Domain Review Stonnington & Boroondara - May 29, 2024

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FEATURE

A Curious Spirit

Architectural designer Travis Walton creates homes and spaces that embrace the future

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Broadsheet  Founder and publisher: Nick Shelton   General manager: Sian Whitaker  Publications director: Nick Connellan   National editor: Michael Harry   Melbourne food & drink editor: Audrey Payne   Studio and strategy director: Roya Lines   Media partnerships manager: Jessica Kirsopp

Broadsheet  Editor: Jo Walker   Assistant editor: Gitika Garg   Design lead: Ben Siero   Designer: Ella Witchell   Sub editors: Miriam Kauppi, Barnaby Smith, Adeline Teoh, Annie Toller   Writers: Holly Bodeker-Smith, Dan Cunningham, Daniela Frangos, Ruby Harris, Alice Jeffery, Quincy Malesovas, Sandra Tan   Photographers: Ben Alcazar, Faith Bulgin, Sharyn Cairns, Pablo Diaz, Jessie Evans, Amy Hemmings, Phillip Huynh, Kaede James Takamoto, Jana Langhorst, Arianna Leggiero, Mark Pickthall, Jordan Price, Dan Roberts, Samantha Schultz, Lyndsay Scott, Hugh Stewart, Derek Swalwell, Peter Tarasiuk, Pierre Toussaint, Elisa Watson

Cover credits: Travis Walton shot by Peter Tarasiuk

Broadsheet Media acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to lands, waters and communities. We pay respect to Elders past and present and honour more than 60,000 years of storytelling, art and culture.

Travis Walton is interested in homes that go the distance –spaces that not only answer the immediate brief but pre-empt changing needs over decades and generations. In this week’s cover feature the architect and designer shares some of his recent projects and talks about housing that’s not only built to last, but built to transform.

Jo Walker Broadsheet Editor

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The Interview with Loretta Bolotin

Home Of The Week

Neighbourhoods: South Yarra

Stage Door with the New Leads of Wicked

“Food is a window. For us, it enables a really deep and often transformative and healing conversation with someone.”

Property Listings

Feature: Travis Walton

The Interview with Loretta Bolotin PAGE 7

NOW OPEN

Lenny’s Wine Room

327 Lennox Street, Richmond

Newcomer Lenny’s Wine Room, in the former home of Big Dog’s Deli, adds a more casual offering to Richmond’s mix of wine bars.

Co-founded by former AFL player Angus Brayshaw and three other mates, the venue features a green tile backsplash, custommade wooden benches and tables, and murals by local artist Luke Tarlinton. There’s also a 25-person capacity courtyard at the back and a few seats dotted around the bar at the front.

Wines start at $12 by the glass, ranging to $25. There are also 130 different drops available by the bottle, which can be enjoyed in-house or bought at a $20 discount to take away. On weekdays the team runs changing aperitivo specials like $12 Negronis or $10 spritzes, which it announces via Instagram.

For snacks, enjoy Greek olives, cheese plates and Ned’s Bake focaccia with hummus. For something more substantial, customers can order in pizza from Homeslice next door. — QM

THREE OF A KIND Chawanmushi

This steamed savoury Japanese egg custard is often served as part of an omakase menu and usually cooked with dashi, resulting in a silky umamipacked dish. “Chawan” translates from Japanese to mean “tea bowl”, so it’s usually served in a teacup or other small vessel. Head to Akaiito or Bansho for takes on spanner crab chawanmushi, or to Yakikami for a Tasmanian green lip abalone iteration. — AP

Yakikami, 150 Toorak Road, South Yarra

Bansho, 960 High Street, Armadale

Akaiito, 349-351 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Photo: Jordan Price

Bansho photo: Jana Langhorst

READ ME IN THE DIARY ADD TO CART

E Nolan x L’Eclisse shoes

Two Melbourne labels have teamed up to fuel our Carrie Bradshaw shoe dreams. The footwear collab sees E Nolan, known for its made-to-measure jackets and trousers, link with L’Eclisse, which specialises in sleek Italian-crafted shoe designs. Handmade in Marche, Italy, the collection is made up of three pointed-toe styles: shiny patent pumps; a ’30s-inspired T-bar low heel; and flat slingbacks with strappy details. There’s a timeless feminine touch to the all-black collection that equally leans into casual everyday dressing and elevated eveningwear. Shop online or at both brands’ Melbourne boutiques. — GG

