape to Cape coastal walk trail - all are within 5 minutes drive. Margaret River town has an abundance of restaurants and shops, only 10 minutes away as well as the newly famous mountain bike trails. And when you've had enough of the hubbub, you can return to the peaceful retreat that is The Straw House.
Got kids with you? Plenty for them to do on the property! Wander up the track to visit the farm animals. The pet pigs will gobble up your food scraps, the donkeys and alpacas will thank you for a carrot or two. The chooks and peacocks will chase you for titbits. Our miniature horses, Mash and Oreo, live in the paddock next to the house and always enjoy a pat (and a carrot!)
Half way to Margaret River you can spend an afternoon at Amaze'n. But be careful - the kids may get lost in the maze!
Straw House guests will receive a special discount at Little Monsters Play Centre in Station Road, Margaret River. Parents can enjoy a real coffee and delicious wholesome treats while the kids exhaust themselves on the play equipment.
The famous caves of the region are situated along Caves Road. All levels of access are offered, some guided, some adventurous. Ask us for details when you're here. And the amazing Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park is moments away. If you wander along to the Boranup Forest in the evening you'll find possums keen for a bite of your apple. And if you're lucky you'll see Tawny Frogmouths, phascogales and bandicoots - maybe even a coupan!
Back at The Straw House, play pool or table tennis in the games room, or take a quiet walk at dusk to see the kangaroos at their wakeful time. Or just sit on the verandah with a glass of wine and watch the evening light turn the huge karri trees golden. Unforgettable!
There is a large library of books for all tastes and ages. And with with free to air satellite TV in both of the living rooms, you can choose what you want to watch.
And for the surfers, Redgate Beach needs no introduction. Popular with surfers and non-surfers, the broad white sand beach is a great place to watch the power of the ocean as it pounds explosively on Crash Rock. Or clamber on the ancient granite rocks for a bit of crab-spotting or fishing. There are some secret coves too. Ask us when you're here!
Augusta is about 25 minutes south, and makes for a wonderful day out. The mouth of the Blackwood River is a popular swimming spot, and if you're into canoeing, this is the place for you! The lighthouse won't fail to impress you, right on the south-western tip of Australia, where the two oceans - Indian and Southern - meet.
Mountain bikers are well catered for too. There are plenty of trails especially created for this very popular sport in Margaret River. And ride the scenic Rails to Trails track all the way from Calgardup Road into Margaret River without having to ride on any busy roads. Just vineyards and rural views all the way.
Did I mention wineries? It's quite probably the one thing that everyone associates with Margaret River. Too many to list, and some of the most renowned ones are practically on the doorstep. Within 5 kms you'll find Leeuwin Estate, Voyager, Redgate, Xanadu, and many others.
If you love horses you can chat to the ones on the farm: our 2 minis Mash and Oreo, as well as our beautiful arabian mare Rose, and Jet, the black quarter horse. If you fancy a ride there are a few options. We love to recommend Jesters Flat. They will take you along forest trails on safe horses, and you'll enjoy seeing views and kangaroos from horseback. There's just no better feeling!
So if you're looking for lively bars, traffic and shops, don't come to The Straw House! This is your destination for tranquillity and country pursuits. For birdlife and fauna. For lots of space to play with your dogs and children. For fresh clean air, and only the sounds of the countryside. For log fires in the winter months, and farm walks sloshing through puddles.
Hosted by Carolyn Forte and Mark Robertson
Ask a questionAbout Carolyn Forte and Mark Robertson
Mark and I have owned and lived on this property since the mid 1990s. We built The Straw House as our family house - large to accommodate ourselves, our 6 children and their friends, as well as our assortment of animals including dogs, parrots, orphan goats and kangaroo joeys. Once the kids grew up and moved into their adult lives, the house was way too big for us, so we built a second, smaller house and started doing holiday lets in the big house. Our fabulous managers, Zoey and Koz, now live in the smaller house and look after our guests. Mark and I spend half our time on the farm where we live in a converted shed or "shome". The rest of the time we travel as much as we can. We love to meet our guests and get a real boost from their love for The Straw House when they arrive. I, Carolyn, was born in the UK, moving here in 1991. Mark is a true blue aussie, raised in the wheat belt. He has now retired from teaching but spends full working days on the farm. No shortage of jobs to do! Our kids visit us often and we love nothing more than precious time spent with them and our grandchildren.
Carolyn Forte and Mark Robertson purchased this house in 1994
Why Carolyn Forte and Mark Robertson chose Forest Grove
When we were looking for a property large enough to accommodate our large family and several horses too, we scoured the area. This former farm grabbed my heart because of the brilliant location, the huge amount of space and potential, all the great outbuildings, but mainly because of the magnificent trees. I knew immediately that I wanted to build a house where I could watch the light of the setting sun turn the trees to gold.
- Languages:
- English