DECEMBER 2019 I COLLECTORS’ ISSUE
ESCAPE THE EVERYDAY Come together to celebrate the holidays GATHER AROUND
Journey home for a festive feast in the country
SPIRIT OF THE BUSH
The women keeping their community inspired
SUMMER SHACK
A photographer’s home on North Stradbroke Island
WHAT OUR BEST WINEMAKERS DRINK AT CHRISTMAS SWIMMER LIBBY TRICKETT’S COUNTRY CHILDHOOD
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A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
This morning, my mum reminded me of the time we had to take our horses and stand them in the creek as the fires crept closer to our place. That was the day the firies came and asked her if they could fill up their tank from our pool. Mum said yes, of course. Just at that moment a tree behind the house burst into flames and it began to rain. We were so lucky. That year, the fires came right up to our back paddock, leaving behind a charred boundary line as a reminder for many months afterwards. As I write this, many people in NSW and Queensland, already battling the drought, are now facing the most dangerous bushfire season on record — much, much worse than the fire I’ve described. Our thoughts are with them and the amazing firefighters who do such a brilliant job. One of the first stories in this issue is about some very resilient and enterprising women living in the bush. Photographer Clancy Job, florist Suzie Meers and graphic designer Emma Barrett recently got together to create some beautiful images which prove there’s still a rich creative life happening in our rural communities despite the tough times. “I want to show people that while the paddocks are not giving, the silos are empty and the wool presses stand idle, we can still prosper as women, mothers and families. Hard times give us the opportunity, and permission, to grow our skill sets, capabilities and communities,” she says. “There’s real beauty in the dry landscape.” I was on a road trip last year when I stopped and went into a shop in a small country town. It was filled with interesting antiques and I made a note to see if its owner, Helen Curtis, had a house we should do a story on. It turns out that she did, and you will find it featured on page 38. Helen tried city life for a while but, after growing up on an East Gippsland farm that had been in her family for 160 years, she found the transition difficult. “We moved to a small apartment in the city but after living there for six months with no garden, no trees and no grass under my feet, we decided to buy something in the country so I didn’t go insane. The country is in my blood; I need earth under my feet.” It’s a sentiment I know is shared by many, because no matter how tough things can get, the land has a powerful pull on our hearts. Enjoy the issue,
PHOTOGRAPHY DAMIAN BENNETT STYLING LIZ KAVANAGH
Victoria Carey
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CONTRIBUTORS
in this i s s u e . . . K R I S T I N A S O L J O
This photographer loves the collaborative nature of photograph shoots. She worked with Sarah Maloney to capture the images for our entertaining gift guide on page 106.
S A R A H M A L O N E Y
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We visit beautiful country houses, meet regional gin makers and visit the original sea change town of Barwon Heads.
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PHOTOGRAPHY NIC GOSSAGE STYLING NATALIE JOHNSON
Extensive planning and a finger on the pulse of the latest table-setting trends helped this stylist create our elegant Christmas entertaining feature on page 106.
There’s much more to styling than sourcing beautiful things, says Sarah. It’s a two-week process requiring military-like logistics to coordinate product, suppliers and deliveries. “The shoot itself is about 10 per cent of my job,” she says. Born in Wollongong, Sarah spent several years living in the NSW Riverina town of Junee and was based in Byron Bay before moving to Sydney in 2012. “I loved the Byron hinterland and regularly spent time exploring the region, particularly Bangalow, Newrybar and Tintenbar.” Her top tip for festive decorating? “Foliage and flowers are the easiest way to spruce up your Christmas table,” she says. “Then team with dinnerware and napery in the same colour palette.”
WORDS TRACEY PLATT PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTINA SOLJO, PAUL SUESSE STYLING SARAH MALONEY
“I never work alone, and each new person I collaborate with brings something new … this is when the magic happens,” says Kristina. Her work in fashion, interiors and travel is a world away from her childhood in the mountains of Bosnia-Herzegovina, where she lived until she was seven. “We had sheep, a cow, chickens, bees, pigs, a dog, grew all our own fruit and vegetables and would smoke meats and preserve food for the winter,” she says. “We were very self-sufficient.” When the family moved to Sydney it was suburban living — not the language — that proved the biggest shock. “I think it’s why I still have such an affinity with being in nature. My favourite thing to do is to go on multi-day hikes to just be in it.”
“People like to keep Stradbroke Island a secret. It’s a haven — for people and nature. Being here feels wild.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY LISA COHEN, KARA ROSENLUND STYLING TESS NEWMAN-MORRIS, KARA ROSENLUND
100 COVER STORIES
24 Spirit of the bush: The women keeping their 34 58 92 100
community inspired Swimmer Libby Trickett’s country childhood Summer shack: A photographer’s home on North Stradbroke Island What our best winemakers drink at Christmas Gather around: Journey home for a festive feast in the country
100 A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS 106
MY COUNTRY CHILDHOOD
34 Olympic swimmer Libby Trickett tells us how holidays at her grandparents’ farm ignited her ambitions.
PEOPLE
24 SPIRIT OF THE BUSH 30 70
Three creative women in the bush come together to create tributes celebrating resilience in tough times. DOWN TO BUSINESS Founder of the Cooma fashion company Birdsnest Jane Cay shares her story. NEXT GENERATION Meet enterprising young people from around Australia who have a passion for the land.
CHRISTMAS
76 NEW TRADITIONS 92
Writer Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s festive menu. RAISE A GLASS We check in with top winemakers to find out what they’ll be pouring this festive season.
On a cattle station in Queensland, calves are often born on Christmas Day but the owner still celebrates. GATHER AROUND Beautiful plates, bowls and glasses can make thoughtful gifts for those who enjoy entertaining.
HOMES
38 LURE OF THE LAND
48 58
Having grown up in country Victoria, Helen Curtis returned to her roots when she and her husband bought and renovated a cottage in Daylesford. CELEBRATING HOME After years spent overseas, Fliss Brophy has returned to her childhood country home with her family. ISLAND LIFE A busy couple rediscover the joys of being in the slow lane at their North Stradbroke Island home.
GARDEN
66 THE QUEEN OF ROSES
Garden writer Susan Irvine was a pioneer who helped to find roses bred by Australian Alister Clark.
DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 9
FASHION AND BEAUTY
122 THE STYLE DIARY 128
Founder of bag label Bahru, Fliss Brophy reveals the secrets behind her effortlessly elegant yet casual look. MOST WANTED Learn the fascinating stories behind a range of products from cult beauty brands.
REGULAR READING
6 Contributors 12 Your Page: Readers’ emails and letters. 14 A Day in the Country: Chris Ferguson recalls
FOOD
88 HEIRLOOM: IN HIGH SPIRITS 90 98
Christmas is a time for gravlax for this Swedish family and a way of remembering the past. GREEN DAY Steve Cumper’s zucchini flowers recipe has a distinctly French twist. FLAVOURS Our food writer Barbara Sweeney’s round-up of sustainable products and sweet treats.
DECORATING
57 GET THE LOOK: MODERN UPDATE
We show you how to achieve the look of the country home we feature on page 48.
TRAVEL
112 ON THE MOVE: DUNSBOROUGH
This holiday spot with great surf beaches is now becoming a popular place for people to live.
SERVICES
136 SUBSCRIBE TO COUNTRY STYLE FOR A CHANCE 138 139 140 146
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OUR COVER
This month, food writer Julia Busuttil Nishimura shares what she’ll be serving on Christmas Day (page 76). PHOTOGRAPHY Lisa Cohen STYLING Lee Blaylock LOCATION Spargo Creek, Victoria
ON THE COVER Four-year-old Haruki, son of food writer Julia Busuttil Nishimura and husband Nori, is bursting with excitement for Christmas as he may have a new sibling by then. And let’s not forget the presents! Wrapping paper and ribbon from Zetta Florence. Decorations from The Hub General Store. Chairs from Provincial Home Living. Shot on location at Oak and Monkey Puzzle, natashamorgan.com.au/oamp For stockist details, see page 138.
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10 COUNTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
PHOTOGRAPHY LISA COHEN STYLING LEE BLAYLOCK
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18 118 130 132 154
her Christmas during the Millennium Drought. A Month in the Country Regional Shopping Guide Collectables Books Country Squire
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YOUR PAGE
Rocky and Mango Rose starred on our November cover, shot near Bangalow, inland from Byron Bay, NSW. We learnt about the garden at Wardington Manor that New Zealander Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld of @thelandgardeners have revived before visiting Tesselaar tulip farm in Silvan, Victoria, leading up to @tesselaar_tulip_festival. Award-winning author Heather Rose reveals how her upbringing by the Tasmanian coast has influenced her novels. Photography @lisacohenphoto Styling @lynda.gardener and @bellebrightproject
Bec Amos and Angus Macdougall’s @dunmore_farm was one of our most popular posts from the November issue. “We are so fortunate to have been able to move here. We often pinch ourselves that it came up when it did,” says Bec. Photography @marniehawson Words @virginia_imhoff
YOUR PAGE
DRIVING IN COUNTRY NSW HAS BEEN A WAKE-UP CALL FOR ONE READER ABOUT HOW TOUGH IT IS FOR THOSE ON THE LAND, WHILE ANOTHER WAS REMINDED OF HER BELOVED DOG. PERFECT CURE My mother felt miserable with bronchitis and I asked what would help and she replied “something beautiful and peaceful”. I arrived with your Coastal Homes and the November issue. We loved all the articles, especially reading about writer Heather Rose with her enduring love of literature and the sea. Many memories came back of the holidays we spent in South Africa, travelling from our home in Zimbabwe. We took out old photograph albums and shared the times of lazy days on the beach. Country Style is a cure for all ills and provides so much joy with amazing pictures of nature and the families who live in beautiful surroundings. We are grateful for the immense pleasure you bring us each month. Vickie Mavros, Sale, Victoria
GOLDEN MEMORIES As I looked down to pick up Country Style, sadness almost drove me to walk away. Gazing at November’s cover, I was amazed at the similarities — same colours, window seat and view. But my beautiful golden girl is no longer sitting there on the mat looking up at me. This issue has reminded me of my reluctant journey from city life and the memories I’ll cherish of watching my city dog become a country dog, and how much I relied on her companionship. Every time I see a much-loved pet peering out from the pages of Country Style, I’m reminded of my girl and her blissful country life. This issue
has made me cry and laugh, but most of all, appreciate the love of a dog. She left paw prints on our hearts — dirty, smelly paw prints! Thank you for choosing this cover just for me. Margaret Pickering, Stanthorpe, Queensland
JUST FOR LAUGHS The story on page 16 in November was humbling and emotional about the 17 women who got together for a Ladies’ Wellness and Laughter Day. These women share tough times but were able to relax and I couldn’t help but admire them. There are already so many challenges living in the outback, but through supporting each other, so many friendships would have been made. I was in awe. It doesn’t matter whether you live in the city or the outback — getting together with like-minded people really helps to lift your spirits. J A Jones, Tea Gardens, NSW
WINNER
A HARD ROAD My husband and I recently drove to Brisbane via the New England Highway. We were amazed at the devastation of the landscape and the spartan fields, empty of stock. What particularly struck me was the amazing women who were working in the country towns. One told me she now works part-time in a shop in order to pay for the weekly groceries. Another said it cost them $2000 a week to feed their sheep and that didn’t cover the freight cost when feed often has to come from as far away as South Australia. Another said they have five water tanks and only one has water in it and they had to pay for that water. My heart goes out to these brave families who have to think how they can pay for things that we take for granted. Margaret Burton, Bowral, NSW
Congratulations to Margaret Burton who has won $500 worth of beautiful bed linen from Bedtonic. For more information, telephone 0431 925 464 or visit bedtonic.com Share your thoughts and experiences with us by writing to Country Style, PO Box 4088, Sydney, NSW, 1028, or emailing austcountrystyle@bauer-media. com.au. Please include your address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space and clarity.
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A DAY IN THE COUNTRY
HOPE SPRINGS THE FESTIVE SEASON BRINGS A MIXED BAG OF EMOTIONS AND MEMORIES FROM CHRISTMASES PAST FOR CHRIS FERGUSON. Our journey is made up of wins and losses, happiness and sadness, laughter and tears — the yin and yang of life. So it is with Christmas. As the years roll by we can all look back and remember Christmas days that were euphorically happy, as well as those that were tinged with sadness, or heart-achingly lonely and left us tired and empty. The first 30 years of my life were lived in close proximity to my family. Memories of childhood Christmases are sweet and echo with the hauntingly beautiful sound of music. As my grandfather played the fiddle, I was spun in the circle of laughing older siblings and cousins playing Ring a Ring o’ Rosie. There were games of hide-and-seek while my mother’s calloused hands moved over the piano and her sister sang. Christmas became a different beast entirely when in 2001 my husband and I with our two children moved to an isolated station in outback NSW. Swept up in our adventure, I had no real idea of what we were getting ourselves into. Christmas came 11 months after our move. The Millennium Drought was making its presence felt and as the demand from livestock on our water supply increased, we had to look our first solitary Christmas in the eye. Our families were 855 kilometres away, and we were on our own among the red dirt and mulga trees, a little family of four, trying to make a go of it. I remember that Christmas vividly. In my innocence, I didn’t know that Christmas could be so lonely. The photograph you can see above is of my children and I on that first Christmas and is a poignant reminder of our
A long way from anywhere — the house at Myrnong Station in far north-west NSW. TOP Chris with her children on Christmas Day in 2001; Matilda is 10 and Will is five. 14 COU NTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
aloneness in a vast landscape. We were all tired from the constant work of clawing a run-down station into life as a viable business; there had been few days off all year. I declared Christmas to be a pyjama day, figuring that if we didn’t get dressed, we couldn’t work. So here we are in our boxers on Christmas afternoon, on our way to check water for livestock and to fix a leaking tank, because that’s just how it is. When I asked my now grown children what they remembered of Christmas on the station, they recounted sitting together in the pre-dawn dark waiting for the sun to show itself on the flat and bare horizon so that they could wake us up and see what Santa had bought. They remembered water fights and swimming in dams on the way to check water for livestock. They remembered me trying too hard. Last year my extended family gathered at our new farm near Grenfell in Central West NSW and we had ourselves a proper happy Christmas. I’d put a sign at the front gate saying,“We don’t want to talk about rain!” and just for a little while we forgot the seasonal difficulties and the accumulating debt. We laughed and played and there was no room for loneliness. This Christmas will be a tough one for many people living in Australia’s drought-affected areas. Some will be battling with the worst affliction — the loss of hope. Let’s remind ourselves that everything changes, let’s reach de wn and find some strength and reach out to share it with rs. Country Australia could use a little mercy now. Chris Ferguson shares her life in the outback at @lifeinthemulga on Instagram.
PHOTOGRAPHY GREG ROBERTSON, CHRIS FERGUSON
THE WAY I see it, taking bad days with the good is simply life.