From $700 / enolan.com.au / leclisse.com.au

Baking With Pride

If it came down to popular vote, Janusz Domagala would have won The Great British Bake Off in a cinch. Instead, the Polish baker won hearts with his camp and colourful bakes, each one a celebration of his LGBTQI and plus-sized communities. Great news, hunbuns: our fave’s new cookbook is a chubby tome packed with drippy celebration cakes, party ideas and a sausage dog roulade dedicated to his dachshund, Nigel. Six chapters and 100 recipes is a very sweet deal. — DC

$49 99 / murdochbooks.com

Melbourne Design Week

Catch the last days of Australia’s largest annual design festival packed with free talks, tours, exhibitions and installations. Head to Material Matters 02 to see how designers use and reuse material. Explore an immersive textiles showcase by furniture designer Zachary Frankel and Ma House Supply. There’s also Melbourne artist Jacqueline Stojanovic’s new solo show, a multifunctional pet furniture presentation, Aesop’s collab with experimental studio Other Matter and much more. — GG

Until Jun 2 / various locations / designweek.melbourne

Photo courtesy of the NGV / Ben Alcazar

HOME MAKER

Fearon

Founded in 2019 by brothers Jack and Mark Fearon, the eponymous furniture label creates functional aluminium objects that walk the line between homewares and art. You might have seen its distinctive chunky and tubular pieces – like the signature Chubs and Big Chubs stool – across Instagram, in a rainbow of bold hues. “Steel and aluminium is pretty cold, so we try and add a ceramic sort of feel to it,” Jack says. They also handcraft playful drawers, side tables, bed frames and coffee tables, which can be customised in colour and size, in their Burleigh Heads warehouse. — GG

fearon.shop

Photo: Phillip Huynh

SNACK BAR STREET STYLE

Thelatestin

By Audrey Payne

Longrain Canteen, a lunchtime pop-up from the near 20-year-old modern Thai restaurant, has opened on Little Collins Street in the former Le Shoppe space. Find takeaway curries, salads and a roll filled with the restaurant’s caramelised pork hock with five spice and chilli vinegar. Suite 1, 430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne / longrainmelbourne.com/canteen

After 14 fruitful, award-winning years, Glen Iris taproom and brewery Deeds has closed its doors. Sibling business Future Proof Distilling, which operates from the same building, is also shuttering. Founders Patrick Alé and Dave Milstein have been brewing together since 2012, initially under the name Quiet Deeds. @deedsbrewing

Another big name has left their head chef role. Following the news that James Beard Award-winning Chinese-ish author Rosheen Kaul had left Brunswick East restaurant Etta, Ellie’s Table author Ellie Bouhadana announced her departure from Collingwood wine bar Hope Street Radio.

Mini-croissant breakfast cereal is the latest New York pastry trend to hit Melbourne. Jonathan Camilleri of JC Patisserie Boulangerie was inspired by croissant cereal creators, Gautier and Ashley Coiffard of Brooklyn’s L’Appartement 4F, to make his own version. JC Patisserie’s mini-croissant cereal is available once a month at $35 per 150-gram bag. 17 Henry Street, Abbotsford / @jcpatisserieboulangerie

Chris Lucas restaurant Chin Chin has opened its first regional outpost in Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. Club Chin Chin is a 200-seat pop-up on level three of the newly opened Joel Selwood Stand and is set for a 12-month stint. GMHBA Stadium, Joel Selwood Stand, 370 Moorabool Street, South Geelong / clubchinchin.com.au

Name: Lety Age: 27 Occupation: Programmer Tell us about your outfit today. I’ve got Nike tech bottoms. I bought these Adidas shoes in Nashville, Tennessee, where my family is from. The hat I got from a friend, the jacket I bought from a boutique in Newtown, Sydney, and the bag is also Nike. It’s a chic, relaxed type of look. What do you gravitate towards when shopping? It has to be quality fabric that’s comfortable. I don’t buy T-shirts, no offence to T-shirts. I’m obsessed with fabric. My favourite colour that I go for is white, but today you’ve got me on a black day.

AN EVOLVING ’BURB

Once an industrial suburb, Footscray has transformed into a multicultural hub where Vietnamese eateries neighbour halal butchers and African shops. Affordable housing and urban development draw young residents.

Source:

Photo: Pablo Diaz

Photo: Samantha Schultz

Photo: Lyndsay Scott

Irving Street, Footscray

Photo: Kaede James Takamoto

THE INTERVIEW

Breaking Bread With Free to Feed’s Loretta Bolotin

“Food is a window,” Loretta Bolotin tells Broadsheet. “For us, it enables a really deep and often transformative and healing conversation with someone.”

Breaking bread for the sake of connection is the essence of Free to Feed, the social enterprise Bolotin co-founded with her husband Daniel Bolotin in 2015 to provide community, training and meaningful employment for refugees and asylum seekers.

