Domain Review Stonnington & Boroondara - March 06, 2024

Set In Stone

He’s shown at NGV and Art Basel. Now Steven John Clark chips away at form and function with denHolm studio

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Cover credits: Steven John Clark shot by Hilary Walker

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You need a sturdily built home to accommodate Steven John Clark’s distinctive limestone furniture and decor. But that hasn’t stopped private clients (and top art galleries) snapping up the hefty-yet-playful tables, chairs and sculptures he creates through Melbourne studio denHolm. For our cover story this week, Clark tells how he went from stonemason’s apprentice to NGV-rated designer. Jo Walker Broadsheet Editor

The

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Chotto Motto Japanese curry chicken salt

Curry in Japan is a Japanese take on an English version of Indian curry, so what’s one more national condiment added to the mix? Chicken salt may be an Aussie invention, but Chotto Motto’s version – by the same team that created its famous crispy chilli oil – is gloriously global in flavour. While the classic version contains chicken stock, this iteration can be sprinkled on dishes for your vegan friends, whether that’s classic hot chips, roast potatoes, or even popcorn. — ABT

$12 50 / chottomotto.com.au

IN THE DIARY

ADD TO CART NOW OPEN Token

151 Toorak Road, South Yarra

The energy is always high at Token – the new izakaya on Toorak Road – whether you’re there for a work lunch, knock-off drinks or a late-night feast. An eclectic playlist booms in the background, and local DJs play every Friday and Saturday evening.

It’s the ninth venue from Darling Group, which runs brunch hotspots Higher Ground and Top Paddock. At the front, watch the chefs – including Nobu Melbourne and Ichi Ni Izakaya alum Jun Sun – at work behind a brightly tiled raw bar. Enjoy plates of citrusy hiramasa kingfish, delicate beef tataki and caviar service.

Things heat up at the back, where it’s all about flames, smoke, charcoal and a centrepiece custom-made binchotan yakitori grill. Expect jumbo king prawn skewers and crisp tempura enoki mushrooms.

Standout mains include a Japanese riff on steak frites, flame-licked charcoal chicken with shaved iceberg lettuce, and rice gnocchi in miso butter. — SM

Photo 2024: International Festival of Photography

Australia’s largest photography festival is back for a third edition across four weekends in March. The celebration has returned to a biennale format and will feature more than 100 (mostly free) exhibitions, workshops, art installations, film screenings and tours across seven precincts in Melbourne, plus five regional cities in Victoria. This year’s theme “The Future Is Shaped by Those Who Can See It” will cover works exploring AI, activism, surveillance, climate futures and more. — GG

Mar 1–24 / various locations / photo.org.au

SNACK BAR STREET STYLE

Thelatestin Melbourne foodnews

By Audrey Payne Monash University, Caulfield

Ex-Scopri chef Maurizio De Marzi brings Venetian cuisine (and old favourites) to the new Cecconi’s Toorak. After two decades on Flinders Lane, the Italian institution is opening a new location south of the river. Expect a fit-out inspired by Milanese galleries and a menu of classics including the top-selling served-on-the-bone veal cotoletta. Cecconi’s Toorak, Level 1 , 489 Toorak Road, Toorak / cecconis.com/toorak

Gin Palace is open again after a month of renovation and the much-needed revamp hasn’t compromised the lush aesthetics (or the spirit) of the 27-year-old institution. Melbourne’s iconic gin joint now has a whole new cocktail list and a streamlined custom “no step” bar for faster service. Gin Palace, 10 Russell Place, Melbourne / ginpalace.com.au

Some of the best Malaysian food in town right now is at Pappa Laksa Burwood. The easy-to-miss gem has stayed consistently busy since its grand opening last year. Try the beef rendang laksa – an unusual take using the restaurant’s signature laksa base –and the king seafood laksa crowned with a lightly fired barramundi fillet. Pappa Laksa, 26 Burwood Highway, Burwood

The internet-famous enhanced smoothie craze hits Melbourne with Yawye – a new smoothie bar named for “you are what you eat”. It specialises in highly Instagrammable wellness smoothies and acai bowls, and its menu includes sea moss- and MCT oilfilled drinks. Yawye, 181 Little Collins Street, Melbourne / yawye.au

A fun, retro aesthetic meets French cave à manger at new North Melbourne wine shop and bar Pour Diane. Lounge on the orange velour rotating bed and choose from hundreds of French, European and Australian natural wines. Pour Diane, 472 Victoria Street, North Melbourne / @pourdiane

Read the full story for each dot point: broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/series/snack-bar

Name: Jianan Fu Age: 25 Occupation: Student Tell us about your outfit today. The brand is a designer that I’ve forgotten the name of, but the style is kind of like a Japanese samurai. I’ve seen a lot of people wearing this kind of outfit so I’m trying it out. How does your style fit in with your lifestyle? On a random day it’s just a shirt and shorts but today because it’s orientation week, I’m trying to be a little bit special. What do you gravitate towards when shopping? I kind of like traditional Chinese style and Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto.

CONVENIENT CAULFIELD

Caulfield, once abundant in springs and cattlemen’s routes, is now a quiet, affluent suburb. With diverse architecture, a strong Jewish community, and proximity to Melbourne attractions, it offers a rich lifestyle.

