Rob and Jenny Lee were chasing a more relaxed lifestyle after decades of running a cattle farm and plant production nursery in the Hunter Valley, but they didn't want to lose touch with their rural roots.
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"We got to the stage in life where we were sick of fixing fences, going through droughts and even though cattle prices were the best they've been in the past 60 years, we thought now was the time to make the move," Mr Lee, 68, said.
They soon settled on the village of Jamberoo, which was close to their daughter and grandchildren, who moved to Kiama Downs a year ago.
"We sold up everything at Merriwa and moved down here," Mr Lee said.
"We were hoping to find somewhere like Jamberoo because it's still rural and we're close to all the amenities and everything else. It's like an oasis down here, it's incredible."
The Lees, now retired, bought a property in Churchill Street last month.
They considered buying an acreage, but after "being on acreage all our life, we just want to forget about fixing fences and things like that".
"I can mow the lawns now in an hour with a push mower, whereas our old garden was nearly four-and-a-half acres," Mr Lee said.
Mr Lee said he still liked that Jamberoo had a rural aspect to it, yet was only ten to 15 minutes from the type of amenities that they'd been 150 kilometres away from when living in the Hunter Valley.
"The people we've met have been fantastic; it's a very nice community to be in," Mr Lee said.
"It doesn't have the hustle and bustle of Sydney, or even the hustle and bustle of Kiama."
Kiama Mayor Mark Honey, a fifth generation dairy farmer, said that Jamberoo had changed significantly in recent decades.
The 'Riversdale' farm in Jamberoo, still an active dairy farm, has been in his family for 186 years.
"I think there are ten active dairy farms left in Jamberoo at the moment," he said.
"When I started farming in the late '60s, there was 65."
Cr Honey said in his early days, Jamberoo as a community was there primarily to service the dairy industry.
"The services industry for the dairy have all disappeared out of the area," he said. "Feed stores, co-operatives, the bank's gone, and there used to be two general stores, and one now.
"It's certainly changed incredibly in my time."
Cr Honey said there had been subdivisions approved in recent times in areas such as Wyalla Road and Golden Valley Road.
Over the past several decades there has also been in-fill development on Chapel Lane.
"But a lot of the subdivision that's going on has been the splitting up of dairy farms into smaller blocks," Cr Honey said.
"Quite a few of the farms have been split up into 50-acre blocks, which then become hobby farms.
"Those hobby farms are really not viable propositions, and usually what happens is they end up being leased back to dairy farmers to maintain.
"But dairy farmers can't afford to buy the real estate in the area any more... Some of the prices that are being paid, it's just not viable for them to make a living off."
Cr Honey said properties in Jamberoo rarely stayed on the market for long.
He said this made it difficult for some young people and households on lower incomes, who were often priced out of the area.
Market overview
David Hall from First National Coast & Country Kiama, who also lives in Jamberoo, said the town offered a unique village atmosphere, and the best value within the Kiama municipality.
"The prices have gone up," he said.
"But it's still possible for people to get really good properties at prices that may be inflated from what they were, but I still think they're better value."
Mr Hall said there was still strong interest in Jamberoo from Sydney buyers, but also young people.
"Jamberoo is such a good place to live," he said. "It's not as crowded as Kiama or Gerringong, and people are looking to get away from the rat race."
However, maintaining supply in Jamberoo was an ongoing issue.
"They normally sell so quickly," Mr Hall said.
"If anyone wants to sell in Jamberoo, we've got buyers... I've got five people now that are looking to buy properties in Jamberoo at the right price."
Vivienne Marris from Elders Real Estate Jamberoo said typically the majority of their inquiries came from Sydney buyers seeking more space.
However, she said Jamberoo not being included in the current Greater Sydney lockdown perhaps afforded local buyers a chance to get into the market.
"There is still Sydney inquiry, but (it depends on) whether they can actually get here (to inspect property), and whether they feel it may be gone or offers made before they get the opportunity to be here," she said.
On the market
According to CoreLogic, the median sales price of houses in the area is $1,010,000, while the predominant age group in Jamberoo is 60-69 years.
Recent sales in Jamberoo include 998 Jamberoo Mountain Road for $1.3 million, 1-4 Jamberoo Mountain Road for $3 million, and 5 Young Street, Jamberoo for $995,000.
Also, 'Karinya', a Jamberoo property with its own helipad sold for $7.65 million in May - a record amount for the suburb.
Among the properties currently for sale in Jamberoo is 5 Tate Place.
Set on 750 square metres, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home will be auctioned at a date to be determined.
It has a price guide of $1.35 million to $1.45 million.
Selling agent David Hall said the home's standout features included a huge main and en suite, two living areas and great outdoor space.
Also on the market is 'Brundahroo', located at 990 Jamberoo Mountain Road.
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home has a price guide of $1,420,000.
'Brundahroo' sits high on Jamberoo Mountain.
Selling agent Vivienne Marris said there was local interest in the property, as well as some from Sydney.
Meanwhile, an acreage property at Jamberoo has a $5 million price guide.
The 49.72-hectare property, a former dairy farm, is located at 162 North Curramore Road, Jamberoo.
Selling agent, Rob Linnehan of Ray White Albion Park said the property had been owned and used for dairy purposes by the same family for about 100 years.
A few years ago it was purchased by a Wollongong businessman who had substantially upgraded the property.