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We studied how the Antarctic ice sheet advanced and retreated over 10,000 years. It holds warnings for the future

<p>Alarming stories from Antarctica are now more frequent than ever; the ice surface is <a href="https://theconversation.com/warmer-summers-threaten-antarcticas-giant-ice-shelves-because-of-the-lakes-they-create-180989" target="_blank" rel="noopener">melting</a>, floating ice shelves are <a href="https://theconversation.com/conger-ice-shelf-has-collapsed-what-you-need-to-know-according-to-experts-180077" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collapsing</a> and glaciers are <a href="https://theconversation.com/ice-world-antarcticas-riskiest-glacier-is-under-assault-from-below-and-losing-its-grip-178828" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flowing faster</a> into the ocean.</p> <p>Antarctica will be the largest source of future sea-level rise. Yet scientists <a href="https://theconversation.com/scientists-still-dont-know-how-far-melting-in-antarctica-will-go-or-the-sea-level-rise-it-will-unleash-166677" target="_blank" rel="noopener">don’t know</a> exactly how this melting will unfold as the climate warms.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00309-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest research</a> looks at how the Antarctic ice sheet advanced and retreated over the past 10,000 years. It holds stark warnings, and possibly some hope, for the future.</p> <h2>The current imbalance</h2> <p>Future sea-level rise presents one of the most significant challenges of climate change, with economic, environmental and societal impacts expected for coastal communities around the globe.</p> <p>While it seems like a distant issue, the changes in Antarctica may soon be felt on our doorsteps, in the form of rising sea levels.</p> <p>Antarctica is home to the world’s largest single mass of ice: the Antarctic ice sheet. This body of glacier ice is several kilometres thick, nestled on top of solid land. It covers entire mountain ranges beneath it.</p> <p>The ice sheet “<a href="https://vimeo.com/133626869" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flows</a>” over the land from the Antarctic interior and towards the surrounding ocean. As a whole it remains a solid mass, but its shape slowly deforms as the ice crystals move around.</p> <p>While the ice sheet flows outward, snowfall from above replenishes it. This cycle is supposed to keep the system in balance, wherein balance is achieved when the ice sheet is gaining the same amount of ice as it’s losing to the ocean each year.</p> <p>However, <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/ice-sheets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">satellites</a> keeping watch from above show the ice sheet is currently not in balance. Over the past 40 years, it has lost more ice than it has gained. The result has been global rising sea levels.</p> <p>But these historical observations span only four decades, limiting our understanding of how the ice sheet responds to climate change over much longer periods.</p> <p>We wanted to look further back in time – before satellites – and even before the first polar explorers. For this, we needed natural archives.</p> <h2>Digging up Antarctica’s past</h2> <p>We brought together various natural archives to unearth how the Antarctic ice sheet changed over the past 10,000 years or so. These included:</p> <ul> <li>ice cores collected from Antarctica’s remote interior, which can show us how snow accumulated in the past</li> <li>rocks collected from exposed mountain peaks, which reveal how the ice sheet has thickened or thinned with time</li> <li>sediment cores collected from the seafloor, which reveal how the ice sheet margin – where the edge of the land ice meets the ocean – advanced or retreated</li> <li>lake mud and old beaches, which reveal how the coastline changed in response to the ice sheet growing or shrinking.</li> </ul> <p>When we started our research, I wasn’t sure what to expect. After all, this period of time was long considered fairly dull, with only small changes to the ice margin.</p> <p>Nevertheless, we studied the many different natural archives one by one. The work felt like a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, full of irregular-shaped pieces and seemingly no straight edge. But once we put them together, the pieces lined up and the picture was clear.</p> <p>Most striking was a period of ice loss that took place in all regions of Antarctica about 10,000 to 5,000 years ago. It resulted in many metres of sea-level rise globally.</p> <p>In some regions of Antarctica, however, this ice loss was then followed by ice gain during the past 5,000 years – and a corresponding global sea-level fall – as the ice sheet margin advanced to where it is today.</p> <h2>A warning</h2> <p>Understanding how and why the Antarctic ice sheet changed in this fashion offers lessons for the future.</p> <p>The first lesson is more of a warning. The period of ice loss from 10,000 to 5,000 years ago was rapid, occurring at a similar rate to the most dramatically changing parts of the Antarctic ice sheet today.</p> <p>We think it was likely the result of warm ocean water melting the underside of floating ice shelves – something that has also happened in recent decades. These ice shelves hold back the ice on land, so once they’re removed the ice on the land flows faster into the ocean.</p> <p>In the future, it’s predicted ice loss will <a href="https://youtu.be/XRUxTFWWWdY?t=149" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accelerate</a> as the ice sheet retreats into basins below sea level. This may already be under way in some regions of Antarctica. And based on what happened in the past, the resulting ice loss could persist for centuries.</p> <h2>Bouncing back</h2> <p>The second lesson from our work may bring some hope. Some 5,000 years ago the ice sheet margin stopped retreating in most locations, and in some regions actually started to advance. One explanation for this relates to the previous period of ice loss.</p> <p>Before the ice began melting away, the Antarctic ice sheet was much heavier, and its weight pushed down into the Earth’s crust (which sits atop a molten interior). As the ice sheet melted and became lighter, the land beneath it would have lifted up – effectively hauling the ice out of the ocean.</p> <p>Another possible explanation is climate change. At Antarctica’s coastal fringe, the ocean may have temporarily switched from warmer to cooler waters around the time the ice sheet began advancing again. At the same time, more snowfall took place at the top of the ice sheet.</p> <p>Our research supports the idea that the Antarctic ice sheet is poised to lose more ice and raise sea levels – particularly if the ocean continues to warm.</p> <p>It also suggests uplift of the land and increased snowfall have the potential to slow or offset ice loss. However, this effect is not certain.</p> <p>The past can never be a perfect test for the future. And considering the planet is <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SPM.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warming faster</a> now than it was back then, we must err on the side of caution.</p> <p><em><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-studied-how-the-antarctic-ice-sheet-advanced-and-retreated-over-10-000-years-it-holds-warnings-for-the-future-185505" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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After the floods, the distressing but necessary case for managed retreat

