Teresa Palmer to split her time between Adelaide and Los Angeles

HOLLYWOOD starlet Teresa Palmer is coming home to Adelaide to build a strong family base from which to pursue her glittering movie career.

Teresa Palmer on set of 'The Fun in Forever 'at her parents house in Scott Creek.

HOLLYWOOD starlet Teresa Palmer is coming home to Adelaide to build a strong family base from which to pursue her glittering movie career.

Palmer, 30, who speaks fondly of growing up here, has bought her father’s wildlife preservation and lifestyle property, Chateau Palmer, at Scott Creek in the Adelaide Hills and will split her time between Adelaide and Los Angeles.

After almost a decade in Los Angeles, the actress will return in June with husband, independent US film director Mark Webber, who she married in Mexico in December, 2013, and their son, Bodhi, two and a half. She told The Advertiser she wants to raise Bodhi in Australia so he can share similar childhood experiences to hers.

“We are so excited to take over my Dad’s home and take on all of his Australian endangered species like potoroos and bettongs,” she said. “He and my step-mum Kaaren are moving to the city so my family and I will be splitting our time between Los Angeles and the Adelaide Hills.”

Palmer was in Adelaide in early 2013 filming at Chateau Palmer which was used as a location for The Ever After, directed by Webber.

After her parents separated, Palmer was raised by her mother, Paula Sanders, in a Housing Trust unit and with her first substantial pay cheque, Palmer bought her mother a house at Semaphore.

They remain close and Sanders helps care for Bodhi and travels with Palmer, who has filmed on location in Mexico, Tahiti, North Carolina, Berlin and Sweden. Sanders will share the Adelaide Hills home base and live in a separate home on the property while Palmer’s sister, Vikki, and partner Gary live in the Semaphore home with their son Jack. “I just realised how important it was for my son and future children to be raised in Australia, and be immersed in the type of experiences I had growing up,” Palmer said.

Her investment in childhood memories could extend to sending Bodhi to her old school, Mercedes College, a Catholic co-ed school at Springfield. The star, who has made nine films in two years since Bodhi’s birth, said she was excited to explore schools for him in the area. “I may even send him to Mercedes College, my old school,” she said.

Palmer has retained strong links to the school, returning for her 10-year reunion and recently becoming No. 1 ticketholder for the Unley Mercedes Jets, the Division 1 Old Scholar’s football club. Mercedes’ Old Scholars executive officer Anne Morse said Palmer had raised the possibility of sending Bodhi to Mercedes.

“We love having the second generation because it tells us they were obviously very happy with their time there,” she said. “And of course she has her choice of anywhere in Adelaide really so we would love to have him.” Palmer, who was last in Adelaide in November, has embraced motherhood and wants to expand her family but said recently she was having difficulty conceiving and was worried she was working too much. “I think it’s about time to cultivate some self-care,” she said.

Palmer said she wanted her son and future children to grow up here.