“It’s also a really great way to hear someone’s story when they’re busy with their hands,” she adds. “That forward movement or busy-ness of doing something like cooking allows things to flow from the heart.”

A former resettlement support worker, Bolotin started the not-for-profit after hearing how isolated her clients felt after landing in Melbourne. “At the same time, they had so many amazing skills and experiences the rest of the community could benefit from,” she says.

Words by Daniela Frangos · Photo by Kaede James Takamoto

“But there wasn’t really an opportunity for us to connect firsthand with newly arrived migrants.

“I was so lucky having worked in that sector – I got invited to many Persian tea ceremonies and Afghan barbeques. I’d go visit a client and immediately be forced to sit down and enjoy a meal with them,” she laughs. “So I thought, ‘How can I bridge these worlds?’”

She started by reconnecting with clients, documenting their recipes and borrowing cafes to host pop-up dinners. Cue colourful, fragrant plates of spicy Indonesian sambal; Iraqi dolma (rice-stuffed vine leaves) slow-cooked in tomato; or warming Egyptian baked milk pudding.

“We knew it would be something the community would love, but not to the extent they did,” Bolotin says. “We were getting invitations across all of Melbourne.”

In 2021 the couple moved into a beautiful events space in Fitzroy North – with a fully equipped kitchen, large bar and homey dining

area – expanding the team and stepping up their cooking classes, training programs, catered events and celebratory feasts.

Bolotin, whose parents migrated from southern Italy to Melbourne’s north (where they also ran a deli), observed from early on how food can be a point of connection and common ground.

“We’ll have a Greek attendee at an Iraqi class and they’ll find all these similarities – the way they were mothered or rolling dolmades as a kid. One of our instructors was telling me if you’re invited to someone’s house [in Iran] you have to eat all your food and then as a nicety you ask for more. That’s the same in Italian culture.”

One Free to Feed instructor, Hamed Allahyari, who fled Iran in 2012, went on to open Persian eatery Cafe Sunshine & Salamatea, which employs refugees and asylum seekers. He’s since published a cookbook with food writer Dani Valent and catered this year’s Australian Open.

“Seeing someone going from newly arrived, not knowing their place, to running a thriving restaurant and knowing exactly what their worth is [is so special],” Bolotin says. “We definitely hear from those we support that they grow in confidence, feel safer and feel like they’re part of the community.”

When asked what she’s gained in turn from the communities and individuals she’s met over the past nine years, Bolotin refers to the tattoo on her foot which says azadi (freedom) in Farsi.

“I got it as a reminder of the incredible privilege I have to live in this place that is quite free. To really honour and use that to help and support others who haven’t had that,” she says. “For all our participants, that’s what’s driving them – to find better lives, to be free – free of war, free of hate, free of persecution. There’s something in their resilience and their quest for freedom that is an important note to self.

“I also learnt how to make baklava!”

HOME OF THE WEEK

Four floors of European class

Words by Anders Furze

Low-maintenance luxury awaits in this slice of European-inspired Toorak opulence. The four-storey residence boasts several highlights vying to be heralded as its standout feature.

Perhaps it’s the in-ground pool and covered outdoor entertaining area? The home theatre and eight-car garage? The curved limestone staircase?

In the end, it’s hard to go past the rooftop terrace, which offers a gas-heated spa, barbecue kitchen and leafy views out to the city.

When it comes to inner-east domestic architecture, Christopher Doyle Architects has proven again that the opportunity for relaxation truly is the ultimate luxury.

Double doors at the entrance give way to a grand reception hall. To the left is a sitting room with a gas log fire and a handsome bay window overlooking the front garden.

A formal dining room is further in, and both rooms have heated limestone floors.

Head into the rear, and you’ll find an expansive open-plan living and dining zone with a gas log fire. The kitchen’s many highend appointments include a 1200-millimetre

Wolf oven, a large marble island, a warming drawer and an integrated Sub-Zero fridge. Everything opens up seamlessly to the covered rear outdoor entertaining area. The north-east-facing paved garden has a heated pool with waterfall, and entertaining is a breeze thanks to the full barbecue kitchen and poolside bathroom.

Head up the stairs – or take the lift – to the first floor, and you’ll find four bedrooms. The main’s luxurious adornments include a dressing room and a limestone en suite with a bath. It also boasts a balcony offering leafy views of the front garden.

The three other bedrooms all have their own limestone en suites and built-in wardrobes; the two at the rear also have access to a terrace that overlooks the rear garden.

Flexibility is the name of the game for the top floor’s interiors. A retreat – with bar –could also work well as another bedroom.