<p>From Brisbane to Sydney, many thousands of Australians have been reliving a devastating experience they hoped – in 2021, 2020, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012 or 2010/11 – would never happen to them again.</p> <p>For some suburbs built on the flood plains of the Nepean River in western Sydney, for example, these floods are their <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-homeowners-devastated-by-three-floods-in-two-years-20220304-p5a1y0.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third in two years</a>.</p> <p>Flooding is a part of life in parts of Australia. But as climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of floods, fires and other disasters, and recovery costs soar, two big questions arise.</p> <p>As a society, should we be setting up individuals and families for ruin by allowing them to build back in areas where they can’t afford insurance? And is it fair for taxpayers to carry the huge burden of paying for future rescue and relief costs?</p> <p><strong>Considering ‘managed retreat’</strong></p> <p>Doing something about escalating disaster risks require multiple responses. One is making insurance as cheap as possible. Another is investing in mitigation infrastructure, such as flood levees. Yet another is about making buildings more disaster-resistant.</p> <p>The most controversial response is the policy of “managed retreat” – abandoning buildings in high-risk areas.</p> <p>In Australia this policy has been mostly discussed as something to consider some time in the future, and mostly for coastal communities, for homes that can’t be saved from rising sea levels and storm surges.</p> <p>It’s a sensitive subject because it uproots families, potentially hollows outs communities and also affects house prices – an unsettling prospect when economic security is tied to home ownership.</p> <p>But managed retreat may also be better than the chaotic consequences of letting the market alone try to work out the risks to individuals and communities.</p> <p><strong>Grand Forks: a case study</strong></p> <p>The strategy is already being implemented in parts of western Europe and North America. An example from Canada is the town of Grand Forks, a community of about 4,000 people 300 kilometres east of Vancouver.</p> <p>The town is located where two rivers meet. In May 2018 it experienced its worst flooding in seven decades, after days of extreme rain <a href="https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/climate/impacts/an-old-growth-forest-in-b-c-was-cut-down-then-a-nearby-town-flooded" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attributed to</a> higher than normal winter snowfall melting quickly in hotter spring temperatures. Deforestation has been blamed for exacerbating the flood.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/450871/original/file-20220309-22-v2begh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/450871/original/file-20220309-22-v2begh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/450871/original/file-20220309-22-v2begh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/450871/original/file-20220309-22-v2begh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/450871/original/file-20220309-22-v2begh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/450871/original/file-20220309-22-v2begh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/450871/original/file-20220309-22-v2begh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=566&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Flooding in Grand Forks, British Columbia.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure> <p>The flood damaged about 500 buildings in Grand Forks, with <a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/climate-change/adaptation/resources/social_impacts_grand_forks_flood.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lowest-income neighbourhoods</a> in low-lying areas the worst-affected.</p> <p>In the aftermath the local council received C$53 million from the federal and provincial governments for flood mitigation. This included work to reinforce river banks and build dikes. About a <a href="https://www.rosslandnews.com/news/grand-forks-flood-affected-properties-to-be-bought-at-post-flood-value/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quarter of the money</a> was allocated to acquire about 80 homes in the most flood-prone areas.</p> <p>The decision to demolish these homes – <a href="https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&amp;Geo1=POPC&amp;Code1=0333&amp;Geo2=PR&amp;Code2=59&amp;SearchText=Grand%20Forks&amp;SearchType=Begins&amp;SearchPR=01&amp;B1=All&amp;GeoLevel=PR&amp;GeoCode=0333&amp;TABID=1&amp;type=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about 5%</a> of the town’s housing – and return the area to flood plain has been contentious.</p> <p>Some residents simply didn’t <a href="https://building.ca/flood-victims-in-grand-forks-b-c-in-limbo-more-than-one-year-after-disaster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">want to sell</a>. Adding to the pain was owners being paid the post-flood market value of their homes (saving the council <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/grand-forks-houses-assessed-post-flood-value-buyout-1.5197831" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about C$6 million</a>). There were also long delays, with residents stuck in limbo <a href="https://building.ca/flood-victims-in-grand-forks-b-c-in-limbo-more-than-one-year-after-disaster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">for more than year</a> while authorities finalised transactions.</p> <p><strong>A sensitive subject</strong></p> <p>Grand Forks shares similarities to Lismore, the epicentre of the disaster affecting northern NSW and southern Queensland.</p> <p>Lismore is also built on a flood plain where two rivers meet. Floods are a regular occurrence, with the last major disaster being in 2017. Insuring properties in town’s most flood-prone areas was already <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/02/lismore-businesses-that-couldnt-afford-insurance-premiums-face-huge-flood-damage-bills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unaffordable for some</a>. In the future it may be impossible.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451512/original/file-20220311-17-yd0jtm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451512/original/file-20220311-17-yd0jtm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451512/original/file-20220311-17-yd0jtm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451512/original/file-20220311-17-yd0jtm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451512/original/file-20220311-17-yd0jtm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451512/original/file-20220311-17-yd0jtm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451512/original/file-20220311-17-yd0jtm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451512/original/file-20220311-17-yd0jtm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Lismore resident Robert Bialowas cleans out his home on March 3 2022." /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Lismore resident Robert Bialowas cleans out his home on March 3 2022.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Jason O'Brien/AAP</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Last week NSW premier Dominic Perrottet said about 2,000 of the town’s 19,000 homes would need to be demolished and rebuilt, a statement the local council general manager downplayed, saying in the majority of cases “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-07/thousands-of-flooded-buildings-in-north-nsw-may-not-be-condemned/100889230" target="_blank" rel="noopener">people will not have to worry</a>”.</p> <p>For a community traumatised by loss, overwhelmed by the recovery effort and angry at the perceived tardiness of <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-11/morrison-lismore-community-calls-for-action-on-flood-disaster/100900496" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government relief efforts</a>, discussing any form of managed retreat is naturally emotionally charged.</p> <p>But there’s never an ideal time to talk about bulldozing homes and relocating households.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451510/original/file-20220311-13-64nek3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451510/original/file-20220311-13-64nek3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451510/original/file-20220311-13-64nek3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=371&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451510/original/file-20220311-13-64nek3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=371&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451510/original/file-20220311-13-64nek3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=371&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451510/original/file-20220311-13-64nek3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=467&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451510/original/file-20220311-13-64nek3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=467&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451510/original/file-20220311-13-64nek3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=467&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Lismore residents Tim Fry and Zara Coronakes and son Ezekiel outside their home on March 11 2022." /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Lismore residents Tim Fry and Zara Coronakes and son Ezekiel outside their home on March 11 2022.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Jason O'Brien/AAP</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Uprooting communities</strong></p> <p>Managed retreat has far-reaching financial ramifications. As in Grand Forks, the first questions are what homes are targeted, who pays, and how much.</p> <p>Some residents may be grateful to sell up and move to safe ground. Others may not, disputing the valuation offered or being reluctant to leave at any price.</p> <p>Managed retreat policies also affect many more than just those whose homes are being acquired. Demolishing a block or suburb can push down values in neighbouring areas, due to fears these homes may be next. Those households are also customers for local businesses. Their loss can potentially send a town economy into decline.</p> <p>No wonder many people want no mention of managed retreat in their communities.</p> <p><strong>Pricing in climate change</strong></p> <p>Markets, however, are already starting to “price in” rising climate risks.</p> <p>Insurance premiums are going up. The value of homes in high-risk areas will drop as buyers look elsewhere, particularly in the wake of increasingly frequent disasters.</p> <p>The economic fallout, both for individual households and local communities, could be disastrous.</p> <p>The Reserve Bank of Australia <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2021/sep/climate-change-risks-to-australian-banks.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> in September 2021 that climate-related disasters could rapidly drive house prices down, particularly in areas that have previously experienced rapid house price growth.</p> <p>These disasters are also amplifying inequality, with poorer households more likely to live in high-risk locations and also to be uninsured.</p> <p>In Lismore, for example, more than 80% of households flooded in 2017 were in the lowest <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-020-03887-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">20% of incomes</a>. These trends will intensify as growing climate risks translate into higher insurance premiums and lower house prices.</p> <p>A deliberate strategy of managed retreat, though distressing and difficult, can help to minimise the upheaval in housing markets as climate risks become increasingly apparent.</p> <p>We can do better than leaving the most socially and economically vulnerable households to live in high-risk areas, while those with enough money can move away to better, safer futures. Managed retreat can play a key role.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/178641/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/antonia-settle-1019551" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antonia Settle</a>, Academic (McKenzie Postdoctoral Research Fellow), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The University of Melbourne</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/after-the-floods-the-distressing-but-necessary-case-for-managed-retreat-178641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Megan Gale's Daylesford retreat up for rent

