Digging for Fire
Creativity is a slow burn for Carnegie ceramicist
Tantri Mustika
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There’s no shortage of ceramicists in Melbourne. But even among our city’s wealth of clayware, we were instantly drawn to Tantri Mustika’s gorgeous vases and vessels. Maybe because they’re so hard to pin down: both maximalist and minimalist, simple and gilded, sophisticated and fun. For this week’s cover story we visit the talented maker in her studio and talk about the slow process of joyful creativity.
Jo Walker Broadsheet
Editor
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The Interview with Jenny Kee
NOW OPEN Gigi
1/143 Greville Street, Prahran
Jason M Jones and interior designer Brahman Perera, the power couple behind Entrecote and Hopper Joint, have opened lavish new bar Gigi in the former site of Rufus. After a five-month renovation, the hidden upstairs space has transformed into a 60-seat salon, gallery and outdoor terrace taking cues from high-society Paris. It’s adorned with Persian rugs, crystal chandeliers, velvet banquettes and hand-painted walls.
The menu is a playful mash-up of vintage Australiana and classic French food. Party pies come filled with beef bourguignon, footy franks are rebranded “petit franks” and the prawn “cocktail’ette” comes with Marie Rose sauce mousseline. Straighter dishes include caviar rosti with crème fraîche and a tuna tartare tartlet with piment d’espelette pepper.
On the wine list, find gems like Suenen champagne from Champagne and Tolpuddle chardonnay from Tasmania. For cocktails, there’s an Espresso Martini with chocolate truffle, and the Gigi, made with elderflower, sweet pea and gin. — SP
ADD TO CART
Jimawood Gunggara incense
Handmade in Broome, Jimawood incense combines native materials from the Kimberley to create rich, earthy aromas. The First Nationsowned-and-operated business takes inspiration from the rugged beauty of Broome’s natural environment, drawing upon its vibrant colours and scents. Evoking the smoky warmth of a campfire, these incense sticks are named after the gunggara, or conkerberry, which is revered in Yawuru culture for its relaxing and restorative qualities. — GC
$39 / jimawood.com.au
IN THE DIARY
Makers and Shakers Market
The Makers and Shakers Market returns for a special Christmas-gift edition, celebrating locally made, handcrafted goods. The two-day market will have more than 100 stalls, with everything from homewares to slow fashion, plus plenty to eat and drink. Look out for Spunky Bruiser’s recycled reversible jackets; art deco-inspired furniture from Goldie’s 3 Chairs; crispy chilli oil from Six-Eyed Scorpion; and pastries and other baked goods from Cobb Lane. — GC
Nov 9–10 / Seaworks Maritime Precinct, Williamstown / themakersandshakers.com.au
Photo: Chege Mbuthi
READ ME
The Golden Wok
Diana Chan makes a compelling argument for the virtues and versatility of the wok in her new cookbook. Across 80 recipes, the Malaysian-born chef – and Masterchef Australia winner – proves this wonder pan can be used to steam, boil, braise, smoke and fry. Case in point: a dish of fragrant, crispy salt and pepper tofu seasoned with five-spice. Or pork and mustard greens stewed in a rich caramel soy sauce. Plus, there’s a guide for all-important wok maintenance. — KW
$50 / hardiegrant.com
BAR CART
Mischief Brew X Saison Aperitifs Amaro Tonic
It feels like Aussie aperitifs are finally having a moment. So you could say these stout, sexy cans of amaro tonic have landed at the perfect time. Behind the amaro is Saison, otherwise known as the side hustle for Embla’s Dave Verheul; on tonic is Adelaide soda and mixer company Mischief Brew. For this collab, expect notes of chinotto, blood oranges, cumquats, marigold blossoms and oregano. — DC
$7 50 / mrwest.com.au
THREE OF A KIND
Gelato cups
If you’re hosting a summer soiree (or just lounging on the couch postdinner), ice-cream is always a good idea. Scoop your favourite flavour into something more chic than your average bowl. Maison Balzac delivers an ’80s-inspired glass coupe set upon a crisp wafer. Alex and Trahanas makes charming ceramic cups hand-painted in Puglia, Italy. And Fazeek’s playful design, balanced on a cube, comes with a matching spoon. — GG
Alex and Trahanas Lido ceramic dessert cup, $75 / alexandtrahanas.com
Fazeek Cube sundae glass, $79 / fazeek.com.au
Maison Balzac x Messina gelato coupe, $89 / maisonbalzac.com
Alex and Trahanas photo: Lucy Laucht
TRUSTED SOURCE
P Johnson Femme
When Patrick Johnson debuted women’s suiting in 2019, P Johnson Femme quickly became a destination for occasional and everyday wear, from cashmere sweaters to fluid floor-length gowns. Until now, Melburnians could shop the Femme collection in a compact suite at P Johnson’s Windsor showroom.
