The Little National Post 9th Edition

EDITION 9

THE SUMMER ISSUE

60 years of

VOGUE W E L L N ES S

Michael Mosley: Trust me, I'm a Doctor P. 6

CIT Y

Places to eat for one or two P. 10

T R AV E L

Road Trip: Jervis Bay P. 18

ST Y L E

Summer key pieces P. 22

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LITTLE NATIONAL POST

THE SUMMER ISSUE — 1

CONTENTS

W E L L N ES S

Michael Mosley: Trust me, I’m a Doctor P. 6 CIT Y

Places to eat for one or two P. 10 TA ST E

Eat Art: DIY Grazing Table P. 12 E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Secret City P. 14 T R AV E L

Road Trip: Jervis Bay P. 18 ST Y L E

Summer key pieces P. 22 R E A L ESTAT E

The Parks Red Hill P. 26

C OV E R STO RY

Vogue: Australia's fashion bible for 60 Years P. 2

EVENTS

Insider Guide P. 28

ON THE COVER: Nicole Kidman, Courtesy Vogue Australia and William Davidson

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2 — THE SUMMER ISSUE

THIS PAGE Kylie Minogue: Courtesy Vogue Australia and Nicole Bentley

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V ue

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V

ogue began as a weekly newspaper in the United States in 1892 before being launched in Britain in 1916. It went on to spawn 23 international editions over successive decades and arrived on Australian shores in 1959.

The word vogue now connotes something exclusive, elusive and almost always ahead of its time.

That’s certainly how former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop felt as a young girl when Vogue first came into her life.

At the opening of WOMEN IN VOGUE: Celebrating Sixty Years in Australia at the National Portrait Gallery in October, Julie described her unlikely introduction to the brand.

It was 1959 in the Adelaide Hills. Julie’s parents

YEARS

6₀

AUSTRALIA’S FASHION BIBLE FOR

LITTLE NATIONAL POST

VOGUE /vōg/noun The prevailing fashion or style at a particular time.

The word vogue is more synonymous with the iconic international magazine than its Oxford dictionary definition.

had three children under seven and were working hard to reestablish their local orchard after it was devastated by the Black Sunday bushfires.

To raise money, they decided to hold a gala event—a ball—and Julie’s father, who was also a member of the local fire brigade, was to be the MC. “My mother needed an evening gown, so she made one, and one of my earliest memories is climbing up on the back of her chair and looking over her shoulder as she stitched away on her old Singer sewing machine,” the former Deputy Liberal Leader told the VIP crowd.

“The dress had a full circle skirt of candy-pink tulle, the strapless bodice with pannier and bow, was in a similar colour lace. It was stunning. But the reason

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COVER STORIES 60 years of iconic covers by the world's best photographers.

Spring/Summer 1959 The first issue

November–December 1963 Jean Shrimpton photographed

by David Bailey

December 1964–January 1965 Photographer Helmut Newton

February 1989 Photographer Graham Shearer

June 2010 Samantha Harris photographed by Nicole Bentley

LITTLE NATIONAL POST

my mother was so proud of her creation? She had used a Vogue pattern.”

The family still has the dress.

Bishop recalled that while her father was very dashing in “white tie and tails,” it was her mother who was “utterly ravishing.”

“And I, as a tiny little girl, was transfixed by this Cinderella-type transformation. She was suddenly so elegant and poised and so confident in the knowledge that the dress she was wearing was also being worn—well, the style—by the most fashionable women in Paris, New York and London, and I was hooked.”

A collaboration between the gallery and Vogue Australia, WOMEN IN VOGUE: Celebrating Sixty Years showcased six decades of the Vogue Australia archive.

Assistant curator Aimee Board admitted it was easy to fall down the rabbit hole of looking at past issues of Vogue Australia, which as well as the unofficial fashion bible of Australian women, has been a barometer of social change.

“It’s quite interesting to look back and reflect on how far we’ve come as women from the mid20th century to the present day and how the socio-political changes are reflected in the fashions from era to era,” Aimee said.

“In the sixties, the youth rebelled against social norms, breaking free from conventions with the introduction of synthetic fabrics, the shortening of hemlines and looser ‘mod’ shapes and shifts.”

This dramatic change in fashion reflected women’s rejection of the “happy-homemaker” role, the sexual revolution, as well as the emerging women’s lib movement.

“In the ’70s, the mini-skirts were even shorter and we see strong silhouettes and the boho and peasant styles emerge, with more natural fabrics with embroidered trimmings and beading to complement the hippie look.

“In the ’80s, the concept of power dressing appears reflecting the rise of the executive woman— we see big hair, big accessories and even bigger shoulder pads,” Aimee explained.

“In the new millennia, we’re increasingly seeing a shift to more sustainable fashions with functional, layered styles and different fabrics and textures, perhaps reflective of the complex world in which we live.”

There were some “moments of hilarity” as the curatorial team looked at past issues.

“They were, of course, indicative of the times,” Aimee conceded of past fashions, hairstyles, makeup, even some “firming” exercises that would cause outrage today. “[But] I think the issues from the early ’80s were particularly interesting. Aside from the focus on high-end trends and taste there was also really constructive dialogue happening around important issues concerning abortion, contraception, AIDS and homosexuality with cover lines such as ‘Sexual Freedom for Women’, ‘Male Chauvinism – Are Women to Blame?’, ‘Abortion – Women’s Right or Wrong?’, ‘Homosexuality – are attitudes changing?’, and ‘Women at the Frontline’.”

“…So, I find it interesting that Vogue was not only setting the tone for trends but also opening up important dialogue concerning women’s issues.”

The ‘Looking Out’ section of the exhibition featured stunning portraits of Australian women who have broken through the glass ceiling in their given fields and graced the pages of Vogue Australia.

Julie Bishop was there, and so was Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, designer Heidi Middleton, Kylie Minogue, Miranda Tapsell, Elle MacPherson, and Mia Wasikowska, to name a few.

Vogue Australia Editor-In-Chief Edwina McCann said it was thrilling to pull together the work of Vogue Australia photographers over 60 years, highlighting the cultural and social significance of the publication.

“I hope that it shows that we have celebrated, yes, very glamorous successful Australian women as we always would: Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Margot Robbie, and also women from all walks of life,” Edwina said.

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“Julie Bishop’s portrait is particularly significant because she is probably the first woman in politics who has really championed fashion proudly and done so in an unapologetic manner. To have her hanging in such a presidential format was wonderful.”

Next to former foreign minister Julie Bishop’s portraits was her white “resignation dress” designed by Ted Baker and on loan from Julie, and the sparkling red shoes she wore while announcing her resignation, from the Museum of Australian Democracy, which now owns them.

At the exhibition’s opening night, Vogue Australia June 2010 cover model Samantha Harris was in attendance.

She said it was a “huge honour” to be the second Indigenous woman to grace the cover of Vogue Australia.

“Just to think all those years ago, before I was born, that wouldn’t have been the case. Vogue has paved the way for not only Indigenous people to be on the cover but if you look at all the covers [recently], they’re all so different and there are also so many different races. Vogue really celebrates that.”

Shooting Nicole Kidman at Uluru held special significance for Edwina. The porcelain-skinned actress posed in rustic, bush-inspired fashion in front of the iconic Uluru for the September 2015 issue, which marked the 30th anniversary of the national park being handed back to its traditional owners.

“My relationship with Nicole Kidman is very special to me,” Edwina said. Nicole’s mother and her two daughters also accompanied her on the trip.

Travelling to Copenhagen and meeting Princess Mary was also a “huge” moment for Edwina. “That was wonderful,” she said simply. “Her Royal Highness is obviously an incredibly generous woman to open up her home and her heart to Vogue Australia.

“…I hope that today we stand for representing Australian women of all walks of life in their best selves.”

LEFT Nicole Kidman, Courtesy Vogue Australia and William Davidson; ABOVE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Fernanda Ly, Akiima Ajak, Charlee Fraser, Andreja Pejić photographed

by Patrick Demarchelier; Adut Akech photographed

by Charles Dennington; Margot Robbie photographed by Alexi Lubomirski; All images Courtesy Vogue Australia

“The one thing I remember meeting Princess Mary, I walked away thinking, ‘She makes me want to be my best self’. “…I hope that Vogue does that. I hope that it holds up women, not in an arrogant manner, but in a way that makes women want to be their best selves.