2 bed unit, $634k

3 bed house, $1.618k

4 bed house, $2.181m

Source: Data based on sales within the last 12 months

Photo: Kaede James Takamoto

Photo courtesy Cecconi’s / Arianna Leggiero

Photo courtesy Yawye / Julia Sansone

Photo: Ashley Ludkin

THE INTERVIEW

Keralan Food (and Community) Is a Calling for Mischa Tropp

Words by Gitika Garg · Photo by Ashley Ludkin

“In your twenties you try and figure out who you are and create a bit of an identity,” Mischa Tropp tells Broadsheet. “You go through these periods where you feel a bit lost about what you want do and who you are.”

For the Melbourne chef, the answers were in connection to his cultural heritage. Tropp grew up in Australia, eating few traditional dishes cooked by his Keralan mum along with “hippie” Indian meals he would help his dad make in community kitchens. “I thought I knew about Indian food but as soon as I started researching, I realised I really didn’t know much,” he says.

The road to understanding the home-style Keralan cuisine he’s now known for began on trips to India, where Tropp ate at roadside stalls and learnt authentic recipes from families. His second visit to Wayanad – a northeast district in Kerala – at the age of 25 was pivotal in laying the foundation for everything

to come, he notes. Staying with an Indian family, he’d “get up and cook breakfast, cook snacks, cook lunch, snacks again, cook dinner, and over eight days [he’d] learnt 43 dishes”. Nine years on, and the chef still finds himself referencing many of the notes he scribbled down at the time.

What followed was a series of wildly indemand pop-ups – named We Are Kerala –before a stretch plating modern Keralan dishes at Fitzroy’s The Rochester Hotel in 2018 “Looking back at them, some things were really good, and some were not good enough but when you’re a young chef, that’s just the nature of pop-ups,” Tropp says. “It’s a way of learning and educating yourself by feeding a customer base that’s not necessarily as judgmental as when you own a restaurant.”

When we speak, Tropp sits on one of the 20 seats at his first (and recently opened) diner Toddy Shop. Named after shacks in Kerala

selling the titular drink (a milky-white brew from the fermented sap of toddy palms), the Smith Street spot is fun and casual, serving home-style Keralan fare on simple silver plates. “I wanted the identity to feel exactly like India,” he says, pointing out the venue’s dusty pink and sage walls, black-and-white family photographs, miscellaneous groceries on display and other small trinkets.

Building a community, especially for traditional Indian families, has been rewarding, Tropp says. Looking back at his younger years, you could say it’s the kind of purpose he was searching for. “We had a family of five who drove 50 minutes [ to get here ] and waited 80 minutes with three kids … To have those people enjoy the space is really satisfying.”

Food, community and connection have always been something of a Venn diagram of interests for Tropp. As a child, cooking meant hanging out with his dad. In his twenties, the

chef worked as a kitchen manager at a homeless charity in London. Now, Tropp is hosting the floor and chatting with customers over the occasional free glass of toddy – unlike his first few weeks of service, which saw the chef manage 750 covers solo before realising more hands were needed on deck.

Since gaining clout through his pop-up days, Tropp has come a long way – as has the food he’s serving. “I think the difference between then and now is that I’ve got a bigger profile and Indian food has continually progressed over the past six years in terms of people not just seeking out butter chicken,” he says.

But the chef is just getting started. Opening a fine Indian diner similar to the likes of London’s two-Michelin-starred Gymkhana has been a long-standing ambition. “It’s really cool to look at how Indian food has progressed outside of Australia … there’s still a lot that can be done [here]” – and Tropp has an idea or two.

Five Clever Wares To Help Create Your Home Coffee Nook

By Jo Walker

ROK ZERO JAR – $79.90 FOR TWO This niftily designed jar keeps oxygen out with a push of the plunger lid – making it a great place to stash your coffee beans and keep them fresher for longer. The lid also comes off easily, thanks to an O-ring that releases pressure as you pull up. Added bonus: it’s handsome enough to keep on display, so your beans are always in reach. alternativebrewing.com.au

CUPPI – FROM $350 Handmade in Melbourne from hardwood timber, Cuppi is a good-looking home for all your favourite mugs and cups – almost like a mini art installation dedicated to the joys of caffeine consumption. Prop it up on a countertop next to your coffee-making kit, or attach to the wall if your coffee station needs to make use of vertical space. cuppi.com.au

CHIPS JAPAN STACK MUG – $37 Japanese label Chips has become a fast favourite for its user-friendly design and cheerfully classic colourways that nod to the ’70 and ’80s without ever crossing over into retro pastiche. The stack mugs are space savers that’ll fit even the most petite coffee nooks, and their welcoming good looks signal it’s always time for a cuppa. hands.com.au

BREVILLE BARISTA EXPRESS – $799 This mid-range machine from Aussie brand Breville promises to deliver thirdwave specialty coffee in your kitchen with a balance of manual and automatic processes for the home barista. The built-in grinder and steam wand cut down on the need for extra benchtop gadgets, plus it comes in a range of bold colourways to suit your coffee-nook aesthetic. breville.com