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After purchasing their dream weekender a year ago, model Megan Gale and her husband, former Carlton player Shaun Hampson, have </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/28790133?source_impression_id=p3_1618269099_qcQ704JcVbotUTyk&amp;guests=6&amp;adults=6" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">listed it on Airbnb</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple bought Dollywood, a 1940s bungalow in the pretty Victorian town of Daylesford, from their friends, former footballer Marcus Baldwin and his wife Eloise Fox. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After giving it some subtle updates, the couple listed it on Airbnb in April for up to six guests per stay.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The weatherboard home is known for its neon ink sign at the front, and features vintage Hollywood and Palm Springs stylings throughout.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As regular visitors to Daylesford, Gale and Hampton visited the area before and after they had their children, River, 7, and Rosie, 4.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Daylesford, for Shaun and myself, has always been a really special place,” Gale told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.domain.com.au/living/stay-at-dollywood-the-daylesford-airbnb-owned-by-megan-gale-and-shaun-hampson-1103561/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Domain</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2018, they discovered Dollywood, and snapped it up when it hit the market in September last year.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQN5G11DAVC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQN5G11DAVC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by MEGAN GALE (@megankgale)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We thought it was so sweet; it had great charm and the kids loved it,” Gale said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bungalow now features an indoor wood heater, backed by a curved timber wall separating the living area from the bedrooms, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that open out to the verandah.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout the house, artwork including a cactus print, a neon sign (a nod to Dolly Parton), and various wall hangings, have been chosen by Gale.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I wanted some warm mustard, navy and pink tones coming through the house, so I injected that here and there,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guests can stay at the home for between $400 and $800 a night and can enjoy a hamper filled with local goodies and curated soundtrack of Hollywood classics during their stay.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: @dollywood_daylesford (Instagram)</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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Don Bradman's private retreat hits the market

