Situated on a 50 acre farm beside a river in a beautiful valley, the house is surrounded by undulating pasture land and fingers of bush. A lake to the west has been carefully designed to encourage and sustain fish and wild-life in the area.

The house poises about a north-south axis down-valley to the sun and up-valley to the river source. The entry threshold from the porte-cochere leads into the subdued light of a breezeway. A covered bridge is then entered, the light becomes more intense, space expands into the intimate walled garden and views extend over the wall to the surrounding landscape.

An underground water course in the walled garden feeds a waterfall, fern gully and rock pools, bridged by the house. The covered bridge crosses a pool, splitting around a fountain, the roof opens and the tower is glimpsed. Under the house at the base of the waterfall is a deeply shaded summer retreat with views to the north and back into the walled garden. A series of grassed terraces drop to the river.

In the heart of the house, gravity and light are connected by stairs; a floor window to the gully below and a tower pushing through a quatrefoil roof-light opening to the sky, emphasise this relationship. The central tower commands an overview and offers a retreat for reflection, contemplation and release. Opposing forces are in play; integrating energy is apparent. This house is a vehicle for approaching wholeness.

The Hackford House has received State and National awards. An international architecture magazine concluded - 'It is a brave attempt to inject a new spirituality into the predominantly secular, materialistic Australian culture'.