Tucked next to the retreat is the rumpus room or office space, whichever takes your fancy, complete with its own gas log fireplace.

Outside, and you’ll find that rooftop terrace, its spa and those city views.

Take the lift down to the spacious basement, and you’ll find space for five cars, a gym, a home theatre and a powder room. There’s also a temperature-controlled wine cellar and bar fridge down here.

Other features include a laundry, alarm with keypad entry and CCTV, security lighting and hydronic heating.

Toorak railway station is a short stroll away, and nearby schools include Loreto Mandeville Hall and Toorak and Armadale primary schools.

Toorak

58 Clendon Road

$11.5 million-$12.5 million

5 6 5

Expressions of interest: Close 3pm, June 4

Agent: Marshall White, Marcus Chiminello 0411 411 271

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Toorak

WHAT THE AGENT SAYS

“No. 58 Clendon Road is the complete package designed by Christopher Doyle Architects and built by Royale Construction. It’s the perfect blend of lowmaintenance living with house-like proportions, which so many strive for.”

NEED TO KNOW

The property last sold for $7.35 million in 2015, and the highest recorded house price for Toorak (past 12 months) was $23 million for 20 St Georges Road in May 2023.

RECENT SALES

$8.75 million

26 Canberra Road, March

$4.426 million

3 Turnbull Avenue, December 2023

$18.68 million

25 Hopetoun Road, November 2023

Marcus Chiminello Marshall White

SHARED SPACES

Words by Sandra Tan · Photo by Peter Tarasiuk

Travis Walton has been crafting beautiful homes, iconic restaurants and boutique stores across Australia and the UK for more than a decade. The award-winning architect talks us through some of his recent projects and shares his principles for long-lasting design.

In the competitive world of high-end design and architecture, Travis Walton has developed an enviable portfolio of timeless, memorable work. Based in both Melbourne and the UK, Walton’s eponymous design studio has earned numerous accolades, and was recently shortlisted in the 2023 Australian Interior Design Awards for its retail work. With each project, his team demonstrates a distinctly holistic approach, artfully turning narratives into a built form. And whether residential or commercial, conversation lies at the core of the creative process – getting to know clients is the first step.

“I’m forever inspired and excited by the early stages of workshopping, from sketching concepts out on paper to fleshing ideas out through conversation – finding that initial connection is very satisfying,” Walton tells Broadsheet

Following seven years as a designer with David Hicks, and having also worked on landscapes with Jack Merlo, Walton founded his own studio in 2010. Some of his first work included imaginative fit-outs for popular Aussie fashion houses Gorman and Alannah Hill. “Retail is nuts – you design it and it’s built six weeks later! I loved that intensity,” Walton says. “It gave me a playground to test a lot of ideas and fun details in a short period of time that we then brought into our residential work.”

Through two decades of design, Walton has witnessed the shifting of home dynamics in Australia. One big theme, he says, is the idea of multigenerational living becoming more mainstream among families, with many opting to pool resources in uncertain economic times. Young adults priced out of the housing market

are living at home for longer, while older folk turn away from nursing homes to be close to loved ones.

Walton’s studio adapts to these changing needs through generous shared spaces and by suggesting walk-in robes or ensuites where possible – offering residents the same amenity as primary suites. It’s a thoughtful, long-sighted approach that has led to much return business, with clients reconnecting and renovating as their family grows.

“As designers we have a duty to create homes that go the distance, that can comfortably meet a family’s changing needs for 20 or 30 years or more,” Walton says. “We also consider the full lifecycle of a project, speaking to a broader market and resale value. Given the high price of property these days, there’s a much longer scope and tenure to a home that needs to be considered.”

Preserving family legacy and heritage was a leading consideration in the studio’s work for Italian institution Cecconi’s in Toorak. Conceived as a sister restaurant to the original Flinders Lane diner, the new outpost celebrates almost 20 years of family operations with a moody, refined interior nodding to classic European hospitality.

There are crisp white tablecloths against deep rouge marble, plush olive green banquette seats, sheer curtains and sculptural lights adding to a warm atmosphere where characterful yet subdued design allows food to take centrestage.

“As a studio we’re constantly challenging ourselves to do things differently, to explore new materials and ways of working, and I’m as passionate about design today as I was

15 years ago,” says Walton, who credits his dynamic team of architects, interior specialists and industrial and furniture designers for consistently pushing each other toward their best work.

“By engaging with the process and being open to possibilities, you discover so much. You can unlock details that you hadn’t expected in the beginning.”

