A 40 acre private flora and fauna reserve, the Old Brush has been nurtured for more than 25 years by photographer Robert Bignell.

The Old Brush provides the perfect back to nature escape with a choice of two huts and more than 20km of maintained walking trails through the property and into the adjoining National Park.

With eight billabongs and wildlife that comes right up to your door,  it's little wonder that The Old Brush's two rustic cabins have housed visitors from all over the world.

Rainforest, Old growth Forest - the Old Brush has it all with large expanses of open space and cabins offering an accommodation experience that is truly unique.

The Old Brush is at Brunkerville, just five minutes from the F3 Freeway's Toronto exit and only 20 minutes from the vineyards, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle

The Old Brush Story

25 years ago, internationally acclaimed photographer Robert Bignell bought 40 acres at Brunkerville with a view to creating his own private piece of paradise.

At first appearance it's main appeal for a builder was a cleared flat area with a few big inaccessible trees and a bit of brush along the creek, left from logging 80 years previously. Because it was bordered by the Sugarloaf Range State Forest, privacy was assured.

But the deeper into the property Robert ventured, the more he discovered - birds, animals and an amazing diversity of trees and shrubs.

For the first few years he lived in a tent, later moving into his tool shed and converting it to a studio and home where he remained for 11 years.

These days he has a dramatic 35 sq. home and studio built wholly from recycled materials.

Demand from visitors has led to the transformation of his two huts into accommodation that is truly unique, taking visitors back to the pioneering days of slab construction.

For an insight into The Old Brush, download the Adobe Acrobat PDF copy of at left an article that appeared in Owner Builder Magazine..

Below are some of Robert's press clippings from years of action to save the old growth forests around The Old Brush. Click on images to expand.

The Old Brush

A bushwalkers paradise

Click on a photo to enlarge