Darling Range, Perth, Western Australia

On the job! Wine appreciator extraordinaire! 

It’s been over 6 weeks since our last blog! So here are a few updates from us: after resigning from our respective roles, moving out of our room and selling the few possessions we had accumulated, we relocated inland to the Perth Hills. Yes contrary to a previous blog, there is a large hill in Perth! Formally named the Darling range. 

We had such a great time in Adelaide that we wanted to do one more farm stay before leaving Australia. So for the last couple of weeks we have been living in a converted house shed overlooking apple orchards in ‘rural’ Perth (the kind with the old woven rugs covering the rough concrete floors. Gum boots stand haphazardly around the perimeter and old worn sofas crowd the stone fire place). The climate has been much cooler and there are slight afternoon breezes that wind through the rose bushes.

Milking Alice the goat

The area we stayed was called Pickering Brook. On the farm there are a small herd of milking goats, some confused sheep and the obligatory chooks, ducks, cats and two seemingly happy go lucky dogs. Our main role was to help/supervise the milking and feeding mornings and afternoons. The ‘girls’ are great company and love a cuddle, the sheep however are somewhat more difficult but respond to the old ‘come on’ call.



We have also been around for the birth of several new lambs, the first fondly named kee’ra (which is Kara with an Australian accent).

Feeding time!! 

Kara 'their not listening to me!'

What the goats are NOT allowed to do

Frost on the grass

There is ample supply of fresh milk, cheese and olives.. yum! Pickering Brook is located around 40 minutes from the Perth CBD and 10kms from Kalamunda, a very small farmy town which is also the start of the Bickley Valley wine trail… we did spend some time visiting the local cidery and vineyards although they can't really be compared to South Australia, they did offer unique wine varieties not found in Perth’s Swan Valley and we feel fortunate to get the opportunity to give the glasses a swirl! 

Core Cidery, Pickering Brook

Taking a well deserved wine break

Freshly picked and marinated olives! 

On the farm, we were also  involved in the olive picking, orange harvesting and general garden maintenance. This comprises mostly of chopping wood, weeding, burning off old stumps and spider removal. We worked on average 3-5 hours a day and usually crash at night in front of the fire (chasing roaming sheep and lugging around hay is quite tiresome!).

John on a tree culling mission

The best highlight included making our own goat feta and also the several nights of rain! In the old shed listening to it patter on the roof as we drifted off to sleep certainly was a pleasant change. Although this sounds odd… Perth had the driest June on record!

 Difficulties did occur with feeding in the rain (quite bluntly; goats, like cats, don't like to get wet) and the best word to describe the situation would be ‘chaotic’ followed closely by 'primadona'. 

Baby Lamb!

The garden full of chickens

Making goats feta 

Susan the goat (cuddle time....)

We had a fantastic time with our hosts and are grateful for the opportunity to have stayed with them! With much excitement and anticipation we are now posting this blog from the International airport in Perth. Next week we look forward to sharing an update with you  from Chennai, India! Waahooo! On to the Northern hemisphere! 

Tot siens,

John and Kara

See you later Perth xx