17
The Front Gate at Château Destinée
When we first arrived, the gate was closed with a heavy chain across it, and the sides were completely overgrown. Even so, we could immediately see its character. What we loved most were the crest-like shapes at the top of the gate. We loved them so much that they became the inspiration for the Château Destinée logo.
Phase 1
We knew this beautiful entrance deserved care and attention. One of the very first things we did was install a sign with the château’s new name, Château Destinée, as a way of announcing that the property had a new future ahead of it.
Before that, it had been known as Château Pitray, because the two side wings built in 1626 had originally served as hunting lodges for the original Château Pitray. Locally, that name had continued to be used for many years. However, when the original Château Pitray sought legal rights to the name, they won that decision before we came along. As a condition of sale, the château therefore had to be renamed.
In the end, we came to love the new name deeply. For us, it reflects several things at once: our own future, the château’s destiny in finding new owners to bring it back to life, and also Linda’s return to country life, having been born on a cattle property in central Queensland called Destiny Station. The name works beautifully in both English and French, and it is easy for people to pronounce and spell.
We then painted the gate in what we now call Château grey. It has since become one of the colours that quietly ties the property together, as we have used the same grey on our outdoor furniture and on other exposed metalwork around the estate.
Once the overgrowth was cleared away and the gravel driveway repaired, the entrance finally became the grand arrival we had hoped for.
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Click or tap a photo to see it larger.
Phase 2
Unfortunately, some time later, a delivery driver hit both gates and caused significant damage to the stone pillars.
Rather than simply patching the stonework, we decided to rebuild the pillars entirely and make them stronger. Our thinking was simple: if anything ever tried to hit them again, it would come off second best.
As part of the rebuild, we created inserts for our sign and logo and added lighting to enhance the entrance further. In the end, the result was even better than we had imagined, though of course we never would have predicted that rebuilding would become necessary.
For me, one of the hardest decisions was how to finish the tops of the new pillars. There are so many options available, but in the end I wanted to remain true to the original style and make sure they still matched the pillars at the gate leading down to the river.
Now, we truly do have an entrance that feels worthy of the château.
And I have to say, I love driving in every time.
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