We came to Haggerstone in April 1985. A 70 ton barge unloaded poles, timber, fruit trees, chickens and an old tractor. The island was jungle covered, uninhabited and hundreds of miles from what we knew as civilization.
We were virtual strangers and we came from backgrounds that were worlds apart. Anna was English, well traveled and held a Bachelor of Human Sciences degree. She was a capable potter and had a very patient and practical attitude to survival. By coincidence, Anna had walked the beach of Haggerstone Island some eight years before the barge arrival. She had joined her father, John Heyer, to locate the Pandora wreck, the boat sent to intercept the mutineers of the Bounty, and Haggerstone was an exploratory stop.
Roy’s childhood and youth were spent on a sheep and cattle property in Gippsland, Victoria. At age 17, all he could really do well was shear a sheep and play a guitar. He was a keen hunter and the love of hunting and music was too strong to hold him on the property. He spent seven years in New Guinea, crocodile shooting and playing music. He then based himself in Cairns, North Queensland and continued doing what he loved most - hunting, fishing and playing music. However, he had developed an interest in building houses and so he began. His inspiration in design and building was rustic- native and led to the desire to create a Robinson Crusoe style abode in the wild.
Many years later, here we are on Haggerstone near the Great Barrier Reef. It is now a home in the wilderness and by our standards truly palatial. We tend to forget that we lived in a tent for a year and carried water by bucket for two.
The Main house was the first building on the island taking some 5 years to complete. It is resplendent in the centre stage on the island and features a library, bar, fireplace, wine cellar, day bed, lounge, dining area, 2 bathrooms, loft, observation deck, open kitchen and wireless internet.
It is large pole home with heavy beams & rafters and a thatched roof with 12 inch thick Alang Alang grass imported from Bali. Driftwood has been skillfully used to support heavy polished timber benches. Every nook and cranny contains eye catching curios; from the shell of a Papuan Canoe to an ancient dinner gong and crocodile heads.
Breakfast and dinner is served in the main pavilion, while lunch is usually had out on the boat.
In the evening the fire is lit and guests can enjoy chilled wine served while dinner is prepared.
The Jetty was constructed by Roy from aged timbers which blend seamlessly in to their surroundings, the classic Thatch Roof and Stone Fireplace sets the building off in a romantic manner. It is the ideal place to welcome the dawn, enjoy champagne whilst watching the sun sink slowly over the horizon of Shelbourne bay. The waters surrounding the jetty team with marine life, Large Rays, Turtles, Trevalley, Queen Fish, Alligator Gar & Coral Fish species all mingle with the resident sardine population.
When we arrived on the island in 1985 we worked to establish an orchard garden that over the years has grown to provide a large part of our fresh produce. It took much trial and error to discover what would grow and today the garden is a pleasure to walk through. Passionfruit compete with guado and snake beans. The vines of tropical butternut and squashes have to be coaxed away from beds of rocket salad and bok choy. Basil, coriander and parsley compete for space with lemongrass and ginger. Kaffir lime, lemons, mango and curry trees grow randomly along the paths. Coconuts are abundant and used extensively in our dishes.