MARIMEKKO FOKUS TRAY – $120 Gathering your coffee accoutrements on a tray is a great way to delineate space and really define your coffee station, whether it’s in the kitchen or a common room. This black-and-white motif in laminated birch plywood comes from iconic Finnish design house Marimekko. It’s striking enough to make a statement, yet relaxed enough for everyday use. marimekko.com

AMERICAN STORIES

HOME OF THE WEEK

A green and graceful oasis

Words by Anders Furze

This is quite the opportunity for a family seeking to buy in Hawthorn: a huge allotment of around 1388 square metres, hosting an updated period home and separate granny flat. With a garden setting and a location in the verdant Grace Park neighbourhood, this is a tranquil oasis that emphasises the “leafy” in the phrase “Melbourne’s leafy inner-east”.

Set back from the street and overlooking a magnificent tree and lovely garden, the porch makes for an idyllic al fresco relaxation zone.

There’s space for an outdoor lounge to the left and a separate seating area to the right of the house’s front entrance.

Baltic pine floors welcome you in the entrance hall, which offers access to a formal lounge – with a fireplace – to the left, and an open living and dining area, which also has a fireplace, to the right. North-facing windows bring in plenty of light and air.

Further in is a kitchen defined by sleek subway tiles, Smeg and Bosch appliances, and stone benchtops.

The laundry is adjacent.

You’ll find three of the five bedrooms downstairs. They all come with built-in

wardrobes and one has its own charming balcony overlooking the backyard – perfect for letting air in over summer.

The main bedroom has its own access to an adjoining study, which overlooks the front garden and also opens off the lounge.

The central downstairs bathroom is equipped with a bath and shower, and there’s also a separate downstairs powder room.

The two other bedrooms are located upstairs, both with built-in wardrobes. One has a built-in desk.

The house’s former garage has been converted into a granny flat, adding versatility to the floor plan.

It makes for an ideal space for guests, or it could also work as a retreat for teenagers. It has a bedroom, living room and bathroom.

Throughout the house, you’ll find attractive and functional details such as ducted heating, decorative ceilings with roses, a rain-water tank, and reverse-cycle airconditioners upstairs.

There’s plenty of space for off-street parking at the front or back, thanks to the rearlane access.

The location of this property in an especially leafy pocket of Hawthorn is hard to beat. L.E. Bray Park is a strip of north-tosouth greenery, and Grace Park offers plenty of active outdoor living, from cycling paths to a playground and off-lead dog area.

Wander a few minutes down Kinkora Road and you’ll reach the shopping, dining and bars of Glenferrie Road. Trains from Glenferrie Station will easily carry you into the city, and you’ll find top schools and Swinburne University in the vicinity as well.

Hawthorn

44 Kinkora Road

$5.15 million

6 3 3

Private sale

Agent: Marshall White, Nikki McCarthy 0410 236 200

WHAT THE AGENT SAYS

“The location, the size and the position of this home makes it feel like you’re in the middle of the country. This is such an exciting opportunity in Grace Park.”

NEED TO KNOW

The median price for a fivebedroom house in Hawthorn is $4.8 million, and the highest recorded house price for Hawthorn (past 12 months) was $41 million for 20 Shakespeare Grove in March 2023.

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59

Nikki McCarthy Marshall White

COMPRISING 5 LUXURY

For private viewing, contact ;

Kelgend Winters

0439 434 449

kelgend @ pbandco.com.au

www.fiftytwoblack.com.au

IDEAS SET IN STONE

Words by Jo Stewart · Photos by Hilary Walker

Artist? Stonemason? Furniture maker? Founder of Melbourne studio denHolm Steven John Clark chips away at the line between form and function.

Some people start the day with yoga. Others prefer to read the newspaper.

For Melbourne-based artist Steven John Clark, taking morning ice baths has been a gamechanger.

“Once you’ve gotten something out of the way that’s so difficult first thing in the morning, it makes the rest of your day quite easy. It takes away a little bit of anxiety. You feel free and ahead of the game before coming into work,” says Clark, the creative force behind Melbourne art and design studio denHolm.

Named after his tiny hometown in rural Scotland, denHolm produces functional, Flintstones-esque limestone furniture; ’ 80 s-inflected chrome side tables; graffiti-daubed plastic works; and experimental art pieces that seem to borrow equally from Mardi Gras theatricality and brutalist punk.

The studio evolved from a small project the Scotsman took on seven years ago. Knowing Clark had apprenticed as a stonemason back home during his teens, a Melbourne friend asked him to make a limestone plinth.

While at the stone yard his wife (artist Bobby Clark) spotted a piece of South Australian limestone she liked. Then the one-off project became something much bigger.

“I decided to play about with that stone, posted it a few times on Insta, and it just took off. The nature of the form and my ability to sculpt it – because it was a soft stone –allowed me to make the shapes that maybe you wouldn’t necessarily see in stone, and here we are today,” he tells Broadsheet

Clark’s work now has a global presence in design galleries such as Charles Burnand in London and Collectional in Dubai. He went from ditching stonemasonry at age 19 to having his stonework acquired by NGV’s Ian Potter Centre. The full-circle journey took a change in attitude, as well as geography.

