Carol and Ian King had no reservations about stepping forward for the developing township at Albion Park known as Tullimbar Village.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"It was something we often noticed from the road when we went to visit my brother in Canberra but didn't take too much notice," Carol King says.
It wasn't until 2010 when a friend got her work in a promotional advertising campaign for the village that she began to appreciate the vision of a town built around the principles of community and sustainability.
"Ian and I have been here three years now and we love it," she says
Their contemporary house with touches of country comfort complies with the estate's colour and style code, which is modelled on traditional villages along the South Coast.
If all goes to plan, Tullimbar will eventually have a town centre and a commercial component to cater for the target population of 5000.
Though only 100 houses have been built, the village already has a sense of community.The global financial crisis, however, is blamed for putting the grand vision of 2000 homes behind by years with only 100 built so far, but King says she likes the idea of gradual growth. She and Ian embrace the sense of community that is on offer, but insist it is never imposed upon residents.
"I'm in the reading and craft group and Ian and I both participate in the community garden," she says.
The garden, positioned on the western side of the estate alongside cow paddocks, has a huge variety of produce as well as eggs from three chooks.
It suits King down to the fertile ground because she is a consultant/demonstrator for the German multi-purpose appliance Thermomix and loves cooking for family, friends and the Red Cross annual charity bake-off.
"What I love most about this place is a spiritual sense you get from the surrounding escarpment."
Tullimbar update
• 100 homes built with 12 under construction.
• Facilities: community garden, primary school.
• Still to come: mixed-use centre with shops and cafes, town hall, childcare centre and leisure centre, multi-faith chapel, pub and serviced apartments.