Now you’ll find the womenswear line in its shiny new home in Armadale, occupying the spacious ground floor of a double-storey Victorian-era shopfront. “It feels warm and continental, with some Viennese-Milanese suggestions, orchestrated like a beautiful living room or drawing room,” says interior designer Tamsin Johnson, Patrick’s wife and the deft hand behind all P Johnson interiors. — KW
1082 High Street, Armadale / pjt.com
IN THE KITCHEN
Snapper Ceviche
Alejandro Saravia, Pastuso
Prep time 10 minutes / Cook time 20-25 minutes / Serves 8
800g skinless snapper fillets pin-boned 250ml (1 cup) fresh orange juice 1 cinnamon quill 2 cloves 100g raw sugar ¼ sweet potato peeled and cut into 8 x 5mm rounds
Leche de Tigre: ½ golden shallot roughly chopped 2 raw scallops 3 coriander roots scraped and cleaned, roughly chopped, plus a handful of leaves, to serve 2 tsp aji amarillo (Peruvian yellow chilli paste) or red or green chilli deseeded and finely chopped 80ml (1/3 cup) fish stock Sea salt Juice of 1 lime Juice of 2 lemons
Clean the snapper fillets and dice into 1cm cubes. Set aside ¼ cup of the offcuts, then cover the fish and set aside in the fridge.
For the leche de tigre, place the fish offcuts, shallot, scallops, coriander roots, aji amarillo and fish stock in a blender and blitz to combine. Taste and season with salt, if needed. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, stir through the lime and lemon juice and set aside in the fridge.
Heat the orange juice, cinnamon, cloves and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the sweet potato and enough water to just cover, then cook for about 10 minutes, until tender. Drain and discard the cinnamon and cloves.
Place the fish in a shallow serving bowl. Stir the leche de tigre, then pour it over the fish and toss gently to coat. Serve with a slice of sweet potato and a couple of coriander leaves.
Find this recipe – and 80 more like it from Melbourne’s best cooks, chefs and restaurants – in the Home Made cookbook.
$49 95 / shop.broadsheet.com.au
Photo: Anson Smart
Photo: Mark Roper
SNACK BAR STREET STYLE
By Audrey Payne
Hector’s Deli’s has opened its first CBD outpost, next to popular bakery Raya. The menu is the same as you know and love, but the design and delivery are decidedly more sophisticated with curvaceous timber counters, white worker’s jackets and jazz music. 61 Little Collins Street, Melbourne / hectorsdeli.com.au
New South Melbourne eatery Kirbie channels British caff energy with daily chalkboard specials, sandwiches, soups and strip steak. For dessert, there are chocolate tarts, olive oil-drizzled lemon sorbet and more. 323 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne / kirbie.com.au
It’s hard to miss the Masses Bagels line at Carlton Farmers Market. Now, the hugely popular market stall has found a permanent home on Smith Street, and is set to open in December. It’ll be a little easier to snap up its wild-fermented bagels, including fan favourites like the seasonal tomato creation. 5 Smith Street, Collingwood / @masses_bagels
Dessert shop Le Yeahllow, known for its signature white chocolate balloon puppy cake filled with whipped black tea ganache and sour cherry compote, has opened a third spot in a former Black Star Pastry site. Shop 4, 8 Driver Lane, Melbourne / leyeahllow.com.au
Moon Dog continues its rocket-fuelled rise with a fourth venue, Moon Dog Doglands. Set within Marvel Stadium, it’ll service sports fans with a 360-degree bar wrapped in a palm tree boardwalk, and a terrace restaurant overlooking the Marvel concourse serving up Mediterranean-inspired fare. 685 La Trobe Street, Docklands / moondog.com.au
Read the full story for each dot point: broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/series/ snack-bar
Symonds Street, Hawthorn East
Name: Vanessa Bong Age: 30 Occupation: Freelance textile designer and illustrator Tell us about your outfit today. I am wearing a top from Gu, my jacket is from Seoul, and a pair of jeans from Rollas. How does your style fit in with your lifestyle? I think of style as being an extension of myself. If my clothes make me feel comfortable and happy in some way, it’s a win. What do you gravitate towards when shopping? Definitely colour, then versatility. If I know it will look good with other pieces in my wardrobe, I gravitate towards it.
EASY
CONVENIENCE
Hawthorn East offers a perfect balance of suburban charm and urban convenience. With treelined streets, period homes and vibrant spots like Camberwell Junction, it’s loved for its schools, parks and quick tram or train access to the CBD.
Photo: Chege Mbuthi
Photo: Nicholin Tanechi
Photo: Liana Hardy
THE INTERVIEW Jenny Kee’s New Collab Celebrates a Colourful Career
Words by Jane Rocca
A love of Australiana helped make fashion designer Jenny Kee a cultural icon. In the 1980s her koala knitwear was made famous by Princess Diana, while David Bowie was a regular at her Flamingo Park Frock Salon in Sydney.
Now Kee is unearthing some of her archival prints for an apparel and homewares collaboration with Aussie label Kip & Co.
Her much-loved Goddess and Opal motifs salute Kee’s design career – though the results are a little more homely than the high fashion of yesteryear. From bedspreads and tea towels to chic silk shirts and pyjamas, it’s a celebration of colour as much as it is a chance to bring the ’80s back. You’ll also find brightly coloured make-up purses that can easily double as a bold clutch to boost your sartorial game.