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A home once owned by renowned cricketer Sir Donald Bradman is on the market following his daughter-in-law’s decision to sell.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The property has been listed with a price guide of $1.95 million.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bradman first bought the home in Adelaide Hills 62 years ago with his son John, who changed his last name to Bradsen to avoid unwanted attention.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">John’s former wife, Judith, has lived there for the past 27 years.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844909/bradman9.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a91958992cda4f46a6b284d34226ed05" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The original certificate of title signed by Sir Donald Bradman. Image: Raine &amp; Horne Strathalbyn</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The press were always interested in Don, so this place provided a space where he could enjoy his family life without being observed,” Ms Bradsen </span><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/bradmans-hills-haven-at-117-sheoak-rd-crafers-west-set-to-bowl-market-over/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He could just be himself here because when we dined out people would always approach him. Nobody knew he owned it, nobody. Only very close family friends of Don and then John and mine enjoyed the property.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Bradsen said her father-in-law would often spend time at the property enjoying the outdoors and doing maintenance work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In the early days, he would come up here often,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He spent a lot of time clearing the woody weeds and he enjoyed the odd bonfire.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He had a fire get away from him once in the valley. We would joke about it later, and I’m not sure if the CFS was called or not back in the day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The property, known as Glenquarry Farm, sits on a whopping 8.893-hectare allotment, and is believed to have been built by a runaway from a British naval expedition in 1836.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A four-bedroom freestanding home sits on the property, as well as outbuildings, a cellar, a studio, and a stable.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The property also features a decommissioned Mt Lofty freestone quarry, extensive gardens, and a stretch of lawn well-suited to a game of cricket.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Natural stone, slatted timber, and open fires are found throughout the home, which also includes a separate wing for guests and an undercover, gabled courtyard.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The home has also seen several renovations over the years, with “The Don” playing his part.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Every time I paint I think of him telling me what to do because he was a keen painter,” Ms Bradsen said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The simplicity of the house really reflects his tastes - the modesty of the cottage, I think he enjoyed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He always had his own chair and he would sit on the verandah and watch everyone play, and our children climbed over him and loved him dearly.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Bradsen has said it was time to move on to a new home after living alone at the property for many years, and hopes a new family can enjoy it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m downsizing and I’d rather have this place enjoyed by more than just one person,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paul Clifford of Raine &amp; Horne Strathalbyn is managing the sale of the home, which has been described as a “unique and historic hideaway” according to </span><a href="https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/strathalbyn/properties/117-sheoak-road-crafers-west-5152-south-australia"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the listing</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Getty Images, Raine &amp; Horne Strathalbyn</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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See inside Jerry Seinfeld’s stunning Colorado retreat

