A luxurious encounter by the sea
Melding three eras of building into one cohesive renovation, while making the most of uninterrupted sea views, was at the heart of this Encounter Bay project set on a vast coastal farmland.
When Tony and Christine Johnson began discussing renovation plans for their Encounter Bay holiday home, there was one crucial element at the centre of the project.
The couple wanted the new extension to connect the existing house (circa early 1900s) to an historic one-room stone cottage on the property, built in the 1800s. The aim was to bring the rustic cottage from the outside in, effectively wrapping the modern renovation around it.
As Tony shows SALIFE around the expansive home, which sits on 160 acres of coastal farming land, he explains the significance of the old stone structure.
“Four children were born in that tiny cottage,” he says. “It was where the early settlers lived while the house was being built. So, retaining that structure and respecting the history of this place was a big focus of the renovation.”
The couple turned to award-winning architect Max Pritchard, whom they had worked with previously, to design this unique and challenging addition. Max agreed retaining the historic cottage was a vital part of the plans.
“I think properties like this that have such a history with these old farm buildings, where people once lived, it’s great to retain that,” he says. “I think it’s so nice to have that feel for history and make it a part of your everyday life.
“Tony wanted the cottage to actually be part of the house, so that’s what we’ve done. It’s quite unique to contain a little old building within a newish one. We also wanted to try and make the cottage still stand alone and I think we’ve achieved that through the high-pitched roof and by including the gutters.”
The upgraded cottage is now part of the home’s interior – a permanent installation of history, but it’s not just an ornamental piece.
Tony, who was a founding partner of law firm Johson Winter Slattery, has created his own history in the cottage, which now contains his family memorabilia, such as the plaques from his various law firms, as well as some golfing awards and a special historical piece – a glass case which contains the boots worn by Tony’s father who was an RAF bomber in World War ⅠⅠ.
“Christine calls it my ‘pool room’,” Tony says. “It’s an historic space that is now being filled with the history of our lives.”
A new “gallery” area has also been created in front of the cottage, where the new renovation connects to this old structure, a perfect space for Tony and Christine’s extensive art collection.
“We have a very good collection of art including Arthur Boyds, Sidney Nolans, Charles Blackmans and Bruno Letti, so there is a heavy emphasis on Australian art, but I also have two light sculptures by Frank Bauer and a number of European works of art, including one by Augustus John,” Tony says.
This gallery space also works as a thoroughfare, connecting the new addition to the original building, and it is also the main entry point to the home. Externally, a long, covered walkway leads from the garage to a yellow front door which opens directly into the gallery.
“So, you’re walking straight into the more interesting addition, rather than into a corridor of a probably 1920s house at the front,” Max says. “I’ve got that covered walkway from the garage through to the house so that every time you arrive, you have that nice journey which includes walking past a little stone dunny.”
That rustic stone “dunny” is another original structure on the property and is a standout feature as you walk towards the home.
“It might be considered bizarre by some that we changed the entry to go right past a dunny, but I love the stonework and the history,” Max adds. “You are walking past that and the old cottage, so you are immediately aware of the history of the place.”
Within the home, a new and large office and spectacular master suite have been added. Both rooms maximise the sea views, bringing the outside in, and those views are also on offer from the luxurious freestanding bath in the en suite.
The five-bedroom home was last renovated in 1996, while this latest project began in 2024, taking almost two years to complete.
As with many old houses, there were some unexpected factors to contend with, says the builder on the project, Paul Hocking from Hocking Constructions.
“Excavation presented challenges due to extensive bluestone across the site,” he says. “Old underground water tanks were uncovered, requiring engineering revisions and a family of red-bellied black snakes living beneath the house also had to be safely relocated before works could continue.
“With projects like this, you expect the unexpected. The key is working through challenges as a team and finding solutions that protect the integrity of the build.”
Paul says materials were carefully selected to honour the site and withstand the harsh coastal environment. Paddock stone sourced directly from the property was used to maintain continuity with the original cottage and farmhouse.
Australian hardwood timbers including blackbutt, spotted gum and jarrah feature prominently, while slate from a Willunga quarry was selected for the gallery floor.
Galvanised steel, brick, cement sheet and Colorbond Ultra roofing were chosen for durability and longevity. Wherever possible, demolished materials were also salvaged and reused.
“This project involved bringing together three distinct eras of building, the original 1800s stone farmhouse and outhouse, a 1920s home, and a modern addition, into one cohesive, custom-designed residence,” Paul says.
The original cellar, historically used for cold storage and meat curing, was upgraded and integrated into the new home.