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Editor-in-chief VICTORIA CAREY Creative director JO QUARMBY Deputy editor KYLIE IMESON Melbourne editor VIRGINIA IMHOFF Art director ANN DO Senior copy editor K ATE BARBER Art production/designer MATUS KUNDRAT Junior designer SOPHIE WILSON Stylists LISA BURDEN, NATALIE JOHNSON, SARAH MALONEY Homes group production editor TAMARAH PIENA AR Homes group coordinator MATILDA RINGROSE (02) 9282 8456 Regular contributors CLAIRE MACTAGGART (Queensland contributing editor) DIXIE ELLIOTT (Food) ROB INGRAM (Country Squire) ANNABEL LAWSON (Books) JOHN McPHEE (Collectables) CHRISTINE REID (Gardening) BARBARA SWEENEY (Flavours) JULIETTE WINTER (Health and Beauty)
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18 COUNTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
A MONTH IN THE COUN T RY A beautiful view at Maree Duncombe’s cattle property near Maleny on the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Queensland. To read more, see page 100.
PHOTOGRAPHY KARA ROSENLUND
This month, finish off your Christmas shopping at an outdoor market, pick up a box of in-season cherries, visit beautiful open gardens and bring in the new year at a music festival.
A MONT H IN T HE COUN T RY The garden at Melrose in Malsbury, Victoria. BELOW A dish at Wasabi Restaurant & Bar, Noosa, Queensland. FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT Lavacore, the restaurant at Voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley; cocktails at the bar.
VICTORIA
ASSEMBLED: The Art of Robert Klippel, until February 16th More than 100 works by Robert Klippel, one of Australia’s most significant 20th-century sculptors. The exhibition highlights the sculptures and drawings of his early era, the ‘assemblage’ works and his later timber works. Tuesday to Sunday 11am–5pm. Entry $12, seniors $10, concession $8, members and children under 12 free. TarraWarra Museum of Art, 313 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Healesville, (03) 5957 3100, twma.com.au
book a table QUEENSLAND Wasabi Restaurant & Bar One aspect of Japanese
dining that Wasabi’s owners, Danielle Gjestland and Zeb Gilbert, like to honour is the expression of season and place. December sees summer’s menu unveiled. There’s everything from line-caught fish delivered to the restaurant’s jetty to Japanese herbs and vegetables grown on the restaurant farm, Honeysuckle Hill. A summer favourite is the fragrant shiso leaf, a key ingredient in grilled tsukune (usually made with minced chicken but here they use free-range goose). While the menu reads as Japanese there are echoes of Australia. Miso, for instance, is made using bunya nuts, instead of soybean, and Zeb uses cracked macadamia nut shells to smoke different ingredients. One ingredient that comes from afar — but not as far as Japan — is the restaurant’s namesake. Wasabi doesn’t thrive in the tropical Queensland climate but does very well in Tasmania. 2 Quamby Place, Noosa, (07) 5449 2443, wasabigroup.com.au BA R BA R A SW EENEY
Dark Horse: Wild Beasts and Curious Creatures, until February 23rd Real and imagined animals are the theme of this exhibition, from mythological creatures to prey, symbols of danger and emblems of love. There are prints, drawings, paintings and sculpture by artists such as Norman Lindsay, Ginger Riley Mundulwalawala and Rick Amor. 10am–5pm. Free entry. Art Gallery of Ballarat, 40 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat, (03) 5320 5858, artgalleryofballarat.com.au Melrose Open Garden, November 30th–December 1st This garden, created by landscape designer Deborah Hambleton, surrounds an 1860s bluestone cottage in central Victoria and combines formality with elements of wildness. Entry $8, under 18 free. 10am–4.30pm. 33 Clowes Street, Malmsbury, opengardensvictoria.org.au
TASMANIA
39th FIPS-Mouche 2019 World Fly Fishing Championship, November 30th–December 8th Watch all the rod-flicking action as teams from around the world test their skills in the waterways in central Tasmania. Free. Various times and locations. 0429 870 550, wffc2019.com /sectors/
W E E K E N D AWAY NSW Voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley Start your day by heading North-West Nichemas, December 7th Choosing gifts from this Christmas market will not only delight the recipients, it will help raise money for Burnie’s Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre. This popular handmade and design fair features more than 60 stallholders and Burnie’s biggest Christmas tree. Free entry. 10am–3pm. Burnie Arts and Function Centre, 77–79 Wilmot Street, Burnie, (03) 6345 7333, stgiles.org.au/niche-market
WORDS VIRGINIA IMHOFF, CLAIRE MACTAGGART, TRACEY PLATT, BARBARA SWEENEY PHOTOGRAPHY MEGANN EVANS, SIMON GRIFFITHS
ACT
Handmade Christmas Market, December 6th–8th Find one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting local artists and craftspeople at this award-winning market showcasing more than 270 Australian designers and producers. Free entry. Friday 5–9pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am–4pm. Exhibition Park, Mitchell, 0402 247 532, handmadecanberra.com.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Wine Machine, December 7th An outdoor winery event with a line-up of Aussie musical talent, Serafino’s internationally acclaimed wines and South Australian food in the beautiful surrounds of Serafino Winery. Tickets from $89. 1–10pm. 39 Kangarilla Road, McLaren Vale, 0438 699 795, wine-machine.com Etre Open Garden, December 8th A meticulously planned garden by former landscape designer Evette Sunset with found objects, natural and repurposed materials amid
to the hen house and pig pen with a feed bucket, taking in the view of the surrounding hills. Or do a few laps in the pool. Another option is to sleep in and have a late buffet breakfast. At Voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley you can do as much or as little as you like. The rooms all have verandahs on which to enjoy a glass of wine from a nearby winery as the sun sets. But before that, book in for a cocktail-making class using ingredients from the hotel garden. Dinner at Locavore, its onsite restaurant, is a must for its hospitality and Hunter-centric wine list. 336 Oakey Creek Road, Pokolbin, (02) 4998 7680, huntervalley.vocohotels.com KYLIE IMESON
a garden planted out in a bold palette of reds, blues, purple and white. Fruit and nut trees create summer shade for banks of ornamental grasses and salvias. Entry $8, under 18 free (supervise children). 10am–4.30pm. Evette will conduct a walk and talk at 11am and 2pm. 10 Delaney Avenue, Willunga, opengardensa.org.au Gathered Christmas Design Market, December 13th–15th Celebrate the spirit of Christmas in the Adelaide Hills village of Hahndorf. More than 70 stalls are offering a variety of art, homewares, jewellery, clothing, along with garden and skincare products. Enjoy wines from local wineries, great food, coffee and sweet treats, too. Free entry. 4–10pm. Thiele House, 102 Main Street, Hahndorf, 0402 214 595, gatheredsa.com
NSW
High Country Writers Festival, November 30th–December 1st Head to the Glen Innes region to see bestselling Australian author Mary Moody launch her latest book, The Accidental Tour Guide, on Sunday 12.30–1.30pm at this inaugural gathering of writers and readers. There will also be author talks, memoir and song-writing workshops,
an artisan market and the festival bookshop at The Makers Shed will be open all weekend. Many events are free. Various venues. themakersshed. org/high-country-writers-festival National Cherry Festival, December 6th–8th Hightail it to the Hilltops region for this annual three-day celebration of everything cherry. From pie-eating and pip-spitting contests to live music events and markets, this family-orientated festival is a chance to explore the town of Young and its surrounds. As you head home, be sure to stop at one of the local packing sheds to grab a box of juicy just-picked fruit. Various locations. 1800 628 233, nationalcherryfestival.com.au Millfest, December 14th Spend a leisurely afternoon wandering down Millthorpe’s picturesque Pym Street, browsing through local stores and sampling from street stalls selling local wines, craft beer and cider, and delicious food. Finish your Christmas shopping with handmade gifts from local artisans and craftspeople. Entry $5, children free. 2–7.30pm. Pym Street, Millthorpe, 0400 522 199, millthorpevillage.com.au
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A MONT H IN T HE C COUN N TRY T RY An artwork by Robert Klippel at the TarraWarra Museum of Art in Healesville, Victoria.
NORTHERN TERRITORY Alice Springs Town Council’s Christmas Carnival, December 6th Celebrate the festive season in the Red Centre with an array of market stalls, performers, buskers and food throughout Todd Mall. Free entry. 5–9pm. Todd Mall, Todd Street, (08) 8950 0505, alicesprings.nt. gov.au/events/christmas-carnival
QUEENSLAND
Bush Christmas Exhibition, November 27th–December 6th Save your Christmas shopping for this annual exhibition in Toowoomba that showcases the talent of rural and regional artisans, cooks and makers with handmade items such as jewellery, homewares, puddings, preserves and other Christmas fare. Bush Christmas gourmet hampers are also available to order. Free entry. Masonic Centre, 58 Neil Street, Toowoomba, 0418 709 821, bushchristmas.com Woodford Folk Festival, December 27th–January 1st Continue the spirit of goodwill at this iconic six-day event, now in its 34th year, which embraces the theme of ‘Imagining a Beautiful Future’. The annual event attracts some 125,000 people and this year there will be more than 1000 shows on 27 stages with a music and song program, forums and talks, circus, ceremonies, cabaret, comedy, more than 100 workshops and children’s activities. Day tickets start at $130 for adults; $15 for children 6–12; under 6 free. 87 Woodrow Road, Woodford, (07) 5496 1066, woodfordfolkfestival.com
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Vasse Felix Sound & Sense Festival, December 6th–8th Be immersed in this three-day Margaret River festival of music, wine and culinary art as winery Vasse Felix hosts the beautiful sounds of ACO Collective, the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s critically acclaimed regional touring and education ensemble. Directed by Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto, ACO Collective, brings together some of Australia’s most talented emerging string players with the professional musicians of the ACO to create a high-energy 17-piece string orchestra. Tickets start at $65 for a Sunday morning performance followed by light refreshments. Caves Road, corner of Tom Cullity Drive, Cowaramup, (08) 9756 5000, vassefelix.com.au/Visit/Events
Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival, December 14th The cherry season is synonymous with the start of summer and this event celebrates not only the fruit but also the pride within this dynamic Southern Forests community. The festival promotes acceptance and celebrates the diverse cultures of the district and there is something for everyone, whether it’s street theatre, music performances, a fashion parade, woodchopping or sampling the tastes of the Southern Forests food avenue. The festival is followed by Sunday’s Long Table Lunch, held among the trees of a local cherry orchard. Guests are treated to a multi-course menu with matching wines, all sourced from the amazing produce of the Southern Forests. Lunch tickets are $233 each. Admission is free on Saturday. cherryfestival.com.au
f arme rs’ marke t s VICTORIA Woodend Community Farmers’ Market, first Saturday
One of many projects run by the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group aimed at promoting sustainable living. As an accredited member of the Victorian Farmers’ Market Association, shoppers are assured the goods have been produced by the farmer or maker selling it. You can pick up Christmas cake, whole hams and festive baking ingredients, including fresh walnuts and free-range eggs. There is also a home-produce exchange, where backyard gardeners swap their excess. You can take broken bikes, wooden furniture and even computers and teddy bears to the Woodend Repair Café, which is always open on market day, plus there’s a recycling service for batteries and more. The market is plastic free and welcomes dogs. 9am–1pm. Corner of High and Forest streets, Woodend, 0458 769 258, mrsg.org.au
NSW Sydney Sustainable Farmers’ Market, every Saturday With only
about eight stalls, this tiny inner-city farmers’ market punches well above its weight. Trade is busy from the moment the market opens and all stallholders — Sydney Basin-based farmers and producers in the main — do a brisk trade. Many customers appear to be on first-name terms with sellers, suggesting they’re regulars. Who wouldn’t want a croissant or savoury cheese scone from one of Sydney’s best bakeries, Brickfields, or to stock up on award-winning organic summer vegies from the Kurrawong Organics stall? Peter and Jann Dixon Hughes from Denman travel to Sydney with their Hunter Valley grass-fed beef and lamb and you’ll know it’s Christmas when you see the Kemps Creek Flower van. They are rose specialists but at this time of year they have Christmas bush and Australian native flowers. 8am–1pm. Taylor Square, corner of Oxford and Flinders streets, Darlinghurst, 0416 525 244, facebook.com/SydneySustainableMarkets BA R BA R A SW EENEY
ARTWORK © ANDREW KLIPPEL. COURTESY OF THE ROBERT KLIPPEL ESTATE, REPRESENTED BY ANNETTE LARKIN FINE ART, SYDNEY AND GALERIE GMURZYNSKA, ZURICH / COPYRIGHT AGENCY, 2019. EVENTS MAY CHANGE AND WE RECOMMEND CONTACTING ORGANISERS TO CONFIRM DETAILS AND ENSURE AVAILABILITY.
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PEOPLE NA R ROMINE NSW
THREE CREATIVES IN RURAL NSW WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTES TO THE RESILIENCE OF REGIONAL WOMEN DURING CHALLENGING TIMES. WORDS CLA IR E M ACTAGGA RT PHOTOGRAPHY CLA NCY JOB
Floral stylist Suzie Meers trimming roses in the woolshed, wearing a Binny blouse from St Louis Boutique in Wellington, NSW. FACING PAGE A Bushells loose-leaf tea cannister makes a rustic vase for paper daisies. For stockist details, see page 138.
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PEOPLE NA R ROMINE NSW
SUZIE MEERS PARKS her dusty wagon beside an old
shearing shed near Narromine, NSW. The wagon is filled with buckets of roses and paper daisies of pastel hues, which photographer Clancy Job helps Suzie unload. The flowers are placed on a large wooden shearing table for Suzie to carefully select and trim the stems. It’s still cool inside and the boards creak underfoot as she assembles a floral display atop a nearby wool press. There are no remnants of wool on the floor this year. The press, like the red plain beyond, lays dormant, as drought continues to bite throughout western NSW. But for today, the woolshed, along with an old cast-iron tub and table outside in the paddock, are transformed into something beautiful as an ode to the rural and regional women of Australia and their strength, resilience and innovation in times of adversity, despite the dry. “At the moment, everyone is suffering. But there’s also a sense that we’re all in this together so we have to make sure we are all still standing when the drought finally breaks,” says 38-year-old Suzie. She lives at Glencoe, a 4000-hectare mixed farm in Collie, about 100 kilometres north-west of Dubbo. Suzie launched her floristry business, Flourish on the Plains, earlier this year. A former nurse, she had worked for the Red Cross in Dubbo before marrying her husband Andrew. After having three children — Hannah, now six, George, four, and two-year-old Hugh — Suzie sought a creative outlet and began doing flowers for local events.
“In this area, we have a community of women who are doing amazing things as well as supporting each other. When I started my business, I went to see if I could do flower drops in different shops and the support I received was overwhelming. To have flowers in your home brings a smile and that helps a little bit,” says Suzie. Working in collaboration with Clancy, 34, and local graphic designer Emma Barrett, 35, Suzie created floral installations on Clancy’s mixed farm, south of Narromine. Clancy — who lives on the farm with her husband Matthew and their children Dolly, seven, Daisy, five, Trader, four, and one-year-old Hardy — used what she had available on the farm to encourage others to make the most of what they had despite the challenging climatic situation. Clancy says creativity was at the heart of the concept. “I want to show people that while the paddocks are not giving, the silos are empty and the wool presses stand idle, we can still prosper as women, mothers and families. Hard times give us the opportunity, and permission, to grow our skill sets, capabilities and communities,” she says. “There’s real beauty in the dry landscape.” It’s this beauty that she attempts to capture with her lens. “Drought is beyond the farmers,” says Clancy. “It has a ripple effect that impacts shearing contractors, small businesses, fuel distributors, supermarkets and all the families that live out here. There are conversations about the mental health of men in the bush, but I feel there’s a lack of dialogue about the women.” >
“I want to show people that while the paddocks are not giving, the silos are empty and the wool presses stand idle, we can still prosper...”
