The Riethmuller family of Wagga Wagga will bid a bittersweet farewell to their home of 15 years, Belisi Farmstay Cottage and Belisi Wellbeing and Equestrian Centre, after a successful private treaty sale.

LAWD director Tim Corcoran had anticipated strong interest in the 46-acre property which was listed with an asking price of $3.4 million. Offered on a walk in, walk out basis, ‘Belisi’ features a beautifully renovated five-bedroom homestead with in-ground swimming pool, luxury farmstay accommodation and a fully equipped riding school and community wellness hub.

“Belisi offered a unique opportunity to secure a rural lifestyle property that featured two streams of income from the established luxury farmstay and an innovative Wellbeing and Equestrian Centre,” Mr Corcoran said.

Vendor Jenni Riethmuller said the property looked very different in 2007, when her family decided to move out of central Wagga to find some tranquil space in the country and indulge their love of horses.

“It was largely a blank canvas surrounded by working farms – there was a small home, shed and cattle yards and the land was split into two big paddocks. Over the years we renovated and expanded the homestead, built two sand arenas, multipurpose yards and the fully accessible equestrian centre, and converted shipping containers into a luxury farmstay,” Jenni said.

“We’ve also planted more than 1,000 trees and fenced the property into 22 main paddocks with smaller holding paddocks serviced by a network of laneways, and all of this is only 15 minutes from Wagga.”

In 2012, their riding coach suggested the farm would make an ideal place for a riding school, and the Equestrian Centre was born – a first for the region.

By 2018 the Riethmullers had become aware of how equine therapy could improve the wellbeing of people living with mental and physical challenges, and the advent of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) made the Belisi program financially accessible for more people.

Clients engage in a range of programs including equine-assisted therapy, yoga, meditation and art classes, as well as riding lessons catering to all abilities.

“It’s been very rewarding to work with our clients and see the impact that these services have on their physical and mental health,” Jenni said.

“Our fifteen school horses, which range from a pony to a Clydesdale-Cob cross, were also remarkable in taking care of the clients. They all have beautiful temperaments and stay in constant training to ensure they’re fit and healthy.”

The name ‘Belisi’ means ‘peaceful man’ in Tok Pisin, one of Papua New Guinea’s national languages, and commemorates Jenni’s parents’ love of PNG.

The building of holiday accommodation on Belisi in 2019 was the result of travels by Jenni and her husband. Having previously worked in the tourism industry, they wanted to provide the same sense of luxury in the country that they’d enjoyed in cities around the world.

A commitment to sustainability prompted them to choose recycled shipping containers for the two-bedroom accommodation and with the help of a local builder, their design was brought to life. That same year they won a regional silver award for best New Tourism Business and were a finalist in the Golden Crow awards for Outstanding Customer Service.

The accommodation provides stunning views looking down the valley of the Murrumbidgee River. Occupancy rates run at around 95 per cent and there is Council approval to build an additional three cottages.

“We wanted the farmstay to complement the Wellbeing Centre and vice versa, and guests love experiencing the simple joys of living in the country – the sky full of stars, the fresh morning air and the sounds of wildlife,” Jenni said.

“When COVID-19 put a stop to overseas travel, many people chose to explore regional areas, which was lovely for us. Most of our visitors are either repeat customers or have heard about us from social media or by word of mouth.”

The next chapter for the Riethmullers involves moving to the South Coast to be closer to family and to slow down a little, a prospect Jenni is looking forward to, albeit with some sadness.

“It’s bittersweet to farewell our family home and business of so many years in a region we love, and we are very grateful for the incredible memories and people who made the journey such a pleasure.

“We will always cherish our years at Belisi.”