“And beyond that, if we can document our times, and make sure that people know the stories of our great women, we’re doing our job.”

In the ‘Looking Forward’ section, the focus was on the Millennial Woman, with portraits of culturally and gender-diverse supermodels Akiima Ajak, Adut Akech, Charlee Fraser, Fernanda Ly and Andreja Pejić, photographed by acclaimed fashion photographers Patrick Demarchelier, Charles Dennington, and Nicole Bentley.

Photographer Nicole Bentley said she had enjoyed a close relationship with Vogue Australia for almost 20 years.

“One thing I can say is that every shoot for Vogue is filled with an excitement along with a weight of expectation for something truly great. These are days that we all push ourselves to create images that are truly memorable.”

Edwina said she was proud of the direction Vogue Australia had taken under her editorship, including using a greater diversity of models, and appointing a sustainability editor.

“We were founded by a Jewish-German refugee in 1959 (Bernie Leser) who had big dreams about what Australia could be—it was a very aspirational ideal at the time,” she said.

“Adut is a Sudanese refugee who settled in Australia with her family through a Kenyan refugee camp and I think the connection between our founder and Adut is quite poignant for us.”

Edwina’s first full-time job was at Vogue Australia.

She was in the fashion cupboard for seven years as a stylist, and the always immaculately-dressed editor has admitted that she wasn’t a very good stylist. But she knows a good photograph when she sees one.

“I think photographers capture magic. A good photographer knows how to bring out the person behind the clothes. At Vogue, we’re all about clothes, we’re all about fashion, but without the women wearing those clothes, we’re nothing,” Edwina said. “Photographers bring out those women in those clothes and they tell their story through their eyes and the imagery created.”

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LITTLE NATIONAL POST

MICHAEL TRUST ME, I’M A DOCTOR

MOSLEY: WORDS Sarina Talip PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

LITTLE NATIONAL POST

Talking to Michael Mosley can be a somewhat disconcerting experience. Everything he says, no matter how light or funny, is then followed by a research-backed comment.

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WHEN I ASK MICHAEL MOSLEY what a typical day looks like, he says he and his wife, medical doctor Clare Bailey, “generally get up about 7ish and roll out of bed. Because it is quite important to get up at the same time most days—sleep is a very important thing and a lot of people now struggle with their sleep,” he explains.

Next they do strength, strengthening and balancing exercises like “press ups, squats, standing on one leg, stuff like that” (and which he recently demonstrated at his Canberra show Wonders of the Human Body).

Then “breakfast, or not breakfast, depending,” on whether or not they’re fasting. Next up, the couple, who live near Oxford, take their King Charles Spaniel Tari (Elvish for Kate—and named by their daughter Kate) for a walk.

“It’s important to get the early morning light, and the dog likes going out. We live fairly near a wood, which is nice because you get out there in the greenery, and, again, there’s a lot of evidence of the benefits of being out in nature,” he says.

And if you get an hour out in the green stuff per day, that seems to be a very good thing to do for your mental and physical health.

In fact, he’s “just done a film about it” for Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, the BBC show in which he debunks common myths that have influenced eating habits for decades. Of course he has.

On the one hand he’s the TV presenter who has swallowed a tapeworm from infected beef in Kenya for science (and entertainment). On the other, he’s the trained medical doctor who relies on hard evidence, and, like the latest software updates for a phone or computer, is constantly updating what he thinks he knows about how the human body works.

That’s why he has written a new book called The Fast 800. Because when it comes to weight loss, 800 is the new magic number. Michael is most famous as the inventor of the hugely popular 5:2 diet, which introduced intermittent fasting to the world.

His bestseller The Fast Diet, written with journalist Mimi Spencer, encouraged readers struggling with health problems associated with pre-diabetes, auto-immune disorders and obesity to restrict calorie intake on two alternative days for rapid weight loss (500 for women, 600 for men). His latest book has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date research in the field.

“When I wrote the original 5:2 book, it was based mainly on rat studies, and there have been quite a lot of human studies since, and a lot of studies done in Australia,” he says. “[That’s why] I’ve now upped that [number] to 800 calories because there have been a lot of studies showing that it gives you a similar sort of benefit.”

Michael recommends that “if you can do it,” to kick start the diet with a fast-track plan of 800 calories a day, every day, for two or more weeks for rapid weight loss.

“The evidence is very strong now that if you do it properly, rapid weight loss is more motivating, and as long as you move on to a proper way of eating, people who lose weight, keep it off.

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The research shows that 800 calories is low enough to [achieve] rapid change, but at the same time, it’s high enough to be sustainable.

People find it easier to stick to— it’s more doable, if you like.

He was born in India, and spent his childhood and youth in the Philippines and Hong Kong. His banker father was born in Hong Kong and his mother was born in Singapore.

Michael studied politics, philosophy, economics at Oxford in the mid-1970s and then worked as a banker, before he decided that wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life. He did his medical training at the Royal Free Hospital in London from 1980 to 1985 before he made the jump to television.

“It was an unusual move, and I agonised about it a lot. But the truth was, the reason I went into medicine is I wanted to do psychiatry—that was the thing that really attracted me,” he says.

He acknowledges that 800 calories sounds “terrible,” and “like nothing,” but that most people tend to stop feeling hungry and having cravings within four or five days.

“And people are perhaps going to grow to love some of the veggies and the foods which maybe they didn’t want to eat beforehand,” he says, laughing. “The recipes are designed to be very doable and very affordable. They’re super healthy and tasty and very filling and have been created to have as much fibre as possible, and to be high in protein.”

When Michael invented the original 5:2 diet, it was embraced by doctors, politicians, Nobel Prize winners.

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel swore by it. Benedict Cumberbatch said he did it ‘for Sherlock.’

This was despite the NHS, the UK Government-funded health care system, calling it a fad diet, but it has since (mostly) changed its tune. Michael is aware that The Fast 800 could be called the ultimate crash diet. But he wants to challenge the notion that once people stop dieting the kilos will pile back on.

“The problem with rapid weight loss diets from the old days is that they were crazy and stupid and that’s what gave them such a bad reputation—things like the cabbage soup diet, juicing diets,” he says. “You’ve got to have a balanced diet, so what are the important components? You need protein to preserve your muscle mass. You’ve got to also make sure you’re getting enough of the right sort of nutrients, and minerals and vitamins. You need to be feeding your gut bacteria and microbiome because they’re so important.

And you need variety, otherwise you’re just going to go crazy.”

Michael was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2012. His GP suggested he start on Metformin, because that’s “standard protocol, you start on the drugs.”

But Michael resisted.

His dad had developed diabetes in his fifties, around the same age that Michael was when he was diagnosed, and had diabetes related complications including heart failure and dementia, and died at the “relatively young age” of 74. “I miss him,” Michael says “Then I thought, ‘Oh well, I’ll do telly for a year or so, and softly. And, he didn’t want to suffer the same fate.

He played around with a number of different forms then I’ll go back, and I’ll be refreshed and wiser and of the diet before he settled on the 5:2 Diet. Michael older. But I liked telly so much, I never did.”

His many fans will no doubt be pleased that he managed to lose 9kg and get his blood sugar levels didn’t go back to medicine. To each subject he brings back to normal, all without going on medication.

A few years later, he discovered “startling” research a healthy dose of skepticism, mixed with boyish enthuby Professor Roy Taylor, a diabetes specialist from the siasm and curiosity. He’s also not afraid to be vulneraUniversity of Newcastle. Professor Taylor had just ble on-screen and share his own health concerns and started a major trial aiming to prove that an 800 calo- anxieties (and phobias).

He was at the BBC for 30 years (he only resigned rie a day rapid weight loss diet would not only lead to massive weight loss but also help most patients with last year): “10 years as a director, 10 years as an execuType II diabetes come off all medication and restore tive producer, and then 10 years as a presenter.” But the self-confessed human guinea pig only made the their blood sugars to normal.

The results of Professor Taylor’s big diabetes trial— switch to presenting and to his gonzo-style of medical begun in 2014—were finally published in 2018 and the journalism, by pure accident.