“I never looked at stone as being creative [back then]. It was always just a means to an end to make money to do other things,” Clark explains, adding that as a teen he was “anti being a tradie”.

Instead, his younger self pursued a career in fashion. With dreams of being the next Alexander McQueen, Clark swapped stonemasonry for studying clothing and textile design, receiving a degree in embroidery from Manchester Metropolitan University.

“I’d always looked at the world of stonemasonry as being old and boring. And I was going to be working with chiffon and sparkles,” he says.

Having dyslexia made written uni assignments a nightmare (“it takes so much mental

capacity to put words into paragraphs and remember commas”), but Clark excelled at applying his creativity in practical ways. He remembers having a lightbulb moment after winning competitions and seeing teachers show his sketchbooks in class.

“I knew then that I see stuff slightly different, or I process stuff a little bit different. I didn’t follow. I was quite comfortable not following.”

Now Clark prefers to sculpt at nighttime in his Oakleigh South studio. It’s in this playful yet industrious space that he and his small team use a combination of power tools and hand tools (like hammers, mallets and chisels) to shape blocks of ancient limestone into modern furniture and art. Notorious for misplacing his tools, Clark admits he’s now bought multiples of his favourite chisel made in the Czech Republic by Narex.

After moving to Australia in 2010 Clark returned to stonemasonry for work, taking jobs on high-end residential building sites. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time working as a stony,” says Clark, who admits that the solidity of his materials is sometimes at odds with his natural working process. “I’m definitively a procrastinator. I really have to screw my feet to the floor to stay in the same area for long.”

and anything else he feels like exploring. The result is a distinct body of experimental work sought after by everyone from interior designers to private art collectors. Whether it’s a statement coffee table made for an apartment living room or an abstract sculpture displayed in a contemporary art gallery, Clark’s raw, asymmetrical, often-playful creations all possess a distinct energy and style.

Clark is keen to further denHolm’s reach. Last year he launched a neon fever dream of a website (created in partnership with artist Lars Stoten) that acts as a platform for digital publication Gazette – which also appeared in zine form at Art Basel Miami Beach 2023

Then there’s the online retail gateway selling a madcap range of items from a $60 limited-edition vinyl record by English music duo Sleaford Mods to a $14,350 baseball signed by Michael Jordan. And branded denHolm socks.

The chaotic collection of antiques, curios and merch doesn’t follow the traditional rules of e-commerce. “We wanted a mismatch of stuff at different price points to bring people in. We have quite a fan base and I would say the majority of them can’t afford what we actually make,” he says.

Despite the hectic mash-up of pop culture and design on offer, Clark says he’s most influenced by the built environments he sees and interacts with daily. Lately, he’s been pondering why he prefers some spaces over others.

“The majority of the time, it will be in the detail. It really comes down to just how much time has been spent [on a space]. And that might be time spent in the application of the finish. Or it might be time spent in designing something so minimal and perfectly laidout that it gives the space a certain feeling.”

The small, leafy stretch of Lygon Street, Carlton – home to Pidapipo gelato and Readings bookstore – is somewhere he gravitates to.

“It’s only a tiny little pocket, like two streets long. I just feel calm for some reason. I really enjoy the energy and the greenery because the trees are really close together, so there’s a bit of a canopy.”

“Once we’ve sculpted the stone to a des-ired work … that’s when I’ll harden it with different hardeners and then sand it all back. During that process, we can start to play with the colour of the stone as well because the stone is so porous, it allows us to mix in different pigments,” he says.

At denHolm Clark works on personal art projects, furniture commissions for clients

Clark says that although his wife often tries to pinch his pieces to display in their house, he thinks it “feels weird” to be surrounded by his own work at home. Logistically there’s another reason why some of his monolithic creations haven’t made it there.

“We live in a Thornbury weatherboard shack that’s literally falling to pieces, and I don’t think the floor could handle a stone dining table,” he laughs.

LIKE A LOCAL

Hawthorn East

By Lachsley Parton

It’s easy to overlook Hawthorn East for its bigger, buzzier and louder sibling Hawthorn. But this slower-paced and quieter neighbourhood is worth some airtime too. Sandwiched between Camberwell, Hawthorn and Kooyong, the tree-lined suburb is a destination in its own right. You can easily spend the day lounging in one of its lush parks, catching a movie at its art deco cinema, and eating your way around town.

Pilates devotees, rejoice. Start your day in the studio at a reformer or mat class at Love Athletica or Core Plus on Burwood Road. After sweating it out, head down the road to Cru Plus Bakery Lab for a well-deserved coffee and croissant. Or make it al fresco at nearby Fritsch Holzer Park – a top spot to pull out the picnic rug. It’s dog-friendly too, so bring along your best mate (and a tennis ball).

St Cloud Eating House’s rooftop is the ideal summertime lunch spot. Melbourne hospo legend Jerry Mai now heads up the kitchen, so you can expect top-notch Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes like lamb ribs with tamarind caramel and twice-cooked duck leg with Davidson’s plum caramel fish sauce. For something more casual, Zoobibi serves up teriyaki chicken burgers and standout steak sangas next door. It’s partcafe-part-homeware-store, so be sure to check out the curated selection of decor and accessories on your way out.