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CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT Suzie creates her installations by threading paper daisies into a chicken wire base; the former nurse transforms a now-idle wool press into a fabulous floral display; she hand-selects the best blooms for her creations; this flower-filled bath is a plaything for Clancy’s four children in the summer months; the finished wool-press display; paper daisies thrive in dry conditions. FACING PAGE Suzie (left) and Clancy utilise pieces on their properties to showcase the beauty still to be found in the bush. This old cast-iron bath is on Clancy’s property.
PEOPLE NA R ROMINE NSW
CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT Vintage glassware perfectly complements the paper daisies; graphic designer Emma, who lives with her family near Narromine, NSW; Clancy met Suzie at a community event where she asked her if she would be interested in joining the project. FACING PAGE One of the finished installations by the three women created to make a statement about life continuing despite the drought.
“There are plenty of women who want to get involved and share interests, which builds community and confidence,” adds Clancy. “I find the more I give, the more I receive, so I encourage others to practice their craft for their own enjoyment and everyone’s benefit. Caring for ourselves enriches us and those around us.” In this area of NSW, there is a groundswell of community spirit. In June this year, Clancy organised a free photo booth community event in Narromine with Jemima Aldridge of Dubbo’s Saddler & Co and Sophie Hansen from Orange’s Local is Lovely, with the objective of giving back to their communities. Clancy took headshots of regional business women during the day, so they could update their websites or social media platforms; this is how Clancy and Suzie met. After the event, Clancy asked Suzie and Emma if they’d like to collaborate on a drought installation. Emma — who lives on a four-hectare property near Narromine with her husband Matt and their sons Ted, six, and two-year-old Hughie — had previously worked with
Clancy on an array of projects. For this shoot, she dressed an old table with linen and vintage glassware she had collected (with a few pieces from Jumbled Online as well). Fabric clutches from Sewing for Lattes and a cake made by Food at Yours in Dubbo provide the final touches. “When I first moved out here, I had a new baby and I found it creatively quite isolating,” says Emma. “A lot of women want a little release from their everyday lives and a simple conversation can snowball into a community.” Clancy says it’s possible to help and encourage others, even in small ways. “You could just cook a meal for someone in need, take them out for coffee, or mind their kids to give them a break,” she says. In times like this, it’s comforting to know that the united and generous spirit of the bush is evolving in new ways. Prints available at Saddler & Co, 1a Sterling Street, Dubbo, NSW, 0419 496 834, saddlerandco.com.au, or via Instagram @clancyjob. Follow Suzie Meers @flourishontheplains and Emma Barrett @emmabarrettcreative on Instagram.
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PEOPLE 30TH BIRTHDAY
Jane’s home, Pineleigh, a Merino wool property 65 kilometres south of Cooma in NSW, is in the grip of drought. FACING PAGE Jane with Penelope and Arthur in the home paddock with their lambs.
D OW N TO B USI N ES S
FOUNDER OF BIRDSNEST JANE CAY IS A CHAMPION OF REGIONAL BUSINESS AND SHARES AN INSIGHT INTO HOW SHE THRIVES IN WORK AND FAMILY LIFE. WORDS CLA IR E M ACTAGGA RT PHOTOGRAPHY NIC GOSSAGE
Celebrating
years of
PEOPLE PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
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PEOPLE 30TH BIRTHDAY
WHEN JANE CAY purchased a small clothing store in Cooma
14 years ago and renamed it Birdsnest, little did she know her fledgling business of five people would grow into a team of 140. Her dream was to launch it online, build it to be the same size as the store in the Snowy Mountains town, 114 kilometres south of Canberra, then replicate it in other country towns. However, the online store quickly became the main game. The 41-year-old believes understanding her customer and creating a nurturing work environment have contributed to her company’s extraordinary success. “Becoming the champion of culture is my main job. It’s like the soil; if you nurture and fertilise it, great things grow from that. Once your team really care about their roles, they care about each other, then they’re prepared to go the extra mile. I feel like this team makes the impossible possible,” she says. And the accolades have rolled in. Last year Jane was awarded number one in the Top 50 People in E-Commerce by Internet Retailing and Birdsnest was voted the 4th best place to work in Australia in the over 100 employees category in the BRW Great Places to Work Awards 2017. While the company’s headquarters is on the main street of Cooma, Jane lives at 65 kilometres south at Pineleigh, a Merino wool property, with her husband Oliver, 42, and their children Bella, 14, Penelope, 12, and eight-year-old Arthur. Birdsnest sponsored the People category of Country Style 30th birthday, which was awarded to biodynamic farmer and regenerative agriculturalist Charlie Arnott from Boorowa. “There are very innovative and creative businesses in the bush and people love to hear those stories,” she says. “My favourite quote in life and in business is from Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution which reminds us that it is not the strongest or the smartest among us that survive, it is those who are most adaptable to change. My experience is that people in the bush are incredibly adaptable. When faced with limited resources and the challenges of our weather patterns, innovation is born.” For more information, visit birdsnest.com.au
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JANE I love the creative problem solving of running a business and that you get to make your own rules. You quickly learn that the soft skills are actually the hard skills and learning to be better at those helps every part of your life. How do you motivate a team, ensure everyone is happy and create a business culture? They’re the things that are hugely challenging, but very rewarding if you get them right. The regional aspect of our business has almost been more of a pro than it has been a barrier to our growth. The regional word of mouth is so incredibly strong, and that’s certainly how our business grew at the beginning. Most of the barriers that we have are within and our own self talk. Any really good idea that I’ve ever had — the ones that have really worked out and gone far — people have told me, ‘that’s a crazy idea, Jane’. You’ve got to listen to that inner voice that says, ‘yes, you can do it’. Four years ago I really doubted whether I was the right person to lead this business. We had about 80 employees and I wondered if this was the point at which to hand it over. I was very stressed and I actually got that feedback from the team. I took myself off to a mindful leadership course and it literally changed my life. I learned to breathe again and be still. I thought you had to be busy all the time but stillness is so incredibly important for your clarity, creativity and state of mind. When you own a business, you never switch off from it — it’s always there. There is work life and family life, but there is also me. When I take time to do my walking, yoga, dancing and sleep, I find that I’m much better at work and I’m much better for my family. I like to get up before everybody else because it just gives me some headspace. I start my day by walking to the mailbox. I can look out to the west and see snow-capped mountains — it’s just the most stunning place to live. I talk about living in the slow lane and working in the fast lane, and what a great combination that is. We want to be stimulated and challenged in our careers, but we live in this nature-filled environment. We have access to the city, but in two minutes we can get from work to the kid’s assembly. That’s pretty magical.
Dry paddocks on Jane’s property. CLOCKWISE, FROM RIGHT Jane working from home; a black and white photograph of a ram hangs on the wall above the dining table; the family home is a blend of old and new; sheep grazing; the Birdsnest store in Cooma; Jane, Penelope and Arthur with their lambs. Fourteen-year-old Bella is away at boarding school; lambs in the home paddock. FACING PAGE On the road into Cooma.
MY COUNTRY CHILDHOOD
CHRISTMASES SPENT ON HER GRANDPARENTS’ FARM IN NORTH QUEENSLAND MADE LASTING MEMORIES FOR OLYMPIC SWIMMER LIBBY TRICKETT. WORDS CER I DAV ID
into the car for swim carnivals all over the region. “We’d go to Mount Isa, about their early years, and you can Rockhampton, Charters Towers, Innisfail… guarantee a rhapsody about splashing Being the youngest of four, I was often around outside. “It’s just so special, feeling shoved in the back with the luggage, but the sun and the breeze on your skin,” I’m grateful I got to see so much of North agrees Libby Trickett, OAM, winner of Queensland. I think I’ll always have a real four Olympic golds and Sport Australia connection to that part of the country.” Hall of Fame luminary. “Swimming Now 34 and living in Brisbane, Libby outdoors is one of the best things about and her husband Luke Trickett are keen being from this part of the world.” ABOVE Libby in 1988, aged three. “Growing up, our world seemed to to relive those road trips with their own Libby was a year old when she learned revolve around water,” she says. children — daughters Poppy, four, and to swim, and joined her first club at four, one-year-old Eddie. But that plan may need to wait a few following in the wet footsteps of her siblings Justine, then months as the couple welcomed their third daughter Bronte 12 years old, Victoria, nine, and Stewart, eight. Growing on November 7th. “We’ve talked about hiring a campervan up in Townsville, Queensland, she vividly remembers the and driving around Queensland, all the way up. I’m excited searing heat and the relief of plunging into the pool in their about exploring the country with my children,” she says. back garden. That everyday occurrence led on to podiums Since retiring from competitive swimming in 2013, Libby in packed stadiums all over the world, but one of her most has been candid about her struggles with mental health, precious swimming memories is far more rustic. particularly with post-natal depression. The silver lining Each Christmas, Libby and her family would spend is that it’s led to her becoming a passionate mental health a week or two on the sugarcane farm in Ingham, just north advocate: she is currently the Mental Health Ambassador of Townsville, where Libby’s mum grew up. “It was lovely, for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and works because we got to run free among nature, and get filthy!” with charities such as Beyond Blue and RU OK?. “I’d also she says. “The humidity was insane. I remember when like to do some study,” she says. “It’s one thing to have Grandma got air conditioning — it was a really big deal!” a story to tell, but I’d love some tangible qualifications, too.” Happily, there was a river on the property too. “We’d take Until then, swimming still helps with her own state of the tractor out and go swimming in the river,” says Libby. mind. “That’s a love that will last forever. I’m not a land-based “I remember this enormous tree that we’d make a rope swing mammal!” she says, laughing. “When I get in the water now, to hang from. We had so much more freedom than at home. it’s not about being the best. It’s almost like a meditation.” I have 19 cousins, so there was always someone to play with.” That trip to Ingham was small compared with the distances Beneath the Surface by Libby Trickett, Allen & Unwin, $32.99, is out now. Libby would travel for competitions, the whole family piling
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PHOTOGRAPHY JOSH KELLY
ASK ANY SERIOUS Australian swimmer
As a child Libby Trickett, then Leeton, would spend Christmas splashing about in the river with her cousins on her grandparents’ North Queensland property.
ONE OF MY EARLIEST memories of
swimming was at a carnival in Charters Towers, North Queensland, where we lived when I was a kid. I had broken my wrist a week earlier and I insisted on having a waterproof cast. It was designed to let me have showers or have a bath while I was healing, but in my mind it was all about swimming. I just wanted to get back in the pool. There weren’t many opportunities to compete in that part of the world, so my family travelled quite a bit to attend such carnivals. My brother and sisters were going to swim but I wasn’t registered. Mum had decided, pretty reasonably, that a little girl with a broken wrist probably couldn’t swim in a race. I disagreed. I badgered her until she finally gave in, signing me up for the 50-metre freestyle the day before the competition. Poor Mum spent the morning fending off questions about why her daughter was registered to swim when she was wearing a cast, but they didn’t understand how single-minded I was, even as a young child. There was no stopping me. ‘When can I swim?’ I’d whine. ‘When can I swim, Mum? Why won’t you let me? Is it my turn yet? I want to get in the water!’ Mum always said I was a bit of a nightmare until it was my time to race. I would fidget and run around the pool >
MY COUNTRY CHILDHOOD CLOCKWISE, FROM RIGHT Baby Libby with her siblings in 1986; playing with the big kids in 1987; a small-town girl heading to the 1995 State Championships; Libby (left) was a silver-medal winner at the State Primary School Championships in 1996.
while she was trying to wrangle four kids. After my race, I was an angel, placid as a doll — maybe the only time I’ve been placid in my life. I was a headstrong little thing, extremely stubborn, and my mum, Marilyn, was the gentlest, most accommodating person imaginable. She always bent over backwards for her children, but at Charters Towers she was probably just picking her battles. I don’t know if jumping into the water was the best idea — I doubt the waterproof cast was really designed for a chlorinated pool — but I wasn’t going to have it any other way. I won my heat that day, broken wrist and all. I was so proud of myself; I knew I’d done really well against the odds. After I swam, I ate hot chips and red frogs. I remember thinking it had been the best day ever. I am the baby of the family. I have two sisters, Justine and Victoria, and a brother, Stewart, who was closest to me in age but still almost four years older. We lived in Townsville but would often visit the cane farm up north where my mother grew up. We’d spend the weekend riding quad bikes and climbing trees, exploring cane fields and swimming in the river. We had a pool in our backyard in Townsville —crucial in that tropical climate. We loved the heat, loved the outdoors and spent endless hours in the water. There was something magical about diving through the muggy air and into the crisp, cool water of a pool. That’s where my love of swimming started. My first-ever race was a 25-metre breaststroke. I hated breaststroke, but boy did I love competing! I just fell in love with it, even as a four year old. ‘Cool, I can see how fast I go!’ I thought. What could be more exciting than being fast? Usually parents would jump in the water to help the very little kids through the race, and my dad was next to me trying to help keep me afloat, but
I wasn’t having it — I was annoyed that he was getting in the way. The four-yearold age group wasn’t exactly teeming with competitors, but I wasn’t thinking about the other kids in the pool. From the beginning, I just wanted to speed through the water. I loved, loved, loved how it felt to kick as hard as I could and churn my arms until I touched the wall. I remember that thrill so well. I’ve been chasing it ever since. Oddly, that first race is one of the only memories I have of my father. He was a successful ophthalmologist and worked long hours. For various reasons, he wasn’t much of a presence in my life. As an eight year old in 1994, I was swimming in the under-10s category, so some of the kids were a year or two older than me, though not necessarily much faster. I qualified for the 100-metre butterfly final at the State Championships for the first time that year. I was crazy nervous. I always needed Mum’s help to get my swimming cap on, and this time I asked her to put my goggles on for me too, to make sure they were perfect. I wore them from the moment I left the grandstand until I was on the starting block, so by the time I got to the block, they were completely
fogged up. I couldn’t see a thing. I had swum a personal best in my heat but I finished dead last in the final. I was determined to do better next time. We went to the State Championships in Brisbane every year after that, at what is now the Brisbane Aquatic Centre. They were held in January, during the school holidays, and it was always a huge event for our family. We’d drive down from Townsville and stay at the Dockside Apartments, near Kangaroo Point — small-town kids in the big city for the biggest swimming event of my year. We often drove a couple of hours to attend swimming carnivals, but this was something else: 15 hours down the Bruce Highway for a couple of days of competition. I don’t know how Mum did it! I think she enjoyed it because it made us happy. For me it was always a joyful time — an eager, hungry kind of happiness. It wasn’t about winning. I didn’t want to be better than other people; I was just very focused on doing better than I had before. I wanted to improve on my best time, every time. If that meant I won a medal, great — but the medal wasn’t the point. I just wanted to go faster.
TOWNSVILLE Located 1350 kilometres north-east of Brisbane, Townsville started out as a small seaport surrounded by farmland. A gold rush kicked off rapid development in 1867. By 1880, the town was the port for five goldfields and, later, the main port for sugargrowing areas to the north and south. Today, Townsville is the largest tropical town in Australia. The landscape’s focal point is Castle Hill — a 290-metre pink-granite monolith. Walking and driving trails to the top offer 360-degree views stretching to Magnetic Island, five kilometres off shore. Along the beach, The Strand walkway is a popular place to visit for its cafes, restaurants, parks and jetties.
