An island farm linked to one of Australia’s greatest political sex scandals, between former Deputy Prime Minister Jim Cairns and his assistant Junie Morosi, is for sale.
The 48.56ha plot at 72 The Rest, French Island — off Victoria’s coast near Phillip Island, was used by Mr Cairns to host counterculture festivals known as ConFests, featuring meditation events, in the late 1970s.
Briefly Deputy PM in the Whitlam government, he was a vocal opponent of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
But Mr Cairns is possibly better known for a parliamentary sex scandal between him and Ms Morosi.
It wasn’t until 2002 that he admitted having relations with the woman who worked varyingly as his assistant and private secretary, but the pair, both married to other people, were the subject of extensive speculation during the 1970s.
Photos in the national archives show both Mr Cairns and Ms Morosi at the ConFest events on the island and the farm’s current owner Bill Woodward said he believed the pair had spent more much more time there.
“He (Cairns) was either leasing it or he owned it, but he had it for many years,” Mr Woodward said.
“He had a restaurant here (the Red Boat) and ran the ConFests here, all the tents are still here down in the bush.
“The house I’m in now was their residence, and the room where I sleep in was their office.”
Others on French Island confirmed the property hosted the counterculture events, but were less sure about Ms Moroni’s time there.
Mr Woodward has slowly refurbished an 1880s-built second house on the farm he’d intended to run as a farmstay, but now expects the next owner will complete the project that just needs interior lining.
He has also planted a few thousand trees, dug dams and stocked them with a mix of brown and rainbow trout, and established about 35 head of cattle and a flock of peacocks on the property, which he has had surveyed as one of the island’s highest at a 97m elevation.
“I have been here for 22 years and it’s a lovely lifestyle,” Mr Woodward said.
“It’s not dear, I’m making enough out of my cattle to just breeze along. “You keep pretty healthy as you are keeping a healthy lifestyle.
“And I have the best views on the island. Out over to Flinders, the Gurdies and Phillip Island down the driveway.” One Agency Peninsula’s Michael Phoenix is handling the sale and said with solar panels, wind turbines and a generator, as well as extensive water supply, the property was completely off the grid.
The island address is also free of local government, meaning no council rates.
No. 72 The Rest, French Lane, has a $3m-$3.3m asking price.
Mr Phoenix has also listed neighbouring 81 Scotts Lane for Mr Woodward at $1.3m. It includes a more modest 1.62ha lot with a shed partly fitted as a weekender, plans to build a two-level house.
By Nathan Mawby
11 June 2021