After lunch, catch a movie at old-school Rivoli Cinemas. Or take a stroll along Gardiners Creek Trail. For aperitivo hour, sink into a velvet booth at East End Wine Bar. Here you’ll find a European-leaning wine list and a build-yourown charcuterie board selection. The Gawny pizza (named after part-owner and AFL star Max Gawn) with prosciutto, pickled pineapple and hot sauce is also a highlight. If you’ve got the kids in tow, Auburn Hotel is a great place to settle in for dinner. Pull up a seat on the sun-soaked deck next to the playground and enjoy pub classics and woodfired pizzas.

NEED TO KNOW

There’s something special about Hawthorn: sitting on the Yarra it’s got parks galore and access to some of Melbourne’s best schools, making it arguably the most family-friendly suburb nearest the CBD. Modern apartment blocks are luring younger buyers back to the place they grew up.

Average Age

34

Median Weekly income $2,145

Clockwise from top: Rivoli Cinemas, photo Amy Hemmings. East End Wine Bar, photo Jake Roden. Camberwell Road, photo Amy Hemmings. St Cloud, photo Brook James

Clockwise from top: Lawson’s Bagels, photo Amy Hemmings. St Cloud, photo Brook James. City views and Heritage architecture, photos Amy Hemmings

MELBOURNE MAKER Chili Philly

Words by Sanam Goodman · Photos by Phil Ferguson

RuPaul’s Drag Race may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you look at Phil Ferguson’s culinary-themed crochet creations. But the artist traces their initial inspiration to “getting really into” the reality competition series, and creating things they could wear for drag performances. Now they make all sorts of kooky crochet things at @ChiliPhilly for an audience of over 130,000 on Instagram.

“I’ve been doing craft for as long as I can remember, but it was in 2014 when I moved from Perth to Melbourne that I went really hardcore with the crochet, because it was one of the few things I brought with me in the move,” Ferguson tells Broadsheet

Ferguson’s crochet pieces sit at a “weird intersection of art and craft”, transforming everyday, often foodthemed objects into enormous wearable hats. There are fruits and vegetables, snacks like ice lollies and popcorn, and plenty of bready treats like pizza, burgers and toasties, with each piece taking a week or so to create. The portraits and video skits Ferguson creates convey a comical loneliness, with a slight awkwardness you can feel through the screen.

Why food? Ferguson says it’s the most universal and relatable thing in the world, though they wouldn’t consider themselves much of a whiz in the kitchen. “This year I’ve barely cooked anything more extravagant than a salad roll.”

The Instagram account of their creations came after a few months living in Melbourne, mainly as a way to make new friends in a new city. “Back then, social media was a much more wholesome and nicer place,” Ferguson says. “All of the things that went viral were fun photo albums and Buzzfeed articles linking to cool things, so my account blew up in like three months and I built a huge audience really quickly.”

Though social media has changed considerably since 2014, Ferguson has kept momentum through constantly adapting, moving from static posts to video to keep up with ever-changing platforms and algorithms. One thing they’ve found challenging is managing audience expectations and navigating the parasocial relationships they’re now part of online.

“Everybody always wants to see behind-the-scenes content and the process of making, but I just want people to appreciate what I do, because the making part

is such a personal process,” Ferguson says. “That’s the hardest thing about social media these days.”

As it turns out, there isn’t much of a process to the making, anyway. They never plan, draw or write patterns before crocheting – instead relying on pure imagination and years of experience.

It wasn’t until 2020 , when fast food giant KFC approached Ferguson to collaborate, that they first made a pattern. The partnership resulted in the release of free crochet patterns inspired by menu items so people could pass time with yarncraft during Covid lockdowns.

This collab paved the way for a slew of other exciting things, including a collaboration with iconic cartoon dog Bluey and, more recently, their own TV show – Chill With Phil. Produced by World of Wonder – coincidentally the same production company behind RuPaul’s Drag Race – Chill With Phil is a self-reflective slow TV series featuring Ferguson crocheting hats based on common Australian comfort foods, all while reflecting on their life experiences. (It’s not Ferguson’s first foray into TV –they also featured on Australian Survivor: Brains v Brawn back in 2021.)

“We filmed [ Chill With Phil ] in Daylesford, so it’s sort of a travel show, too,” Ferguson explains. “I’d been on TV before, but it was my first time properly producing a TV show and it was so fun.”

Aside from content creation, television features and hosting the odd podcast, Ferguson also regularly features in art shows and artist talks. They’ve currently got a number of crochet hats and outfits showing at Dish – an exhibition at Hawthorn’s Town Hall Gallery exploring the ways food allows us to share stories, explore creativity and feel connectedness.

Despite the effort Ferguson puts into their craft across all these mediums, they don’t necessarily perceive what they do as work. “I’ve always said I’m really lucky to get to where I am because I don’t view what I do as hard work, it just comes to me naturally,” Ferguson says. “But I’ve actually created a ton of things, I just keep forgetting.”