<p><span>Jerry Seinfeld’s stunning holiday sanctuary may just be one of the most glorious properties you’ve ever seen from a celebrity.</span><br /><br /><span>The comedian and his wife, Jessica, are looking to offload the Colorado paradise for $19.65 million (US $14.95m).</span><br /><br /><span>The 27-acreage is frequently visited by the Seinfelds and their three children as they are all avid skiers.</span><br /><br /><span>Listing agent Bill Fandel told Mansion Global that the pair have decided to sell as their children are older and due to the fast-moving real-estate market</span><br /><br /><span>The guesthouse that boasts four-bedrooms and adjoins onto the property is also available for $3.65 million (US$2.77m), reports claims.</span><br /><br /><span>The Seinfelds bought the ski getaway in 2007 for a cool US$7.55 million.</span><br /><br /><span>The estate has been up for sale in the past as well, including when Jerry tested the waters in 2011, with a price tag of $24 million (US$18.3 million).</span><br /><br /><span>The couple then had a change of heart and took it off the market within a few months.</span><br /><br /><span>Colorado is home to many incredible estates that cater to the rich, and this 1,140 sqm rustic lodge with 11 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms, and three half-bathrooms, is no exception.</span><br /><br /><span>Built in 1991, the home is nestled persfsctly into the private enclave and offers a perfect holiday spot for family and friends in the small town of Telluride.</span><br /><br /><span>Seinfeld purchased the main house in 2007, and the guesthouse a year later to use as a caretaker’s cottage.</span><br /><br /><span>“After the Seinfelds purchased the property, they did a remodel and re-imagined the whole place,” Mr Fandel said.</span><br /><br /><span>There is a vaulted great room that comes with a stone-surround fireplace, and even offers unbelievable mountain views from the floor-to-ceiling windows.</span><br /><br /><span>With an updated, state of the art kitchen and other features including a wood-panelled library, game room, gym and yoga room, and a four-car garage – it almost makes the multi-million dollar price tag sound reasonable.</span><br /><br /><span>Seinfeld, a New York native, dominated the TV line-up in the 1990s with his long-running sitcom <em>Seinfeld</em>, which ran from 1989 until 1998.</span></p>

