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“It is quite a surreal and humbling experience to see this image of my property used for the industry fundraiser,” Ray White’s Angus Campbell said.
When Mr Campbell snapped a photo of the devastation caused to his property after bushfires swept across his land, he did not realise it would be the poster of an initiative that would bring the real estate industry together for a common purpose.
“I actually just took the photo from my phone, but it turned out to be quite striking and stark,” he said.
Although the man behind the Beyond the Bricks photo had his home spared from the inferno as it engulfed his property, the week before Christmas was not the festive time that usually comes with the holiday season.
Conditions started to deteriorate the Friday before Christmas in the Adelaide Hill region, where Mr Campbell has his farm.
Winds were strong, and the mercury reached 40 degrees in the region, so he moved his cattle to the top paddock and implemented his fire plan.
His wife and children went to stay with family in Mt Barker while he filled bathtubs, clamshells and buckets with water, used sandbags to seal the gutters and filled them with water, and put sprinklers on the roof.
It was an exhausting job for just one person, and it became more of a challenge as the smoke thickened, the temperatures rose, and the wind howled.
As he finished up, the wind changed, and he spotted the flames, as they danced towards his property, destroying everything in its path.
Minutes later, the “army of flames” took hold of his property, and wiped out his entire 61 acres, but Mr Campbell’s family home was left untouched.
“The lesson that I learnt was that if you are not 100 per cent prepared to fight the fire on your own, get out,” he said.
“It was too windy for the bombers, and the CFS were stretched to capacity.”
As well as shifting the flames at a rapid rate, the wind also knocked down old gumtrees, blocking roads.
“Nobody could get in and out of the area — so I was isolated for a few days. I was living off black coffee, and the power and phone service was in and out.”
Although they were a little burnt, fortunately, Mr Campbell’s livestock survived and can be taken care of.
His family returned home a few days later, and Mr Campbell was pleased his young children were not there to be traumatised when the fire approached.
“After the Sampson Flat bushfires only a few years ago, everyone said that we wouldn’t see anything like this for at least another 15 years. It’s five years later, and this one has eclipsed all fire events in the Adelaide Hills region.
“In Australia, our way of life and our lifestyle will now be different.”
How the local market sits
Although the fires have scarred the region, Mr Campbell believes the market will remain strong.
“I am still getting phone calls from people still wanting to live in the Adelaide Hills and wishing to live in a bushy retreat.
“I expect demand will probably remain the same. People will feel that they can ‘get a bargain’. Stock levels will be down, so anyone with properties on the market now should be able to maintain their prices.
“The rental market has increased by 20 per cent overnight. Investment properties are very, very scarce for tenants, so there is a huge rental demand.”
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