Dish runs until April 17 at Town Hall Gallery, 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn. See more of Ferguson’s work on Instagram at @ChiliPhilly

PRESENTED BY

20 – 24th MARCH 2024

ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING AND CARLTON GARDENS

THE LARGEST FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IS BACK FOR IT’S BIGGEST YEAR YET!

GARDENING INSPIRATION

Leaves, petals and a touch of magic

Words by Brigid Blackney

The Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens are set to burst into bloom when the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, presented by Scotts, descends for five days from March 20.

In the lead-up to the big event, the site is abuzz with preparations for the outdoor competition, Show Gardens, and the dazzling indoor floral arrangements that turn the 19th-century building into the Great Hall of Flowers.

Senior event manager Trent Cornish is the first point of contact for more than 200 garden, floral and retail exhibitors and says the show is a whole year in the making – in fact, expressions of interest are already open for 2025. “It takes a lot of planning on the exhibitors’ part,” he says.

There are some things you can’t control, though. “Almost the worst possible scenario popped up at the venue last year,” Cornish says. “When everyone was starting to build their gardens, bringing more plants on-site, the water stopped. We had no hoses running for, I reckon, close to 12 hours. People were

going, ‘I’m going to have to rush out and get five litres of water from the supermarket,’ just to make sure they got by.”

Melbourne’s fickle weather can be unpredictable too. “Wednesday morning last year it poured, absolutely poured, and that’s the first day of the show,” Cornish recalls. “We’re at the mercy of the weather gods!”

Landscaping guru and TV personality Jason Hodges is also in the thick of the behind-the-scenes stage, designing the Welcome Garden presented by Scotts this year. Hodges rates himself as one of the show’s most passionate punters.

“Once you go, you just get addicted to it and you want to go every year,” he says. “It’s an amazing experience to see how well hundreds of people work within a small ... space for long hours to achieve beautiful gardens that only last for five days. It’s pretty special.”

This year’s designers include international names like Peter Donegan, Annika Zetterman and Kajsa Björne, but Hodges emphasises that visitors also check out the smaller gardens. His favourite thing about

the show is “being surprised by some young pup who just gets it” – a beginner landscaper clearly on their way up and whose services you might want to book. “Take their card. Keep them in mind,” he says.

In the lead-up to the opening day, floral artists are busy making a feast for the senses within the Royal Exhibition Building.

“That building is a beautiful backdrop, but the talent, art and skill they put into the floristry is next level,” Hodges says.

Many exhibitors go all-out, making floral and garden displays that are the perfect background for photos of the day. “That’s almost become a competition within itself, to become that most iconic photographed show moment,” Cornish says.

Led by horticulturalist and presenter Chloe Thomson, Twilight Tours offers an exclusive after-dark perspective.

“The gardens come alive at night with outdoor lighting thanks to Gardens at Night,” she says. “They look really magical. It’s a beautiful thing to see, especially if you’ve seen them during the day already.”

It’s the 27th iteration of the show, and Cornish believes the popularity is partly linked to the way flowers and gardens are connected to some of our deepest memories.

“It can be so simple, seeing their favourite colour or just a flower they received on a special date,” he says.

People are often so moved by the experience, he’s heard countless stories of people who’ve gone home to redesign their backyard after visiting. “It’s not just the place where you hang your washing out. It’s somewhere that you can make your sanctuary.”

Plant-based fashion from RMIT, talks and workshops from experts, and High Tea and Twilight Tapas also feature on the program, promising something for everyone. melbflowershow.com.au

There’s something for everyone at the southern hemisphere’s largest horticultural event, photos at right by Robert Geary.

Down on Mona Farm There Are Shaggy Cows, Hot Tubs and an Art-Filled Space for Two

By Grace MacKenzie

Let this place be the siren call you need: get out into the countryside, you’ll feel better. In Braidwood, the heritage-listed town roughly an hour’s drive towards the coast from Canberra, the hills roll far and wide, the air is unspoilt by our city habits, and the feelings are good. A trip to the regions sees jaws unclench, shoulders lower. The mere sight of cows in a feld delights. And here lies Mona Farm.

The sprawling country property is part-farm, part-gallery, where staggering sculptures slice into felds like they were dropped by aliens. A go-to for nuptials, Mona Farm also boasts open felds and bloom-flled gardens, shaggy resident cows

and plentiful kitchen gardens. There are seven guesthouses, with the newest (and final) addition – The Shearer’s Quarters – welcoming happy couples to a new level of luxury.

This 1873-built abode is as it sounds: it was the original lodging for the sheep shearer. Now, with revived timber foors and its wraparound of artfully rusted corrugated iron, it’s a tranquil escape. The one-bedroom stay is big: art flls the space, and the living room runs into the bedroom, separated by a two-way freplace.

If you’re not gallivanting over the boutique property, you’re best to soak in the space – literally. In the bathroom, modesty is traded in for the view.

Floor-to-ceiling windows ofer an agrarian vista, from beneath one of two rainfall shower heads or within the deep stone tub.

Prefer to stargaze from the bath? Head outside and across the deck – past your second freplace –to a heated plunge spa bubbling alongside Mona Creek and its residents: a coy platypus and a gaggle of ducks.