His first 1994 Horizon documentary was on Nobel results were overwhelmingly positive. The 800 calorie Prize-winning Western Australian gastroenterologist Bardiet worked.

So how did Michael end up as the father of one of ry Marshall, who was convinced that stomach ulcers were not caused by stress but by a previously unknown the world’s biggest weight loss movements? organism called helicobacter pylori. He ended up swallowing it himself and induced gastritis.

“I thought that was such a brilliant story, I came up with the idea of doing a series and it was going to be called Medical Mavericks: The History Of Medicine Told Through Self-Experimenters,” he says.

“So I pitched that idea to every controller of every channel for the next 12 years, and they all said no. I went from being a director to being an executive producer and eventually I got in front of one [controller], and she said, ‘Okay, I think it’s a good idea. Who’s going to present it?’

“And I said, ‘I’ve no idea.’ And she said, ‘Well, why don’t you do it? You’re obviously committed to it, and you’re obviously enthusiastic, and you have medical background.’

Unfortunately, in the course of my medical training, the psychiatrists I met were a very disillusioned bunch, so the role models weren’t great, so I randomly applied for this job at the BBC in a moment of disillusionment.

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“That’s what I ended up doing and that was the first series I ever had made. The style I adopted was very much trying stuff on myself—that’s become something of a motif.”

Over the years Michael has tried smoking cigarettes (“very unpleasant”), high-intensity exercise (he cycles like a man possessed for 20 seconds), given researchers a sample of his blood to infect with the parasite that carries malaria, and bungy jumped (“I’m not great on heights so you can see me screaming all the way down”). You wouldn’t think it, but he says swallowing the tapeworm from infected beef in Kenya “was actually alright.” His least favourite self-inflicted experiment was when he went caving underground for a documentary about fear (he has claustrophobia).

“I got stuck and that was horrible. And the thing is that after that I became even more claustrophobic for a while. So I found it quite difficult doing things like going down the underground. I didn’t expect that. I wouldn’t have done it if I’d known because it was really very, very unpleasant.”

So what on earth drives Michael to try things out on his own self? He insists that most of his experiments “look unpleasant and can be quite painful but don’t have long term side effects.”

It’s mainly curiosity to discover what it feels like.

Sometimes I’m repeating or trying out classic experiments that were done by other people.

And I think if you’re going to talk about fear, it’s quite good to genuinely experience it and obviously it makes good telly.

But it was the 2012 Horizon documentary Eat Fast, Live Longer that changed his life in a “really profound way.” We see Michael being weighed and tested before he makes the decision to try intermittent fasting, which ultimately led to his Type II diabetes being reversed. Taking medication is one less thing he has to worry about but he’s far from having the medical all clear.

“I know, because I’ve been tested that I have the sort of genetics which mean that I tend to sleep badly, particular when I’m stressed. I have to compete with that,” he says. “And I’ve also got the sort of genetics which put me at risk of central obesity and Type II diabetes. I know those things. But the thing about genetics is they’re not destiny.”

10 — THE SUMMER ISSUE

LITTLE NATIONAL POST

HIGHROAD Buzzy inner north suburb Dickson is home to Highroad—a sprawling café that’s part of Canberra’s ONA coffee empire.

This airy and light-filled space is perfect for solo diners—pull up a seat at the bar, or take your place at the communal bench if you feel like company. Rather be left alone with your thoughts (or a good book)? Find a cosy corner in the upstairs dining space.

The all-day menu brings in influences from Asia, South America and the Middle East, and excellent coffee goes without saying.

1 Woolley St, Dickson highrd.com.au

PLACES TO EAT FOR

VINCENT Wine bar-cum-restaurant Vincent turns the concept of conventional restaurant design on its head.

A small space in the Parliamentary power-broking suburb of Barton is painted charcoal, a long snaking table facing diners inwards to a bustling staff and bar. Sit shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow gourmands and enjoy the attentive and knowledgeable service.

Vincent’s interior is dark and moody, one wall devoted to Scrabble tiles spelling out a menu of eleven dishes: five small plates, five large and one sweet choice to finish. A carefully curated list of local and international wines is designed to perfectly match each dish.

48 Macquarie St, Barton vincentrestaurant.com.au

EIGHTYSIX It’s noisy, brash and encourages sharing but eightysix is one of those rare beasts that’s equally suited to solo dining as it is ‘date night’. Perch at the kitchen bench and you’ll not only have the best seat in the house, but conversation with the chefs as they create culinary magic.

Watch the kitchen at work, develop food envy when you spot dishes you wish you’d ordered, and immerse yourself in an almost-theatrical experience.

Corner Elouera and Lonsdale Streets, Braddon eightysix.com.au

BAR ROCHFORD With a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it entry, a cracking wine list and food influenced by Europe, Spain and Modern Australia, Bar Rochford is one of Canberra’s hottest bars, Indeed it took the title of Australia’s Best Bar in the 2018 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide Awards.

A destination for those who love ‘very fine times’, its moody interiors are great for a quick drink after work, or for settling in for a lengthy food and wine session. Take up prime position along the bar, or sink into one of the padded booths and enjoy the people-watching.

65 London Circuit, Canberra City barrochford.com

LILOTANG It’s elegant Japanese fine-dining meets izakaya raffishness—full of flavour and matched by an impressive Sake list of more than 25 varieties.

Conveniently located in Barton’s Realm Precinct, Lilotang is a minimalist and elegant space filled with blonde wood, panels forming intimate smaller spaces that are perfect for dining alone—as is the menu, which lends itself to small tastes.

Pop in for a quick lunch-for-one or nestle into one of the intimate nooks for a leisurely culinary experience.

1 Burbury Close, Barton chairmangroup.com.au/lilotang

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THE SUMMER ISSUE — 11

PIALLIGO ESTATE

PLACES TO EAT FOR

A little oasis just minutes from Canberra Airport, the country setting of Pialligo Estate may as well be a world away. Embodying its paddock-to-plate philosophy is the brand new Market Grill—a small 48-person restaurant serving a ‘fishing village’ style menu—the freshest catches of the day alongside Pialligo Estate’s signature dry aged meats and smokehouse goods.

A glass of wine, generous dishes, and views across the olive groves make for a deliciously romantic dining experience.

18 Kallaroo Road, Pialligo thepialligoestate.com.au

RUBICON A hidden gem at Griffith shops, Rubicon has been a romantic dining destination for nearly 20 years.

Four small dining areas make for a cosy and private experience, and the food is classic mod-Oz done to perfection.

The best zucchini flowers in the city, a superior wine list and service that is almost as sparkling as the ceiling of fairy lights—there’s a reason this place has retained its status as a special-night-out venue while also earning the rusted-on loyalty of inner southsiders who just want a perfectly cooked steak.

6A Barker Street, Griffith rubiconrestaurant.com.au

WORDS Amanda Whitley PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Bean

GRAZING There are few things more romantic than a drive in the country. Take a mini road trip to Gundaroo for lunch or dinner for two at Grazing at the historic Royal Hotel.

An award-winning restaurant with a focus on the best of the district’s food and wine, Grazing serves elegant food made with the freshest possible ingredients. And settings just don’t come any more charming than this—polished floorboards, high ceilings, large wooden tables, fireplaces and rugs make for a fabulously rustic and simple interior.

Cork Street, Gundaroo grazing.com.au

AUBERGINE Widely recognised as Canberra’s best restaurant for what seems like forever, Aubergine is the ultimate special occasion destination, tucked away in the sleepy inner-south suburb of Griffith.

From the curved dining room to the long, sheer curtains and soft lighting, it’s an intimate space that lends itself to quiet conversations. The food is appropriately elegant and refined (no shared plates here) and the wine list is one of the best in town.

18 Barker Street, Griffith aubergine.com.au

RAKU You’d be forgiven for thinking a shopping centre isn’t the obvious place to look when you’re seeking romance—but RAKU delivers it in spades.

This sleek modern Japanese restaurant is a versatile date-night destination: sit at the bench and watch the chefs as they slice sashimi and craft dumplings, or hole up in one of the sculptural timber booths and ignore the rest of the world. Whichever option you choose, you’re assured of a memorable dining experience.

