PARADISE: Apollo Bay’s Jo Davie takes in the view of the property’s pond from a Paradise Gardens cottage balcony. Ms Davie and her partner Jock Williamson finished building the cottages in 2005
TRANQUIL: Guests can enjoy the property’s tranquil gardens.

GARDEN VIEW: The main home’s spa bath has bay windows.
NEW: The main [...]

Colac builder, joiner and custom furniture maker Carl Karacsay has a track record of making exceptional, custom-made wooden furniture from the highest-quality materials. Mr Karacsay began making rocking chairs for his furniture collection in 2007. “I have always been fascinated by rocking chairs and [...]

When people think about cottages, two words spring to mind – warm and cosy. Cottages’ exterior colour schemes should display rich, warm colours. A heritage red colour on the trim and front door gives the property an inviting appeal. The colour palette of the red mixed [...]

Flowering gum trees provide long-lasting colour in a back yard. The eucalyptus leucoxylon Macrocarpa Rosea is blooming in Colac and district gardens and nature strips. This flowering gum variety is shrubby with dusty green leaves accompanied by crimson flowers and goblet-shaped seed pods. The [...]

Colac and district gardening enthusiasts and home renovators can find ideas for their own home and garden at a free exhibition. More than 50 exhibitors will have displays at Barwon Water’s Sustainable Home and Garden Expo on March 6 and 7. Gardening Australia and [...]

Colac’s Stephen Roberts says there is nothing better than fresh vegetables. Mr Roberts started a vegetable garden at his house in Jennings Street 15 years ago. “I just like growing my own vegies – fresh food is best,” he said. “It’s [...]

Australians say a home without a shed is just un-Australian. And for Colac’s Gary and Barb O’Dowd their shed is like their second home. Mr and Mrs O’Dowd set up their shed as a second living area and entertainment area for their family and two children, Paul and Megan, [...]

When it comes to pressure cleaners, nothing beats a Gerni. Colac’s Rhys Evans stocks the Gerni range of pressure washers. With more than 30 different models, Rhys Evans has a range from domestic gem the Classic 100.2 to industrial size Poseidon 4. Rhys Evans dairy administration [...]

Elliminyt’s Peter and Leanne Hinson’s childhood outdoor pool experiences inspired them to install a pool at their house. The Hinsons installed an in-ground fibreglass solar-heated pool in 2007. Mrs Hinson said she grew up in Colac and regularly used the city’s former outdoor pool. “We used [...]

Colac Otway Shire Council inspections have found more than 60 per cent of Colac and district swimming pools fail to comply with Australian standards. The council’s building department has audited pools’ safety barriers for the past six months. The council’s municipal building surveyor Mathew Hudson said pool [...]