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In the end, it was two bronze doves that sealed the deal.

Olivia and Martin Pukanic had been inspecting Deloraine Homestead on the outskirts of Braidwood when they spotted the ornamental dovehouse in the garden and felt fate was giving them a nudge.

They’d just welcomed their daughter Paloma, whose name means dove, and Olivia took it as a sign this was the one.

“I always look for signs when making decisions and this time it really felt like we were in the right place.”

Having sold their vineyard in the Hunter Valley, the couple had moved overseas to live when they fell pregnant and decided to return to NSW to be closer to family.

Fast-forward to this year and Dovecote – the property’s new name – is a hive of activity.

The exterior of the grand 1879 Gothic Revival mansion has been painted, the interior remodelled and the rambling English garden brought back to life.

While having no previous gardening experience, the couple has taken to the task with gusto and their hard work shows.

A walled vegetable garden forms the centrepiece of the mature English-style landscaping which boasts an olive walk, birch grove, wisteria-covered arbours and a Japanese garden.

Ornamental grapevines climb across charming outbuildings, a sea of iceberg roses provides a stunning display and original oak, apple and pear trees date back to when the home was first built.

For Olivia, the lilacs are a special part of the historic cold-climate garden.
“When Mum came to see the place, the lilacs were in flower and she said the scent took her straight back to the village where she grew up in Croatia.
“There’s only a few areas in Australia where they grow well so we feel really lucky to have them.”

As just the seventh owners of the 1.53-hectare property, Olivia and Martin are looking forward to creating their own memories here in Braidwood. “We love taking on challenges and are really looking forward to being part of the community and giving back to it,” Olivia says.