Remember the TV series Bonanza where Ben Cartwright relocated to Nevada Territory to raise his three sons in the country? You too can own a little Ponderosa, get away from busy Perth and raise your family in the beautiful Shire Of Northam. Clackline... it’s about a 5 minute drive West to The Famous Bakers Hill Pie Shop, 30 minutes to Mundaring Village or, if you must, about 45 minutes to the bottom of Greenmount and the metropolitan area. But who wants to go there when just 12 mins to the East is the Northam regional town centre with good shopping and many financial services and Government branches. 104 Benrua Road is a 2.17ha rural-residential property in a battleaxe configuration so up the 200m gravel driveway we go to the main gate where the property is revealed. It’s a lovely clean block, has been well maintained and cared for by its owner. Although much of the front paddock and a patch at the rear have been cleared, there are still stands of natural vegetation and tall timbers, particularly in a little gully at the rear of the dwelling. Even though built in 2005, it’s as if the house has never been lived in as it’s so clean, tidy and cared for. The natural timber plank flooring, looks like Marri wood to me, makes a lasting impression on all guests who walk through the door. The nerve-centre of the house is the open plan kitchen/meals/lounge with sliding glass door to the front verandah and authentic timber French windows to the rear. There’s a gas fan forced stove, walk-in pantry and reverse cycle ducted air conditioning and ceiling fans. Two bedrooms and the family bathroom come off a passage from one side of the lounge, another little passage leads to a storage area and the main bedroom, walk-in robe and ensuite bathroom. There are paved verandahs all around the house and attached to the front corner is a pergola, the perfect spot for evening G&T and barbecue. On the top side verandah is an attached carport, full width of house, looks like 11 x 3m to me, probably big enough for caravan and 4WD. Further up the back yard is a gallery. Could be used as a teenagers’ retreat or better yet, a bunkhouse. Kick your cranky teenager out of the house and let it be his or her bedroom away from other siblings. It’s about 4 x 3.5m and has its own front verandah. Just a hop and a skip from the gallery is the Colorbond garage, about 7 x 5.5m. It has a PA and roller door and the big bonus of built-in ablutions; shower, toilet and wash trough. Why not let it be for the private use of your inhabitant in the gallery. Water is so precious these days. This property catches rainwater in a 1,500L PVC tank behind the shed, a 720L tank from the gallery and a 9,000L tank from the house attached to an electric pump. To ensure mains pressure to the house from the scheme water supply, there is a 2,200L PVC tank and pump. Life can be beautiful, living in the bush but so close to town services. Call Steve Hill 0407 778 462 or Lara Turnbull 0437 225 793 for a private inspection.