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Drama
Energetic
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HOME DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A
LURE OF THE LAND A DAYLESFORD SHOPKEEPER CELEBRATES THE FESTIVE SEASON IN A COTTAGE PERCHED HIGH ON A HILL. WORDS V IRGINI A IMHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY LISA COHEN ST YLING TESS NEW M A N-MOR R IS
The kitchen and dining area was lined in old timber boards sourced by the owner Helen Curtis. The chandelier and table are French and the chairs are Australian antiques. You can find similar at Found in Daylesford. FACING PAGE Helen’s collection of Christmas decorations. DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 39
THE COUNTRY HAS a way of seeping into your soul, and
FROM TOP Helen decorating the dining table with foliage from her garden; cheese is set out on the slide-out panel of an old pastry counter. FACING PAGE When Helen and Rodney bought the cottage it was an empty shell. A French armchair has been covered in simple calico. Stairs now lead up to the couple’s bedroom. A taxidermy swan is on the landing. 40 COUNTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
quietly living there, no matter where you go. Helen Curtis was born and bred on a farm in East Gippsland, Victoria, and then raised her own three, now adult, children in the region. But more than a decade ago she became a city dweller, living in inner-city Melbourne with her husband Rodney: that was until the longing set in. “I grew up on a farm that my ancestors had lived on for 160 years, between Metung and the Tambo River, a beautiful part of the world,” says Helen, owner of Found, an antiques store in Daylesford. “We moved to a small apartment in the city but after living there for six months with no garden, no trees and no grass under my feet, we decided to buy something in the country so I didn’t go insane. The country is in my blood; I need earth under my feet.” She and Rodney, who has a Melbourne advertising agency, met 10 years ago. They often visited Daylesford, 110 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, the small town made up of pretty cottages and church spires clinging to the sides of an extinct volcano. “We were overcome with the romance of the area, and the gorgeous architecture and interesting villages. And we loved the fact that Daylesford is very unique, it’s vibrant with fresh people all the time. We got intoxicated and in 2010, we purchased this!” she says. ‘This’ was a small unfinished timber cottage with sweeping views over the treetop canopy of the Wombat State Forest that had been built some 25 years before. Set high up on Wombat Hill, one of the many round volcanic cones in the Daylesford region on top of which lie the magnificent 19th-century botanic gardens, it is here that Helen and Rodney, and her children, Sarah, 36, Cassidy, 29, and Alexandra, 26, and their partners will all gather for Christmas lunch this year. “We love it here at Christmas and if it’s good weather we’ll have lunch alfresco. It’s normally no more than 10 of us, and we are very traditional and normally do turkey. We have fairly rustic decorations with pine, holly and natural things as well as heaps of candles,” she says. With doll’s-house looks, the cottage has a steep gabled roof, pierced with dormer windows that light up the upper loft space, now the couple’s bedroom and sitting room. This space also doubles as an office for Rodney where he often works. Down a steep timber staircase is a small kitchen, dining area and bathroom. It’s a far cry from when they first saw the cottage. “It was totally unfinished and unloved and needed a lot of work,” Helen recalls. “It was around about 25 years old when we started on it and it was just a shell on the inside.” One of the first things they did was build a three-metrehigh stone wall behind the house, cutting off the top of the block and creating a sheltered courtyard. “We did the wall first as we needed somewhere to sit as the ground was so uneven and there was mess everywhere — we had 20 large tips that went out of here. We started doing the work on it on weekends, and there was no real plumbing, the upstairs >
DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A HOME
“I grew up on a farm that my ancestors had lived on for 160 years… The country is in my blood, I need earth under my feet.”
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DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A HOME Helen and Rodney’s bedroom was built in the steep gabled roof space of the cottage. Antique French doors were installed instead of windows to make the most of the sweeping view over the treetops in Wombat State Forest. The bed linen is a mix of Sheridan and linen Helen has made for Found. For stockist details, see page 138.
ABOUT THE HOUSE
• An Esse Ironheart woodfired
stove is used for cooking and heats the entire house. esse.com The exterior of the cottage is painted in Porter’s Paints Jaguar. 1800 656 664, (02) 9698 5322, porterspaints.com Bathroom fittings are from The English Tapware Company. 170 Queen Street, Woollahra, NSW, (02) 9362 4736; 751 High Street, Armadale, Victoria, (03) 9818 1403, englishtapware.com.au One of Helen’s favourite haunts for vintage and antiques when in Melbourne is Ingles & Co, 2 Victoria Road, Hawthorn, Victoria, 0481 751 144, inglesco.com.au
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DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A HOME The antique French chandelier hangs low over the dining table, which is set for celebratory drinks. Helen stores her crockery in a repurposed cedar pigeonhole. FACING PAGE Helen uses an old armoire as a pantry.
HOME DAY LESFOR D V ICTOR I A The clipped box Christmas tree sits in an old grape harvesting basket. French watering cans are stored on top of cupboard on the verandah. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP An antique wine demijohn, a wine glass and a bauble from Found on the windowsill; Helen had the kitchen sink and taps in storage for years waiting to use. French breadboards from Found. For stockist details, see page 138.
“We love it here at Christmas and if it’s good weather we’ll have lunch alfresco. We have fairly rustic decorations with pine, holly and natural things.”
was here but there was no staircase inside. But it was our little refuge and when we first got the house we just camped here pretty much,” says Helen. At the time Helen was working for a building company based in Geelong. “Rodney would come up here on Friday night. He would hang out here and cook, while I’d work on weekends and get back here on Saturday night and he would be making a curry and would open a bottle of wine — it was perfect,” she explains. For most of her life, Helen had been collecting old things — architectural pieces, furniture and decorative items — and had renovated various country houses over the years. “One of my favourite pastimes is a stroll through a vintage market,” she says. When she moved to Melbourne, some of that collection went into storage but once they bought the cottage all her things were moved up to Daylesford in containers. An old lab cupboard and sink, now installed in the kitchen, was just one of the things that had been waiting in storage until she found the right house for it. She scoured salvage yards for the rest, including antique floorboards and old timber boards to line the walls. “We had to change most of the windows as they were plain and ugly, and we replaced most of the doors with beautiful old doors that I found. We had qualified trades in and it took about three months; it was quite intensive. We put in a toilet straight away, then we had a bathroom and a stove installed. Our first day sleeping here was at Easter 2011.” After years of long commutes to her job in the building industry, four years ago Helen decided to follow her love of antiques and opened Found — a beautifully curated homewares and interiors store specialising in European and Australian antiques, linen and vintage wares. Her daughter Alexandra Box also works at Found, which initially opened in nearby Hepburn Springs, but two years ago moved to Daylesford. “I was burnt out after five years of driving from Melbourne to Geelong, or Daylesford to Geelong every day,” Helen explains. “I’ve had a passion for old things all my life and with the miners’ cottages and small-village houses and farmhouses around here we find that the smaller-scale Australian stuff goes really well, too.” These days Helen spends most of the week in Daylesford, while Rodney joins her on weekends. They still have plans to build on a contemporary living space, but for now the house is enough for their country fix. “Rodney has pet magpies and kookaburras that follow him up the drive. He just fluffs around when he comes up, or he’ll have a play in the garden. We grow our own vegetables,” says Helen. “I just love summer and Christmas in Daylesford, listening to the birds and everything here that is in the trees. There are some special bits of architecture in town. It’s pretty amazing — and I to feel earth, hence why we are here in Daylesford Found, 119 Vincent Street, Daylesford, 0457 234 616. For more information, visit found.style
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HOME GEOGR A PHE BAY WA Fliss and Dave Brophy with their children (from left) Lucy, Fred and Jack at home on their coastal property in south-west Western Australia. FACING PAGE A beautiful wreath of gum leaves hangs on the door of the 1840s stone stables, while Mozzie the Jack Russell heads over to inspect the Christmas gifts.
celebrating home AFTER YEARS OVERSEAS, A CHRISTMAS SPENT AT THE FAMILY FARM ON THE EDGE OF THE OCEAN IS EVEN MORE SPECIAL FOR FLISS BROHPY. WORDS ELIZA BETH W ILSON PHOTOGRAPHY MARNIE HAWSON ST YLING JO CA R MICH A EL
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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT “We call these our gin and tonic chairs,” says Fliss of this sunny spot on the verandah framed by jasmine; Fliss sits in her newly renovated kitchen; Lucy in the Bahru office: the artwork is by Thomas Tjapaljarri; Bahru bags hanging in the laundry include Paris in Blush and Florence in Black. FACING PAGE The beach is located beyond the line of trees. “We walk through one paddock to the sand,” says Fliss.
GEOGR A PHE BAY WA HOME
AFTER LIVING ABROAD for several years and with three
children aged under five, Western Australian couple Fliss and David Brophy felt the irresistible pull of home. Having grown up on a dairy farm on the south-west coast of the state, Fliss was yearning for the wide spaces and the windswept curve of sand and surf she knew as a child. “We decided that it would be a good time to return to Australia so the kids could have the country upbringing I had,” says the 43-year-old. Fliss, a former marketing executive, and Dave, 43, a commodities trader, originally moved to Singapore as a newly married couple, when they both had jobs that required a lot of international travel. After the birth of their oldest son Jack, now 11, Fliss left her high-flying job and unexpectedly found herself launching a small business specialising in leather bags and accessories, which she named Bahru. “It all started because I couldn’t find a baby bag that didn’t look like a baby bag,” she says. “I wanted something in beautiful leather with a practical design.” She began designing more bags and connecting with leather artisans and, before she knew it, Bahru had taken off. “I started selling bags at the local markets and it grew organically from there,” Fliss says. Soon after the arrival of the couple’s second son, Fred, now 10, they moved to The Hague in the Netherlands where eight-year-old Lucy was born. Fliss loved the “big country town” feel of The Hague but, with Jack approaching school age, and Dave ready to go out on his own, they decided to return to Australia. They moved back to Fliss’s childhood home, a 250-hectare farm on Geographe Bay, two-and-a-halfhours drive south of Perth. Located at the end of a country
road, the property is bordered on one side by a state forest of towering Tuart gums (Eucalyptus gomphocephela), and on the other by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. “The farm runs along the coast,” says Fliss. “We walk through one paddock to the beach — it’s really beautiful.” Fliss’s family has farmed this picturesque property since the 1930s: her dad grew up here, as did Fliss and her brother, Simon. When Fliss was young it was a dairy farm, but over the years it has changed to beef cattle and Fliss’s parents run the property in conjunction with Simon, who runs a second property three hours north of Perth. “We all help with the farm, but it’s mainly run by Mum, Dad and my brother. I’m the unskilled farmhand,” explains Fliss. Fliss, Dave and their kids live in an early 1900s weatherboard cottage on the property, while her parents live in the original 1849 stone cottage (the home in which Fliss grew up) a short distance away. “It was so familiar and so lovely to be back with family,” says Fliss. “And it’s a great place for our kids to grow up. After being in Holland, and being so wrapped up against the cold all the time, they loved the warmth and freedom of being here. I think they ran around semi-nude for the first six months we were here!” For the Brophys, Christmas is all about togetherness and usually means a visit from Simon and his family. “Christmas day is always a flurry of kids — one of my favourite things about being home is the connection our kids have with their cousins,” says Fliss. A highlight of the Christmas Day menu is always fresh crayfish, caught by Fliss’s dad, Ted. “My sister-in-law does the roast vegies, Dave does the glazed ham, and Dad insists on having turkey. I do a pavlova for dessert… then we all go over the hill and have a swim.”>
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ABOUT THE HOUSE Fliss chose an all-white scheme for her kitchen. “I thought if I have a white base I can just add to it,” she says. “I love having big flower arrangements, bowls of fruit, layers of details and textures.” The display shown on the island bench combines Silver Dollar gum with pear tree branches. The facia of the island bench features joinery with a V-groove detail to match the original timber panelling appearing elsewhere in the home. The kitchen stools are Jok stools from Western Australian company Empire Homewares. “I love the leather seat,” says Fliss. (08) 9754 7492, empirehomewares.com.au The wall sconces in the kitchen are the 20th Century Library Single Sconce in Aged Steel, from Restoration Hardware in the US. restorationhardware.com Fliss’s Christmas gifts are wrapped in paper designed locally by her friend Alana Bezant, whose business She Eats Paper is based in Busselton, Western Australia. sheeatspaper.com The beautiful gum wreath and all flowers are by Busselton florist Cherise Woodhams of De La Terre, 0439 888 828, delaterre.com.au
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The view from the back verandah towards the old stables is framed by the arching branches of a Norfolk pine. The conversion of the stables was a lengthy process but resulted in a beautiful workplace for Fliss and Dave. FACING PAGE Jack and Fred edge their way along the stone footings of the stables. The limestone walls were restored by local stonemason Paul Young. The new windows are made from jarrah. 52 COU NTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
GEOGR A PHE BAY WA HOME
HOME GEOGR A PHE BAY WA The family’s boot collection lined up in front of an old painted meat safe.
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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT The hay shed is the kids’ (and Mozzie’s) favourite playground. “They’re banned from here during summer because of the snakes!” says Fliss; Lucy juggles an armful of presents wrapped in paper by She Eats Paper; inspecting the gifts in Fred’s bedroom. The bed is from Incy Interiors and the quilt is from Object Union; the bathroom features timber panelling to match original details elsewhere in the home. For stockists details, see page 138.
HOME GEOGR A PHE BAY WA Mozzie relaxes on a throw made from Busatti fabric; pillowcases from The White Company. Fliss’s parents bought the antique chest of drawers around 40 years ago. The small painting is by Debbie Mackinnon from Studio Gallery. For stockists details, see page 138.
Fliss and Dave’s cottage is a quintessential farmhouse with a generous verandah and wide shading eaves, set within lawn and established garden, with an old peppermint tree (a species native to this area) out the front. The four-bedroom home was in good condition when they moved in, but they have made changes to suit the needs of their young family. The first things they did were to discard the window coverings and pull up the carpet. “It was carpet I remembered from my childhood,” says Fliss. “When we pulled it up, the original jarrah boards were underneath — worn and imperfect, which is our idea of beautiful!” They revamped the bathrooms and painted throughout. Earlier this year, they put on a new roof, extended the kitchen and dining area, and added a back verandah. They’ve just finished renovating their kitchen to create a social, family-friendly room complete with an island bench where the kids eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, and do their homework. A few steps from their back door is a beautiful 1880s-era stone horse barn, which they painstakingly restored and converted to create offices at one end and guest accommodation at the other. Both Fliss and Dave operate their businesses from here. “When we lived in Holland, Dave’s commute was one-and-a-half hours each way — now his commute is 50 metres,” she says. It’s a very picturesque HQ for Bahru, which she runs as a one-woman show. For Fliss, returning to the farm is a lovely case of history repeating. Her children all go to the local primary school that she, her brother and her dad attended. And wherever they venture outside — as they romp around the property climbing trees and playing hide-and-seek, or as they run excitedly to the beach, hurling themselves into the surf — she watches them following in the footste s of her own childhood. “It’s pretty special,” she says. Visit bahru.com.au To read Fliss’s style t e page 122.
GET THE LOOK The living room, looking through to the kitchen and dining area, features an artwork by Fliss’s favourite artist, Melissa Boughey from Denmark, Western Australia. Fliss restored the old meat safe that had been in her family for decades.