“That cellar tells the story of how the home once functioned. Bringing it into everyday use again, while keeping its character intact, was incredibly rewarding,” Paul says.
Structural work also included knocking out a wall to create the now-open plan kitchen with large island bench and a small round table for informal dining.
A major purchase for the couple was the new Sub-Zero fridge which Tony jokes was the same price as a small car.
“It’s meant to keep food fresh for up to six months and since we are trying to be more self-sufficient here, we thought it was worth it,” he says.
French doors in the kitchen connect to a small cottage garden at the back of the home.
“Previously, the house really opened towards the sea, which is understandable with that sea view, but it was missing out on that nice garden feel directly connected to the kitchen,” Max says.
Tony bought the property, which is working farmland, in 1979, keen for a holiday home for his then-young family with children Patrick, Sam and Sophie.
“There were three criteria when we were looking for a beach house,” Tony says. “It had to be on the coast, it had to have a building on it, and it had to be within striking distance of Adelaide. I didn’t want to have to drive three and a half hours to get to it.”
Today, Tony is semi-retired. He still sits on various boards, continues as a legal consultant and, never one to keep still for long, the 78-year-old has also branched out into eco-tourism in the past decade and is the owner of Naiko Retreat.
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The luxurious eco-retreat is built into a hill at Deep Creek, bordering the Talisker Conservation Park. Tony and Christine purchased the 1000 hectares working sheep farm in 1998 with a view to preserving and regenerating the land.
“Then we had the realisation that we just love that area so much and we realised that it just had great tourist potential,” Tony says.
“So, I spoke to Max first of course. One of the reasons I get on so well with Max is he is my age and I’m also full of ideas but most of them don’t work, so I bounce them up to him. He thought the retreat was a good idea.”
Naiko Retreat opened in 2019 and, more recently Tony and Christine have collaborated with Max on another project – a new retreat called Naiko at the Bluff. A new luxurious stone eco-villa has been built on the same land as this Encounter Bay home, with the new getaway opening to the public in late 2025.
Now, stage two of Naiko at the Bluff is also in the works – with plans approved to build one and two-bedrooms luxury units on adjoining land. The plan is to build five units plus a freestanding pavilion, aiming to cater to the health and wellness market with space for pilates and yoga.
“I’ve had no experience creating these sorts of places, but I’ve had a lot of experience as a user and had all sorts of dreams about it, but Max helps it become a reality,” Tony says.
When it comes to the look and feel of both their renovated home and their new Naiko at the Bluff, Tony and Christine have sought advice from some serious interior heavyweights.
Their daughter-in-law is Tamsin Johnson, married to Patrick, one of Sydney’s most in-demand interior designers. Tamsin has advised on the subtle and stylish interiors for these coastal/rural gems.
Patrick is also in the style business, as the founder of luxury tailoring brand PJohnson.
“Patrick’s got a bit of a flair and when we were doing Naiko he suggested the stand-alone bathtubs, which we’ve also done in the house here on his advice,” Tony says.
A new garden surrounding the renovated home has been designed by Alex Game from Landskap, but Christine’s know-how and passion for gardening has also helped shape the look and feel of the spaces.
“I love my roses,” she says. “We do have a couple of guys who help with maintenance but I love to get out there when I can.”
With eight grandchildren ranging in ages from seven to 19, Tony and Christine love it when the entire clan congregate here, making the most of this idyllic seaside location.
“We’ve had everybody down, all the children and the grandchildren and it worked so well,” Christine says.
“We all fit on couches and the renovation really came into its own with the space and the user-friendly design.
“I just love the serenity here, and being in the garden, as well.”
The couple also entertain friends regularly including an annual golf event on the first Sunday in January every year.
“We’ve always tended to entertain here rather than at our North Above The luxurious freestanding bath in the en suite provides views for miles.
Adelaide home, with Victor Harbor being sort of Adelaide by the sea,” Tony says.
“It’s just great that we can share this place with both our family and friends, and now through Naiko at the Bluff. It’s a special place, with some of the cleanest air you’ll ever breathe.”
Tony says the newly renovated home has created “a wonderful, relaxed place” for he and Christine, that maximises this spectacular location where the farm meets the sea.
“Even though we are close to all amenities, there is no sign of any other houses or indeed human habitation from our farm because we are looking straight out to sea at West Island and beyond that you do not hit land until you hit Antarctica,” he says.
“The aim of the renovation was to create a home, a place we would be happy calling our home, and probably for me, our final home, too. That objective has been more than achieved.”
This story first appeared in the April 2026 print issue of SALIFE Magazine.
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