Real Estate

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Hemsworth brothers list stunning Malibu retreat for $4.9 million

<p><span>Australian brothers Chris, Liam and Luke Hemsworth are looking to let go of their Malibu home that they shared for $4.9 million.</span><br /><br /><span>Together the trio have lifted the price $1.45 million more than they paid for the place using a trust four years ago, real estate records show.</span><br /><br /><span>While there were not many changes made to the 4,612-square-foot floor plan, with its polished concrete floors, warm woody accents and shiny marble finishes - they did touch up the landscape and exterior of the house.</span><br /><br /><span>The home hosts four marvellous bedrooms, four bathrooms, a sunny chef’s kitchen and a wine cellar.</span><br /><br /><span>It also features a spacious media room that is decked out with purple walls and carpet floors.</span><br /><br /><span>The back patio includes a sauna and beyond that is serene tiered gardens that overlook a grassy lawn and unbelievable mountain dunes.</span><br /><br /><span>Altogether, the Malibu retreat is 1.3 acres and is above Point Dume.</span><br /><br /><span>Chris Hemsworth, 37, is best known for his role as Thor in the Marvel cinematic universe.</span><br /><br /><span>Liam Hemsworth, 30, gained fame for his role as Gale Hawthorne in “The Hunger Games” trilogy.</span><br /><br /><span>Luke Hemsworth, 39, plays the part of Ashley Stubbs on HBO’s critically acclaimed sci-fi western show “Westworld.”</span></p>

Real Estate

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Anthony Hopkins sells off glorious Malibu retreat for eye watering price

<p><span>Renowned actor Anthony Hopkins is saying farwell to his longtime Malibu reatreat for an eye watering $10.5 million.</span><br /><br /><span>The gorgeous home that spans over one-acre, is located on Point Dume Bluff, and did not seem to be a difficult sell for Hopkins who listed it in February with a $11.5 million price tag.</span><br /><br /><span>The 4,010-square-foot home may not have left his hands for the extra million, it is a definite jump in profit from the $3.8 million he paid for the property back in 2001.</span><br /><br /><span>The main part of the home boasts a glorious four bedrooms and four bathrooms, along with a stunning white stone-framed fireplace in the living room.</span><br /><br /><span>The kitten is a marvel in itself and is fitted with stainless steel appliances, wood cabinetry, terra-cotta style floors and built-in shelving.</span><br /><br /><span>The property also includes a pool and spa, along with gardens and an impressive deck space.</span><br /><br /><span>On another part of the property, there is a spacious guest house which has a private one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house, as well as a pool house..</span><br /><br /><span>Hopkins and his wife, Stella, are selling the home because they want to be closer to Los Angeles.</span><br /><br /><span>The couple already own three homes in the city.</span><br /><br /><span>Along with a two-bedroom Pacific Palisades condo, they also maintain a $6.6 million contemporary house in the neighborhood, which they bought in 2018.</span></p>

Real Estate

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Dream retreat: The country farmstay that comes with 500 animal residents

