In late 2022, a tiny home reminiscent of a tin shed rolled up and parked by Fed Square out the front of Victoria by Farmer's Daughters. Passers-by likely had no idea what this arrival meant, but it marked a special occasion: the completion of Stella the Stargazer, a limited-edition off-grid accommodation experience that pays homage to the great Aussie shed.
Created by Port Fairy-based design and manufacturing business Ample, in partnership with Visit Victoria, Stella is a one-of-a-kind portable shack designed for the perfect regional stargazing experience. The frame, which is made from salvaged steel and timber, houses a remarkable feature: a cloud-like queen-sized bed on a roll-out stargazing platform. When you unhook it and roll it out, the glass windows rise with it so you can sleep under cover but still see the sky above, alongside 180-degree views of the surroundings.
Stella also comes fitted out with a full kitchen and some dry goods like spices, oil, tea, coffee and even garlic bulbs knotted and hung from the rafters. With your stay, you'll also receive a 'heat and eat' welcome pack and breakfast provisions curated by Alejandro Saravia (Victoria, Farmer's Daughters). The menu highlights local and seasonal produce and you can expect the likes of local cheeses, slow-braised lamb shoulder with gnocchi and gremolata, the fixings for a ham, cheese, tomato and basil sanga and desserts.
There's a fire pit out front, as well as supplied firewood, kindling, firestarter and a utility lighter. Get a fire going and then kick back and relax; there are heaps of books nestled within Stella's nooks and crannies, as well as tic-tac-toe and adult colouring books. And before you go, don't forget to sign the leather-bound guestbook and read about all the other experiences people have had inside this special space.
Thanks to her mobile nature, Stella will have stints in different areas of regional Victoria. She started off in the rolling hills of Central Gippsland before making her way to the Bay of Islands along Great Ocean Road. She'll remain there from February 3 to April 6, 2023, before heading to the Grampians for autumn from April 17 to June 18, 2023.