From travelling the corners of the continent to running highly rated design schedules and living the busy city life, it’s been an experience of gratitude, pride and fulfilment.
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But when the high flying wings of Peter Carlin swooped into Murrurundi, the astute and caring man knew it was the place he wanted to nest.
Many locals know Mr Carlin, but they may not realise the colourful adventures the community volunteer and businessman has experienced throughout his life from being a rally car driver on the Asian circuit and New Guinea to designing homes around the globe.
It was the end of 2007 that Mr Carlin and his best friend and wife Jane Sullivan decided to make the Upper Hunter home moving into the beautiful old building, that is Haydon Hall.
A Newcastle born man, Mr Carlin always knew of the Hunter Valley but for New Zealander Jane, she thought the Hunter Valley was just Pokolbin.
After driving to Tamworth on business one day, Jane instantly fell in love with the Upper Hunter due its likeness to her home in New Zealand, and when they found Haydon Hall Jane had found her ‘Villa in Provence’.
The couple were living in Sydney at the time leading very business lifestyles with Peter being an industrial designer and Jane, originally a home economics teacher, but working in trending analysis and design as well.
Due to his professional career, Peter lived in Western Australia for nine years, New Guinea, South Australia, the ACT and Sydney.
Mr Carlin originally completed his studies in Copenhagen, Denmark and later moved into management of design and marketing, which was his ticket into the corporate field.
He was the national marketing manager and national design manager for CSR, mainly specialising in commercial furniture design, fabrics and wall coverings with emphasis on the psychology of colour and understanding trends.
Mr Carlin said right from an early age he knew he would be involved in the design field as he loved architecture and art.
He used to paint a lot and would love to get back into it when they have their second retirement.
But at the moment, he is simply enjoying the fact that it used to take him an hour and a quarter to get to his office only 22 kilometres away and now he just walks down the stairs.
Peter and Jane refer to themselves as ‘Sydney escapees’ and moved to Murrurundi with the intentions of semi-retirement, however set to work creating Haydon Hall – an art gallery, gift shop and café/restaurant that has gone on to be recognised as top notch being included in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.
Mr Carlin said they were fascinated to feature in the guide as they’re just doing what they love, although he said he is very proud of what Jane does.
They also operate a design business – Colours Inside Out – which provides colour schemes for houses, kitchen designs and space allocations to clients in the Upper Hunter and further afield.
Ever since the couple settled in town they became involved in the local community and cherish the friendships they have made throughout the years in Murrurundi.
Mr Carlin was very involved in Turning the Pages working closely with Murrurundi and Blandford Public Schools to integrate the Pages River into their school curriculum.
The initiative’s ‘Painting the Pages’ exhibition was one of many features in the gallery.
Within the first 12 months of living in Murrurundi, Mr Carlin joined the Lions Club which has involved him in a lot of community initiatives and events and he recently joined the Scone Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society as it ties in with his background, history and interests.
Another big passion for him is the Murrurundi CBD Committee, which Mr Carlin and other interested residents formed to work with the Upper Hunter Shire Council to improve the township with safer crossings, trees, gardens and seating, to name a few.
Mr Carlin said he believes that you have pride in any place you live in and he likes his little bit of pride to penetrate and set an example to others.
“We try to set a high standard at Haydon Hall and hopefully set an example in the town,” he said.
“What we leave behind is our legacy to the community we live in and that is fairly important to me.”
Mr Carlin said a big interest for him was encouraging art in young people as he loves working with children and letting them learn the appreciation of art, as he believes art is more than just a painting, it’s the understanding of life.
He has been a judge of the Scone Arts and Crafts Children and Youth Exhibition twice and also involved with a group of Murrurundi Public School students – The Connectors - who visit the gallery to learn about art.
“Working with the children is quite a worthwhile and rewarding experience,” Mr Carlin said.
Although they’ve travelled the world, including to Japan, Spain and Italy, Peter and Jane love the environment and nature of Murrurundi and its people, and will continue to live there once they do finally retire.
“The thing about Murrurundi is that the people are very welcoming and they have encouraged us all the time.
“They’re always willing to help and there is a nice community atmosphere where if someone is in strife, people are there to help without being nosey.”