Carve out time to explore Braidwood’s town centre. Mona Farm’s sister restaurant Provisions has crepes, coffee and French goods; a grocer stocks local produce; a classic country pub stands proud; and a family-run bakery opens for pizza on Friday nights.

Photo courtesy Mona Farm / Christopher Morris

LUXURY

Words by Joanne Brookfield & Kay Keighery

Brighton

29 Drake Street

$16.5 million-$18 million

6 4 6

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, March 14

Agent: Kay & Burton, Alex Schiavo 0419 239 549

A sweeping horseshoe driveway sets the scene for the grandeur of this sprawling bayside estate, which sits on the largest allotment in the neighbourhood – almost an acre at 3488 square metres. A few blocks back from the beach, the double-level home is secluded on all sides by mature trees and manicured gardens. It also boasts a pool and a full-sized tennis court. Inside, there are multiple generously-sized living spaces, while the garage also has a workshop and storeroom.

Toorak

11 Woodside Crescent

$4 million-$4.4 million

4 2 3

Auction: 6pm, March 6

Agent: Jellis Craig, David Sciola 0408 598 242

This combo of Edwardian integrity and a modern extension delivers family-friendly liveability. The main bedroom has a bay window, fireplace, walk-in wardrobe and en suite. The lounge doubles as a fourth bedroom. Three sets of doors link the ensuing hub with the north-facing backyard, where paving and greenery promote relaxing and socialising. Aside from the considerable ground floor, there’s a second-storey retreat opening to a large garden-view balcony.

South Yarra

2601 & 2604/18 Claremont Street

$7 million-$7.7 million

4 4 4

Expressions of interest: Close 1pm, March 14

Agent: RT Edgar, Antoinette Nido 0419 654 856

Jaw-dropping panoramic views, where floor-to-ceiling windows function like an expansive mural featuring an uninterrupted vista of the city skyline, are one of the many highlights in this penthouse apartment that occupies half a floor in the Yarra One building. Dark oak chevron floors, extensive black marble and bronze tapware create a sophisticated, moody interior. Every bedroom and living space gets its own stunning views, plus, the agent says, the kitchen is “to die for”.

East Melbourne

173 Gipps Street

$5.95 million-$6.5 million

5 3 2

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, March 12

Agent: Kay & Burton, Monique Depierre 0407 881 327

Made of bluestone and brick, this free-standing Victorian home is considered the oldest on Gipps Street. Owners over the ensuing 160 years have lovingly preserved and updated this two-storey home, which features a charming conservatory off the kitchen for covered entertaining, a sizeable cellar and a separate studio with bathroom above the garage. On just under 500 square metres, its irrigated gardens include a water feature and the garage has access to Hotham Place.

OPEN FOR INSPECTION

Words by Richard Cornish, Maria Harris & Joanne Brookfield

LAST WEEKEND

Clearance Rate of 64%*

Source: Domain Group

WHAT OUR EXPERT SAYS

Dr Nicola Powell Chief of research & economics

“Saving for a 20 per cent deposit on an entry-priced home has become quicker than last year, as wage growth and higher compounding interest accrued on savings keep ahead of growth in entry house and unit prices.”

For the latest property insights go to domain.com.au/research

Camberwell

43 Athelstan Road

$4.2 million-$4.6 million

HIGHEST VALUE

$6.75 million

Kew

25 Edward Street

Sold by Jellis Craig*

*As reported on February 24, 2024

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, March 12

Agent: Shelter, Dean Brooks 0412 055 511

A spacious entertainer in a sought-after location, this home combines luxury and amenities with charismatic character. Behind the gates is a luxurious home with an open fireplace, wraparound patio, and heated pool with waterfall. The large ground-floor living zone sits at the heart of the house, while upstairs is the private sleeping area with the main bedroom boasting a spacious en suite.

Elwood

63 Spray Street

$1.475 million-$1.575 million

2 1

Auction: 10am, March 16

Agent: Chisholm & Gamon, Sam Gamon 0425 702 574

This beautifully renovated Edwardian home in Elwood’s park and canal district is near transport, cafes and restaurants, farmers market and schools. Beyond the pointed brick facade is a home with light and space, comfort and sanctuary. Two carpeted bedrooms, both with built-in wardrobes, lead to a modern bathroom and an open kitchen-living space. Vaulted ceilings and large windows flood the space with soft southern light – this is a great slice of the Elwood lifestyle.

Kew

24 Stansell Street

$1.9 million-$2.09 million 3 2

Auction: 11.30am, March 16

Agent: Marshall White, Andrew Gibbons 0407 577 007

From petite Edwardian to full-on contemporary with an architect-designed extension, this terrific family home is in the heart of Kew’s private-school zone. The highlight is the sun-filled kitchen, living and dining area with stone benches, Miele appliances, and glass sliders opening to the deck and garden. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms include the main with a pristine en suite.