One project that exemplifies this curious spirit is a recently completed brutalist beach house in Sorrento. By adding an elevated podium level for the shared living spaces, Walton’s studio successfully captured ocean views in an expansive home, complete with a double-height void and striking spiral staircase.

While adding to the build height, this top floor is carefully recessed, appearing quite discreet and concealed within the landscape. Plus, a large sliding gate to one side of the building allows the property to both open to its surroundings and remain secure when not in use. The result? An intuitive contemporary home that not only meets the needs of its occupants but directly responds to the natural beauty of its coastal setting.

“A successful project is never down to one person’s achievement, it’s teams of people working together with collaboration in every direction,” Walton says.

“We have people from all different corners of the globe in our business, which makes for far more interesting and creative conversations. Everyone comes to the table with such unique perspectives and palettes and that’s the environment that we want to encourage. I’m really proud of that.”

Roberts Residence Photo: Derek Swalwell

WALTON’S ADVICE FOR TIMELESS DESIGN:

1. WELLNESS OASIS

Designate intentional spaces for wellness. While generous budgets may extend to in-house infrared saunas, ice baths and meditation rooms, clever planning can open up possibilities in smaller homes. Could that underused landing or spare room convert to a new tranquil corner?

2. CLEAN AIR SANCTUARY

Prioritise indoor air quality. The post-pandemic era has seen a rise in advanced air filtration systems, with homeowners looking to minimise pollutants and bacteria.

3. SMART LIVING SOLUTIONS

Where possible, consider integrating AI-based building management systems to control your home efficiently. These systems can anticipate weather conditions, manage electrical demand and adapt to Melbourne’s unpredictable climate while reducing your carbon footprint over time.

4. SUSTAINABLE POWER GENERATION

Invest in PV solar panels to reduce energy costs and reliance on traditional power sources. Consider coupling solar panels with battery backup and EV charging while transitioning to energy-efficient electric heat pumps for hot water.

5. LASTING MATERIALS

Durable materials such as concrete, face brick and timber form long-lasting structures that require minimal maintenance. For interiors, choose a material palette that appeals to a broad market, allowing for experimentation with colour and finishes in smaller spaces like bar areas and powder rooms. This ensures future flexibility without the need for extensive renovations.

Sorrento Residence

Photo: Sharyn Cairns

Sorrento Residence

Photo: Sharyn Cairns

Cecconi’s Photo: Elisa Watson

LIKE A LOCAL

South Yarra

By Ruby Harris

No suburb has been better built for spending a lazy weekend than South Yarra. And trust us, there is plenty more to the suburb than Chapel Street –although it’s worth a lengthy stop.

To begin, grab a takeaway coffee from Gilson on Domain Road. Then join the hordes of weekend locals and get some brisk exercise with a morning walk around the Tan. Post-cardio, you could head back to Gilson for breakfast – or visit Kanteen, a cosy cafe on Alexandra Avenue overlooking the Yarra. There’s an all-day breakfast menu, but if you’re getting a late start we’d recommend the pides for lunch.

You could also head to Tivoli Road Bakery for a pastry (regardless of the time of day, it’s hard to go past the doughnuts), or choose Ned’s Bake on Toorak Road for an extensive breakfast menu, followed by some sweet treats. There’s also new kid on the block Zita’s Focaccia, which is well worth the typical long line. It’s open from 12pm until sold out – this usually happens pretty quickly, so make sure you get there fast. Now suitably fuelled, it’s time to do some shopping. The space at 41-43 Clifton Street is often home to warehouse sales, so keep an eye on what might be popping up. For homewares and cosy winter robes, stop in at Hommey on Toorak Road or head to West Elm on Chapel Street for furniture. Scanlan Theodore and Zimmermann both have outposts on Chapel Street, or if you’re looking for a bargain hit up Secondo consignment store on Toorak Road. In the market for bridal wear? Kyha is conveniently located on Chapel Street, too – we advise following your visit with a chicken sandwich next door at Rustica.

As for dinner, the obvious favourite is France-Soir. But for something casual, Pink Ginger has a loyal following, and newcomer Token is rapidly winning fans, too. End the night with a film at Palace Cinema Como – it’s hard to beat that plush movie theatre feel, and a jumbo box of popcorn.

South Yarra’s reputation as one of Melbourne’s ritziest suburbs has long been shaped by its high-end shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Its desirable status is further underscored by top-notch schools, two train stations and beautiful parklands.

Average Age 33

Median Weekly income $2,063

Clockwise from top: Prahran Market, Chapel Street, Rustica, photos Amy Hemmings. Hommey, photo Arianna Leggiero

WHAT THE AGENT SAYS

“The first home buyers� segment of the market isn’t performing as well as it was three months ago, however with lack of stock at the higher end of the market it’s performing particularly well with multiple bidders at each auction.”