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MODERN UPDATE RETRO STYLED PIECES WORK IN BEAUTIFULLY IN AN OLD HOME. PRODUCED BY ANN DO
1 Barn Rope pendant in Federation Green, $155, from Fat Shack Vintage. 2 Recycled glass vase in Amber, $124.95, from April & Oak. 3 Angus & Celeste artisan ball pot plant in Milk Iron Fleck, $105, from Ivy Muse. 4 Boston dining chair in Tan, $699, from Barnaby Lane. 5 Rutherglen textured weave rug (160cm x 230cm) in Silver, $699, from Sheridan. 6 Dane dresser in Natural, $1999, from Snooze. 7 Woodland armchair, $799, from Harvey Norman. 8 Large antique tapayan earthenware pot, $290, from Worn. 9 Innehallsrik handmade cushion cover, $19.99, from Ikea. 10 Chambray cushion in Light Grey Stripe, $59.95, from Milk & Sugar. 11 Single-size Vibe bed frame, $299, from Snooze. 12 Edge side plate, $9.96, from Salt & Pepper. 13 Once Milano linen napkin in Blue, $80 for four, from Matches Fashion. 14 Chef XL Sense KVL6100T mixer, $799, from Kenwood. For stockist details, see page 138.
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HOME NORTH STR A DBROK E ISLA ND QUEENSLA ND The 1970s weekender of photographer Kara Rosenlund and her husband Timothy O’Brien. FACING PAGE The house is filled with works by Kara, including the print of trees on the living room wall.
I S L A N D
L I F E
PHOTOGRAPHER KARA ROSENLUND DISCOVERS THE WONDERS OF THE EVERYDAY AT HER NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND HOME. W0RDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY K A R A ROSENLUND
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HOME NORTH STR A DBROK E ISLA ND QUEENSLA ND
WITH A FULL HEART I’m writing this to you from North
Stradbroke Island, a sand island in Queensland’s Moreton Bay. The local Quandamooka people call it Minjerribah, which means ‘island in the sun’. It’s just turned spring, though it always feels like summer over here. People like to keep Stradbroke Island a secret. It’s a haven — for people and nature. Being here feels wild. People say the island feels this way because a planned bridge was never built to connect it to the mainland. Being isolated only attracts a ‘certain type of person’, the type who doesn’t see travelling over water as a barrier, and who yearns for simplicity. The seclusion has kept the island safe from change. My husband and I bought a weekender here about 18 months ago. An original 1970s timber A-frame, which we are slowly doing up. We fell in love with the house the moment we first saw it. Lots of natural light and glass, with knotty pine shiplap walls. Starting Friday nights, we abandon city life and head for the ferry. I’m usually cutting it very fine timewise, dashing to catch it and running with baskets and weekend bags madly slung over my shoulders, with whatever precious find I have made for the house that week in my arms. Once onboard, I head straight out the back to my favourite spot. There are lots of seats inside, but there are six magical faded plastic chairs on the open deck, drilled into the floor and this is where I sit. For an old ferry it goes fast, quickly gaining speed over the bay. Within this moment onboard I feel completely free, watching the mainland disappear in the distance, as the churned water trails behind. Our life before the island was very different. Instead of catching ferries, we would be catching planes, going all over the country and all over the world for work. Always in different directions. We were worried — how long could we keep going in such disparate ways from each other? I would think often about an Esther Perel quote: ‘The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.’ Something needed to shift and it did when we found this island. Embracing this new life was very easy. I began to see the weekends differently. As two special days which needed to be protected from other days of the week. Sacred time. When I started to think like this, simple things began to reveal themselves to me — or maybe I had the time to let them in. It started one Saturday afternoon, seeing shadows dancing on the wall of the back bedroom. The shadows were cast by a palm tree outside the window. The fronds gently swayed in the breeze. The shadows looked like a slideshow; the warm sunlight projecting on the pine walls. In that visual flicker of insignificance, I was reminded of the weekends I grew up knowing — weekends of simplicity. I would bring all the week’s dirty washing over to the island with me — the washing has a way of catching up with you wherever you live. First thing on Saturday morning >
The living room is filled with secondhand items. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Treasured objects on display in the entry area; shells inspired the colour palette used in the house; a window reflecting the beautiful surroundings; the Australiashaped shell mirror in the outdoor shower was a gift.
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NORTH STR A DBROK E ISLA ND QUEENSLA ND HOME Swimming in the pristine waters of the island. CLOCKWISE, FROM BELOW Plants among the dunes; Kara enjoys the ritual of hanging the washing; their island car, a 1971 Land Rover called Dusty. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Kara displays work by ceramic artists; some of her negatives; the Gorge; a shell on Kara’s bedside table; pandanus grow abundantly; a precious framed photograph.
I would put a load of washing on. We don’t have a tumble dryer at the house, instead I use the weathered old timber clothesline in the backyard — which is half falling apart. I would peg the washing out, gingerly adding more and more layers to the shaky line. I found myself looking forward to this morning activity with an unusual level of excitement and wonder. I would be precariously pegging the white sheets on the rickety line, while getting slightly tangled up in a cocoon of wet white linen, trying hard not to let them touch the ground. Being in the moment and seeing the beauty of sunshine and shadows on the clothesline would bring me such joy. I decided to start documenting the simplicity of these ordinary days — photographing my everyday life on the weekends as something to remember them by. I would crave the dishes my mum used to throw together on the weekends, like prawn sandwiches. As a child I would watch her fingers rhythmically peeling prawns in front of me, like a magic show. I had always longed to photograph the sea, to capture the freedom of being underwater. How the waves crash against your body, invigorating the skin and mind. I wanted to share the simple pleasure of rearranging objects at home and how satisfying it can be to bring together a collection of things you absolutely love. When you allow time for the ordinar moments, they have a way of becoming so much more. This is an edited extract from Weekends by Kara Rosenlund, $50. The book and a selection of prints are available at kararosenlund.com
NORTH STR A DBROK E ISLA ND QUEENSLA ND HOME The grasscloth wallpaper blends seamlessly with the custom bedhead. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The house has the original 1970s crazy paving; pandanus fruit is used for decoration; the seashell necklace she likes to wear while on the island; Queensland pineapples; the cover of Kara’s new book.
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THE QUEEN OF ROSES
WE CELEBRATE THE LATE SUSAN IRVINE, REVERED AS THE WOMAN WHO REDISCOVERED ROSES BY AUSTRALIAN BREEDER ALISTER CLARK. WORDS CHRISTINE REID PHOTOGRAPHY SIMON GRIFFITHS
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SUSAN IRV INE GAR DEN David Austin ‘Jude the Obscure’ rose. FACING PAGE The historic Forest Hall near Deloraine, Tasmania, where the late Susan Irvine created her final garden.
GAR DEN SUSAN IRVINE
WHERE DOES ONE start with a bare paddock in Australia at
one’s disposal and such a wealth of roses to choose from? ‘‘‘Baronne Henriette de Snoy’, ‘Omar Khayyam’ and ‘Tricolore de Flandre’ … I delighted in their very names, exotic, evocative, conjuring up visions of distant places, other climes, other centuries. One thing was certain: there would be no place in my garden for ‘Frilly Dilly’ or ‘Sexy Rexy’!” So mused the late Susan Irvine, who became one of Australia’s best-known rosarians, when she wrote up her first rose order in 1982. This was for the garden Susan created at Bleak House on the windswept plains of central Victoria around a century-old stone cottage. Ten years later she told the story of making this garden in Garden of a Thousand Roses. The garden writer died in Launceston, Tasmania, in September this year and left Australians with a written legacy of her journeys making gardens in Victoria and Tasmania. Susan’s introduction to the world of roses came through her reading of English gardening books. “It was Gertrude Jekyll, Graham Stuart Thomas, Gordon Edwards and Jack Harkness who opened the door to the enchanting world of roses, and it was to them that I looked for knowledge and inspiration,” she said. Born in Dalby, Queensland, in 1928, she taught in NSW and Victoria before her appointment as headmistress of Lauriston Girls’ School in Melbourne in 1972. Soon after her retirement from teaching, she started to document her garden adventures for readers of Your Garden magazine and acquired a devoted following. Long before the internet, the magazine’s editor Tony Fawcett would often have to drive up to Gisborne, Victoria, to see Susan. “She always worked close to deadline, which was why I often had to collect her copy personally. Usually, it was when she and husband Bill would be having a gin at the end of the day,” Tony recalls. The Gisborne garden, Erinvale, 50 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, became the subject of A Hillside of Roses. Anyone who visited the garden will never forget its magnificent blooms of the ‘Madame Grégoire Staechlin’ rose on the front verandah. Susan became interested in tracing and preserving the lost roses of Australian rose breeder Alister Clark. In 1994, she was the recipient of the Australian Rose Award for this work and in 2006, Heritage Roses Australia gave her the Deane Ross Memorial Award for her contribution to the promotion and interest in and knowledge of Australia’s old roses. In the 1990s, photographer Simon Griffiths met Susan. The collaboration resulted in Rose Gardens of Australia. Travelling Australia, working on the book, Simon recalls their country pub meals. “Here was petite Susan dressed in a frilly blouse and brooch ordering drinks among burly truck drivers who were fascinated by this author and her knowledge of roses,” he says. Simon then documented the renovation and extension of the garden around the historic house Susan and Bill bought at Elizabeth Town, Tasmania, in The Garden at Forest Hall. She captivated readers with her eye for detail and expertise. As a reviewer of her 1994 book A Hillside of Roses put it in The Canberra Times, “A gardening book that reads like a novel, particularly one about roses, makes a welcome change from the usual format…” And her readers couldn’t agree more.
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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida); view of Forest Hall from the rear; one of Susan’s unidentified roses that was found in a cemetery; Susan leads the way in the garden with a friend; when Susan first moved into Forest Hall with her husband Bill, the building was almost derelict and the garden surrounding it was hidden beneath masses of blackberry bushes; Susan outside in her garden. FACING PAGE, FROM TOP David Austin ‘Sceptr’d Isle’ rose; ‘Carabella’, a shrub rose bred in 1960 by Australian Frank Riethmuller.
PEOPLE
A third-generation farmer, Mitchell East has big plans for his family farm, including utilising regenerative techniques to limit chemical use and soil disturbance.
N E X T GEN ER AT ION
ALL OVER AUSTRALIA, YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A PASSION FOR THE LAND ARE BRINGING NEW ENERGY — AND IDEAS — TO THE COUNTRY. W0RDS CLA IR E M ACTAGGA RT
PHOTOGRAPHY AUSVEG
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PEOPLE
Sam Johnston (left) and Jim Honner, co-founders of social media initiative Thank A Farmer For Your Next Meal. FACING PAGE Nuffield scholar Tess Camm intends to research ways to maximise the value of beef co-products.
SAM JOHNSTON
Social media campaigner
In 2014, Sam, and his friend Jim Honner co-founded the social media campaign Thank A Farmer For Your Next Meal with the aim of generating positive press about farming, farming practices and primary producers. “We wanted to show consumers and people based in metropolitan areas where their food and fibre comes from, who makes it and how it’s made,” says the 24-year-old of the initiative, which now has approximately 90,000 followers. Sam, a rural property sales and marketing manager based in Sydney, continually engages with primary producers through his work, the Thank A Farmer For Your Next Meal network and regular trips home to his family property near Forbes, in Central West NSW.
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“I would love to play a pivotal role in bridging the widening gap between city and bush, producer and consumer. I believe farmers and people from the land have a duty to continue to work closely with our city-based friends, family and consumers to show them exactly what goes on ‘on farm’. We need to give them access to more understandable information and provide transparency about where their food and fibre actually comes from, the processes involved and the people who produce it — it’s a story worth telling,” says Sam. The pair’s recent initiatives include Phone A Farmer Day and the #WhenIGrowUpIWantToBeAFarmer photograph competition. @thankafarmerforyournextmeal
“I love sharing personal experiences of life on the land with chefs and retailers. It builds a valuable connection between producers…”
MITCHELL EAST
TESS CAMM
Third-generation farmer, Mitchell returned to the family farm, Willara Gold, in Manjimup, Western Australia, five years ago. Now 26, he works alongside his parents and sister to produce passionfruit, broccoli and avocado as well as raise sheep. Mitchell is integrating regenerative agriculture methods, so as to limit chemical impact and minimise soil disturbance such as planting cover crops between the avocado rows. “My goal is to produce the highest quality, safest and most ethical products I can. I’d love to see more positive movement into locally sourced, sustainable food that is grown using regenerative practices. From a consumer’s perspective, it’s about understanding why you bought your food and how its produced, not just the price of it,” he says. Mitchell is also endeavouring to introduce and involve more young people in agriculture. “I think there’s massive potential with regenerative farming to encourage young people to join the industry.”
Tess oversees the successful branded beef company, Signature Beef. The 28-year-old ensures carcasses meet market requirements and customer specifications, and is involved in both sales and new product development. Tess recently won a Nuffield Australia scholarship, giving her the opportunity to study and travel overseas; her research will focus on maximising the value capture of beef co-products, including collagen, pharmaceuticals and offals. “I love sharing personal experiences of life on the land with our chefs and retailers. It builds a valuable — and very much valued — connection between producers,” Tess explains. Signature Beef is in the process of constructing Signature Onfarm, a bespoke processing facility in Central Queensland. Tess will focus on integrating Signature Beef’s production, utilising her connections across the whole supply chain. signaturebeef.com.au >
PHOTOGRAPHY RACHAEL LENEHAN
Regenerative agriculture farmer
Beef farmer
PEOPLE Wool is a way of life for award-winning auctioneer Samantha Wan. FACING PAGE Shannon Landmark is using her veterinary training to advance the beef industry.
Wool technical coordinator and auctioneer
Based in Melbourne, Samantha, 31, is partnering with Australian wool growers to maximise returns, support young wool staff and identify areas of improvement. Despite growing up in Sydney’s western suburbs, Samantha, who now works for Elders, developed a love for wool through mentoring, experience at agricultural shows and on-farm work. Wool for Everyday, her passion project, focuses on product curation and promotion. She says she enjoys the challenges, diversity and problem-solving nature of her work, as well as the opportunities to travel. In 2019, Samantha was awarded the Wool Broker Award by National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia and accepted a Youth Ambassador role with WoolProducers Australia. She also won a Young Farming Champion prize in 2017. “I hope to pay it forward by working to maximise grower returns and encouraging the next generation of agriculturalists,” she says. samanthawan.com.au
JAMES ALEXANDER
Organic and biodynamic farmer
A 2020 Nuffield Australia scholar, 29-year-old James works with regenerative farmer Charlie Arnott at Hanaminno, an organic and biodynamic farm near Boorowa, NSW. They keep shorthorn cows, merino sheep and pastured pigs. “I enjoy nurturing animals and plants and working with nature,” says James, whose Nuffield project is focused on regenerative agriculture in mixed farming businesses. “Agriculture occupies a huge amount of land around the globe and regenerative farming practices can help farmers positively impact the planet and its inhabitants. I am involved with community and industry organisations that focus on building and sharing knowledge among peers.”