Surrey Hills

9 Amiens Street

$2.75 million-$2.9 million

5 2 4

Auction: 2pm, March 16

Agent: Jellis Craig, Geordie Dixon 0418 588 399

It might be called Ambler Cottage, but it has outgrown its cottage proportions to become a two-storey home with multiple living rooms and space for families to spread their wings. The highlight is the contemporary kitchen, living and dining area that opens to the deck and garden. Two bedrooms, an en suite and a powder room are downstairs, with three bedrooms, a bathroom and a retreat upstairs.

Brighton

4/72 Well Street

$2.35 million

2 2 2

Private sale

Agent: Buxton Real Estate, Leanne Potter 0414 344 144

This secure and private sandstone residence is as solid as it is tranquil. Generously proportioned bedrooms and spacious living areas are cocooned in a verdant garden setting. The modern kitchen is equipped with Miele and Smeg appliances and flows through to a large north-facing courtyard.

St Kilda

12 Irymple Avenue

$1.7 million-$1.87 million

3 1

Auction: 6pm, March 7

Agent: Marshall White, Dean Gilbert 0418 994 939

This updated solid-brick home offers plenty of space. In addition to high ceilings, the property is bookended with a covered verandah and patio. There’s also a study, a laundry and a central bathroom with separate shower and bath. Neighbourhood highlights include the St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

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Hawthorn

15 Manningtree Road

$2 million-$2.2 million

3 2 2

Auction: 10am, March 16

Agent: Kay & Burton, Nicole Gleeson 0414 809 221

This light and low-maintenance period home is perfect for families wanting to get a foothold in the area. The kitchen with stone benchtops and Miele appliances overlooks the dining zone that opens to the garden. Two bedrooms are downstairs and upstairs is a bedroom with an en suite and a retreat.

Hover your camera over the code to view live listings on domain.com.au

Auction:

Inspect: As

architect-designed masterpiece with stunning views.

6-7 KILSYTH AVENUE TOORAK

5 5 6 790 sqm*

Expressions of interest

Close 19 March at 3pm

Viewing

Wednesday 2-2:30pm

Saturday 1-1:30pm

Grant Samuel

0403 132 095

Darren Lewenberg

0412 555 556

Robert Li

0413 725 369

5

Nicky

‘LONGLEY’ 60 POWER STREET HAWTHORN

4 3 2

Private auction

Thursday 21 March

Viewing

Thursday 11-11:30am

Saturday 10-10:30am

Sunday 12-12:30pm

Danielle Balloch

0418 376 903

Scott Patterson

0417 581 074

Garrick Lim

0424 439 242

Luxur y & tranquilit y near private schools.

Palatial 1980's Estate No Heritage

5 Grosvenor Court, Toorak

a b c d e f

40 Chrystobel Crescent, Hawthorn

A 5 B 3 C 2 E 1,600 approx.

“Wembden” – c1908

Auction

Saturday 23rd March 12.30pm

Magnificently set within 1,600sqm approx. garden & pool surrounds with original 2-storey stables is this illustrious c1908 solid brick Federation residence with breathtaking dimensions. Comfortably presented for immediate family appeal, it presents irresistible scope for a luxurious renovation that meets the expectations of today’s modern families.

Duane Wolowiec 0418 567 581

Désirée Wakim 0412 336 266

Stuart Evans 0402 067 710

John Bongiorno 0418 328 056

Wednesday 12-12.30pm &

Thursday & Saturday 1-1.30pm

Wednesday

Saturday

5 Beryl Street Glen Iris

Auction Saturday 16th March at 1:00pm

Inspect Thur 7th Mar 1-1.30pm

Inspect Sat 9th Mar 11.30-12pm

ZALI REYNOLDS 0422 576 049

DEAN BROOKS 0412 055 511

Reflecting the elegance of classic 1920’s architecture, the exceptional proportions of this distinguished period home impressively meet the needs of modern family life. Meticulously maintained, the home offers 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, flexible entertaining and relaxation options, central living and dining overlooking the rear garden, country-style kitchen, adjoining a casual family room, conservatory and spacious guest accommodation.

shelterrealestate.com.au

16 Orchard Grove, Blackburn South

3 2.5 2 668sqm 1

PRICE GUIDE $2,500,000 - $2,750,000

AUCTION Saturday 23 March 9.30am

Resting on a landscaped corner allotment, this magnificent 3- bedroom French Provincial residence offers a lifestyle dream for discerning families.

Impressive from every angle, discover an array of designer appointments, including 3m high ceilings, solid oak doors, marble surfaces and opulent Swarovski crystal chandeliers.

Flaunting an abundance of space for all, the home includes a plush formal sitting room & separate light-filled open plan family zone, premium Gaggenau kitchen with butler’s pantry, stunning alfresco amongst Ian Barker designed gardens, and a remote double garage accessed off Herbert Street.

▪ Luxurious custom built family retreat completed in 2016

▪ Premium Gaggenau kitchen, complete with 900mm induction cooktop and rangehood, microwave, oven, and plate warmer

▪ Lavish master features walk-in robe & luxe ensuite

▪ Two further plush robed bedrooms

▪ Stunning entertainers' alfresco with built-in barbecue, wok burner & sink

▪ Remote double garage with epoxy finished flooring and internal access

▪ Garage access off the quiet Herbert Street

▪ Hydronic heating throughout plus electric reverse heating and cooling

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