Top: Yarra River, photo Amy Hemmings. Right: Zita’s Focaccia, photos Jessie Evans. Below: Toorak Road, photo Amy Hemmings

Mark Konishi Belle Property

South Yarra

STAGE DOOR Becoming Wicked

Words by Holly Bodeker-Smith · Photo by Hugh Stewart

You can miss out on a lot with a fear of heights. Like skydiving over St Kilda or seeing New York City from the top of the Rockefeller Center. But apparently, getting cast as a broomstick-bound witch isn’t on that list. At least not for Sheridan Adams, the recovering acrophobic who plays a soaring, emerald-green Elphaba in Wicked –the Broadway blockbuster doing its third Victorian run at the Regent Theatre until August, and celebrating its 20th anniversary.

“In high school I went on camps and we’d do obstacle courses. But I was never on tall totem poles or attached to any wires,” the actor and singer tells Broadsheet. But Adams, who grew up in Hoppers Crossing, wasn’t scared to close her eyes and leap in Wicked

For her, the only daunting part was singing Defying Gravity, the powerful ballad that closes act one, mid-air. “It’s not easy to sing that song while flying. Your body has to be set in a certain way. It’s not like you’re on the ground, for example,” she jokes.

It’s one of many challenges that come with being in Broadway’s fourth-longest-running musical. Since Wicked premiered in 2003, more than 65 million people have seen it across 16 countries. It’s outlasted Cats and has won, to date, a Grammy, three Tony Awards and six Helpmann Awards. It also has a super-fan base. “People have lists of their favourite Elphabas. With that comes a lot of expectation and pressure,” Adams says.

When you’re stepping into well-worn sparkly shoes, do you follow the laid-out path or make the role your own?

Courtney Monsma, who plays blissful blond Glinda, has created a magical mix of both. “I inject as much fun as I can that’s suited to the story,” she says. (The 27-year-old cemented her rep as a rising star playing Princess Anna in Frozen the Musical, and performing in Aladdin and Mamma Mia!) In Wicked, Monsma’s eccentricity shines through in the tune Popular. Pert and bouncy, she dances around the dowdy, less-desirable Elphaba. “Sometimes I’ll do a move that I’ve never done before and it’ll take both me and [ Adams ] by surprise.” For Adams, it’s one of the most enjoyable acts with her co-leading lady. “If she [Monsma] does something new every show, my response always has to be new. That’s a very fun game to play.”

The other thing that changes is the crowds. At stage door,

the cast sees the full gamut – from 50-show devotees who follow Wicked around the world, to newbies who’d declared just hours earlier they weren’t into musicals. For Shewit Belay, who plays Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, the best ones are the kids during matinee. “When there’s a plot twist, they gasp and it’s audible. It’s really funny and dramatic.” Belay, a proud Eritrean singer and actress who grew up in Hobart, was an understudy for the three Schuyler sisters and Maria Reynolds in Hamilton before her current gig.

But like much of the cast, she joined the Wicked fan club much earlier. Her first green encounter was playing trombone in a Wicked medley with her high school band. “I can’t even describe how much fun playing that music was,” she says. “I think that planted a seed, whether or not I was aware of it.” Monsma, originally from the Gold Coast, grew up crooning to the theatre-kid staple soundtrack and first saw Wicked at 14. “I sat in the balcony, so I always look there when I’m performing. I waited at stage door for Jemma [Rix], who ended up being my sister in Frozen.” (That’s just one full circle moment: her sister, Emily Monsma, is Glinda’s understudy and in the ensemble.)

Unlike Glinda, we can’t all come and go by bubble. Beneath those pink frocks and billowing black gowns, the leading ladies are encased in microphone packs and harnesses. Plus, there are the hefty props – from Glinda’s crown to Elphaba’s ancient spellbook the Grimmerie. “You’re running up stairs and you’re spinning around,” Monsma says. “And there’s always this heaviness underneath.”

Rest and recovery between performances is crucial. The trio prioritises sleep, vocal rest, hydration, cutting alcohol and socialising less. “Catching up with someone for a few hours is almost like doing a show when you’re talking,” Belay says. That’s especially true for the leading ladies. “The [vocal and physical] demands of their roles are out of this world.”

But they wouldn’t trade it in for anything. For Belay, it’s about showing up as a black woman in Australian musical theatre. “I always feel proud to represent myself and my community on the main stage,” she says.

Meanwhile Adams (who previously ushered at Her Majesty’s Theatre) is thrilled to live her green childhood dream. “I thought it wouldn’t happen to me, even though I really wanted it,” she says. “I hope in my heart that it can happen to other people. Maybe someone I’ve met at stage door.”