Bunda Street, Canberra City rakudining.com.au

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WORDS Carly Devine PHOTOGRAPHY Nathan Harradine-Hale

When it comes to entertaining, grazing tables are the new black.

But it’s not as simple as assembling some random processed meats, cheeses and crackers—a truly stunning grazing table can be a work of art.

Carly Devine of Canberra’s Nibble and Nourish shares her tips on how to pull together an incredible edible centrepiece for your next event.

CREATING THE SELECTING PERFECT CANVAS YOUR FEATURE INGREDIENTS The first thing I do before any grazing table creation is plan the layout, including the choice of table, tablecloth and which boards, wooden stands, bowls and cheese knives to use.

This usually depends on if the client has a theme or not, but we tend to stick to our own rustic aesthetic using brown butcher’s paper laid down first and then stacked with brown wooden boards and baskets and framed with gorgeous green gum.

When it comes to food, my absolute must-haves to feature on our tables and fill guests’ bellies are a selection of cheeses, cured meats, dips, bread and crackers. These items are the most important for our entire creation.

Once we have these carefully placed these ingredients on our canvas we add all the other delicious foods such as antipasto, fruit, veggie sticks, honeycomb, nuts and sweets to fill in the gaps and create some truly mouth-watering art!

WHICH CHEESE TO CHOOSE? I always feature a large wheel of Brie or a Camembert tower for wow factor. Then it’s all about variety to ensure there’s something for every taste—I usually include Gruyere, cheddar, a fruit and nut creamy cheese, a crumbly blue and then something smoked and something vintage or just fun like a truffled brie.

MEATS TO PLEASE YOU I like to always include a wide range of cured meats to appeal to all palates. The most popular (and much-loved by us too) include Italian prosciutto, Hungarian salami, twiggy sticks, cabanossi and fresh sliced ham.

DON’T FORGET It's super important to always include plenty of utensils to make it easy for the guest to select a range of items for their plate. Also make sure the food is appropriately portioned so guests find it easy to grab and eat as they mingle—this ensures minimal food wastage.

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WORDS Emma Macdonald PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of The Australian

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here’s an irony in Canberra’s most successful television drama being named Secret City.

Because now that it has enjoyed an international audience and trended globally on Netflix, Canberra is now more of an open secret than anything.

Of course, neither Press Gallery newshound Steve Lewis nor Chris Uhlmann had any idea their experimental novel—conceived over a coffee in April of 2011 and written largely in the cloud while both men maintained an almost maniacal pace covering federal politics—would make it to the screen, much less go viral.

But The Marmalade Files and The Mandarin Code—written in quick succession and picked up by Matchbox Pictures—was destined for greatness.

Even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted to a colleague of Uhlmann’s recently that he has binge-watched the show, which follows steely journo Harriet Dunkley and a series of unfortunate events which snowball after a body is washed up on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

More broadly, the series, which first aired on Foxtel in 2016 before being snapped up by Netflix (estimated audience 180 million) in 2018, has revolutionised the way Canberra has been portrayed on the big screen—bringing out its sexy, dark side, and sweeping all images of polyester-clad bureaucrats and beige party men into the menacing waters of the lake.

The two friends and authors steal a moment out of the news cycle at the public café on the top balcony of Parliament House. Since the Secret City juggernaut took off, Uhlmann has left the ABC to become Political Editor for the Nine Network, while Lewis has spent the past few years out of News Corp Australia and ensconced in Canberra’s lobbying scene.

Lewis appears more the driving force behind the partnership—keeping the harried Uhlmann focussed on script development into the late evenings even as he fields calls from politicians who have earned a spot in his nightly news reports.

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And though Secret City has superseded all expectations, the pair are most definitely not done.

“We’ve got multiple ideas and projects underway,” says Uhlmann.

“We’d like to see a Secret City 3. We’ve talked to Foxtel about another project, which they have some interest in. The problem you’ve got with all these things is that they are highly expensive productions, so getting them off the ground can take years.

“And then, although I said I would never write another book, Steve has been awfully persistent on another idea which we are starting to flesh out at the moment…”

Uhlmann stops to roll his eyes at the thought of cramming more late-night projects into his already overflowing diary.

Lewis laughs back, noting that “Chris is slightly busier than I am” with the demands of running a major television network’s Press Gallery bureau and breaking some of the nation’s largest scoops.

Yet both men are also thankful for their day jobs given the precarious nature of publishing and the fact that Secret City has not made them overnight millionaires.

When asked whether they have made much money from their toil, Lewis says “no”. Uhlmann says “no”. Lewis says “no” again. And then they laugh.

It’s clear that the friendship and adrenaline rush of commercial success (even if that doesn’t translate to direct financial gain) is enough to sustain the creative partnership. And during sitting weeks at Parliament House, you will find each of them engaged in their respective duties—one seeking to influence the political process, the other trying to reveal the political process. It is hard to imagine that both don’t have an eye to adding enrichment and detail to the chapters which come together in their down-time.

Canberra insiders understand well that it is exactly this level of intimate knowledge of the political process that lends Secret City its authentic intrigue and depth. These men know how it works. And sometimes fiction veers eerily towards fact.

Even back in 2011, as they melded two separate ideas onto one clean sheet of paper, the plot line almost immediately revolved around Australia being caught between its major trading partner China, and its main ally, the United States.

“Before that first coffee when we really committed to writing it together, we had essentially come up with two separate ideas that had been swirling around in our heads for a while. Chris had an idea for a satirical TV drama with a character who became Catriona Bailey,” says Lewis.

“I had an idea for more of a thriller, more of a novel that pivoted around a body being dragged out of the lake.”

THIS PAGE Secret City's main protagonist Harriet Dunkley, played by Anna Torv.

Photos supplied by Screen Canberra

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“But that tension between Australia, China and the US, we were talking about that as long ago as the first book and we knew that was going to be the thing that defined Australia’s future,” says Uhlmann.

Lewis expands, “Even though we wanted the books to be pulp fiction in a way—you know, a good airport read—the big themes were in there: the decline of the media, the rise of social media, the loss of faith in federal politics and the critical relationships between our trading partners and our key ally being a major source of political tension.

“And these are the real conflicts being played out around this city each day.”

As they melded their ideas together the pair would sit up till the late hours—Uhlmann in Canberra and Lewis in Sydney—writing into the cloud.

“Steve would put in the adjectives and I would take them out,” according to Uhlmann.

And with an enthusiasm and ambition that those who know Lewis would recognise immediately, he took it upon himself to sound out television producer Penny Chapman from Matchbox Productions very early on in the writing process.

While she was interested in The Marmalade Files, there was not much meat on the bones to sustain a mini-series.

Luckily, publisher Harper Collins was already keen for the second instalment of The Mandarin Code. while The Marmalade Files was still under construction. And this was enough for Chapman to commit to the project.

With each major deadline looming, the pair would take a week down the coast to refine their words, read aloud each page and ensure that the prose was cohesive and that their two perspectives melded into “one voice”.

There have been some learning experiences, including having their work heavily edited (understandably galling for two such senior journalists), and there were many tense hours spent sitting with the publisher’s lawyers to prevent Australia’s defamation regime landing the pair in hot water.

“Defamation law in Australia goes beyond the world of fact and into the world of fiction, so if someone can identify themselves in our pages, they can sue us,” says Lewis.

It led to some creative character changes when the pair listed 14 living people who could reasonably imagine they were making an appearance in the book.

This included inventing a grisly industrial accident which claimed the hand of a former union official turned defence minister and giving him a hook.

Interesting, yes. And enough to satisfy the legal guns that any real people were suitably obscured.

Of course, the city’s pervasive spy network (both declared and undeclared members of the Embassy belt) may speculate about whether any characterisations have outed them in any way. It’s not for Uhlmann or Lewis to reveal their sources.

THIS PAGE The cast of Secret City. Production shots supplied by Screen Canberra

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“Yet perhaps the most pervasive character in Secret City—and one which is so clearly identified and so utterly unique—is Canberra.”

While the rest of the nation may view their capital city as a bland blot on an otherwise productive sheep plain, Secret City exposes layers of power, corruption, subterfuge, and glamour—all taking place against a backdrop of carefully constructed and meticulously planned elegance.