“My designs are timeless because they’re art,” Kee says. “It’s never been about the commercial aspect for me as I don’t do trends or seasons. That’s why working with Kip & Co appealed because they’re three women in business doing great things. We’ve been trying to do this since they launched [in 2012] and the timing has worked for me now.”
Kee pays homage to womanhood in the Goddess print; Isis, Aphrodite, Quan Yin, Kali, Marilyn Monroe and Anna Piaggi are her heroines, all painterly perfect on a 1980 s silk scarf design, now centred defiantly on a bedspread.
“The final bedspread result exceeded all expectations, and I love how Kip & Co embraced my complicated design strengths and didn’t shy from using them in a collection,” Kee says.
There are silk pyjamas in the mix this season, but Kee says she’s secretly holding out for a flannelette version too.
Her iconic vintage knits can fetch up to $4000 on fashion resale marketplaces, and
Kee admits she likes to look online and see what other ridiculous prices people are asking.
“I feel quite special to be in the league of being collectable.
“The jumpers are skyrocketing – anything that’s Jenny from the past is fetching huge dollars. I started designing in the 1960s, opened a shop in 1973 and by the time you get to nearly 80 – as I am – it’s quite a feat, really, to be considered collectable. I certainly didn’t anticipate that when I was making fashion back when.”
The 77 -year-old, who lives in the Blue Mountains, is about to head to the Himalayas for a silent Buddhist retreat, where she’ll walk to a peak of 4100 metres to enter a silent cave for reflection. She’s been a few times before but, of course, getting older makes her wonder if this will be her last time.
“Everyone has a different way of being in the world and I seek spiritual sustenance by going to the Himalayas,” Kee says. “And the crazier the world is, the more I crave a peaceful existence and wish it for everyone.”
Thousands of waratahs are in full bloom in her backyard, and birds chirp in the background during our interview. Kee says she’s busy working through her archives and is often surprised at how much she has made over the decades. Right now she’s sifting through collected fabrics and recycling them to make new gowns.
“I am not in the raging creativity of my life like I was when aged in my thirties, forties and fifties,” she says. “But this feels more important and has more meaning for me right now. That’s because I am taking in pieces and recycling them [into] new gowns as an expression of me.
“Doing the homeware collection is also the beginning of a new working relationship too. For me it’s about doing things with people who come from the same place of passion as I do. That’s what makes it exciting for me.”
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF INSPIRING LONG-LASTING LEGACIES.
JOIN US AS WE HONOR OUR HERITAGE, CELEBRATE OUR PRESENT AND CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
DISCOVER MORE AT TOORAKCOLLEGE.VIC.EDU.AU/150
THE FIT-OUT
Plush Towels for Bathrooms and Beyond
By Alice Jeffery
KOBN Textile designer Sophie Matson launched Kobn in 2017 with a range of thoughtfully designed towels. Fill your linen cupboard with Turkish-made pieces in organic cotton, which are finished with contrasting stripes and raw fringing. This season, we’re obsessing over bold primary hues that add a splash of colour to your bathroom and your beach bag. kobn.com.au
SAARDE Sydney lifestyle brand Saarde delivers high-end simplicity through its collection of home and body products. And its towels are a real treat. They bring subtle texture to your bathroom while maintaining softness and absorbency thanks to top-notch Turkish cotton. Mix and match sets in vintagewashed colours or opt for its textured chickpea finish with nubs of terry weave for extra comfort. saarde.com
SHEET SOCIETY This Melbourne brand might be bestknown for bedding. But Sheet Society’s new bath additions hit a similar sweet spot of playful-yet-practical homewares. Towels, bath mats and more are made from weighty combed cotton in a range of pastel and neutral colours designed to complement each other. sheetsociety.com
BAINA Antipodean brand Baina set a new standard for towels when it launched in 2019. Signature chequered styles, made in Portugal, are seen strewn across city beaches and maximalist bathrooms alike. The growing range of striped and textured pieces caters to a wide range of interiors. The common thread is sustainably sourced cotton terry that dries well and elevates everyday rituals. shopbaina.com
LOOP HOME Softness is the selling point for Loop Home. Made from organic cotton, the plush collection comes in a range of sizes with simple geometric motifs in colours like terracotta and stone. The generous bath sheet brings a little luxury to the everyday. Plus, the brand’s logo label doubles as a loop for hanging your towel up. loophome.com.au
LOOM TOWELS Designed in Melbourne and hand-woven in Turkey, Loom makes limited-edition collections that embody luxury. Working with GOTS-certified organic cotton and natural linen, the brand champions untreated, unbleached and non-coated fibres when it comes to dyeing and pre-washing. Each piece is finished with signature hand-tied fringes and tassels. loomtowels.com
Photo: Rhiannon Taylor
Photo: Sarah Jessica Marie Burns
HOME OF THE WEEK
A home for the generations
Words by Anders Furze
Now, here’s an impressive 1700 square metres of prime Brighton land. It’s got everything you’d expect from such a sizeable allotment: the pool and spa, sure, but also a tennis court, a main bedroom suite with both an en suite and powder room, and even a dog run.
