A Home Built by Architects near the Wineries of Mudgee
Ember sits near Mudgee, one of New South Wales’ best-known wine regions. Architects Alyssa Saltzgaber and Derek Scholes built it for their weekends away from Sydney. Alyssa is Japanese-American and Derek is Australian, and both backgrounds are right there in the house: native Australian timber, concrete and ceramic in a dark palette, with the restraint of Japanese architecture. Much of the furniture was designed and built by the architects themselves, which is a big part of why it feels like their home and not a rental.
The interiors open toward the paddock, so there’s always something to look at from inside: kangaroos bounding through the grass, light moving across the deck, the trees turning in fall. After dark, the endless sky is filled with stars.
Ember Mudgee is a home that's perfect for friends or two couples to enjoy time in the country. The kitchen is built for long dinners, the dining table sits at the center of the house, and there are fireplaces both inside and out. Come for a romantic getaway or a midweek reset, and you may not want to leave the property at all (we wouldn’t blame you). But if you do, some of Mudgee’s most-loved wineries are a short drive away.
Layout
This 90 m² (about 970 sq ft) vacation home in St Fillans, near Mudgee, sleeps up to four guests. There are two bedrooms, an open kitchen and living space built around a long dining table, and a deck that faces the valley.
• Bedroom 1: Queen
• Bedroom 2: Queen
• 1 full bathroom
• 1 half bathroom
Good to know
Entry is self-service via keypad. No pets, no children under 12, and no smoking anywhere on the property, which sits in a bushfire protection zone. The house runs on a septic system, so paper only in the toilet and no oils down the drain. Additional guests or any kind of event need the owners’ approval in advance. A smoke detector is fitted, but there is no carbon monoxide alarm on site. Registration number: PID-STRA-97060.
Amenities & services
Full kitchen (stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster, cooking basics and utensils, dishes, silverware, wine glasses), dining table, air conditioning, indoor fireplace, general heating, outdoor fire feature, Wi-Fi, TV, washing machine, drying rack, iron and ironing board, bed linen, towels, hangers and clothing storage, basic toiletries, patio/balcony, on-site parking, first aid kit, smoke detector.
Around
Mudgee is 15 minutes away, with heritage streetscapes and an unhurried, small-town feel. Australian Traveller ranked it among the country’s 100 best towns to visit in 2026, and Booking.com’s 2025 Traveller Review Awards named it Australia’s fourth most welcoming town. For wine, the owners send guests to three places. Yeates Wine is a family-run cellar door with tastings on the veranda. Burrundulla is one of the region’s oldest wineries. Rosby Wines also hosts the annual Sculptures in the Garden exhibition, which is worth timing a trip around. For food and coffee, they recommend Old Wheels Grind Coffee & Doughnuts, Althea by Zin for a morning pastry, and Zin House for farm-to-table dining on the Lowe Family Wines estate. There’s also the Paragon Hotel for a classic pub meal by the fire, so save that one for winter.
Location
St Fillans, near Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia. Nearest town: Mudgee, about a 15-minute drive. Nearest airport: Sydney (SYD), about four hours by car.
Best time to visit
Spring brings blossoms and long golden evenings, and fall brings crisp air and changing colors. Winter is for the indoor fire and a bottle of Mudgee red. Summer days run hot, so make the most of the deck in the cool of early morning and evening.