<p>When it comes to back-to-nature getaways, some things are to be expected – fresh air, impressive countryside sceneries and a sky full of stars. However, the Edgar’s Mission Tiny Houses take it a step further, allowing guests to stay with more than 450 rescued farm animals on a 153-acre haven near Lancefield, Victoria.</p> <p>The houses offer sweeping views of the Macedon Ranges, with sheeps and goats roaming around the backyard for the guests to observe, interact and feed with the Weetbix provided at the paddocks.</p> <p>Across the grounds also live pigs, chickens, cows, turkeys, rabbits and geese that have been rescued and housed the Edgar’s Mission sanctuary. Among the animals are Leon Trotsky the piglet and Tim Tam the goat, who have been equipped with customised wheelchairs to enable them to make their way around independently.</p> <p>Edgar’s Mission was established in 2003 by Pam Ahern, who was seeking to care for a Landrace/Large White cross piglet she procured from a commercial piggery. Since then, the tiny piglet has grown into a 400-plus kilogram pig, and the sanctuary community population has risen to hundreds.</p> <p>“We often laugh, saying that Edgar’s Mission grew exponentially pretty much like the eponymous Edgar Alan Pig,” said digital communications manager Kyle Behrend.</p> <p>In 2014, the not-for-profit organisation was looking for a new place to house their extended family of furry friends after having outgrown their original 60-acre space – and that was when they found the Macedon Ranges, Behrend said.</p> <p>The team soon saw the potential of the area to further their cause. “Daily we look out over the beautiful surrounding vistas. This is such a treasure we want to share with the world,” said Behrend.</p> <p>“I guess the idea of the tiny homes, grew out of a tiny thought several years ago on seeking more creative ways to capitalise of the tourism aspect of not only Edgar’s Mission but the greater Macedon Ranges.”</p> <p>The three tiny houses are also designed to reflect the organisation’s values. No animal fibres are used for bedding and soft furnishings, and all the stocked products are sourced from environmentally-friendly companies such as Aesop and Earth Choice.</p> <p>Despite the small size, all the houses pack a kitchenette, mini library, sleeping and living quarters, self-contained bathroom and a deck on which to sit back and soak up the sunlight.</p> <p>“The Tiny Houses are a tool in showing that we can have everything we need in a small space whilst reducing our impact on the environment,” said Behrend.</p> <p>“We trust the Tiny Houses will afford our guests the opportunity to connect with nature, animals and themselves.”</p> <p>In return, guests are expected to be mindful about what they bring to the lodging. “We do ask that when guests come, they don’t bring any animal products out of respect for our animals here,” Behrend said.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the pictures from the Tiny Houses.</p> <p><em>Photo credit: Edgar’s Mission</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Obama shells out almost $22 million on bizarre island retreat

<p>Barack and Michelle Obama are planning on buying a massive Martha’s Vineyard estate.</p> <p>The Obamas’ are in contract to buy an almost 12-hectare beachfront property, with a massive 640sqm main house.</p> <p>According to the<span> </span><a href="https://nypost.com/2019/08/22/barack-and-michelle-obama-are-buying-15m-estate-in-marthas-vineyard/"><em>NY Post</em></a>, the family were just renting the beachfront house for the summer but quickly fell in love and made an offer.</p> <p>The seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom property certainly has room for everyone and has a living room with vaulted ceilings and a stone fireplace.</p> <p>The home also includes a chef’s kitchen and a formal dining room with giant windows. The home is located in Edgartown, Massachusetts and was formerly owned by Boston Celtics chief Wyc Grousbeck.</p> <p>The master suite has a fireplace and a private sun deck for the power couple to relax in.</p> <p>Outside, there’s a pool with a fireplace as well as a private beach which include a boathouse.</p> <p>The location is known for its classic white-painted New England architecture and is ripe with world-class restaurants where other celebrities frequent, including David Letterman and Amy Schumer.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see inside the Obama’s new home.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/news/" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a></em></p>

Home & Garden

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Inside Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s $4.2M country retreat

<p>Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban put their country home up for sale for a cool $5 million in 2016, and with many bumps and bridges such as price cuts and negotiations, it is reported that the couple have finally managed to sell their Tennessee property for $4.2 million.</p> <p>The spacious home features four bedrooms, six bathrooms and is surrounded by woods and greenery in what is considered to be a beautiful sanctuary outside Nashville in Franklin, Tennessee.</p> <p>The couple purchased the 36-acre gated estate back in 2007 for $3.5 million.</p> <p>While the home appears to be rustic from the outside, the interior is modern and fresh as it’s decorated with luxury items, while still keeping the feel of the rooms subtle and modest.</p> <p>With features such as steeply pitched vaulted ceilings and skylights, the house is given an air of comfort and cosiness.</p> <p>The rustic interiors are contrasted with otherwise modern centrepieces, such as stainless-steel accents and granite counters.</p> <p>The walkway leading towards the master bedroom is covered with floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing plenty of light into the home. But the bedroom doesn’t compromise on privacy, as it’s tucked away in a perfect nook.</p> <p>The property also contains a large fitness room and an office space that looks over the scenic views of the yard.</p> <p>On the large block of land is also a separate cottage, that would be deemed fit for guests, caretakers or live-in staff.</p>

Music

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Inside the farm shed converted into a luxury rural retreat