Secret City is sparsely, yet beautiful filmed—capturing the menace of Lake Burley Griffin, the architectural art of NewActon, the stark vastness of Parliament House, and the curated bridges and roadways which criss-cross the designed capital. Not to mention the infamous Canberra chill. There is no chaos in the planned environment despite the plot twists and turns. And the production values respect the distinctive aesthetic and sophistication which sets Canberra apart from anywhere else.

Monica Penders, the CEO of Screen Canberra— an investment partner and production facilitator of Secret City—says the series has done more to give Canberra an international profile than any other production.

“It has turned conventional thoughts about Canberra being boring and bland on their head, and instead we have a city that is portrayed as dark and sexy.”

She described as miraculous the opportunity to film inside Parliament House—the result of Uhlmann and Lewis pleading the case directly with the Department of Parliamentary Services and months of negotiation coming down to the wire when approval was finally granted just a week out from shooting.

“I mean, Parliament House is like the Vatican, it is its own city, so to be able to get those cameras through the door was amazing,” says Monica.

Meanwhile, the more than six hours of footage of all the city has to offer—alongside a cracking good espionage story—has made its way via Netflix into 40 new territories and potentially millions of homes.

“This has really changed the way the world sees our city,” she says.

Similarly Uhlmann and Lewis are proud that they have showcased the capital they know so intimately.

“One of the great joys of the whole Secret City adventure has been receiving feedback from people who will tweet from London or Singapore, or Canada and say ‘Wow, I’ve heard of Canberra but never seen it, and who knew it looked so good’,” says Uhlmann.

“Canberra was always going to be the first character in this book because we both love Canberra and we wanted to let people know that it is a fascinating city and that everything that happens—all the troubles of the world—are actually played out here every day,” says Lewis.

“Now we feel it is on the map.”

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ROAD TRIP: JERVIS BAY

Jervis Bay’s appeal is obvious—CRYSTAL CLEAR waters meet the softest white sand, surrounded by stunning bushland. But there’s a lot more to this SHOALHAVEN destination than meets the eye.

WORDS Amanda Whitley and Beatrice Smith PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Bean

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EAT

5 LITTLE PIGS

Located in the hustle and bustle of the main strip of Huskisson’s Owen Street, and overlooking Currambene Creek inlet, 5 Little Pigs serves up a delicious and ever-changing menu of local and seasonal produce.

It may look like the perfect spot for a casual coffee (and it is), but don’t be fooled—the menu is a cut above what you might expect from your average coastal café. The menu is inventive, and the meals restaurant quality. Caffeinds will appreciate the local Swell coffee on offer.

64-66 Owen Street, Huskisson 5littlepigs.com.au

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RIGHT 5 Little Pigs BELOW The Huskisson Hotel

PELICAN ROCKS FISH & CHIPS While many waterside spots may claim they have the best fish and chips, Pelican Rocks Café has the gongs to back it up, winning both the Judges and People’s Choice Awards in the 2019 Australian Fish and Chips Awards—the third year in a row they’ve been recognised.

Located right across from where the boats land, they pride themselves on fresh fish—but that’s not all. They also do a cracking breakfast, stunning desserts, and the seafood platters have to be seen to be believed. Oh, and they’re licensed, so you can enjoy a wine or beer with your meal.

115 Greenwell Point Road, Greenwell Point facebook.com/pelicanrockscafe

THE GUNYAH Designed by Sydney architects Nettleton Tribe, the Gunyah is a unique space, built high off the ground to enjoy the sea breeze and a wonderful position amongst the treetops. In the warmer months, the sliding doors open up for outdoor dining on the verandah, providing a bushy backdrop to candlelit meals and to observe the goings-on of our resident possums, sugar gliders and colourful birdlife.

In winter, an open fire with cosy lounges is the perfect place to curl up on after dinner with a nightcap, perhaps swap a few travelling tales with other guests, or enjoy a game of cards.

Paperbark Camp, 571 Woollamia Road, Woollamia paperbarkcamp.com.au

PILGRIMS Pilgrims may be a vegetarian café, but we reckon the menu will win over even the most dedicated carnivore. From burgers and pies to salads, toasties and wraps, Pilgrims is a must-visit for delicious, fresh and healthy food. Every Friday and Saturday night, Pilgrims goes south of the border, serving up Mexican nights from 5:30 pm until close.

5-6/57 Owen Street, Huskisson pilgrims.cafe

THE QUARTERS HUSKISSON Located in a 100-year-old coastal cottage, just off the main strip, you’ll find The Quarters Huskisson—an all-day eatery and bar serving up locally-sourced produce, specialty coffee, and an extensive drinks list.

The Mod Oz menu takes inspiration from the Mediterranean and Asia, with fresher-than-fresh seafood sitting along Italian favourites, and intriguing dishes showing Spanish and Thai influences.

13 Currambene Street, Huskisson thequartershuskisson.com.au

THE HUSKISSON HOTEL The Huskisson Hotel is as much a part of Jervis Bay as the famous white sand beaches. And it’s about to receive a whole new entertaining precinct. Boasting unparalleled views overlooking the bay, the iconic hotel opened its doors in 1932 and has been a landmark destination for almost 100 years.

The “Husky Pub”, as it’s perhaps better known, is the perfect location for a relaxed catch-up, cold beer with friends, a delicious meal overlooking the bay.

But the Husky Pub is expanding, and will also soon be a place for an elegant cocktail or function. Work has started on a new and more refined outdoor space which will make use of the large lawns close to the water. There will be a beautiful gabled pavilion to provide an upmarket function and event space. And for those who just want to relax with a cocktail instead of a beer, the new venue space will also have its own bar and food truck coupled with extensive outdoor seating. By summer 2020, there won’t be a better place to be.

75 Owen Street, Huskisson huskissonhotel.com.au

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PLAY

JERVIS BAY WILD

Jervis Bay Wild offers a range of breathtaking Whale Watching and Dolphin cruise options all year-round.

A fantastic way to experience the excitement of pure nature, seeing these amazing creatures in their habitat is truly special.

Not so sure how your stomach will fare in open seas?

Jervis Bay Wild’s Sunset River Cruise is a relaxing alternative. During the sunset hours, you will be treated to an evening of relaxation and indulgence, enjoying wine and cheese as you cruise the calm waters of Currambene Creek.

If you’re up for a little action, Jervis Bay Wild also offers kayaks, canoes and stand up paddleboard hire, where you might meet local giant stingrays, or catch a glimpse of a kangaroo.

58 Owen Street, Huskisson jervisbaywild.com.au

POINT PERPENDICULAR LIGHTHOUSE & LOOKOUT

While you’re exploring, head to Point Perpendicular Lighthouse and the spectacular escarpment at Jervis Bay—it’s a little over a half-hour drive from Greenwell Point and 1hr 10 minutes from Huskisson.

There’s no access to the inside of the lighthouse, but the view from the grounds of the lighthouse alone makes this drive worthwhile.

Just time your visit wisely—the gravel road to the lighthouse may deteriorate during bad weather and at times the road is closed because of Naval gunnery training exercises.

Lighthouse Road, Currarong visitnsw.com

100 BEACH CHALLENGE Hyams Beach may be the area’s most famous stretch of sand, but there are actually 16 White Sands Beaches of Jervis Bay. Head to the secluded Barfleur beach, which backs onto Plantation Point Reserve, Callala beach and bay with its sand forests, or Murrays in Booderee National Park—all share the same crystal-blue waters and white sands as Hyams, sans crowds. shoalhaven.com/100-beach-challenge

JERVIS BAY BIKE HIRE

Jervis Bay and its surrounding suburbs offer magnificent views of white sands, clear blue waters, and bushland, and one of the best ways to take them in is on a bicycle. The area has an excellent network of shared cycleways and footpaths, providing cyclists with easy access to the natural environment and beauty of the region.

Hop aboard and explore one of the many cycle paths around the shores of Jervis Bay—including Huskisson, Vincentia and Hyams Beach.

