If you ask Chris Millman about summer storms, he will describe the intricate shapes made by clouds rolling over Yass.
He spent many an afternoon watching them from the hill of an 1880s Marchmont property, some 50 kilometres north-west of Canberra.
At night, he would watch the stars from the yard - a treat after living in the city, where lights "blocked more half" the details of the sky.
Mr Millman's mentor, Rodney Moss, designed upgrades for 171 Kirkton Road, Marchmont, to showcase the landscape around it.
These plans came to life in 2018. Mr Millman was not the owner of the property at the time.
The renowned architect, of Canberra-based firm Cox, was hired by the previous owner to update the property while keeping historic features.
But Mr Millman loved the property. When it came up for sale, he jumped at the chance to live in it.
He is now the director of Cox's Aotearoa Studio and said selling the Marchmont property was a necessary but regretful step.
The property has most recently been run as an Airbnb, but Mr Millman and his family enjoyed three years here, commuting to Canberra.
The home, known as Moss River House, was once the main residence of Kenilworth Homestead, which spanned thousands of hectares in what is now the Yass shire.
Elements of the property remain, including a stone bridge over Kittys Creek which runs through the property.
Those historic elements were crucial to Mr Moss and his team when redesigning the property.
"We always seek to reuse rather than redo or demolish wherever possible," Mr Millman said.
"A lot of the house was derelict timber and had long-since fallen over."
But stonework on the front of the house is original, as are some of the walls inside.
New features were created, too, and a central loungeroom sets the mood for the rest of the house.
"It's got the pride of place. It looks over the river. You have morning sun, the sunset and northern sunlight that tracks right across the room," Mr Millman said.
"It is such a spectacular place to watch the landscape and weather patterns come through.
"The galahs come in force at times, as do the kangaroos and the cockatoo, both black and white," he said.
Despite its connection to nature, Mr Millman said double glazing and thermal heating under polished concrete floors kept the house at a T-shirt and shorts temperature all year round.
Selling agent Campbell Jones of Blackshaw Manuka said elements of comfort added to the appeal of the four-bedroom, two-bathroom property.
"It has all the important elements of a modern home," he said.
Along with contemporary heating technology, the property has a large kitchen with stone benches, a freestanding oven and a built-in, double-doored dishwasher.
Solar, bore water and a drinking water tank also feature.
The 9.80-hectare property is home to a number of highland cows, which Mr Millman said may be available to the right owner following interviews.
Interested buyers so far were largely local, including people wanting to upgrade within Yass.
The property will go to auction on November 2.
It has a price guide of $2 million and above.
