Places You Find Yourself

History buff Jane Ramsey had two dreams when she packed up her Sydney home for a tree change in 2021.

One was to retire; the other was to live with her partner Mark Watson in a centuries old home among canola fields, cattle and horses. Only one of those plans went to script.

Thanks to a determined real estate agent, they found an 1830s homestead outside Tamworth, called Little Kickerbell, with links to the pioneering Blaxland family. Ms Ramsey claims it even came with extra guests: “It’s a little bit haunted … but we love that sort of thing.”

But her early retirement was cut short when an enticing role opened up at Tamworth’s new S. Kidman outlet – the only one in regional Australia.

With a long history of working in retail, Ms Ramsey, 56, jumped at the opportunity to be store manager. “I’m very passionate about retail, and I realised I wasn’t ready to retire – I just missed people too much,” she says.

“You couldn’t get me there quick enough. I speak to so many wonderful people in the shop, and get to dress them beautifully, play around with beautiful clothes and the hats. “Everyone who comes in is so excited that they can actually come in and physically see the range.”

The store was opened with much fanfare in 2024 by businesswoman Gina Rinehart, executive chair of agriculture
company S. Kidman & Co, and the shop attracts customers from around Australia.

The flagship store – named after “cattle king” Sir Sidney Kidman – stocks brands such as Rossi Boots and DrizaBone for farming and city customers alike.

In-house hatter Dan Holden draws customers as much for the craftsmanship of his custom-made felt hats as his rollicking tale.

Ms Ramsey says it’s a 40- minute drive from their home on the Liverpool Plains, but it beats city traffic snarls. “You wouldn’t get this kind of property anywhere near Sydney, it’d cost millions and millions,” she says. “We’ve got two horses, five dogs, five guinea fowl, and a small herd of Murray Grey cattle. That’s the lifestyle we wanted. “Some people ask, ‘Why would you come all the way out here?’ And I just think: ‘why wouldn’t you?’”

While the cost of living crisis is changing spending habits, the shop buzzes during the Tamworth music festival and horse competitions.

For Ms Ramsey, the move has also heralded a return to her country roots. The couple purchased the 13ha property after six months of negotiations and set about converting it back into a family home.

They are still researching the history of Little Kickerbell, and its spooky quirks, which operated as a B&B and restaurant in previous lives.

“We have paintings move around, doors open and close, and rugs shift in the big dining room,” she says. “But it’s not scary – it’s got good energy.” Now, she can’t imagine living anywhere else. “It’s a beautiful life.”