If you’re an experienced rider, you can even leave the cycleway and explore Booderee National Park, Bherwerre Beach, Caves Beach, and the Botanical Gardens. jervisbaybikehire.com ABOVE 100 Beach Challenge LEFT Jervis Bay Wildlife

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STAY

BAY & BUSH COTTAGES

Surrounded by coastal and marine national parks and white sand beaches, Bay and Bush Cottages gives you the chance to stay in the heart of Jervis Bay. Just minutes from Huskisson, the cottages are a stone’s throw from beaches, whale watching, fishing, surfing as well as museums, galleries, food and wine—you’re perfectly situated, no matter the season.

Special occasion? Ask the friendly staff to prepare a breakfast hamper and local bottle of wine to be left in your cottage before arrival. That way you can have a leisurely start to your escape.

21 Pritchard Avenue, Woollamia bayandbush.com.au

LEFT Jervis Bay RIGHT Bay and Bush Cottages BOTTOM Bay and Bush Cottages

BOODEREE NATIONAL PARK

For those after a little adventure, head into the Booderee National Park—just 15 minutes from Huskisson—and explore the bush tracks and botanical gardens and see incredible wildlife.

Home to one of Australia’s most stunning national parks, Booderee is home to crystal-clear waters which meet beautiful white sand beaches, while high cliffs and historic relics overlook the Pacific Ocean. parksaustralia.gov.au/booderee

HUSKISSON PICTURES

If you like your cinema with a hint of nostalgia, Huskisson Pictures may be what you’re looking for.

Housed in a building constructed in 1913 by the Dent family (local ship builders) as a community hall for their employees, the hall has been used as a church, school, library, hall, dance and concert venue, and theatre. Movies have been screened there since the early fifties.

Renovations undertaken in 1990 saw the hall transformed into a permanent cinema, with the exterior left as original as possible, and the interior completely refurbished.

Huskisson Pictures opens weekends and selected weekdays during the school term and every day during New South Wales school holidays (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) showing the latest releases at a great price.

Owen Street, Huskisson huskipics.com.au

GREENWELL POINT There’s more to the area than Huskisson. Around a half-hour drive away you’ll find Greenwell Point—a charming fishing village offering great seafood, fishing, boating and world-famous oysters.

The small fleet of trawlers bring in their catch daily, some of which is sold locally in the town’s seafood outlets. The local oyster farms here provide an indulgent oyster feast—shucked while you wait or freshly packed and chilled. shoalhaven.com/greenwell-point-shoalhavensouth-coast-nsw

GREENFIELDS BEACH & PICNIC AREA Set amongst the picturesque setting of the Jervis Bay National Park, Greenfield Beach sets the bar high even by Jervis Bay beach standards. Its grassy foreshore and surrounding walking tracks are the perfect location for a beachside barbecue, bird watching and spotting wildflowers. It’s named after Colin Greenfield who lived in the area from 1942 until the 1970s.

The picnic area has a free electric barbecue, clean drinking water, cold showers, flush toilets, sheltered eating areas, and wheelchair access. Take a walk along one of the two walking tracks and discover an abundance of wildlife.

This family-friendly beach is the perfect location to explore for the day and is part of the Jervis Bay Marine Park.

Sutton Street, Vincentia nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

WORROWING ESTATE Worrowing Estate is a historic 250-acre coastal farm property offering self-contained holiday accommodation and on-site wedding venue locations, just minutes from Jervis Bay. From cottages to studios, a beachfront house and even glamping tents, Worrowing Estate’s charming range of accommodation is suitable for everyone from couples to large groups.

The Worrowing Stables is particularly gorgeous, sitting on the ridge of the Worrowing hillside and offering wide-open views of pastoral land, bush and distant mountain ranges. A restored stable complex, The Stables has a rustic feel and features a large horse arena with farm-style wooden gates 81 The Wool Road, Worrowing Heights worrowing.com.au

PAPERBARK CAMP Want to get (really) close to nature? Paperbark Camp’s 13 canvas safari-style tents are nestled amongst the trees, built above the ground to give privacy and to capture the sea breeze.

All tents have wrap-around decking with outdoor furniture, polished hardwood floors, full insect screening, solar-powered lighting as well as high-quality linen and all the hotel amenities you would expect for a luxe camping experience.

For a camping experience like no other, spoil yourself in the deluxe or king deluxe tents with freestanding bath and contemporary furnishings to create a romantic candlelit oasis amongst the gum trees—you’ll never pitch your own tent again!

Paperbark Camp, 571 Woollamia Road, Woollamia paperbarkcamp.com.au

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Summer PLAID

Meet CARA HO, our fashion stylist bringing you this season’s looks.

Born into Australian fashion royalty, Cara cut her teeth working in fashion business management for eight years, before establishing her niche styling Australia’s celebrities for red carpet events and television. With a strong portfolio of clients from TV, fashion and the corporate worlds in both Sydney and Canberra, Cara is passionate about helping people establish their signature look, whilst paying homage to trends.

Mix it up. Now is your time to play with heritage pieces by pairing them with unexpected items. Wear a plaid skirt with a T-shirt, or even double up on tartan and wear it head-totoe. Much like animal print or denim, treat tartan like you would a neutral and wear it with anything. I prefer channelling the Katherine Hepburn vibe with this heritage trend.

PUFF Shoulders In an attempt to weed out the minimalist trend, this season sees bold ruffles and oversized silhouettes—resulting in statement puff shoulders on both dresses and blouses.

Simultaneously striking and stylish, these puff sleeves add a fun ’80s twist to modern outfits.

Try the look yourself if you’re after a powerful and fashionable daytime style. Just be sure to keep the rest of your look subdued, so you don’t appear over-the-top.

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Gender statements are clear this season with spring/summer 2019 fashion trends strongly representing both femininity and masculinity.

Fantasy dresses celebrate hyper-femininity on one end of the scale, while on the other we see severe, edgy and masculine stylings that are perhaps meant to empower.

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1 Oroton Linen check woven blazer $489 oroton.com 2 Mara Hoffman + Net Sustain Tia ribbed Tencel Modal top $412 net-a-porter.com 3 Cult Gaia Dani canvas and tortoiseshell acrylic belt $213 net-a-porter.com 4 Oroton High waisted Bermuda short $289 oroton.com 5 Naturae Sacra Ourea large leather and resin tote $1,350 net-a-porter.com 6 Cult Gaia Liya woven raffia and leather pumps $510 net-a-porter.com

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1 Eugenia Kim Sunny grosgrain-trimmed woven faux raffia sunhat $415 net-a-porter.com 2 Loren Stewart 14-karat gold shell necklace $459 net-a-porter.com 3 Cult Gaia Willow shirred cotton-blend maxi dress $1,031 net-a-porter.com 4 Cult Gaia Lani Sandals $495 theiconic.com.au 5 Oroton Ester Straw Drum Bag $299 oroton.com

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Summer POWER SUITING

PLEATED Dresses & Skirts

Tea-Length DRESSES

Linen continues as summer's fabric of choice. Desired for its effortless yet elegant look, this breathable fabric is a well-suited choice for the office. As for the crushing, it adds to its character!

Loose HIGH WAISTED Pants

Pleats are indeed back as one of spring/summer 2019’s fashion trends. This lovely design element pairs well with summer dresses and skirts, as it tends to show up in lighter and airier fabrics in softer hues.

A tea-length dress is a dress that ends at about mid-calf —a length that requires expert tailoring in order to suit most figures. Designers took on the challenge, making tea-length dresses one of spring 2019’s most covetable fashion trends.

If you are vertically challenged, opt for a print to distract from the in-between length.

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This is one of those fashion trends that is comfortable yet professional, and shows unisex versatility. The loose-fitting highwaisted pants are definitely in for street and office wear, offering a cinched-in silhouette that emphasizes the waist while still giving room to breathe. Opt for solid colours, and pair with large belts and blouses.

