"It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose, that is not a weakness, that is life."
It’s hard to get more north shore-coded than the Scotts. So imagine our surprise to hear University of Sydney vice chanceller Mark Scott and his high-flying wife, Dr Briony Scott, have packed up and sold their Roseville home on Sydney’s gilded north shore.
The sale has set tongues wagging – and we don’t even know the price. The Scotts found a buyer for their five-bedroom Roseville home in late September after asking in the region of $5 million. But the sale hasn’t yet settled, according to title documents, and the selling agent declined to comment.
But we must admit we were almost more interested in where the couple moved. Word is the Scotts have traded the area of Sydney they’ve become synonymous with over two decades for Manly, according to people familiar with the move, to be closer to Dr Scott’s latest gig as chief executive of Royal Far West, the children’s health services charity based in Manly.
The Scotts were contacted for comment.
No doubt the move would’ve been unthinkable to some in Sydney circles just a few years ago. This is, after all, the duo that the once-relevant Daily Telegraph has previously dubbed a “north shore power couple”.
Still, there’s no doubting the Scotts continue to wield influence across the city. Dr Scott is, of course, a former principal of two of Sydney’s north shore private schools for girls: Roseville College from 2006 until 2011; and then Wenona School in North Sydney. In May this year, Scott took up the reins at Royal Far West.
Regular readers will no doubt recall Mark Scott is an erstwhile editor of this masthead. But he is, perhaps, better known as a former managing director of the ABC, and is currently on a decent wicket at the University of Sydney, where it sounds like he’s got more than enough to keep him busy. At least now he has a nearby beach to wash off the stress.
*Scott worked for the New South Wales GreinerLiberal government, as chief of staff to the Education Minister, Virginia Chadwick, and as a senior adviser to education minister, Terry Metherell. Blast from the legislative past
At Temple Hangars, the best advice is to sleep with the curtains open. As early morning mist gradually lifts across the rolling hills of the Byron Bay hinterland, the sky shifts from a delicate grey mauve to reveal subtropical rainforest awash in a soft, luminous glow. Witnessing this dawn show unfold from the comfort of a king-sized bed is easily one of the stay’s simplest and most rewarding pleasures
Temple Hangars, which opened to guests in June, is a collection of four dome-shaped cabins on Lawrence and Alita Temple’s rewilded Nashua farm in the NSW Northern Rivers region. The couple created the adult-only micro retreat as an extension to the wildly popular Temple Farmhouse, which is on the same 30 hectares of wildlife corridors and restored Big Scrub rainforest. All four cabins sit harmoniously in the landscape, each partially oriented towards the west for sunsets and gentle wake-ups.
“The birds sing louder when it’s dark and quiet because they feel safe,” explains Alita of the advantages of indirect morning light. “So you also get that beautiful morning birdsong precisely because of that extra borrowed time.”
The dome-like cabins are adult-only retreats. Cara O’Dowd
Inside the Booyong hangar. Jessica Aleece
An easy 30-minute drive from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, the cabins are down to the right, along a snaking gravel path. High up on the left is the gate to the Temple Farmhouse, the project that turned the couple into accidental hoteliers.
“We bought the original farmhouse as somewhere to disappear to on the occasional weekend,” says Lawrence. “We were going to treat it like typical holiday accommodation and have it managed.” This was 2017 and the couple were living in Brisbane at the time. After a six-month renovation, they moved to the farm to keep up with guest demand.
Temple Hangars, which took three year to build, was born from a desire to escape into nature. “The curved dome shape gives complete privacy inside. You have a full-glass rear window so you get the open outlook, but you don’t get ambient noise coming in from the sides,” says Lawrence, who drew on his background in commercial real estate to conceptualise the project. Working from his preliminary sketches, he enlisted local architect Joanne Serisier and interior design practice Studio Haus Co to refine the structural vision, and partnered with builders J&E Projects and KevMax Landscaping to bring it to life.
The freestanding tub in Pepperberry. Nina Claire Photography
The Hinterland Spa is a short walk from the hangars. Nina Claire Photography
While Lawrence masterminded the concept, Alita went granular on the details, picking every tile, plant and light for each of the hangars. One, which has been named Booyong, harnesses the rough-hewn timber of rural Australia. Another, Coolamon, embodies the warm minimalism of Nordic interiors. Pepperberry has a softer, streamlined atmosphere and Sassafras, my stay, has a wabi-sabi edge.
Alita says she was chasing refinement that didn’t feel overdone. “Luxury to me is things that are handmade, have a story and that you don’t find everywhere else.” For instance, photographs by Jessica Aleece, furniture by Kitsune Moon finished in the traditional Japanese method of shou sugi ban, and lighting by Marz Designs.
“There are so many amazing creatives in this area,” she says. “Many makers lean into nature and that translates really well when they build a piece of furniture or make art or ceramics. It naturally already ties in so beautifully with what we’re trying to achieve.”
In practice, the cabins are peaceful to be in, with expanses of stone, timber and glass creating a grounded atmosphere inside and an abundance of plants adding lushness to each of their courtyards. While the king bed has the best outlook, the freestanding bath has a view of its own: a concealed TV rises from joinery at the touch of a button so you can watch a film as you soak.
The cabins have curved walls. Nina Claire Photography
Natural touches. Nina Claire Photography
Beyond the individual hangars, a communal pavilion has an open kitchen, fireplace and dining zone, while a shared spa with hot tub and sauna gives groups yet another place to hang out.
Between the four cabins and the Farmhouse, which sleeps 13, the farm can host up to 40 guests for retreats or celebrations, with a particular focus on “micro weddings” and elopements – the chic way to tie the knot. The hangars are adults-only but children are allowed to stay in the house.
When it comes time to explore the surroundings, the historic hinterland town of Bangalow is just 15 minutes away by car. Local grocers such as FoodWorks and the Bangalow General Store provide high-quality regional produce and pantry staples for those planning to make full use of the pavilion kitchen for an intimate night in.
For those preferring to dine out, Ciao, Mate! epitomises Bangalow’s contemporary regional charm, serving wood-fired pizzas alongside a seasonal menu of Italian classics.
Looking ahead, the Temples plan to expand their offerings to include floral design workshops and small community events. For now, however, Temple Hangars remains primarily focused on the art of slowing down, fully embracing the relaxed spirit of the Byron Bay hinterland.
The Temples say the curved dome shape gives complete privacy inside. Cara O’Dowd
Which brings us back to Alita’s philosophy of “extra borrowed time”. The itinerary here requires very little structure: bring a good book, sit on the sundrenched courtyard bench with a morning tea, or curl up by the outdoor fireplace as the evening air cools down. Draw a warm bath, stream a movie, take a slow drive through the surrounding valleys to pick up local cheeses and a bottle of natural wine, and return to cook a low-key dinner.
“Slow down and reconnect to yourself,” Alita advises. “There’s an opportunity here to just listen to the birds or do whatever brings you genuine joy. You need stillness first for the joy to come in.”
The writer was a guest of Temple Hangars.
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