72 Hours in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

By Alice Jefery

There’s magic from the frst moment you step onto the ochre-coloured dirt of UluruKata Tjuta National Park.

A three-night stay ofers multiple chances for sunrise and sunset viewing and time for hiking and learning from locals. Guided tours are available, but hiring a car is the most fexible way to explore.

Day one: settle into your accommodation. Sails

In The Desert (part of Ayers Rock Resort) has a pool and restaurant on-site, or opt for wilderness camp luxury at Longitude 131. Then head into the national park. Phone reception is spotty, so buy your park pass online before entering.

Visit the Cultural Centre, grab a map and plan

for sunset at Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Stop past the designated dune viewing platform at dusk and take in all 36 domed rocks from a distance. To beat the crowds, head in a little closer and park at Walpa Gorge. Embrace the stillness as the rocks turn from pink to deep red while the sun fades.

Day two: set your alarm for sunrise and do the full Uluru base walk. The route, just shy of 11 kilometres, is almost entirely fat. Start from the Mala car park and walk clockwise around the rock. The terrain is surprisingly green and lush in some parts, while other stretches ofer little-to-no shade –so it’s best to walk in the cooler hours. Some of the sacred sites have a no photography rule, so be

mindful while capturing memories.

For your second evening, Field of Light by artist Bruce Munro is a worthy spectacle. The immersive installation is currently running until March 2025

Day three: head deeper into the park and hike Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta. The full circuit takes three to four hours and is challenging in parts. In the evening, take in the fairy foss-coloured sky from the Uluru sunset viewing platform and watch until darkness descends.

For your fnal morning, pack a thermos and park at the Uluru sunrise viewing platform. Stay until the sun is high in the sky to appreciate the landscape as it changes.

LUXURY

Words by Richard Cornish & Joanne Brookfield

Albert Park

150 Kerferd Road

$7.4 million-$7.75 million

5 4 2

Auction: 10.30am, June 1

Agent: Jellis Craig, Simon Gowling 0422 234 644

Conveniently close to both the beach and Albert Park village, this c1900 house will impress with its ornate Edwardian facade and contemporary transformation within a Lisa Ellisdesigned garden with a pool. Set on about 466 square metres and boasting high ceilings and multiple living zones, the home sits on three levels, including a basement-level media room/gym with a full kitchenette, and a temperature-controlled wine-tasting room with 1600-bottle storage.

Toorak

6 Torresdale Road

$7.5 million-$7.95 million

4 4 3

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, June 4

Agent: Marshall White, Abby Innes 0423 210 790

The ample glazing in this contemporary, Rob Mills-designed house – including automatic glass sliders to the bluestone terrace and solar-heated pool, skylights and full-height windows – provide abundant natural light. It has three levels linked by a lift. The lower level includes a media room, wine cellar and bedroom with a courtyard; the ground floor has living areas and a fitted study with lush views. Upstairs, the three large bedrooms all have luxurious en suites.

Brighton

The Penthouse/39 Head Street

$6.2 million-$6.82 million

4 3 3

Private sale

Agent: RT Edgar, Gabriel T. Ireland 0438 068 252

From the private rooftop pool to the polished marble floor and plush furnishings, everything about this grand bayside penthouse has been finished beautifully. The hue of the marble on the walls and floor changes with the light as it floods through floor-to-ceiling glazing. Cocooned in style and comfort from linen and oak furnishings, the expansive living and sleeping areas look out onto the constantly changing bayscape and dramatic backdrop of the city beyond.

South Yarra

28 Adams Street

$11 million-$12 million

5 3 3

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, June 4

Agent: Kay & Burton, Nicole Gleeson 0414 809 221

Atherley is a double-fronted, free-standing Italianate villa that stands grandly in a “hidden gem” of a street in the tightly held Domain precinct. It’s been extensively renovated and a contemporary extension has been added. “It’s all beautiful, with a fabulously functional layout,” the agent says of the sophisticated three-level home, which includes a large study, a rumpus room, a concealed butler’s pantry, a built-in barbecue and a main bedroom the size of a small apartment.

OPEN FOR INSPECTION

Words by Kay Keighery, Shae Wiedermann & Richard Cornish

Clearance Rate of 61%*

Source: Domain Group

WHAT OUR NATIONAL EDITOR SAYS

Natalie Mortimer

Domain national magazine editor

“Melbourne was home to the most auctions in the country last week, with 921 homes going under the hammer. However, clearance rates are beginning to soften as we approach winter.”

