A beautiful sense of serendipity surrounds Simpson Cottage. Anne, who helps get the cottage ready for guests, has lived in Bundeena all her life – her childhood home was just down the hill. As a young girl, she and her friends would ‘haunt’ Simpson Cottage, sometimes spotting an old man in a wooden wheelchair out the front. Whether it was Mr. Simpson, she wasn’t sure, but the cottage holds a special place in her heart – as it does for owner & host Tara Larnarch.

Welcome Tara, please tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up on a beef cattle farm near Tamworth with paddocks and animals as companions and expected to always live in the country, then I found myself married to Steve, who, like his mother, was born and bred in Bondi – and he was never leaving!

Before Simpson Cottage, I was a secretary in our mechanical business in Bondi and Mum to two daughters, who are now 31 and 28. We still live in Bondi, and I use Simpson Cottage as respite from the hustle and bustle of inner East Sydney.

After 35 years, we sold our business and retired – so I now have a handyman, gardener and furniture maker on hand whenever I need! We are often making improvements at Simpson Cottage and are currently repurposing the old hardwood picnic table into a smaller coffee table for a new landscaped area.

I feel I am simply the custodian of Simpson Cottage – the latest set of hands – to care for this beautiful 160-year-old sandstone cottage in Bundeena, tucked inside the Royal National Park. Even though it’s just one hour south of Sydney, it truly feels here like you’re a world away from everything else.

When did you first discover Simpson Cottage? What drew you to it, and made you feel it was a project you wanted to take on?

We first stayed at the cottage in about 2007 and fell in love with it – I think a good holiday property should make you feel that way. Our memories of Simpson Cottage remained with us, and when it came up for sale just six months later, we tried to convince friends to pool their resources and make memories as a team, but they’d been hit by the global financial crises at the time so we let the dream go.

A year after our first stay we returned to find a ‘for sale’ sign and the dream was unexpectedly alive again! Steve was convinced a bush track he once saw himself walking up – carrying a fishing rod and bucket of fish, and wearing a straw Bunnings hat – was the same track at Simpson Cottage.

And I had fallen in love with the cottage’s character, and the feeling of endless space created by the water views and fenceless boundary with the Royal National Park.

The time and care you have put into the cottage – and continue to – is clearly a labour of love. Did you face any significant challenges when restoring the cottage and how did you overcome them?

Fortunately, the architecture of the building had been well restored by the previous owner and was sound, so I was able to focus on my vision of bringing the cottage to life through its interiors. The result is far beyond what I’d imagined.

The only challenges that have arisen are due to the cottage’s heritage listing and Council. We had to replace the gutters; the heritage listing on them meant they needed to be made from specific materials and using traditional methods. This was incredibly costly and winning grants from Council involves an enormous amount of red tape that makes it very difficult.

The roof does need replacing and even though the current roof is not heritage, Council’s heritage officer opposes it being replaced and requires a full development application unless we patch it. There are other non-original elements covered by the heritage listing, that heritage architects have advised should be removed, but Council has refused to allow these changes. It has been an expensive and challenging process.

Every room has been beautifully curated with antiques original art, and vintage curios. Was there any inspiration that you drew from for the interiors?

Because of the cottage’s rich history, it seemed fitting to fill it with things that have stories. My grandfather’s tools. Steve’s fishing reels. A pair of riding boots from my childhood. Shelves I’ve made from recycled timber. A house tea blend. And wonky doorframes I refuse to straighten! It’s been styled purely for feel, not for design.

Guests tell me they didn’t know they were holding their breath until they arrived. Something happens on the path between the gate and the front door. Shoulders drop as you hear the birdsong. Light catches the sandstone in a particular way. And the simple things – a pot of tea, the fire, the sounds and scents of the bush, become your focus. It’s a place that truly invites you to return to yourself.

Do you still enjoy scouring for vintage pieces? Are there any particular favourite stores/markets you go to, any favourite finds?

Yes, I love to hunt for treasures anywhere and everywhere. I visit Merchants Warehouse, Facebook marketplace, Southern Antiques and even sometimes spot roadside finds. There are also auctions like Raffan Kelaher and Thomas. I’ve also called on my friends, who I think are much more talented at interior design than me, to help source and decorate and keep me on track – as I need to exercise constraint!

I have a set criteria for things to be able to make it into the cottage. They must be at least two of – beautiful, useful, and meaningful. Many pieces have come from my Dad’s shed, specifically vintage tools. We also rescued glass fishing floats from the rubbish tip – they’d sat in the shed for years after my grandmother found them washed up on a beach in Cairns before I was born.

I’m also a lover of handmade and old-world textiles like linen. I have handmade most of the linen in the cottage and have also imported hand-woven towels from Turkey.

Bundeena is a magical spot in Sydney, with beautiful beaches and of course stunning coastal views from the cottage, native birdlife, and the Royal National Park nearby. What’s your favourite way to spend the day at Simpson Cottage?

Doing nothing! I find it hard to get chores done here, I get distracted watching the life go by and the natural beauty that surrounds the cottage – there’s always a new bird to watch popping in and out of their nests in the hollow tree trunks.

In the winter I follow the sun around the cottage and read or knit. During summertime, I find a breezy shady place to while away the hours.

During my stay I chatted to Anne, who helps you maintain the cottage, and thought it was serendipitous that as a child she used to wander up the hill with her friends and ‘haunt’ Simpson Cottage back in the 60s!

Anne is a god send – she treats the cottage like it’s her pride and joy and has been so supportive and reliable beyond measure. I love that a long-time Bundeena local is part of the Simpson Cottage family.

Every tradesperson I use is local, doing so means they keep an eye on the cottage and can always be called in in case of emergency. Most of them have become friends, and after growing up in a tiny rural town myself I love having that sense of community.

Thank you Tara for chatting with us! Visit Simpson Cottage’s website and book direct for the best rates. You can also follow Simpson Cottage on Instagram.

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