Jamie Durie'S Second Act: Fatherhood, Farming, And Fast Cars

Jamie Durie: A Fresh Take on Fatherhood

When Jamie Durie stepped into fatherhood again at the age of 52, he vowed to do things differently. Now 56, the renowned landscape designer is a devoted dad to daughter Beau, four, and son Nash, three, with fiancée Ameka Jane. His first experience as a father was with daughter Taylor, now 33, from his previous relationship with Michelle Glennock.

“I wanted to be much more present,” Durie shared with nine.com.au about his second chance at fatherhood.

During his earlier years, Durie was balancing the demands of a booming career with parenting, as he became a household name on shows like Backyard Blitz and The Block. Today, while still managing his design practice, JMT Design, he is more focused on being present with his young family.

Finding Peace on a Byron Bay Farm

In a bid to savor every moment with Beau and Nash, Jamie and Ameka traded Sydney's northern beaches for the serene life of a 74-acre dairy farm in Nashua. This escape from the city is a deliberate choice to enrich their children's formative years with nature and simplicity.

“We want to give them some really precious time on the farm before they get wrapped up in, you know, private school and heavy education,” Durie explained.

The farm offers a daily adventure of fishing, watching platypuses, and even feeding the chooks and geese. It's a lifestyle that teaches the kids about responsibility and the origin of their food – values Durie holds dear.

The Joy of Driving Green

Adding a touch of modernity to their rustic life is their new Black Special Edition Zeekr 7X, an electric vehicle that has become a family favorite. For Durie, it's a symbol of how design and sustainability come together.

“The kids jump in the car and they go, ‘Hey, daddy, can we go in the fast car?’” Durie chuckled, delighted by their enthusiasm.

While the car adds convenience to their busy lives, it's also a nod to Durie's commitment to sustainability – a value he's passing on to Beau and Nash.