Bluey Blundstone's: In the Mid North region of South Australia

Step onto the balcony after a good night's sleep in the barn at Bluey Blundstone's and all seems right with the world. Mount Remarkable, the famous mountain overlooking Melrose is there in all its glory and the heritage town below slowly begins to come alive.

After a busy career in the city, Christine and John Potts made the move to this piece of mid-north paradise more than two years ago.

"Like was very stressful and it was affecting my health," said John. "So we decided that we'd have a seachange - only it turned out to be a mountain change - Mount Remarkable."

Now the pace of change is limited to watching the moods of the Mountain.

"I had a couple of heart attacks and got diabetes. After being up here for six weeks I went to my specialist and he was absolutely amazed at the results. It was the best result I've ever had and it was because all that stress had gone."

Sea change, tree change, mountain change - whatever you call it, it's a phenomenon as more and more people seek out places like Bluey's to savour a very different life.

"The air is so nice, the trees, the people are nice," smiled Christine. "It's a lovely small town."

The implements in the blacksmith's shop, the hessian ceilings and the pug and pine cubicles where people now stop for lunch and a coffee all hark back to very different time. In the 1860s, Bluey Blundstone, the original smithy here was working overtime servicing the needs of the local constabulary across the road at the Melrose Courthouse and Police Station.

"I think their jurisdiction went as far as the Timor Sea. It's incredible - they'd leave Melrose and they'd be on their own."

Today when you leave Bluey's you may be on your way to Paradise Square next door where many of the original Melrose pioneers were first buried - including the Blundstone clan. Other visitors explore the many walking trails around Mount Remarkable and return to remarkable tales about the tucker that awaits - like a Bluey Blundstone yiros.

"The recipe was given to Bluey back in the 1800s by a travelling Greek blacksmith and it was handed down from blacksmith to blacksmith and I've finally got hold of it," said John with a smile.

"And if you believe that you'd believe anything!" he laughed.

It's great tucker though, great ambience and a great base from which to explore Melrose and it's famous mountain. For bookings contact Bluey Blundstone's Heritage Accommodation on 8666 2173.

Bluey Blundstone's Heritage Accommodation
Ph (08) 8666 2173