Add in bespoke, architect-designed finishings and a discreet street close to the beach, and you get a fine example of what makes Brighton one of Melbourne’s top suburbs. Call it a family entertainer and statement property in one.
That statement is made immediately upon entering. A grand portico welcomes you into the magnificent foyer with accents like curved stone columns and jarrah floors.
The main bedroom suite is to your left. This luxe retreat has a walk-in wardrobe as well as that en suite and powder room.
On the other side of the foyer is the welcoming living and dining room. The space is divided by the central, original fireplace, and the dining zone flows nicely into the kitchen.
Two things cement this home’s status as a dream entertainer. There’s the poolside entertainment lounge, which we’ll get to, but
the kitchen also plays a major role. Its island bench is made from Italian granite – some 4.5 metres’ worth of it.
Hot, cold and sparkling water is on tap, and a glass wine cabinet is ideal for showing off the collection and easily accessible.
Sunlight rushes into this space thanks to the windows and glass doors, all elegantly framed in black steel.
The rear patio is perfect for entertaining guests. It has bluestone paving underfoot and connects seamlessly with the pool and spa. The sizeable outside space here extends to the tennis court, which is kept bright in the evenings thanks to flood lights. Basketball and netball hoops add sporting versatility.
Guests will also enjoy the poolside entertaining lounge, which also works nicely as a home cinema room. It connects to the rest of the house but is also its own entity, complete with a separate guest bathroom.
As well as the main suite, you’ll find three more bedrooms in the house, all with built-in wardrobes and two with built-in desks.
Other design highlights throughout include skylights and pendant and sconce
lighting. There are also solar rooftop panels, retractable insect screens, a single garage and off-street parking for four vehicles.
Yuille Street is a small and discreet residential strip in a prime location close to the Were Street shops and cafes, and the beach.
The Brighton Grocer is an easy stroll around the corner for when the supply of organic chickpeas runs low, and many top schools are nearby, including Brighton Grammar, Haileybury and Firbank.
Brighton 13 Yuille Street
$14.5 million-$15.95 million
4 3 4
Expressions of interest: Close 1pm, December 3
Agent: Marshall White, Simon Monnier-Penny 0404 283 551
Scan the code to see Domain listings in Brighton
WHAT THE AGENT SAYS
“This incredibly wellappointed, newly renovated home is a generational opportunity for a lucky family. Rarely does a home of this calibre become available in Brighton on a north-facing block of over 1700 square metres.”
NEED TO KNOW
The highest recorded house price in Brighton (past 12 months) was $9.5 million for 181 New Street in February.
The median price for a fourbedroom house is $3.22 million. RECENT SALES
$7.3 million
12 Normanby Street, March $8.4 million
8 Birdwood Avenue, March $9.5 million
36 Dawson Avenue, February
Simon Monnier-Penny Marshall White
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TANTRI MUSTIKA AND THE JOY OF CLAY
Words by Sanam Goodman · Photos by Phoebe Powell
When you ask Tantri Mustika how she first got into ceramics, the Melbourne-based maker says she “accidentally fell into it”. “I’ve always been creative and dabbled in hobbies,” Mustika tells Broadsheet. “I picked up ceramics as a hobby, desperately in need of a creative outlet after hairdressing for over 10 years.”
Clay quickly became an obsession. She started taking it to the barbershop where she worked, playing with the material whenever there was a spare minute. With a new joy in ceramics, Mustika cut down her hours as a hairdresser. “I started posting my work on Instagram and friends started asking ‘Can I buy one of these vases for a wedding present?’ or ‘Can I get one of these?’ So I made a website, got help from friends, had some photos taken, and launched my business –that’s why it feels accidental.”
Mustika’s signature style is best described as minimalist maximalism. Her mainstay is vessels and vases, but she’s also dabbled in other handmade ceramic wares like brooches, earrings, magnets and incense burners. And while she’s come to be known for her coloured terrazzo-esque look, the creative is careful to not let it define her practice.
“Describing my work has always been a bit challenging for me,” she explains. “I initially established my career with a distinct aesthetic that I was known for, but over time I’ve branched out and I no longer create the same things consistently.”
There’s an inimitable beauty to Mustika’s wares. Her distinctive touch is evident in every piece through quirks, odd shapes and off-kilter corners. It’s where the real beauty lies, she says. “I’ve spent years hand-building my creations, avoiding the wheel because I really appreciate the uniqueness of wonky shapes. You can feel the difference in a handcrafted item.”
Much of Mustika’s recent work references old-world designs and her Balinese heritage, inspired by childhood memories, moments in nature or photos from the past. “I’m currently working on a new series of vases inspired by Rangda, a popular motif in Balinese mythology,” she says. “The hair of Rangda inspired the squiggly designs on the vases, and that’s just one example of how I’ve taken a visual cue and reinterpreted it to create something new.”
Though her 25,000-plus followers on Instagram and the cult-like status of her ceramic wares may suggest otherwise, running her business has been far from easy for Mustika. “I had my shop at Collingwood Yards, and I was running workshops, and I was doing exhibitions – my life looked amazing from the
outside, but the reality was far from it.”