SHANNON LANDMARK
Veterinarian and coordinator of the University of Queensland Northern Genomics Project
Shannon, who won the 2019 Zanda McDonald Award (an award that recognises young people working in primary industry sectors in Australia and New Zealand),
74 COU NTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
RIKKI BRUCE
Mechanical engineer
Rikki, 29, undertook a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering after having her son in 2011. She was nominated valedictorian for her academic and personal achievements, which now include being awarded Northern Territory Young Achiever of the Year in 2019 and a nomination for 2020 NT Young Australian of the Year. Now halfway through a three-year graduate program, she thrives on the challenges of the industry. “I’m always learning something new as the field is broad. I like the oil and gas industry because I get to be onsite and gain exposure to various types of machinery and equipment, plus play a part in operating a liquefied natural gas plant,” she says. Rikki is also the NT Indigenous representative for Young Engineers Australia. “I hope to be a role model for other women and encourage them to consider STEM roles through mentoring/volunteering,” she adds.
JOSH MURRAY
Egg producer and farmer
At 19, Josh is already an award-winning agricultural entrepreneur. His business, Josh’s Rainbow Eggs, which he started when he was nine years old, is an ethical and sustainable egg empire, with 16,000 pasture-ranging chickens producing more than 90,000 eggs per week. The chickens roam about a 100-hectare off-grid farm at Kerrie, in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges. At night, the chooks sleep in state-of-the-art sheds. “Feeding is automated, there’s heating and cooling, and eggs are taken away on a conveyor belt,” says Josh. “We had a nutritionist make up a feed mix and seven Maremma sheepdogs keep an eye on them.” Josh is currently completing a degree in Business at La Trobe University. “I’m studying marketing now, and I already know a lot of this stuff. They talk about the way a lot of industries are going into more premium products with good narratives, sustainable and ethical — and hey, that’s us!” joshsrainboweggs.com.au
WORDS (JOSH MURRAY) VIRGINIA IMHOFF PHOTOGRAPHY KAY SPEIGHT, FORBES CORBY/YOUNG FARMING CHAMPIONS
SAMANTHA WAN
is the coordinator of the Northern Genomics Project, which aims to develop a DNA test for gene assessment in north Australian cattle. Shuttling between Mareeba, Far North Queensland and Brisbane, the 28-year-old works with 54 collaborators across Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, travelling extensively to undertake ovarian scanning and pregnancy testing of cattle. She is also completing an MBA and working on a start-up company in the field of genetics, data and beef. “I hope to see genomic predictions adopted widely in beef cattle, with bulls bought and sold based on their genomics. I think my research background, the experience I have gained through my MBA and the mentoring I’ve received through the Zanda McDonald Award could give me the tools to make this happen,” she says.
“I hope to see genomic predictions adopted widely in beef cattle ... the Zanda McDonald Award could give me the tools to make this happen.�
CHRISTMAS JULI A BUSUTTIL NISHIMUR A
RECIPE TESTING AND FOOD PREPARATION MERYL BATLLE
Paper Christmas decorations from The Hub General Store. FACING PAGE Food writer Julia Busuttil Nishimura sets the table. Chair from Provincial Home Living, bowls and cups from Sophie Harle, wineglasses and candle holders from Make Designed Objects, vase from Aura Home, napkins and tablecloth from Hale Mercantile Co., flowers by Clover Flower Co. For stockist details, see page 138.
, CREATES NEW MEMORIES FOR HER YOUNG FAMILY. RECIPES J U LI A BUSUTTIL NISHIM U R A PHOTOGRAPHY LISA COHEN ST YLING LEE BLAY LOCK
DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 77
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD’S CHRISTMAS is always full of excitement and wonder
but Haruki Busuttil Nishimura has more than just gifts to look forward to this year. He is also eagerly awaiting the arrival of a sibling, who will hopefully make an appearance on time, not in the middle of Christmas dinner! “Baby number two is due December 30,” Haruki’s mother, food writer and cookbook author Julia, says. “But if baby comes early, it will be a beautiful Christmas gift.” In fact, even though Nori, her Japanese husband, is a talented chef, it seems only contractions will stop Julia from preparing this year’s Christmas feast. “Nori is an amazing cook but I generally like to be the one in charge at Christmas,” she says. “Since Nori never really grew up celebrating Christmas, it doesn’t hold strong memories or have the same connotations as it does for me. He is definitely there by my side taking instructions though. This year may be a little different so we will just have to see how the days unfold I think!” The family will share their Christmas with Julia’s mother and it will include her family’s traditional fish dinner on Christmas Eve. Julia, Nori and Haruki have also introduced their own festive traditions, including nibbling warm cinnamon buns and sipping hot chocolate on Christmas morning. It’s a European-style twist reminiscent of Christmases Julia has spent in Italy, Malta and France, where the temperature gauge plummets rather than rises. “One of my favourite Christmas memories was while I was working as a nanny in Italy,” she says. “I lived in the Tuscan countryside and it was pure magic. We spent the days beforehand travelling to different farms to collect produce and the whole morning preparing fresh pasta, roast meats and dessert, which was my job. I made the biggest pavlova topped with kiwi, lychees and passionfruit. It felt so celebratory and special.” A new baby won’t be the only reason for Julia to celebrate next year. Her other labour of love — a second cookbook — will also be released in early 2020, which will mean juggling a book tour with a newborn. “I also have plans for us to spend a few weeks in Italy later in the year, just to stay put in a small town and cook, swim and eat.” Visit julia-ostro.com >
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JULI A BUSUTTIL NISHIMUR A CHRISTMAS Prawn, Avocado and Watercress Salad Bowl from Sophie Harle. FACING PAGE Julia, Haruki and Nori plan to spend the lead-up to Christmas “planning menus, preparing food, listening to carols and, of course, eating!” For stockist details, see page 138.
“I love the feeling of togetherness that Christmas brings — everything always feels so complete and joyful.”
PRAWN, AVOCADO AND WATERCRESS SALAD Serves 6–8
A refreshing salad — incredibly simple to make and rather impressive. I love to serve this salad in individual bowls, but together on a large platter is lovely too. 1 bunch watercress 2 avocados, halved, stone and skin removed, quartered 2 pink grapefruit, peeled, segmented, centre reserved for dressing 24 cooked prawns, peeled, tails intact
GRAPEFRUIT DRESSING
½ cup extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ¼ cup grapefruit juice (squeezed from reserved grapefruit centre) sea salt
In individual bowls or plates, arrange equal amounts of watercress, avocado, grapefruit segments and prawns. To make grapefruit dressing, whisk together oil, mustard and juice in a small bowl. Season with sea salt and adjust dressing as needed. Pour dressing over salad and serve immediately. >
CHERRY TOMATO AND MARJORAM GALETTE Serves 6–8
A perfect open tart to celebrate the bounty of tomatoes at Christmas time. The pastry can be made up to three days in advance, making for a no-fuss addition to the table. Buy an assortment of cherry tomatoes in different shapes and colours for variety and interest. 500g cherry tomatoes, halved sea salt 2 teaspoons marjoram leaves, plus extra to serve 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 egg, lightly beaten, for glazing grated ricotta salata*, to serve
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FLAKY PASTRY
250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting pinch sea salt 125g cold unsalted butter, cubed 1 tablespoon white vinegar ¼–½ cup iced water
To make flaky pastry, tip flour onto a clean work surface and sprinkle with salt. Add butter and toss until all pieces are coated in flour mixture. Using your fingers, rub butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs (try to leave some larger pieces, as this will create a flaky crust during baking). Sprinkle mixture with vinegar, then pour over a little iced water at a time (you may not need it all and it is easier to add more as you go than have too much).
Work mixture with your hands until it comes together into a dough and there are no dry crumbs left. Shape into a flat disc. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. Meanwhile, combine tomatoes in a bowl with a generous pinch of sea salt and gently toss to combine. Set aside for 20 minutes to draw out some moisture. Drain away any liquid that has seeped out of tomatoes. Transfer tomatoes to a clean bowl and add marjoram, garlic and oil. Gently toss to combine. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a 20cm round baking tray with baking paper. Remove dough from fridge 5 minutes before you are ready to use it (this will make it easier to roll). On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough into a 24cm circle about 2.5mm thick. Place on prepared tray, allowing it to hang 4–5cm over edge. Arrange tomato mixture in centre of dough, leaving a 5cm border. Season with another pinch of sea salt. Fold over edges of pastry, pinching creases as you go. Brush edge with egg and bake for 45–50 minutes or until pastry is golden and tomatoes are blistered and bubbling. Cool for 10 minutes. Top with ricotta salata and extra marjoram to serve. *An aged semi-hard cheese available at delicatessens and Italian grocers. Substitute parmesan or pecorino. >
JULI A BUSUTTIL NISHIMUR A CHRISTMAS Cherry tomato and majoram galette (recipe opposite). Platter from Janice Keen Ceramics, all other ceramics from Sophie Harle. Wineglass from Make Designed Objects. Paper decoration from The Hub General Store. FACING PAGE Peach and mint salad (recipe page 87). Platter from Janice Keen Ceramics; a rustic tub holds gifts. Wrapping paper and ribbon from Zetta Florence. For stockist details, see page 138.
JULI A BUSUTTIL NISHIMUR A CHRISTMAS
“Haruki loves helping in the kitchen and since he was little we have decorated the tree with gingerbread biscuits.”
Branches create a simple table centrepiece. Paper Christmas decorations from The Hub General Store. Origami cranes from Kami Paper. Wrapping paper and ribbon from Zetta Florence. FACING PAGE Haruki carefully wraps edible decorations to go on the tree. For stockist details, see page 138.
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CHRISTMAS JULI A BUSUTTIL NISHIMUR A Fennel and sage roast pork with parsley sauce (recipe opposite). Bowl containing parsley sauce from Janice Keen Ceramics, bowl containing salt from Sophie Harle. For stockist details, see page 138.
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“Even though our lunch is super casual I still put a lot of effort and consideration into the day.” FENNEL AND SAGE ROAST PORK WITH PARSLEY SAUCE Serves 6–8
Roast pork with crackling never goes off my Christmas menu. It’s a real crowd pleaser and makes for great Boxing Day sandwiches, too. The parsley sauce is punchy and vinegary, and cuts through the richness of the pork perfectly. Have your butcher score and truss the rack. 2–2.5kg pork rack, skin scored, trussed small handful fresh sage leaves, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 tablespoon fennel seeds, roughly ground 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil sea salt
PARSLEY SAUCE
1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 garlic clove, roughly chopped 1 lemon, zested 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil pinch of sea salt
Wipe skin and flesh of pork with paper towel. Place pork, skin-side down, on a rack placed over a large roasting pan. Mix sage, garlic, fennel seed, olive oil and a generous pinch of sea salt in a small bowl. Pour mixture over pork flesh and rub all over (avoiding skin). Place, uncovered, in refrigerator overnight to dry out. Preheat oven to 180°C. Turn pork over so skin side is facing up. Rub a generous pinch of sea salt into rind and set pork aside at room temperature for 30 minutes. Fill roasting pan with enough water to cover base. Roast pork for 2–2½ hours or until pork is tender and skin has crackled. If skin has not crackled in last 30 minutes of cooking, increase oven to 220°C and cook until skin is crunchy and blistered. Set aside to rest for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, to make parsley sauce, pulse parsley, garlic and lemon zest in a food processor until finely chopped. Pour in vinegar and olive oil with a generous pinch of sea salt and process until sauce is well combined (it should be a nice spoonable consistency, add more olive oil and vinegar if needed). Season to taste. Remove string to slice pork. Serve with parsley sauce.
PEACH AND MINT SALAD Serves 6 (See photograph, page 86)
Peaches are a wonderful companion to roast pork and this salad is bursting with the vibrancy and flavours of summer. Buy peaches that are fragrant and ripe but not too soft. This salad is great with nectarines, too. 4 yellow peaches (approximately 700g), halved, stones removed ½ red onion, finely sliced 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
DRESSING
1 teaspoon brown sugar 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil small handful fresh mint, finely chopped, plus extra leaves to garnish pinch of sea salt
Cut each peach half into quarters and arrange on a serving plate. Place onion in a small bowl and cover with vinegar. Using your fingers, rub vinegar into onion, then set aside for 5 minutes. Squeeze excess vinegar from onion back into bowl and reserve for dressing. Scatter onion over peaches. To make dressing, whisk together brown sugar, olive oil and chopped mint in a small bowl. Add reserved leftover vinegar from soaking onions and whisk to combine. Season with sea salt to taste. Pour dressing over peaches and onion and top with extra mint leaves to serve. >
Pandoro, ricotta and a generous splash of Marsala add an Italian twist to an ever-popular Christmas dessert.
PANDORO, RASPBERRY AND RICOTTA TRIFLE Serves 6–8
Pandoro is a wonderful Italian sweet bread, similar to brioche, that is available only at Christmas time. Here it becomes the base for a Sicilian-inspired trifle spiked with Marsala, chocolate and orange. 400g pandoro or sponge cake, roughly torn 60g unsalted butter, melted 60g raw sugar 1/3 cup Marsala 60g 70% cocoa chocolate, finely grated 40g flaked almonds, toasted, plus extra to serve 150g cherries, halved, pitted, to serve
RASPBERRY JAM
350g fresh or frozen raspberries 100g caster sugar ½ orange, juiced
RICOTTA CREAM
450g firm ricotta 100g caster sugar 2 tablespoons Marsala 1 orange, zested 1 vanilla pod, split lengthways, seeds scraped or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 2 cups pure cream
Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Place pandoro in a large bowl. Pour over melted butter and scatter with sugar. Using your hands, toss until all pieces are coated. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Set aside to cool. Drizzle with Marsala and set aside. To make jam, combine berries, sugar and juice in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring, over a medium heat for 8–10 minutes or until thickened. Transfer to a small bowl and allow to cool completely. To make ricotta cream, combine ricotta, sugar, Marsala, orange zest and vanilla seeds or paste in a large bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until well combined and smooth. In a separate bowl, whip cream to soft peaks, then gently fold into ricotta mixture. Place enough ricotta cream into a trifle dish to just cover base. Top with one-third of pandoro mixture, followed by one-quarter of remaining ricotta cream, then one-third each of grated chocolate, jam and almonds. Repeat in two more layers, finishing with remaining ricotta cream. Top with cherries and extra toasted almonds. Place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow flavours to meld. Serve.
JULI A BUSUTTIL NISHIMUR A CHRISTMAS Pandoro, ricotta and raspberry trifle (recipe opposite). Small bowls from Sophie Harle. Origami cranes from Kami Paper. For stockist details, see page 138.