2 2 1

Auction: 1.30pm, June 1

Agent: Belle Property Albert Park, Stephanie Evans 0420 215 919

$4.65 million

21 Kerr Crescent Sold by Shelter*

*As reported on May 18, 2024

Snug in the 1970s City Edge complex, this two-level townhouse affords light-loving living with indoor-outdoor benefits. The lower level has a big, north-facing balcony off an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area. Head upstairs for a study nook, a bathroom and two bedrooms, including the main with an en suite. Recently refreshed, it’s a lowmaintenance pad in a convenient location.

Balwyn

Yarrbat Avenue $3 million-$3.3 million

4 2 2

Auction: 2pm, June 1

Agent: Kay & Burton, Sophie Su 0425 270 125

Close to Beckett Park, this gorgeous house sits in a botanicstyle garden with an ornamental lake. The interior is equally elegant: the ground floor has formal and relaxed living and dining areas, a study and a sizeable kitchen. Up a curved staircase, three bedrooms with built-in wardrobes are joined by the main bedroom, which has a double walk-in robe, en suite and private balcony. A second balcony joins the mix, along with a rear terrace and deck overlooking the lake.

Expressions of interest: Close noon, June 11

Agent: RT Edgar, Max Ruttner 0425 799 942

Set a little back from the street, this singlelevel house has a pool, spa and family-sized proportions. A formal lounge with fireplace and main bedroom with en suite sit at the front, and to the rear a large living-dining area has a high vaulted ceiling and large windows looking out to the backyard. To the side is a detached poolroom with a sauna.

Auction: 2.30pm, June 1

Agent: Marshall White, James Tostevin 0417 003 333

This exquisitely renovated Federation home is in the heart of Kew. Wrapped in greenery, it offers space, amenities and comfort. From the terracotta turret to the Baltic pine floors, its historic features are matched by the gourmet modern kitchen, surround-sound in the entertaining areas and an al fresco dining area leading to the heated pool. With rear access to Foley Reserve, this is a rare gem.

South Yarra

58 River Street

$2.5 million-$2.7 million 3 2 2

Expressions of interest: Close 1pm, June 4

Agent: Jellis Craig, Andrew Macmillan 0418 142 252

Clever use of space sees this slice of the former Goodman Knitting Mills transformed into a sleek and beautiful home. The main bedroom, with its en suite and walk in wardrobe, steps up to a roof terrace, the floor made of thick glass, which allows light to penetrate to the floors below.

Glen Iris 8 Renwick Street

$3.3 million-$3.6 million

Auction: 12.30pm, June 1

Agent: Marshall White, Jesse Matthews 0413 197 905

With plenty of room, and a pool and basketball court in the backyard, this property is a fine fit (and a fit find) for an active family. Five social spaces over the two storeys complement the four-bedroom format. Dine formally in the lounge and dining room or casually in the kitchen and meals area.

South Melbourne 1104/8 Palmerston Crescent

$1.79 million 2 2 2

Private sale

Agent: Kay & Burton, Duncan Fraser-Smith 0468 560 768

Designer-appointed, this two-bedroom abode in The Eighth offers vistas of the bay and The Shrine and close-ups of skyscrapers. Marble adds an extra wow factor in the kitchen and bathrooms. You can entertain friends and family on the communal barbecue terraces and stroll to the city.

Poolside Oasis of Sun-Drenched Style

Sophisticated Living at Camberwell Junction

Waterfront Penthouse with Rooftop Pool & Spa, 360-degree Spectacular Views a b c e

Penthouse/51 Ormond Esplanade, Elwood

1-4/27 Leopold Street, South Yarra Whole Block With Plans & Upside a b

12-12:30pm

12-12:30pm

a 2 b 2 c 2 Close 12 June at 5pm

‘Yamala Stables’ – History meets contemporary coastal luxe

A luxury residence of unbridled opulence, with swimming pool, tennis court and breathtaking bay views across Daveys Bay Yacht Club to Melbourne epitomises the ultimate in refined seaside living within steps to the beach. Constructed in 1876 as the stables and coachman’s quarters of the ‘Yamala’ estate, the property has been spectacularly expanded and reimagined to boast multi zoned living, featuring 3 living areas, 2 gourmet kitchens, up to 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, sunset terrace and a deluxe poolside alfresco area.

Richard Langford 0425 701 584 richardlangford@oapeninsula.com.au

FACTORY SALE

UP TO 60% OFF SOFAS, MODULARS, CHAIRS, TABLES & MORE

9AM – 5PM 1 STAFFORD ST, HUNTINGDALE VIC

SAT 1ST + SUN 2ND JUNE