After starting and growing her business in 2017, Mustika took the leap to move into the studio at Collingwood Yards. Though it was a financially daunting task, the move felt right at the time. Then Covid hit, and
with increasing rent and a key staff member leaving, Mustika made a snap decision to close her shop and studio. She sold off her pieces, stored what she could, and moved into her garage studio at home.
“For the past year and a half, I’ve given
I’ve aged out of it sometimes,” she laughs. “I’ve never been on Tiktok and Twitter’s not for me. I stick to Instagram mostly, but even then, I’m pretty scatterbrain about it. I post when I feel like it or get obsessed with something new.”
While many creatives feel the pressure of algorithms and constant content, Mustika is focused on maintaining her joy in the process. “The moment it starts to feel like a chore, I know I’ve lost something.” Instead, the ceramicist prefers authentic connections face-to-face, whether it’s giving talks or reaching out to interior designers directly to collaborate on projects.
Tantri Mustika takes a slow approach to ceramics from her shared studio in Carnegie. Building old-world forms and channelling her Balinese culture, she magics coolgirl earthiness with a touch of glam.
Melbourne was thrown into a series of lockdowns. “I was determined to make it work but I found myself so overwhelmed and stressed. And the added pressure of running a business reliant on my creativity left me feeling exhausted.”
With a lease renewal approaching, coupled
myself breathing space and now I feel more inspired than ever,” she says. “My new motto is ‘Move slow to go far’. I used to rush into everything but now I recognise the importance of downtime for creativity.”
That same, slower approach extends to how Mustika handles social media. “I feel like
Creativity has been the guiding light in this new, slower era of her business, and it’s helped Mustika rediscover the joy in making. “I’ve always been stuck by the idea of what I should be doing, but I’m finally experiencing a free-flowing moment where I’m like ‘I don’t even know if anyone’s going to want to buy this stuff, but I love it’.”
And so do others. Despite the growing market of mass-produced and copycat wares, Mustika has built a loyal community that keeps coming back for custom ceramics and new collections. “My goal is to craft pieces that people will cherish for years – objects they would want to keep and potentially pass down through generations.”
These days, she works out of a small studio in Carnegie, which she shares with her good friend, and founder of textile brand Trinket Solo, Megan McNeill. After living and working in Melbourne’s north side for much of her adult life, Mustika made the move south to live closer to her family, and for a more affordable studio to rent with McNeill.
“I stumbled across a little shopfront in Carnegie, close to my house. It was a bit small and ugly, with scrambled egg yellow walls and old wallpaper, [but] when I walked in, I knew I wanted it.”
As well as being good mates, Mustika and McNeill have a budding creative relationship, too. “We’re quite compatible, I love everything she makes and she loves everything I make. Our styles look good together.”
The pair’s studio has a street-front window, but there are no plans yet to open a store. That doesn’t stop Mustika from displaying her work and dressing the window when she feels like it. Next year, she might even restart her workshops. “It’s great that I’m enjoying this process again and only doing the things that feel right.”
Shop Mustika’s ceramic wares at tantrimustikaceramics.com
LIKE A LOCAL
Collingwood
By Sasha Murray
Although the suburbs share Smith Street, Collingwood feels quite different from Fitzroy. It’s got a lot more grit, in part because it has been a hub for light industry for so long. Many warehouses – once occupied by those businesses – have been replaced by cafes, microbreweries and galleries, firmly establishing the neighbourhood as one of Melbourne’s trendiest places to live. It’s lined with new residential developments, often containing the loft-style apartments you might expect to find in Brooklyn.
Smith Street is a lively strip, home to exceptional casual eats. Trang Bakery and N Lee offer some of the best banh mi in town. For gozleme, head to Sonsa Markets; for Ottolenghistyle salads, check out Alimentari; and for huge bowls of Korean bibimbap, try Goon BBQ. After something sweet? Pop into Falco Bakery or Piccolina Gelateria. Smith Street is equally known for its vintage shops, such as Shag, and nighttime hangouts like sustainable wine bar Glou and classic pub The Grace Darling. Plus, make a stop at stylish preloved store Swop nearby.
There’s just as much to see along Johnston Street. Perhaps the most significant recent addition is Collingwood Yards, a large-scale hub for independent art organisations, artists and creators. Inside, there are 17 studios, as well as beloved wine bar Hope Street Radio, buzzy rooftop bar Runner Up and popular Italian deli-style sandwich shop Stefanino Panino. Nearby, find all-day brunch spot Terror Twilight, homey bakery To Be Frank and BYO Greek restaurant Jim’s Greek Tavern.
In the backstreets, there are converted warehouses that now hold coffee roasters such as Proud Mary and Everyday Coffee, and endless breweries and bars including Stomping Ground, Molly Rose and Paradise Alley. For some R&R, escape to wellness and fitness studios like light-filled yoga spot Good Vibes, body-positive bathhouse Sense of Self and high-energy Pilates studio Core Plus.