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in high spirits
A GRANDDAUGHTER CONTINUES HER SWEDISH GRANDMOTHER’S CHRISTMAS TRADITION OF MAKING GRAVLAX, WITH A TWIST. AT CHRISTMAS, no self-respecting Swedish smörgåsbord
would be without Jansson’s Temptation — a classic dish of creamy potatoes layered with salty anchovies. But Linn Wayne’s mother (pictured above with an 18-month-old Linn) devised another way to introduce potatoes to their Christmas feast by lacing their gravlax with a homemade vodka made from the tasty tubers. “Every household in Sweden makes their own version of gravlax,” Linn, 41, explains of this classic cured salmon dish. “This recipe was originally my grandmother’s but my mother spiced it up by using vodka made from potatoes, rather than the traditional brandy or akvavit. This gives it a unique flavour that’s really delicious.” There is another reason why vodka became the tipple of choice for Linn’s family. In 1994, her mother Birgitta Sundin, now aged 62, and father Steffan, 69, opened a restaurant on a small island just outside of Stockholm. A few years later they added a distillery. “It took about 300 applications for the government to approve the distillery but it became the first restaurant in Sweden to make its own vodka since it became illegal in 1865,” Linn says. The whole family was involved in the business, called Skansholmens Sjökrog, which only operated in summer when Swedes flock to the archipelago. Linn’s grandfather, Karl Lord, who passed away five years ago, helped build
the distillery, while her grandmother, Ulla, now 89, tended the herb garden. “I’m not sure how they learnt how to make vodka, since it was illegal, but my grandfather was known as the Swedish version of MacGyver,” Linn says. “I would help my grandmother pick the herbs and berries used to flavour the vodka and people would come for tastings, just like you do at a winery. My brother, Love, was a chef in the restaurant.” In winter, the family would return to their country house Olberga Gård, close to the small village of Näs, just outside Stockholm, that dates back to the 1400s. It was here that they would celebrate Christmas with a traditional smörgåsbord including pickled herring, beetroot, dark bread, meatballs, mayonnaise, and, of course, gravlax with mustard sauce. “Sweden is beautiful at Christmas. It gets dark around 2pm and every house is lit up with candles in the window. Santa also visits every family,” says Linn. “I have great memories of him walking through the fields to my grandparents’s house.” Linn and her Australian husband, Andy, eventually took over running the restaurant and distillery but sold it to move to Manly in 2008. This year they’ll spend Christmas in Australia with their two young daughters where the gravlax will be deftly prepared by Andy. They’ll talk to her parents and Ulla via Skype, before enjoying another family favourite — vodka ‘snaps’ flavoured with cardamom and dried coriander — to toast the year ahead.
food preparation and recipe testing china squirrel
WORDS TRACEY PLATT PHOTOGRAPHY AND ST YLING CHINA SQUIRREL
HEIR LOOM R ECIPE
SWEDISH GRAVLAX WITH MUSTARD SAUCE Serves 10–12
1kg whole salmon fillet, skin on, pin-boned ⅓ cup white sugar ⅓ cup salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ½ cup finely chopped fresh dill 2 tablespoons vodka or brandy extra fresh dill sprigs, to garnish lemon slices, dark bread and capers, to serve
MUSTARD SAUCE
2 tablespoons seeded mustard 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons caster sugar 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar ⅓ cup grapeseed oil ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
Cut salmon in half lengthways to make 2 equal pieces. Place both halves, skin-side down, on a large piece of plastic wrap. Mix sugar, salt and pepper in a bowl until combined. Scatter sugar mixture in a thick layer over salmon. Sprinkle with dill, then vodka or brandy.
Using plastic wrap, carefully sandwich salmon together so sides with curing mixture are touching and narrow ends are together. Wrap tightly with at least 3 more layers of plastic wrap, pressing firmly to expel as much air as possible. Place salmon on a tray and refrigerate for 48 hours, turning every 12 hours. To make mustard sauce, combine mustards, sugar and vinegar in a small bowl and season. Whisking vigorously, pour oil in a steady, thin stream until it reaches a mayonnaise-like consistency. Stir in dill. To serve, remove plastic wrap from gravlax and carefully place top layer skin-side down. Using a piece of damp paper towel, gently wipe gravlax to remove excess sugar mixture. Pat with dry paper towel and place on a serving plate. Scatter with fresh dill. Using a sharp knife, cut thin shavings of gravlax on an angle, leaving skin behind. Serve with mustard s lemon, dark bread and capers
HEIRLOOM COOKBOOK BAKING SPECIAL Celebration cakes Perfect sponges Danish honey cakes Nanna’s biscuits Date loaf
FAMILY RECIPES FOR A NEW GENERATION TO TREASURE
For more delicious family recipes, pick up a copy of the Country Style Heirloom Cookbook, $12.99, available at magshop.com.au
DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 89
COUNTRY COOK STEV E CUMPER
green day
STEVE CUMPER CREATES A SIMPLE ZUCCHINI DISH WITH A FRENCH TWIST. PHOTOGRAPHY NIC GOSSAGE STYLING OLIVIA BLACKMORE
CHRISTMAS IS A time of reflection
for me (and I don’t mean gazing at myself in the bathroom mirror to snap a pouting selfie). As a chef, I’ve worked my fair share of Christmases and the first festive season I spent away from my family and in the kitchen remains vivid in my memories… I had just finished my apprenticeship in Melbourne and enthusiastically skipped off to London, my birthplace, to work in a large hotel kitchen. Unfortunately, my breezy disposition and questioning of authority were abruptly at odds with the grimly antiquated and hierarchical kitchen culture I had plunged myself into. But I managed to survive a year, which prepared me for my next move to a venerated 16th-century English restaurant smack-bang in the middle of Constable Country in Essex. Like many English kitchens of the time, this restaurant was a shrine to classic French gastronomy. Here, I was immersed in foie gras, pithiviers and homard (lobster) — you know, all the basic food necessities. However, if there was one ingredient that became emblematic for my time there, it would have to be the zucchini flower. You may have had zucchini flowers cooked the Italian way, that is stuffed with ricotta, dipped in a light batter and fried. While I also love this method, it tends to only use the flower. But at this restaurant, they had perfected a dish with the vegetable still attached. Each flower was gently opened and filled with a scampi mousse. The baby zucchini was then sliced down its length to assist in cooking before
the whole thing was lightly sautéed in foaming butter. At the time I didn’t really appreciate just how profound this experience was, but that simple act of presenting something on the plate as it appears in nature has shaped the way I have cooked ever since. Fast forward to rural Tassie some years later and, having secured a small land holding, we planted seeds in our garden. Like many rookie gardeners I was chuffed on seeing my first zucchini crop begin to form. Pretty soon they were large enough to harvest and I proudly took half of them up to our farmhouse kitchen (in a stylish wicker basket, of course). When this modest harvest was consumed I returned to discover the remaining zucchinis had ballooned to Hindenburg proportions! I swiftly dispatched these beasts into ingredients for a pickle — a hastily hatched remedy that morphed into a mission taking nearly all summer. My grizzled old neighbour laughed and told me he just chucked them on the bonfire when he’d his fill, while I learned you could spot newbie gardeners in the area as the honesty boxes at the end of their driveways were always brimming with surplus products. Zucchini jam anyone? Having said this, zucchinis really are lovely and fresh, especially after all that heavy holiday eating at Christmas. My version stuffed with prawns seems like an apt Aussie way to enjoy them, even if it is a secret nod toward France. Bon appetit, mate! Steve Cumper is a chef and funnyman who lives in Tasmania and dreams of one day owning a fleet of holiday vans called Wicked Cumpers.
PRAWN-STUFFED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS Serves 8
200g raw prawn meat 1 teaspoon ground fennel 1 egg ¾ cup pure cream 16 zucchini flowers with zucchini attached 20g butter, for brushing
CHIVE & BUTTER SAUCE
220g cold butter, diced 1 small brown onion, finely diced 2 bay leaves 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 cup white wine 1 cup white wine vinegar ½ cup pure cream 1 bunch chives, finely chopped
Process prawn meat and fennel in a food processor until finely chopped. With motor running, add egg, then slowly add cream. Season. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to chill. Brush dirt from flowers. Carefully open each flower by cutting a line down one petal. Using your fingertips, gently remove yellow stamens. Spoon prawn mixture into centre of each flower, cover with petals and twist to enclose. Arrange on a lined baking tray and place in refrigerator for 1 hour to chill. Preheat oven to 180°C. Melt 20g butter and brush over zucchini flowers. Bake for 20 minutes or until flowers feel firm to the touch. Meanwhile, to make sauce, melt 20g butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add onion and bay leaves. Cook, stirring, for 4 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add wine and simmer until reduced by half. Add vinegar and simmer until reduced by half. Stir in cream and bring to boil. Remove from heat and whisk in remaining butter, a little at a time, until well combined. Strain sauce through a sieve into a bowl and stir in chives. Serve sauce with zucchini flowers.
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PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY DAMIAN BENNETT STYLING LIZ KAVANAGH FOOD PREPARATION DIXIE ELLIOTT
RAISE A GLASS
WINEMAKERS FROM AROUND AUSTRALIA SHARE HOW THEY CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND WHAT THEY’LL BE POURING.
PHOTOGRAPHY SHARYN CAIRNS, MARK ROPER
WORDS KY LIE IMESON
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W INEM A K ERS CHRISTMAS Stephen Henschke (right) with his son Johann, who has followed his father into the family business and is also a winemaker. FACING PAGE Lisa Margan of Margan Wines with a bowl of figs picked on her property.
“We visit the church that overlooks the Hill of Grace vineyard on Christmas Eve…”
CHRISTMAS W INEM A K ERS FACING PAGE Vasse Felix chief winemaker Virginia Willcock enjoys wines from the Margaret River, the region where she produces wine, on Christmas Day.
STEPHEN AND PRUE HENSCHKE Henschke, Eden Valley, South Australia
Husband and wife as well as chief winemaker and viticulturist, Stephen and Prue are the fifth generation of Henschkes to produce wine. They consider themselves “custodians” of their land for their children Johann and his wife Angela, Justine and Andreas, and are very focussed on sustainablilty. Do you feel connected to the land through winemaking? Stephen: Absolutely. Great wine is made in the vineyard. Our historic sites, such as the 50-year-old Wheelwright, 100-yearold Mount Edelstone and 150-year-old Hill of Grace vineyards, have a strong personal history and story to them. Are there any traditions that you follow every year? Prue: We visit the church that overlooks the Hill of Grace vineyard on Christmas Eve, followed by dinner with our children and grandchildren, and then presents, in keeping with Stephen’s German heritage. We shuck a lot of oysters on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to enjoy with Bollinger. What do you eat on Christmas Day? Prue: My sister and I put together a lunch of Australian seafood, which Stephen pairs with crisp white wines, followed by duck or turkey and vegetable dishes matched with some special reds from our cellar. Lunch is usually served late so we end up having Christmas pudding covered in cherries and dessert wine for dinner! What are your must-have wines for Christmas? Stephen: Early in my career, I worked vintages at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy and Château Canon in Bordeaux, so I like to bring out something from these producers. We always open a bottle from Johann’s wife Angela’s family winery, Torremilanos, in the Ribera del Duero region in Spain. Do you have a dish you like to cook for Christmas? Prue: I have a traditional German recipe for Honigkuchen (honey biscuits) that has been passed down. (03) 8564 8223, henschke.com.au
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LISA MARGAN
Director, Margan Wines, Hunter Valley, NSW
Lisa Margan and her winemaker husband Andrew established Margan Wines in 1996, which was followed by their eponymous onsite restaurant 10 years later. They are committed to their “estate grown, estate made” ethos. Explain your ethos. We try and grow as much as we can on the property, which includes produce for the restaurant as well as wine from our 100 hectares of vineyards. We have full sustainable farming accreditation and are almost carbon neutral. How do you celebrate Christmas? With whoever is available from both our extended families and our three children who are all at university in Adelaide and Sydney, so it will be great to have them home. Are there any traditions that you follow every year? Andrew and I have a 30-year Christmas Eve tradition of eating foie gras and sipping Sauternes in memory of our time living in Bordeaux. However, I fear the foie gras has to go as it is not ethically produced. We also always open a bottle of Champagne (Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is a favourite) and serve it with oysters. It acts as a little ‘warm up’ to the main event. On Christmas Day we have a light breakfast, gift giving and then we all prepare for lunch. Who cooks? Andrew cooks grilled duck breast with caramelised red onions and jus as well as a baked ham for main course. The kids and I do roast vegies, salads and little things to graze on for entree. We all have our special dishes and the kids are great cooks. After mains we have cheese, which I raid from the restaurant cool room The matriarchs of the family traditionally did dessert. Andrew’s mum was a friend of Margaret Fulton and faithfully followed her pudding recipe. Served with ‘proper custard’ and the best rum butter. My mum did the Christmas cakes and a trifle. Both these ladies have gone from our lives now so it’s up to me to take over here this year. I’m feeling the pressure!
What are your must-have wines for Christmas? There is always Champagne, chablis and German riesling. We’ll open our 2019 Albarino, 2017 White Label Shiraz and 2018 Barbera. Our botrytis semillon is a Christmas favourite. We’ll serve a few wines blind and try and guess what they are. Family guests like Iain Riggs (managing director and chief winemaker of Brokenwood, also in the Hunter Valley) will bring amazing wine to share. After we have cleaned up, the day usually ends with a Margan Vermouth Negroni as we dangle our feet in the pool and watch the sun set over the Brokenback Range. (02) 6579 1317, margan.com.au
BRUCE TYRRELL AM Managing director, Tyrrell’s, Hunter Valley, NSW
In 2006, Bruce received a Order of Australia for his contribution to the Australian wine industry and is a Hunter Valley Living Legend. Bruce’s children Jane, John and Chris — the fifth generation —have followed in his footsteps. How will you celebrate Christmas this year? I will be with all the immediate family on the Gold Coast where we’ll meet up with my wife Pauline’s extended family. What do you eat? Peking duck pancakes and sparkling shiraz, followed by Pauline’s special baked ham with salads. What do you drink? We start with Champagne, this year it looks like 2008 Dom Pérignon. Some great old Tyrrell’s whites — Vat 1 Semillons and probably some Stevens Single Vineyard Semillon — and proper pinot noirs. Do you feel connected to the land through winemaking? The original 320 acres is our land and it is part of us. I always thank the generations before me for providing that connection. It is our land and we are at one with it. What do you love about living in the country? No bloody neighbours! Peaceful mornings and evenings, and a chance to watch the weather. (02) 4993 7000, tyrrells.com.au
VIRGINIA WILLCOCK
PHOTOGRAPHY STEFAN GOSATTI
Chief winemaker, Vasse Felix, Margaret River, Western Australia
Virginia has just completed her 14th vintage as chief winemaker for Vasse Felix and looks forward to Christmas so she can catch up with friends and family and share the fruits of her labour. What do you like about working in a rural area? The beautiful air, the sounds of local wildlife, the smell of the forest, the ocean and the grasses, not having to line up anywhere, sparsely populated beaches, the fresh produce, the beautiful wines, the artistic and creative community, the wine culture — it’s endless. The only down side is the three-hour drive to Perth if you want to fly anywhere (also an upside), this is changing next year with direct flights to Melbourne from our region. Do you feel connected to the land through winemaking? Completely. Each small section of grapes has it’s own personality when made into wine, driven from it’s little plot in the vineyard. Understanding each plot helps us make better decisions in the winery. You also feel connected to
nature as each season brings its unique personality and we have to adapt to it. How do you celebrate Christmas? It rotates every three years: one year with my family in Perth, one year with my husband’s family in Adelaide and then one year at our own home in Margaret River with friends. Are there any traditions that you follow every year? The only tradition we follow is to eat the greatest food and drink the finest wine wherever we are, and celebrate being together. What do you eat and drink on Christmas Day? Seafood entree and roast meat for main, pending best produce available, which depends where we are. There are always more wine courses than food courses, it’s a dominant feature with a varied and expansive wine list. My family, my husband’s family and all our friends are wine obsessed. What are your must-have wines for Christmas? Grower Champagne, Margaret River chardonnay, white Burgundy, pinot noir from Tasmania or Yarra Valley, barolo or barbaresco, and Margaret River cabernet. (08) 9756 5000, vassefelix.com.au >
CHRISTMAS W INEM A K ERS Peter Gago, chief winemaker at Penfolds, is in charge of choosing wine on Christmas Day. FACING PAGE House of Arras chief winemaker Ed Carr can’t go past his own sparkling for the festivities.
