Edwina Bartholomew has finally been given permission to realise her dream of transforming a run-down pub in the countryside, 251 kilometres from Sydney, into a luxury holiday resort.
The popular Sunrise presenter bought the 177-year-old property in Carcoar, NSW in May 2023, but the project has been severely delayed in the conservation town.
Now that 41-year-old Edwina and her husband Neil Varcoe have been given the green light by the local council to begin construction, they have revealed their ambitious plans for the boutique hotel.
Development applications reveal that the old pub, which the couple renamed Saltash Farm, will comprise three new guest houses, a house and a guesthouse.
There are also plans for a swimming pool and a long pavilion, to be built at a later stage.
‘It’s very cold in Carcoar in the winter, so you see a beautiful wood fire in every cabin and the cladding inside and out,’ Edwina said Real Estate.com on monday.
‘Every room and bathroom in the main house has a different colour and design. There is a blue colour scheme on the ground floor, but each bedroom also has its own character.’
Edwina and Neil are working with Melbourne-based architectural firm Studio Esteta on the plans, which will be the couple’s first commercial project.
Edwina Bartholomew has finally been given the go-ahead to go ahead with her dream of transforming a run-down country pub 251km from Sydney into a luxury retreat. Pictured at this year’s Logie Awards
The popular Sunrise presenter bought the 177-year-old property in Carcoar, NSW in May 2023, but the project has faced major delays in the conservation town. Pictured: An artist’s rendering of the planned communal dining room
An artist’s impression of a communal dining table in the guesthouse’s main building shows a muted colour scheme and a rustic feel with wood finishes and retro lighting.
The newsreader turned property developer also shared a photo of the reception area, which features a wooden desk, fireplace and retro armchairs.
Other plans for the reception include large landscape paintings by Queensland artist Kate Pittas.
Now that they have been given the green light by the local council to proceed with construction, Edwina, 41, and her husband, Neil Varcoe, have revealed their ambitious plans. Pictured: The proposed reception area featuring paintings by Queensland artist Kate Pittas
The report found that Blayney Local Council gave the green light after historians and Indigenous elders inspected the site for artefacts.
Edwina made headlines last year when she put her flash pad in Sydney’s west up for sale in March 2023 for $2.1 million.
That same month, Edwina and Neil, who have Molly (4) and Tom (2) together, bought their new home in Carcoar for $2.1 million.
This came after Edwina began sharing her renovation project with followers on Instagram, shortly after the couple purchased the old pub.
In May 2023, Edwina posted a video in which she building, known as ‘The Victoria Hotel’, which was built in 1846.
The video showed the inside of the historic two-story property and its stunning architectural design, including a beautiful balcony and French doors.
Edwina revealed that each bathroom in the new cabins will have a different design
In May 2023, Edwina posted a video showing the property, known as ‘The Victoria Hotel’, which was built in 1846. (Pictured)
‘Built in 1846 on the banks of the Belubula River in Carcoar, 177 years later The Victoria returns to the same land to welcome a new generation of guests,’ she wrote.
‘A new chapter for the city, time forgotten. A new fulltime project for us. A new side hustle for me, besides waking up with you every morning on @sunriseon7.
“Reopening in 2025 (with lots of Fawlty Towers updates in the meantime),” she added.