Collingwood is also a great spot for a dance. There’s always live music at The Gasometer Hotel and The Tote, but if you’re hoping to stay out late, check out iconic gay pub The Peel and thumping nightclub New Guernica.
Transitioning from gritty to refined, vibrant to serene, Collingwood embodies diversity. Thriving on a robust sense of community, its proximity to Fitzroy Gardens, Carlton Gardens, the MCG, Yarra Bend Park and Collingwood Farm enhances its appeal.
Average Age 33
Median Weekly income $2,130
Clockwise from top: Terror Twilight, Swop, photos Casey Horsfield. Runner Up rooftop bar, photo Ben Moynihan. Collingwood Yards, photo Casey Horsfield
WHAT THE AGENT SAYS
“Collingwood properties are as diverse as the population, from luxury modern apartments and homes to Victorian-era terraces and stunning historic warehouse conversions. The juxtaposition of these styles can be seen on the same street which means there’s usually a property for all tastes and budgets.”
Clockwise from top: Otter Street Pocket Park, photo Casey Horsfield. Falco Bakery, photo Samantha Schultz. Keith Haring mural, photo Casey Horsfield. Hope St Radio, photo Samantha Schultz
Tony Cambell Ray White
TRUSTED SOURCE Contain Your Enthusiasm
Words by Michael Harry
You’ve probably seen Contain’s work before – and covered it haphazardly in crumbs and sauce. Run by industrial designer Brittney Wheeler, the design studio is responsible for some of Melbourne’s most creative packaging and merchandise, and it’s become a fast favourite of the local hospo industry.
Wheeler’s client list includes food and beverage heavyweights such as Four Pillars, The Everleigh, Hector’s Deli and Lune alongside high-profile brands P Johnson, Rising Festival and Troye Sivan. All of these work with her team to create branded packaging and merch: premium tote bags and tea towels, bespoke caps, boxes and bottles, and more.
From her Abbotsford office, she talks to Broadsheet about sustainable merch, bagging heavy sandwiches, and thinking in 3D.
When did you launch Contain? I was on maternity leave from my job at Third Drawer Down in 2017 and decided I wanted to do my own thing. My daughter was really young and I needed to get out of the house, so I started at a coworking space in Cremorne. There were lots of other creatives there and I took extra desks on as the business expanded. Then in lockdown I found the warehouse.
Restaurant T-shirts became the new rock tees in Covid. Did you ride the wave? Contain really grew in Covid. I started a side hustle making face masks using organic cotton and hemp. One day Zoë Foster Blake posted them on her social media. I was at the park with the kids and all these orders suddenly started coming in. We sold $20,000 worth of masks in 24 hours. The cash flow helped grow the business and we’ve grown organically ever since. [Hospo] merch really took off because that’s another revenue stream for businesses. Tell us about some of your favourite projects. A pivotal moment was working with [design studio] Swear Words and Simon Schulz [of Schulz Organic Dairy] to make a returnable, reusable glass milk bottle. They had the look and feel and we brought the structural element to the bottle and the production knowledge. Since then, one million bottles have been returned and refilled and 40 tonnes of plastic saved from landfill. We are also doing more health and beauty, like packaging for [Collingwood day spa] Sense of Self and for Troye Sivan’s fragrance company Tsu Lange Yor. Packaging is usually made to be thrown away. How do you combat waste? As much as I love packaging, I’m also a bit anti-packaging. We say no to foam inserts and
plastic laminated cardboard and try to educate people about recycling and sustainability. We also work to the parameters of the printer to minimise waste in production. We are FSC [Forest Stewardship Certified] so we have that accountability and can tell you where all our product comes from.
What are some of the most popular products Contain has created? The Meatsmith tote was huge, everyone wanted that one [Wheeler’s partner is Troy Wheeler, co-owner of Meatsmith]. Totes have been literally getting bigger and bigger – we did one for [beverage company] Strange Love recently which is like the size of a laundry bag. And we made a cap for Coffee Supreme with “Cappuccino” embroidered on it, which became a hit.
What are the main challenges working with packaging for food? The main thing is designing for purpose, so making sure the material is suitable for fridge or freezer use, or that it’s easy to assemble in a retail setting. For Wild Life Bakery we researched where they stored the packaging, how it fit in the space, how they served it from the counter, and that informed the design.
Have you had any packaging disasters? Any exploding bags? For Hector’s Deli we had to measure and weigh the sandwiches to make sure they’d fit in the different sized bags and the handles would hold the weight. There was a lot of research involved, and we all had our favourite sandwich by the end! That’s a bonus when designing food packaging –“You mean we have to get another package of hot cross buns for the photo shoot?” It’s a tough gig.
Do you have a lot of unwritten design rules in your head? I guess so. Designing pizza bags for DOC, we included handles on the form, so you don’t need another bag to carry it, and it eliminates the need for a secondary piece of packaging. With food you need to use soy-based inks – you can’t use any inks that aren’t safe! – and use food-safe boards.
We do lots of prototyping and testing for each project. There are also considerations around recycling. A lot of paper bags might have cotton handles, which makes it unrecyclable unless you pull them off. So, thinking about how the packaging will be reused or recycled at the end of life is just as important as the products going inside.