<p>At a glance this farm machinery shed might not look like the most comfortable type of accommodation for a holiday in the Kangaroo Valley in NSW, Australia.</p> <p>But a glance at the interior in the gallery above will show you otherwise.</p> <p>Set in a picturesque region, this <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/2479538/?af=61160407&amp;c=apac_au_over60_shed" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">beautiful, eco-accredited property</span></strong></a> is the perfect venue for a getaway with family and friends, or even larger celebrations.</p> <p>Using recycled and reclaimed materials, this farm machinery shed has been creatively transformed into the perfect B&amp;B with three luxurious bedrooms. The owners have also installed a wood fire, dining space, fully equipped kitchen, outdoor entertaining/dining space, pizza oven and BBQ to cater for all your entertaining needs.</p> <p>Set amongst permaculture gardens, this <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/2479538/?af=61160407&amp;c=apac_au_over60_shed" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">farm shed offers seclusion and privacy</span></strong></a> in the Kangaroo Valley, but it’s just 10 minutes from the town centre so you won’t feel isolated.</p> <p>Kangaroo Valley is one of the most picturesque regions of Australia and you will love exploring the area for accommodation that is truly unique.</p> <p>To find out more or book the converted shed, <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/2479538/?af=61160407&amp;c=apac_au_over60_shed" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">click here</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>Even if you’re not headed to the Kangaroo Valley any time soon, make sure you scroll through the gallery above to see just how incredible these properties are.</p> <p>Have you ever visited the Kangaroo Valley before? Do you have a holiday on the cards, and if so where are you planning to go?</p> <p>Please share your story in the comments.</p> <p><a href="https://www.airbnb.com/?af=61160407&amp;c=apac_au_over60" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Whether you want to make money by renting your place or to find affordable accommodation options and stretch your travel budget further, head over to Airbnb now and have a look around.</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/07/cosiest-winter-retreats-in-the-blue-mountains/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cosiest winter retreats in the Blue Mountains</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/07/converted-bakery-in-kangaroo-valley/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Stay in a converted bakery in the heart of Kangaroo Valley</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/accommodation/2016/06/french-gypsy-wagon-transformed-into-luxury-cottage/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">French gypsy wagon transformed into luxury cottage</span></em></strong></a></p>

International Travel

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Inside Elvis Presley’s Palm Springs honeymoon retreat

<p>One of Palm Springs’ most iconic homes is back on the market – and it’s none other than the King of Rock Elvis and then-wife Priscilla Presley’s honeymoon hideaway.</p> <p>The Alexander Estate was dubbed the “House of Tomorrow” by Look Magazine in 1962, but the house is most famous for being the place Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned five years later, following a secret Las Vegas wedding.</p> <p>Elvis rented stunning mid-century home from 1966 to 1967.</p> <p>The 5,000-square-foot home with five bedrooms and five bathrooms is on the market for $7.8 million (US$5.9 million).</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to take a peek inside the home. </p>

Music

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A look inside Virgin Australia crew’s secret in-flight retreat

<p>Getting some sleep on a long-haul flight is no mean feat for most passengers. If you’re a flight attendant, however, you may find it a little easier. Newly released photos of Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777-300ER plane, which flies from Australia to Los Angeles (with a flight time of up to 15 hours), reveal the cosy quarters cabin crew members get to retreat to while the rest of us struggle in economy.</p> <p>The secret retreats are situated above business class (for pilots only) and economy class (for flight attendants), providing the crew with comfy single beds, sheets, blankets and pillows.</p> <p>See the hidden rooms in the gallery above and tell us in the comments below, what do you do to help fall asleep on long flights?</p>

Travel Tips

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Collette Dinnigan’s 25-acre rustic country retreat

<p>Collette Dinnigan is bidding farewell to her Milton country retreat, which is being placed on the market for $2.95 million.</p> <p>Collette and her husband Bradley Cocks purchased the home in 2013 for $970,000.</p> <p>The pair were renting the house out for $650 per night on Airbnb.</p> <p>See the gallery above for the incredible interior design that makes the house charming. The home has featured in Vouge China, Australian Traveller and appeared on the cover of Country Style magazine.</p> <p>The land also features a stables, stream and rainforest area and it is a short distance by car to the south coast beaches. </p>

Home & Garden

Over 60

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