Treading Lightly

Living Lightly on the Land We Love

At Merilli1885, sustainability is not a separate feature or a marketing statement. It is part of how this place has always been cared for.

Set on 90 acres of working Angus cattle country at Currency Creek, Merilli1885 is powered by a large solar array, supported by grid backup, and runs entirely on rainwater. Here, we harvest the sun as well as the paddocks, because the land that makes this place worth visiting deserves to be looked after.

What you see from the cottage window is not just scenery. These 90 acres are actively managed to build healthier soil, support biodiversity and work with nature rather than against it. The cattle and horses are part of that system, not separate from it.

It is what makes Merilli1885 a genuine sustainable luxury farmstay on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, where regenerative farming, heritage accommodation and rural life are simply how things work.

Regenerative farming

It starts with the soil.

Our Angus cattle and horses are regularly rotated through the paddocks, giving the land time to rest and recover between grazings. Pastures are supported with compost, organic matter and thoughtful land management, with synthetic inputs kept to a minimum wherever possible.

The goal is simple: soil that becomes healthier over time, country that works better this year than last, and land that will outlast all of us.

Biochar made on the farm

We produce our own biochar on site using fallen timber from around the property and a custom-made biochar kiln.

The resulting charred material is returned to the soil, helping improve soil structure, support water retention and lock carbon into the ground over the long term.

Nothing useful is wasted. Fallen timber becomes firewood, biochar or part of the natural cycle of the farm.

Dung beetles at work

Several species of dung beetles have been introduced across the property as part of our regenerative farming approach.

These quiet workers bury cattle and horse dung directly into the soil, helping cycle nutrients naturally, improve pasture health and keep paddocks cleaner without unnecessary intervention.

It is one of the simplest examples of working with nature rather than against it.

Solar power and rainwater

The cottage is supported by a large solar array, drawing energy from the same sky that lights the Fleurieu every morning, with grid connection as a quiet backup.

Merilli1885 also runs entirely on rainwater. From the showers to the filtered drinking water in the kitchen, and the water and ice from the fridge, everything flows from rain collected on site.

For guests, these systems do not require compromise. They simply form part of the quiet luxury of staying somewhere deeply connected to its setting.

Waste, water and everyday choices

Sustainability also sits in the practical systems behind the guest experience.

Onsite wastewater management helps keep water moving responsibly through the property. Composting and recycling systems in the cottage make it easy for guests to tread lightly during their stay. Firewood is collected from fallen timber around the farm, making winter evenings by the fire part of a considered, local cycle.

Small choices matter. Together, they shape the way the property is hosted, maintained and shared.

Respect for Country

Merilli1885 is located on Ngarrindjeri Country.

We recognise that the history of this land did not begin with the 1885 stone cottage. We are currently working on building respectful relationships and collaborations with Ngarrindjeri First Nations people to better understand the region, the property and its heritage prior to colonisation.

This is a work in progress, and one we approach with care, humility and respect. Our role is not to speak on behalf of First Nations people, but to listen, learn and ensure that the way we share Merilli1885 reflects a deeper understanding of place over time.

Current custodians

We do not think of ourselves simply as owners of this land. We think of ourselves as its current custodians.

Our aim is straightforward: to hand these 90 acres to the next generation in better condition than we found them.

For guests seeking sustainable luxury accommodation on the Fleurieu Peninsula, that commitment runs through everything we do here, from the rainwater in the tank and the solar power on the roof to the dung beetles in the soil, the cattle moving through rested paddocks and the quiet respect shown to the land beneath your feet.

Come lightly. Stay deeply.