Do you dream in 3D? Yes. My mind can fold different pieces of paper in my head. I’ll think about [a problem] for ages [and] the answer will come to me in the shower. People never know how much thought goes into the final product.
Sequoia Lodge in the Adelaide Hills Will Ruin Other Hotels for You
By Lucy Bell Bird
When I arrived at Sequoia Lodge, my first thought was “oh crap”. From the moment you roll into the driveway of the six-star Adelaide Hills ecolodge, you’re struck with the feeling that this is the sort of hotel that sets a high-water mark and subsequently ruins other stays in comparison.
The lodge itself is the modern extension of the long-standing Mount Lofty House, sitting above the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden with a view that stretches across the Piccadilly Valley.
Each of the 14 suites features handcrafted AH Beard king beds, a raised bathtub in the bathroom
window – the glass frosts at the touch of a button for privacy – a sunken lounge, a fireplace and a balcony. There are two hot mineral pools to float in while misting yourself with Jurlique products, and a pool where you can swim laps or quietly luxuriate while looking over the valley. Breakfast and dinner are served in the lobby, or head over to the original Mount Lofty House for afternoon tea or dinner at the venue’s much-awarded restaurants.
A rambling walk through the botanic garden will take you into the tiny town of Piccadilly and one of Adelaide’s best new dining destinations, Thelma – the local love child of several of the
world’s top restaurants. It’s run by Olivia Moore of premier Adelaide wine bar Loc, Tom Campbell of the now-closed Summertown Aristologist and James Spreadbury (former service director at Copenhagen’s legendary Noma). The trio have also tapped Spreadbury’s brother Tim of Presquil Farms to provide fresh, locally grown ingredients.
Sequoia Lodge feels worlds away from the buzz of the city (genuinely, there are wild deer on the road outside the hotel). But it’s only a 20-minute drive into the CBD and some of the state’s best restaurants including Restaurant Botanic, Botanic Lodge and Chianti.
LUXURY
Words by Richard Cornish & Joanne Brookfield
Hawthorn East
Penthouse, 9 Porter Street
$5.5 million-$5.9 million
4 3 4
Expressions of interest: Close 3pm, November 13
Agent: Marshall White, Jack Nicol 0400 774 428
The 270-degree view across Melbourne to Mount Macedon first strikes you, followed by the sense of calm that defines this stunning two-level Elenberg Fraser penthouse. The glasswrapped downstairs floor offers a comfortable open-plan living space finished in marble, plus three bedrooms with en suites. Upstairs is the entertaining suite, with a kitchenette, two Liebherr bar fridges, a timber baton ceiling, and an open fire leading to a protected terrace, spa and plunge pool.
Toorak
4 Teringa Place
$11 million-$12 million
3 3 2
Expressions of interest: Close 1pm, November 13
Agent: Marshall White, Marcus Chiminello 0411 411 271
Right from the hedge-flanked, custom-designed double doors, everything in this single-level house is elegant. Sprawling across a 911-square-metre block, in a prized cul-de-sac with the bonus of a second street frontage on St Catherine’s Lane, the transformed interiors offer richly hued oak parquetry floors, generous calacatta marble and a suite of high-end appliances. Outdoor entertaining is possible under the pergola in the north-facing garden, or in the private courtyard.
Hawthorn
9 Urquhart Street
$6.8 million-$7.4 million
4 5 6
Private auction: November 13
Agent: Abercrombys, Simon Curtain 0405 385 285
This unique three-level home was built with exquisite attention to detail. Beyond the original early 20th-century home is a new build of open spaces, soaring ceilings and walls of glass. Downstairs is a wine cellar and dog wash, while the upper floor houses two bedrooms (with en suites) and is clad in charred timber. The use of stone, timber and ceramics brings natural tones and textures to the interior while the outdoor dining area connects to the gardens and heated pool.
Brighton
9 Kilrush Street
$10 million-$11 million
4 3 6
Expressions of interest: Close 4pm, November 12
Agent: Kay & Burton, Matthew Pillios 0408 145 982
This impressive and expansive three-storey house won the Master Builders Victoria best custom home award in 2022 for good reason. The flow and layout are exceptional, while finishes such as marble, mirrors, stone and polished concrete create a sense of permanence, luxury and security. The garden, designed by Nathan Burkett, is a landscaped oasis. Just a short walk from the beach and close to the bustle of Church Street, this is an extraordinary home.
OPEN FOR INSPECTION
Words by Joanne Brookfield, Kay Keighery & Shae Wiedermann
Clearance Rate of 63%*
Source: Domain Group
WHAT OUR EXPERT SAYS LAST WEEKEND
Dr Nicola Powell Chief of research & economics
“Making the jump from a unit to a house is getting a bit easier as house and unit prices head in opposite directions. With units outperforming, the price gap between the two has shrunk to its smallest in three years.”
