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Quite out of the ordinary By Erle Levey To see the full moon rise over the rolling hills to the east gives a sense of wonder. Especially with the blend of man-made sculptures and the beauty of Cooroy Mountain silhouetted against it. Moon Mountain Sanctuary is like no other. Lynn and Ron Scott are not just advocates for good design and architecture, they are patrons of the arts, lovers of locally sourced and produced food, passionate about the environment, and about touching the land lightly, so they leave it in a better condition than when they arrived. They love animals - horses in particular. But they don’t just care for their herd – the horses are part of the family. The deck at the front of their home has been purposely designed at perfect head height for their horses to come to the deck in the mornings or afternoons to say hello, be given a scratch and fed a carrot. That’s where we are - on the deck, enjoying a fresh coffee while discussing architecture, food, music, art and travel. The herd of horses roam freely in front of us on the 35-acre property. The land slopes down to a spring-fed creek and beyond that the magnificence of Cooroy Mountain. Around the property are stunning pieces of sculpture ranging from flute-playing or Vespariding figures by Gillian Mark to a dragonfly the size of an ultra-light plane. From works created from recycled car parts by Nick Warfield to a river of steel flowing down the hill. From a life-size cassowary to a Bob Hawke look-alike cockatoo. Towers of stone or a stylised Morris car to depict the ravages of time and family. Then there’s a hare by Colleen Lavender mounted so that it perpetually seems to be running or hopping in the garden. Pinnacles reach skyward to reflect the light of the full moon. Moon Mountain Sanctuary is the result of Ron and Lynn understanding that lives and loves can evolve and become intertwined. In doing so something truly special can be created. As well as a sanctuary for animals and wildlife, it is a design hub - to encourage emerging artists as well as provide an exceptional setting to display the works. One of the aims of Ron and Lynn is to encourage local sculptors, artists and restaurateurs – helping those passionate about their craft to reach others - with design, art and architecture events. There are also workshops on the care of horses. Born in Melbourne, Ron went to Albury High School on the Victoria-New South Wales border as, he said, “my Dad shifted around a bit.’’ “I moved to Sydney for uni and never went back. Attained my Bachelor of Commerce and stayed 40 years. “First up we lived at Balmain. That was for about 30 years ... before it became gentrified. “It was a beautiful town, the last to get traffic lights. There were some gracious old terraced homes. “They used to play real music in the pubs. Those who moved into the area later stopped the music. “There is not the same charm now. “The power house was still generating when we were there.’’ It was in this setting that Ron founded Creative By Design which went on to become a national franchise for quality furniture and cabinetry. Lynn grew up on a farm at North Richmond, in Sydney’s north west, and that is where she started to ride horses. Her father was in the Navy so she helped her mother run the cattle property. “I went to uni in the city and studied art but wanted to study vet science. “In those days it was a huge no-no for women. “I was awarded a scholarship but my parents were encouraged not to follow it up as it ’wasn’t a career for a woman.’ “Now it is, and most are women. “It would have crushed me though as you are dealing with some very sick animals. 34 NOOSA TODAY Friday, 12 January, 2024
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“So I studied geography and was a teacher for a while, attaining a Master of Education.’’ Ron’s love of music at a young age would see him hitchhike from Albury to Sydney for concerts. “That’s when music was music. I would go to Sydney on a weekend to see Billy Thorpe. And Glenn Shorrock in Melbourne.’’ These weekends away were just a taste of things to come, with Ron travelling extensively - particularly through North America. Lynn is highly educated in environmental management and has authored many books and won awards on the topic. She is an avid supporter of rewilding, which is a progressive approach to land conservation. Both are avid bird watchers and their photos bear testament to many adventures, particularly to the rainforests of Far North Queensland. They support letting nature take care of itself, enabling natural processes to repair and restore damaged ecosystems and degraded landscapes. Through rewilding they are creating more biodiverse habitats and Lynn has had the energy lines mapped on their property to maximise where trees and planting should go to ensure success. “It’s a dual thing,’’ she said, explaining her interest in the natural environment. “Ron has a love of interior design and beau-
ty created by people but my interest was in beauty created by nature initially. “Eventually you evolve and intertwine.’’ Part of life is that you see other things your partner is interested in. This includes the art galleries and history in Europe to the understanding of the Australian landscape and the aboriginal art. “It’s just amazing,’’ Lynn said. “I remember as a kid picking up stone axe heads while Dad would plough the field. “That gave me an early interest. What we have done is combine our interests.’’ The house, designed by Peter Ireland of Allen Jack+Cottier, is a work of art in itself. Built by Noosa’s Ron Scholes, it captures the intent of Lynn and Ron perfectly. It is overlooking the property yet sheltered from the westerly winds by a ridgeline and elevated to have minimum impact on the land. There are massive areas of glass to bring in natural light and make the most of the outlook, large overhang over the north-facing deck to bring shade in summer and warmth in winter. Above all, it opens up the view of Cooroy Mountain directly in front, and provides a constantly-changing work of art as the herd of horses move about the property. Winner of an architectural Good Design Award in 2020, it had a most unusual proposition at the heart of the project. “I love good design,’’ Ron said. “Put creative people together and it’s the biggest joy.’’
The key, Lynn said, was that with a really creative architect - one that you’ve worked with on a number of projects - you learn to trust them. “We’ve never double-guessed Peter on his design. “This home can be confronting. It’s a farm shed. A facade. “That said, this is a shed that was built on a farm, but once through the front door it virtually explodes with the height of the raised ceilings and you get the whole of the mountain in front of you. “That was the hard part. “We left the design to Peter rather than get a second voice … we left the design to him but got involved in the internal fit-out.’’ That’s where patience was needed, Ron said. “Every single thing you see here is individually chosen. The lights, the door fittings … the whole process needs patience if you want the best outcome.’’ Lynn added: “You cannot hurry the creative process. It’s evolutionary.’’ It’s then you realise how our lives can be dictated by early experiences yet we evolve as we grow. Lynn noted how wonderful it was that in our youth we could spend so much time dreaming about things.