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1 Taylor linen and cotton-blend blazer $749 rebeccavallance.com 2 James Perse The Daily ribbed stretch-cotton tank $99 net-a-porter.com 3 Alighieri I Leone Medallion gold-plated necklace $299 net-a-porter.com 4 Rebecca Vallance taylor Pant Ivory $459 rebeccavallance.com 5 Valextra Iside textured-leather shoulder bag $3,098 net-a-porter.com 6 By Far Thalia leather mules $439 net-a-porter.com

1 Mounser Cirrus gold-plated, pearl and glass earrings $315 net-a-porter.com 2 Rebecca Vallance Ruby Midi Dress $679 rebeccavallance.com 3 Mounser Goldplated glass and pearl bracelet $285 net-a-porter.com 4 Oroton Black Hazel Wallet Cross Body Bag $299 oroton.com 5 Stella McCartney + Net Sustain faux leather mules $599 theiconic.com.au

1 Cult Gaia Turband knotted frayed gauze headband $100 net-a-porter.com 2 Nicholas Button-detailed checked Tencel-blend top $250 net-a-porter.com 3 Cult Gaia Gemma canvas and rattan belt $190 net-a-porter.com 4 Oroton Snap pleat skirt $299 oroton.com 5 L'AFSHAR Adowa marbled acrylic tote $749 net-a-porter.com 6 Cult Gaia soleil leather sandals $595 theiconic.com.au

1 Zimmerman Small Square Printed Scarf $150 zimmermanwear.com 2 Cult Gaia Flo tortoiseshell acrylic earrings $142 net-a-porter.com 3 Zimmerman Espionage Silk Tunic $550 zimmermanwear.com 4 Oroton Black Odette Bucket Bag $399 oroton.com 5 Zimmerman Espionage Wide-leg Pant $595 zimmermanwear.com 6 Cult Gaia Eden leather sandals $569 net-a-porter.com

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LINEN To cope with the heat while remaining suitably polished, turn to linen. Comfortable and breathable, linen makes an excellent choice for the warmer months. It’s also perfect for achieving a stylish, smart casual appearance when worn in the form of a suit.

TONAL Layering Neutrals are easy to wear, and while they generally go with anything, it can be argued that the best result is achieved when they’re worn together.

Layer up tones within the neutral family, such as oatmeal, caramel and acorn—a styling trick favoured by the menswear circuit each season.

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1 Country Road regular textured linen blazer $349 countryroad.com.au 2 Bottega Veneta cotton-piqué polo shirt $445 mrporter.com 3 Bottega Veneta D-Frame gold-tone titanium sunglasses $626 mrporter.com 4 Club Monaco layered mélange cotton-blend sweater $242 mrporter.com 5 Salle Privée gehry slim-fit stretch-cotton twill chinos $401 mrporter.com 6 Hender Scheme woven leather loafers $851 mrporter.com

1 Balenciaga logo-embroidered cottontwill baseball cap $494 mrporter.com 2 Country Road long sleeve Irish linen shirt $129 mrporter.com 3 Alice Made This M4 bancroft matte silver ring $250 mrporter.com 4 Mulberry 4cm black woven leather belt $351.83 mrporter.com 5 Country Road stretch chino short $89.95 countryroad.com.au 6 Grenson leather sneakers $325 mrporter.com

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TIE DYE There is something inherently summery about tie-dye, one of this season’s curveball trends.

And despite its free-spirited roots, it is possible to make tie-dye work in a slick, grown-up way. Simply opt for one statement piece paired with smarter separates.

Cuban COLLAR What to wear when it can be either hot or cold, monsoon or drought? The key is the perfect layering piece. It will layer wonderfully with both casual jackets and tailoring but it also possesses the very important quality of looking far superior to the pique buttoned polo in almost all instances. In spring wear one beneath a suit (navy is your safest bet) for sprightly style but when it gets a bit warmer team smart chinos (never jeans) and finish the look with some penny loafers.

POCKETS On Everything

PASTEL

Technical fabrics, commandosole shoes, fireman jackets, workwear everything: menswear designers have, for a number of years, been as preoccupied with function as they have with form. That trend reaches its natural conclusion this season with utility-wear, which sees practical, military-inspired clothes reimagined as designer gear.

What does that mean in real life?

Pockets. Lots of pockets.

We all have a comfort zone. For most guys, this takes the form of a woolly cocoon in some shade of navy, black or grey. But every now and then we need to step outside. If we don’t, we risk our style becoming stagnant.

This season, trends challenge guys to try something new, experiment, even get a little scared like wearing pastels. To avoid getting freezer burnt by spring’s sorbet soft goods, apply a colour—such as mint green or dusty pink—to a single piece (sweatshirts, denim jackets and sneakers being the most wearable) anchored by dark staples before progressing to tonal looks.

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1 Borsalino Panama wide-brim straw hat $424 matchesfashion.com 2 Fred Eyewear Force 10 aviator metal sunglasses $954 matchesfashion.com 3 Hecho Cuban-collar linen-jersey shirt $345 matchesfashion. com 4 Alighieri The Bea 24kt gold-plated necklace $317 matchesfashion.com 5 Exclusive Marané Drawstring linen trousers $260 mrporter.com 6 Ancient Greek Sandals Hero leather flip flops $181 matchesfashion.com

1 Rubinacci cotton-chambray shirt $435 mrporter.com 2 The Elder Statesman Favorite tie-dyed cashmere-blend T-shirt $750 matchesfashion.com 3 Bamford watch departmentmayfair sport polymer and rubber watch $710 mrporter.com 4 Tom Ford suede and leather belt bag $2,348 mrporter.com 5 Barena Venezia Tamai cotton-blend straight-leg cargo trousers $290 matchesfashion.com 6 Bottega Veneta intrecciato leather slides $880 mrporter.com

1 Garrett Leight California Optical Brooks 47 D-frame acetate optical glasses $405 mrporter.com 2 Alexander Mcqueen suit jacket $2,415 mrporter.com 3 RRL checked cotton shirt $396 mrporter.com 4 Peter Millar crown crafted stealth performance slim-fit stretch-nylon trousers $195 mrporter. com 5 Luis Morais 14-karat gold sapphire beaded bracelet $5,041 mrporter.com 6 Common Projects original achilles leather sneakers $423 mrporter.com

1 Club Monaco striped linen t-shirt $135 mrporter.com 2 Nike ACG tapered cotton-blend twill cargo trousers $261 mrporter.com 3 Montblanc nightflight leather-trimmed canvas messenger bag $505 mrporter.com 4 J.Crew slim-fit button-down collar linen shirt $152 mrporter.com 5 Nonnative commander slim-fit coolmax cotton-blend ripstop cargo shorts $590 mrporter.com 6 Moncler logo-embossed striped rubber slides $261 mrporter.com

26 — THE SUMMER ISSUE

THIS PAGE The Residences living OPPOSITE The Residences

LITTLE NATIONAL POST

LITTLE NATIONAL POST

THE PARKS: MODERN LIVING in grand European style.

WORDS Emma Macdonald PHOTOGRAPHY Lightbulb Studio RENDER Mr. P Studios

THERE ARE ENVIABLE SUBURBS, and then there are suburbs that signify you’ve “made it” in real estate terms.

In Sydney there’s Pittwater, Vaucluse and Double Bay; in Melbourne, Toorak and Kew. In Canberra, the suburb of Red Hill stands apart.

Exclusive, gentrified and tightly-held, Red Hill is home to diplomats and powerbrokers—Canberra’s old-school money and intelligentsia sharing treelined streets with a new generation of entrepreneurs.

Now, two of the country’s most respected and trusted developers—DOMA and Stockland—have embarked on a development that will open a new frontier within Canberra’s most established and sought-after suburb.

The Parks will create a new elegant enclave within the heart of Red Hill with the development of 136 European-style town homes set in and around six manicured parks—creating a new standard for elegant living within the city’s blue-ribbon address.

While landscaping often comes as an afterthought in modern apartment living, The Parks is aptly named in reference to the lush green gardens and manicured green plazas taking centre stage of the development.

According to DOMA’s Senior Development Manager David Carey, the opportunity to jointly-develop a significant parcel of land in Red Hill was one DOMA and Stocklands could not pass up—as well as being one which both parties wished to approach a little differently.

After all, large parcels of prime real estate at the very heart of a precinct which is renowned for its heritage and exclusivity are not regularly on the market—if at all.

“It’s where we feel we can do some of our very best work … it is the kind of suburb where, as a developer, there is a reward for really good design and urban outcomes,” says David.

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The joint development will encapsulate 136 apartments, 83 terrace houses and 25 blocks on which families can build their forever home.