Source: Domain House Price Report
Malvern East 25 Durward Road
$1.5 million-$1.65 million
3 2 2
Auction: 12.30pm, November 9
Agent: Marshall White, David Volpato 0414 701 983
Contemporary lines and the stylish, moody hues of the facade set the scene for this cleverly conceived dwelling. The angular design, complete with timber and stone surfaces and endless glazing, allows for year-round internal natural light, while the private courtyard and wraparound deck capture both the north and western sun. Accommodation is split across two levels, with study nooks and retreat spaces as part of the family-friendly floor plan.
Elwood 8 Moore Street
$1.35 million-$1.485 million
2 1 1
Expressions of interest: Close noon, November 12
Agent: Whitefox, Lana Samuels 0435 165 633
million
6 Hawthorn Grove Sold by Jellis Craig*
*As reported on October 26, 2024
Close to the Church Street precinct is this reimagined Edwardian home. Combining period charm (including formal living and dining rooms with ornate wood-burning fireplaces) with modern sophistication – doubleheight ceilings in the extended rear family domain, with double glazing – this family home has a flexible floor plan over two levels
Auction: 1.30pm, November 10
Agent: Gary Peer, Leor Samuel 0413 079 255
Perfect for downsizers, this Victorian house has a simple yet faultless floor plan. Enter through a long, arched hallway past two well-sized bedrooms – both with original fireplaces and one with a bay window overlooking the enclosed front garden – to a large dining room with timber-lined vaulted ceilings. At the rear, the living room opens out to a landscaped courtyard with laneway access.
Auction: 12.30pm, November 9
Agent: Marshall White, Robert Le 0409 877 851
Built c1890, this Victorian brick house has been renovated to deliver a low-maintenance lifestyle. The rear extension includes a spacious open-plan living-dining area with an upper-level main bedroom, en suite, walk-in wardrobe and balcony overlooking the northfacing courtyard. The period facade has an iron-lacework porch and a decorative parapet to match the adjacent houses.
$2.4
4 3 2
Private sale
Agent: Hodges, Michael Cooney 0418 325 052
Coastal tones reinforce the urbane ambience of this exceptional new townhouse. Graced with oak parquetry floors, travertine surfaces and natural light, it’s a stylish family domicile with a commanding street presence. Enter to a spacious open-plan hub that adjoins a white-mahogany deck with a barbecue.
Prahran 62 Chomley Street
$1.7 million-$1.87 million
3 2 2
Auction: Noon, November 9
Agent: Kay & Burton, Matt Davis 0412 466 858
Sitting pretty in a coveted pocket of Prahran, this reinvented Victorian house surprises with a central courtyard accessible from both living areas. The kitchen and meals area provides the first exit to the courtyard and flows down the glazed hall to the lounge (with fireplace) for further courtyard companionship.
Malvern 39a Winter Street
$2.7 million-$2.97 million
4 3 2
Auction: 6pm, November 14
Agent: Belle Property Armadale, Mark Williams 0417 189 377
Offering feet-up living complete with a wow factor, this ultra-modern townhouse by Embrace Architects will have you coddled in natural light. The kitchen, dining and living area spills out to a sunny patio with covered and uncovered areas. Upstairs, the main bedroom suite comes loaded with trappings.
Port of Melbourne is seeking community input into the development of our 2055 Port Development Strategy
As part of Port of Melbourne’s 2055 Port Development Strategy we are seeking input from the community to ensure our roadmap for growth and development adapts to their evolving needs and to broader changes in our operating circumstances.
We will be holding an online community workshop on Monday 25 Nov 6pm - 8pm.
If you would like to register, please visit https://forms.office.com/r/gXZZPfVJXA or scan the QR code for more information.
Bayside Masterpiece
Light-Filled Serenity, Albert Park Lifestyle
City-Edge Refinement and Sophistication
THE HAMPTONS IN BEACON COVE
This
and beautiful freestanding residence on the doorstep of a large open park offers a lifestyle beyond compare, fully and recently renovated and exuding elegance, combining the perfect layout with impressively proportioned dimensions to provide an extraordinary environment for the modern family.
Commanding a beautiful street presence with its corner position and immaculate garden, it sets the tone for this stunning home.
Perfectly located within the tightly held and highly desirable family-friendly community of Beacon Cove, with the beachfront boardwalk only moments away, you're spoilt for choice being walking distance of Bay Street, only moments from famously loved cafes and restaurants, stunning parks, renowned local Primary and Secondary schools, whilst serviced by multiple transport options with excellent links to the CBD.
This is an amazing opportunity to secure a truly one-of-a-kind home, with nothing to do but move in and enjoy!
for Inspection this Saturday 1.00- 1.30pm 3 a 2 b 2 c
A STATELY BEACHFRONT RESIDENCE WITH DISTINCTION
• C1906, this Federation era mansion is one of the district’s original stately residences on a coveted boulevard that’s home to a fortunate few
• Grand scale matched by ornate master craftsmanship flows through every room
• Retains a magnificent arch of wood and stained glass, wood-mantled fireplaces, elaborate ceilings, stain glass windows, superb period detail and an impressive staircase.
• Modernised while passionately preserving every ounce of its soul
• Northern aspect that lends itself to a contemporary composition of your own crafting (STCA)
• Land
