5th May 2021 / Prue Fletcher: At Home | with Vonnie Frazer

At Home | with Vonnie Frazer

Vonnie is the Creative Director of iconic dining and events space Stones of the Yarra Valley. Along with her husband Steve and two of their three sons, Ben and Ryan, they also preside over café-providore Meletos and restaurant-winery No.7 Healesville.

Their family has long been a part of the extended Fletchers family as long-time clients and friends, entrusting Fletchers Executive Chairman, Rob Fletcher, to look after all their property needs.

Vonnie Frazer is a powerhouse, a visionary and creative genius. Growing up in Balwyn North, creating magical love stories has always been in her DNA, as she fondly recalls her first job helping her mother style their own wedding venue, Erskine Court. "All these years later I can still recall the excitement I felt when I'd help my Mum decorate the venue – I loved it!". Skip forward half a century and Vonnie has built one of the most iconic collections of wedding venue tapestry our country has to offer, Stones of the Yarra Valley, The Stables at Stones, Meletos, The Farmhouse at Meletos and No.7 Healesville.

At home, Vonnie and Steve settled in Kangaroo Ground, deciding early on in life that a rural upbringing was what they wished for their three young boys. "We were both craving some open space, somewhere where we could let the boys roam free yet call them in for tea". Originally missing out on a Hamish Knox property, little did they know that one of those 'once in a lifetime properties' was just over the horizon and they settled in Garden Hill Court.

A property that truly captivates and inspires, Rob Fletcher together with Nathan Foley, recently sold the Frazer family home for a record price amidst a global pandemic.

With olive branches under arm and a cuppa in hand, we managed to sit down with Vonnie for a quick Q&A.

123 Garden Hill Court, Kangaroo Ground

What made your heart settle on Kangaroo Ground all those years ago?

We were both craving some open space away from the suburbs where we could raise our three sons. Steve travelled a lot with his Sports Management business at the time, and one of his clients told us about a house for sale in Kangaroo Ground built by Hamish Knox, Alistair Knox's son. We missed out on buying this house though, as the week before it had been featured in 'The Age' and when we turned up for the auction excited to buy - our closing bid was the opening bid! We did fall in love with the area though, its beautiful rolling hills, to the mountains beyond plus its closeness to the city. We were only 45 minutes away, and 30 minutes to the airport AND on 25 acres!

123 Garden Hill Court, Kangaroo Ground

What has been your favourite thing about living in the local KG community?

Oh Prue, this is a tricky one! I adored the kinder and primary years in Kangaroo Ground. Kangaroo Ground has only a General Store, Post Office and the CFA. We had a lot of fun with some of the fund raising for the CFA and adored the beauty of Kangaroo Ground (as well as our privacy).

Describe your interior style.

Rustic and classic European - I adore faded timbers yet polished concrete, and stonework and greenery. My style is simple - we always have leather couches as they can be wiped down when dirty dogs and children or both, jump up on them! I have always softened the couches with throws and cushions that can easily be changed to suit the seasons or your mood at the time.

123 Garden Hill Court, Kangaroo Ground

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find my inspiration from nature and have always tried to bring the outside into my home. Even in our first home in Warrandyte when we couldn't afford a thing, I would cut big branches of foliage and have them in vases to fill the room. It's become my signature.

What do you usually start with when putting together a room?

The big things - I put the couches in place and work around that. Same with your dining table and chairs. You have to be practical - no use having the table by the window if you have to walk 'miles' to get there with the food.

Your kitchen gardens are the envy of many, do you have any advice for those just starting out?

A kitchen garden needs to be as close to the house as possible. My kitchen garden was my favourite part of our property, after the views!. It always gave me so much joy to sit there after an afternoon working in it having a glass of wine, and 'smelling the roses', and then picking of course, the vegetables for dinner.

In your opinion, what makes a home 'home'?

Your family without doubt. My home is where my family is, not my possessions. In fact, when we sold our house recently the new buyers wanted to purchase everything inside and out - and we agreed to! Minus a few special things, such as the French Artist Claire Basler's botanical painting Steve bought me for my special birthday!

Best investment in your home?

Our garden - plus our Cheminee Philippe fireplaces. Nothing beats an open fire.

What's been your favourite space to enjoy?

My vegetable gardens without doubt. I adore fennel - it lasts forever and grows so high!

What project are you working on at the moment?

Living with my Stevie, there are always projects on the go. At the moment we are finishing building 'The Villa' at Meletos. This will be a 5 bedroom house which we were going to rent out for wedding guests, but we have decided to change our lives and move into during our next chapter – living alternate weeks in 'The Villa' and at Sorrento where we have just recently bought. It's a gorgeous home within walking distance the front beach and the shops. We saw it only once and made an offer. It is a much more contemporary home than we are used to, but it still has the stonework, sleeper steps and timber floors that we crave for - and it is finished!

One thing Covid has taught us, is that we have to be flexible - things may change, and that is ok.

To see more of Vonnies projects head to her Instagram pages at

@stonesoftheyarravalley
@meletos
@no.7healesville

or visit their websites at
stonesoftheyarravalley.com.au
Meletos.com
No7healesville.com