It is uniquely positioned to provide an alternative and downsized version of Red Hill’s large and leafy blocks for couples who have raised families and have earned the right to capitalise on lifestyle in a new and luxurious abode.

DOMA’s sphere of the development will be the creation of 136 bespoke European-style town homes, encircled by landscaped parks as part of what will be a vibrant village precinct.

Designed by Stewart Architecture with interiors

by Capezio Copeland, The Parks will be defined by distinctive pitched metal roofs, attics and dormer windows that will sit easily within the grand streets of Red Hill.

Offering six one-bedroom, 60 two-bedroom and 70 three-bedroom apartments, the development places emphasis on space, privacy and inspired design.

The layout and functionality of each apartment has been carefully considered and interiors reference the architectural style of grand old London terraces.

Offering a sophisticated and timeless selection of both light and dark colour schemes across 12 different unit types, The Parks is anchored by neutral palettes and always-luxurious finishes including stone benchtops, marble splashbacks, Miele appliances and herringbone timber floors.

Brick, anodised bronze, dormer windows and arches promise a European streetscape and sensibility.

Privacy and greenery are equally respected within the development through deep courtyards, and internal balconies. These balcony styles not only anchor the London look but will enable The Parks residents to capitalise on Canberra’s distinctive seasons.

According to David “We took our influences from the town homes that you might see in London, or Paris, where, from the street you have these grand old buildings that at street level could still read as one property, but inside they have been carved into three or four grand apartments.”

“These elegant buildings will look a little different because we won’t have protruding balconies.

Instead they will be recessed within the façade, so the benefit to the resident is that they have balcony space available the whole year around—at the height of summer when they need shade, and during winter when they don’t want to be out in the wind. There will still be a lot of air ventilation but you are protected from the elements by the design.”

Detailing within the interiors is refined and pared back to allow a focus on hero elements such as joinery mouldings, fluted glass within the bathrooms, curtain pelmets with integrated LED lighting, New Zealand wool carpets and freestanding bath tubs.

Every design consideration elevates residences well above the ordinary.

Traditional tall skirting boards with contrasting wall finishes give a sense of stateliness, while ambient wall lighting provides softness and luxury. The Parks combines solid historical grandeur with paredback design.

Meanwhile, location will be another major drawcard.

The 53,000 square metre site sits right in the heart of Red Hill and is surrounded by cafés, shops, while boasting panoramic views across the city.

Upgrades to the local suburban shops have made Red Hill a popular destination for foodies—drawing shoppers from beyond the locality.

Meanwhile, the elegant commercial districts of Manuka and Kingston are just a hop, skip and jump away, which Canberra’s CBD is an easily accessible six kilometres.

The Red Hill shops rejuvenation and establishment of The Parks is leading a wider regeneration of one of Canberra’s oldest, and most revered suburbs.

Welcome to the future.

28 — THE SUMMER ISSUE

LITTLE NATIONAL POST

MUST-DO EXPERIENCES FOR THE CANBERRAN—Canberra is brimming with experiences for every taste, interest and hobby. Here are 10 you won’t want to miss.

MATISSE & PICASSO 13 December 2019 to 13 April 2020 National Gallery of Australia

An exhibition exploring the relationship between two of the most remarkable artists in history.

Following the journey and rivalry of Matisse and Picasso over the decades as they responded to one another’s work. The National Gallery of Australia’s Matisse and Picasso shows the true spectacle that is this story of two challengers who provoked and inspired simultaneously. nga.gov.au

HANDMADE MARKETS 6 to 8 December 2019 Exhibition Park, Canberra

Handmade Market showcases the Australian made and designed products of more than 270 Australian creative businesses, attracting crowds of up to 30,000 to each event. Meet the maker and discover unique fashion, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, children’s toys and clothing, jewellery and accessories, food and wine. handmadecanberra.com.au

SKYFIRE

14 March 2020 Lake Burley Griffin

Hit104.7 Skyfire lights up Lake Burley Griffin with a spectacular fireworks display set to a 20-minute soundtrack broadcast live on radio. There are great vantage points all around the lake with some of Canberra’s favourite food trucks serving up snacks and meals. hit1047skyfire.com.au

Credit: Photo © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée national Picasso-Paris) / Mathieu Rabeau © Succession H. Matisse/Copyright Agency

Credit: Bequest of Saidie A May, Baltimore Museum of Art Photography by Mitro Hood © Succession Picasso/Copyright Agency

GAME MASTERS: THE EXHIBITION

ART, NOT APART 14 March 2020 Various locations around Canberra

Until Monday 9 March 2020 National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton.

Game Masters: The Exhibition has transformed the National Film and Sound Archive into Australia’s biggest video game arcade with the world’s greatest designers, characters and games.

Game Masters is an interactive journey through five decades of video game history, featuring interviews, never-before-seen concept artwork, an amazing display of vintage consoles and collectable items, and 80 playable games. nfsa.gov.au

Credit: VisitCanberra

Art, Not Apart (ANA) is an annual contemporary arts festival, running under the motto of ‘United through art. No-one’s apart.’ ANA expresses that the festival is not just about art, rather uses it as a metaphor, giving light to the lesser heard, lesser seen, and inspiring all. The festival is packed with exhibitions, performance art, multiple music stages, interactive installations, film and moving image, food, drinks and a grand after-party. artnotapart.com

Installation imagery of Game Masters at ACMI. Courtesy and copyright ACMI. Photographer Mark Ashkanasy.

LITTLE NATIONAL POST

THE SUMMER ISSUE — 29

GUIDE

WORDS Amanda Whitley

ENLIGHTEN

NATIONAL MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

28 February to 15 March 2020 Various locations Over 17 days in March the nation’s capital will shine bright with culture and creativity. The Parliamentary Triangle and city precinct will be transformed into a vibrant arts precinct with free performances and exclusive events. Witness stunning architectural projections at the Enlighten Illuminations before exploring the national attractions as they open their doors after dark. enlightencanberra.com

21 to 23 February 2020 City Walk, Canberra City

Indulge in food and culture at the National Multicultural Festival. An incredible coalescence of people and their culture, the Festival celebrates difference and brings people together to share tradition over three nights of eating, drinking, dancing, and live performances from acts hailing locally and internationally. multiculturalfestival.com.au

Credit: Hcreations Photography for VisitCanberra

SYMPHONY IN THE PARK 8 March 2020 Commonwealth Park

This is not your standard symphony experience.

Framed by the tree-lined landscape of Commonwealth Park, sit back and relax as the sounds of Canberra Symphony Orchestra fills the air. Take a picnic blanket and enjoy a bite to eat from the on-site foodies as you watch the sun set. events.act.gov.au

Credit: Developing Agents for VisitCanberra

CIRQUE STRATOSPHERE

10 to 21 December 2019 Canberra Theatre Centre

Cirque Stratosphere features gravity-defying acts on a scale never seen before with a troupe of Olympic-standard acrobats and gymnasts demonstrating that even the sky isn’t the limit.

Witness thrilling performances, impressive stunts on roller skates, death-defying acrobatics and sky-high contortions. These extraordinary feats effortlessly blend agility, coordination and showmanship to create an out-of-this-world spectacle. canberratheatrecentre.com.au

CANBERRA BALLOON SPECTACULAR

7 to 15 March 2020 The Lawns of Old Parliament House, Parkes

Wake up to the view of hot air balloons floating across the city during the Canberra Balloon Spectacular. Held over nine days, more than 30 hot air balloons from across the globe will to take to the Canberra skies this autumn.

Each day from 6:15am pilots will begin inflating their balloons on the lawns of Old Parliament House before ascending into the sky and creating a picturesque backdrop for Canberra’s national attractions.

Live music and a delicious hot breakfast will make your morning one to remember. enlightencanberra.com

The all-new Audi Q3.

Now available.

They say expectations are meant to be exceeded. And nothing exceeds them like the all-new Audi Q3. It’s everything you envisaged and more. Tech-smart, style-conscious and designed to adapt to you. Go beyond the expected with the all-new Audi Q3.

Audi Vorsprung durch Technik Find out more at Audi Centre Canberra today.

132 Melrose Drive, Phillip | Tel. 6281 1000 | audicentrecanberra.com.au 17000532