PETER GAGO AC
Chief winemaker, Penfolds, South Australia
“Christmas is completely traditional, from the bon bons to the Christmas pudding…”
After spending the year travelling the world flying the flag for Penfolds, English-born Peter Gago will pack the car with gifts and cases of wine and drive from Adelaide to Melbourne to celebrate Christmas with family. What do you like about working in a rural area? The people, pace and priorities. There’s a stark reality — you can see the trees, you can enter the forest. There’s a heightened relative degree of honesty, awareness, resilience in the country. But some areas are becoming less ‘rural’ as suburbs sprawl. Do you feel connected to the land through winemaking? Absolutely. Vines are planted in diverse soils and microclimates in Australia. Beyond the science, the mystique and magic of winemaking effortlessly couples with the spirituality and honesty affixed to the land… In vino veritas. Are there any traditions that you follow every year? Christmas is completely traditional, from the bon bons to the Christmas pudding (sans threepenny pieces). All family members converge to the one address — this year it is in Melbourne. At Christmas, we always drive interstate with a car full of wines and gifts. Friends query why we don’t simply fly across, but we enjoy it. What do you like to eat and drink on Christmas Day? Ideally traditional fare for lunch and assorted fresh seafood from across Australia for dinner. I open special wines that can be shared — a glass of something memorable for everyone to sip. The more sipping, the more we can open and try! The more eclectic the better. What is your must-have wine for Christmas? Champagne. Ideally in a magnum. Hot, cold, wet, dry weather — it doesn’t matter! Champagne it is! Do you have a dish you like to cook for Christmas? I do the wine, others do the food. No one complains about this — we all stick to our strengths. In the kitchen? I polish the glasses. 1300 095 930, penfolds.com
MITCHELL TAYLOR
ED CARR
For Mitchell Taylor, Christmas is a time for all three generations of the family to get away together. This year will be extra special as they’re also celebrating Taylors’s 50th anniversary. What do you like about working in a rural area? I love being close to nature with the fresh air, no traffic and the unique sounds of the Australian bush. When you leave the city and drive toward the winery, you get a chance to reconnect with country Australia that is unlike anywhere in the world. Do you feel connected to the land through winemaking? Definitely. No two vintages are the same and each year Mother Nature throws up unique challenges, which have an impact on the wine. The beauty of winemaking is that you are continually adapting to the climate and terroir of the region. How do you celebrate Christmas? Christmas is all about close family. It’s great to bring together the older and younger generations for a break before we begin the busy period of vintage. This year we’ll be on the NSW coast. Most memorable Christmas? Spending the day with my grandparents as a kid learning to fish. My grandfather Bill Taylor Snr. was a great storyteller. Are there any traditions that you follow every year? We always start with Mass the night before, it’s a great reminder of the importance of goodwill. Then in the morning we celebrate gift giving with the kids. What do you like to eat and drink on Christmas Day? We start with prawns and oysters with a Clare Valley riesling or a chablis from Burgundy. The main meal is hot turkey, ham and Christmas pudding with all the trimmings. I love planting a $50 note in the pudding for the youngest member of the clan to discover! Cabernet is a favourite for our family, so an aged bottle from the cellar is always a treat. This year, we’ll open The Legacy 2014 — a new release to honour Taylors’s 50th. 1800 804 295, taylorswines.com.au
Ed Carr pioneered sparkling wine production in Tasmania and his House of Arras bubbles more than hold their own up against Champagne. Why not support Australian grown and made, and serve Arras at your Christmas celebration this year? What do you like about working in a rural area? All of the cool climate vineyard and winery sights are some of the most picturesque regions of Australia. Downsides are experiencing the tough years that are inevitable in agriculture — frost, drought, heatwaves and bushfires. Why did you choose Tasmania to produce wine? The cold maritime climate and ancient soils of Tasmania act in synergy to allow the culturing of pristine grapes most suited to our premium wine production. These grapes ripen very slowly, which allows the flavours to develop to their peak while retaining a high natural acidity critical for this wine style. The resultant wines are elegant and show great longevity, which lend perfectly to the House of Arras style. What do you like most about creating sparkling wine? Premium sparkling wines have multiple stages of crafting over many years with some House of Arras icon wines requiring more than a decade to reach their quality. How do you celebrate Christmas? Christmas is almost always enjoyed at home in Adelaide under the air conditioner or in the pool. It’s great to share the festive season with grandchildren and long-term friends. What do you like to eat and drink on Christmas Day? The traditional Christmas fare of the northern hemisphere made with local produce matched with appropriate cool beverages of beer, sparkling wine and the inevitable sparkling shiraz. What is your must-have wine for Christmas? Arras Grand Vintage, it’s a refreshing style with great complexity allowing diverse food matches. (03) 6382 7622, houseofarras.com.au
Managing director and winemaker, Taylors Wines, Clare Valley, South Australia
Chief winemaker, House of Arras, Tasmania
CHESTER OSBORN
Chief winemaker, d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, South Australia
Since 1912, the Osborn family have been making wine in McLaren Vale, with fourth-generation Chester at the helm since 1984. Chester came up with the idea to build the d’Arenberg Cube, an eye-catching angular five-storey glass and steel building that houses a restaurant, wine sensory room and museum. Despite his taste for ground-breaking architecture, he sticks to tradition at Christmas. What do you like about working in a rural area? We are fortunate at d’Arenberg to be close to the ocean, and have spectacular views over the McLaren Vale region, the Willunga Hills and the Gulf of St Vincent. Do you feel connected to the land through winemaking? Everything I do involves the land, soil and climate, so I feel a deep closeness to our environment. How do you celebrate Christmas? Christmas is usually at our house here in McLaren Vale, surrounded by family and extended family. It’s great to catch up and share a few wines! Are there any traditions that you follow every year? It’s usually the same year to year, a very traditional ‘winter’ roast and pavlova, and plenty of it. That keeps the crowd happy. Plus a good bottle of red or three! What is your must-have wine for Christmas? It’s got to be The Dead Arm Shiraz. We always open an old vintage that’s been tucked away in the cellar, and it keeps everyone happy. (08) 8329 4888, darenberg.com.au
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FLAVOURS
SWEET TREATS AND A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ARE ON THIS MONTH’S MENU FOR BARBARA SWEENEY. Follow Barbara on Instagram @foodandwords
MEET THE PRODUCER Nick Austin, Mundarlo, Wagga Wagga, NSW A course in regenerative agriculture, a comment from his wife Deanna about working on weekends and the effects of the drought all contributed to Nick Austin rethinking his approach to farming. Methods and ideas he’d accepted in the past were scrutinised and together with his parents, Frank and Diana, they mapped out the farm’s future using a holistic context tool, which aligns decisions with the life you want. “I wanted time,” says Nick. The farm has changed with each generation: sheep in the 1940s; cattle, cropping and silage in the ’70s. Today, Nick only runs cattle on the 1440-hectare property and is focusing on soil health and ground cover. Cattle numbers are determined by how much pasture there is for feed. Nick and Deanna have also invested in a local off-farm business, Body Compass Health. Nick is one of the first cattle farmers to work with Provenir, Australia’s first (and only) mobile abattoir. Bringing the abattoir to the animal eliminates transport stress and produces superior quality meat. His grass-fed beef is then sold online and to retailers and restaurants, including Neil Perry’s Rockpool Bar & Grill. “I’m not blowing my own trumpet but it’s the best meat I’ve ever eaten,” says Nick. provenir.com.au
BRANCH OUT
CREATE A DELICIOUSLY FESTIVE — AND EDIBLE — TABLE DECORATION WITH PHILLIPA’S GINGERBREAD CHRISTMAS TREE KIT. RICH IN AUSTRALIAN HONEY AND FRESHLY GROUND SPICES, THE RECIPE HAS BEEN IN OWNER PHILLIPPA GROGAN’S REPERTOIRE FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. $37.50. PHILLIPPAS.COM.AU
BEE HAPPY
Swap plastic wrap for these pretty organic cotton beeswax wraps from Apiary Made in the Yarra Valley. Design collaborators include Beck Ng from Melbourne’s Fabric Drawer. $40 for set of three wraps. apiarymade.com.au
THAT’S GRATITUDE As the year draws to a close, many people give thanks for the good in their lives. This sentiment is behind Thankful4Farmers, an initiative that seeks to unite producers and consumers, and celebrates the contribution the agriculture industry makes to the Australian economy and society overall. As well as raising awareness of rural issues, Thankful4Farmers supports people and projects that contribute significantly to sustainable outcomes in agriculture. You can play your part simply by purchasing a product with the Thankful4Farmers logo. Boorowa farmer Charlie Arnott, winner of the Country Style People’s Choice Award, and chef Matt Moran (above) are both on the advisory board. thankful4farmers.com.au
MADE WITH LOVE
Princess Pantry does it again with its fresh, summery take on rocky road. Each ingredient — handmade passionfruit marshmallow, candied ginger, toasted coconut, macadamias and dark chocolate — is divine in its own right; together, they are pure heaven. Passion Road is made at Little Kickerbell in Quirindi, NSW. Buy locally and at Accoutrement in Sydney. $10 for 85g. littlekickerbell.com.au
PERSONAL TOUCH Like bees to a flower, guests will be drawn to this Gold Rim Petal Bowl, $38, by Bridget Bodenham. Handmade in her Hepburn Springs studio, it brings a glamorous touch to the table. bridgetbodenhamceramics.bigcartel.com 98 COU NTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTOFFER PAULSEN
flavours
OUT N
only $5 OW 9.99
ON SA L E NOW
TO CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF COUNTRY STYLE, WE’VE COMPILED STORIES OF INSPIRING RURAL PEOPLE AND THE BEAUTIFUL HOMES THEY LIVE IN IN A HARDCOVER BOOK.
Available where all good books are sold and at bauerbooks.com.au
CHRISTMAS CONONDA LE QUEENSLA ND Maree Duncombe in a paddock on her 930-hectare cattle property. FACING PAGE Inquisitive Brahman cows and calves at Conondale Station.
A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS IS A BUSY TIME ON CONONDALE STATION NEAR MALENY IN QUEENSLAND WITH CALVING STILL GOING ON, BUT OWNER MAREE DUNCOMBE MAKES TIME TO CELEBRATE. WORDS CLA R E M ACTAGGA RT PHOTOGRAPHY AND ST YLING K A R A ROSENLUND
DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 101
CHRISTMAS CONONDA LE QUEENSLA ND Photographer Kara Rosenlund’s Land Rover is stacked with gifts. The Christmas tree from Real Christmas Trees is decorated with ornaments from Paper Boat Press. For stockist details, see page 138.
For Maree Duncombe of Conondale Station, near Maleny on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, the best Christmas present is the small, four-legged variety. She runs 300 Brahman cows and 200 weaners on the 930-hectare cattle property, which calve from July through until February. Inevitably, a handful of snowy Charbray calves are born on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day itself. “They tend to get named either Chrissy or Evie — I have had quite a few of them over the years!” says Maree, 38. “My absolute favourite thing is witnessing a calf being born. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing those first few minutes of connection and love shared between a Brahman mother and her baby, it is just so natural. No matter how many times I see it, I still get teary.” Her love of cattle, and Brahmans in particular, developed early, as she helped her parents Peter and Nora on the property she now runs. “There is something about a Brahman that makes them so special. They are very clever but also very sensitive. They have a tendency to become upset very easily, but if you respect them, they will respect you and be your best mate for life,” she says.
“I have always been surrounded by cattle and they are absolutely my everything. They are my best friends, my family, my passion and my income, and they have given me so much happiness and fulfilment with life. I feel that the special connection I have with my cows is we are in this life together and we are a team,” Maree says. She now offers guesthouse accommodation at Conondale Station so others can experience the joys of life on the property. At Christmas, Maree draws inspiration from Conondale’s surroundings to create a festive display in her 80-year-old weatherboard home. “I love dressing up my house with pretty decorations, beautiful lights and lots of natural foliage,” she says. “Something simple yet beautiful and unique.” This year, Maree plans to spend Christmas Day by the pool. “Christmas time is always very warm and humid in Conondale, so hopefully by then there is lots of green grass around. Not only for me, but everywhere in Australia where people are desperate for rain. The top of my Christmas wish list is rain and happy farmers.” For more information visit conondalestation.com.au or follow Maree @conondalestation and @maree_duncombe
Inevitably, a handful of snowy Charbray calves are born on Christmas Eve…
102 COUNTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Some of Maree’s herd in the Shed Paddock; gingerbread stars from Jocelyn’s Provisions; Maree’s family moved to Conondale Station in 1995; she runs 300 Brahman cows and 200 weaners; the 80-year-old Queenslander; Maree checks the cows; the star ornaments are from Paper Boat Press. For stockist details, see page 138.
CHRISTMAS CONONDA LE QUEENSLA ND
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Mince pies and ginger trees from Jocelyn’s Provisions under the tree; Maree is expecting some calves to born on Christmas Day; dehydrated oranges make delicious garnishes for drinks and can also be used to decorate the table; cattle heading to the dam; “My absolute favourite thing is witnessing a calf being born,” says Maree; the house on Conondale Station. FACING PAGE The Real Christmas Tree is decorated with an orange garland and ornaments from Paper Boat Press. The wreath is from Hacienda Flowers. For stockist details, see page 138.
KARA ROSENLUND’S ORANGE GARLAND
“Dehydrated oranges make a beautiful golden garland that is very simple to make and plastic free,” says Kara. oranges (or other citrus), sliced in to 5mm rounds twine, yarn or string yarn needle
Preheat oven to 250˚C and line a baking tray with baking paper. Dry orange slices with paper towel then arrange on prepared tray. Cook, turning regularly, for 3 hours or until dehydrated. Remove, place on cooling racks and then stand in a warm place until completely dry, 2–3 days. To assemble garland, use twine to string orange rounds together. Stitch through the flesh, running the needle into and behind the slice, then b rough the front. Repeat until all slices are used. Kno to secure oranges, then tie off in a loop for hanging.
104 COUNTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
“The top of my Christmas wish list is rain and happy farmers.”
CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
CHOOSE BEAUTIFUL BOWLS, PLATES AND GLASSES AS CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY!
STYLIST’S ASSISTANTS KATE LINCOLN, PALOMA MAINE, MARIA ISSA AND KIM GALBRAITH
PHOTOGRAPHY K R ISTINA SOLJO ST YL ING SA R A H M A LONEY
106 COU NTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
THE GOURMET
UNIQUE CERAMICS WILL BE TREASURED FOREVER.
ON TABLE, FROM LEFT Flax fruit bowl, $150, from Ivory House; Venetia votive, $12, from Few & Far; Keepsake by Sarah Sullivan Harvest bowl, $300, from Elph Store; Marc Newson entrĂŠe plates, $119 for four, from Noritake; Bud vase (12 x 10cm) in Blush Pink, $80, from Splendid Wren Ceramics; Alessandro Di Sarno pasta bowl, $60, from Elph Store; Maya jug, $60, from Ivory House; Farmhouse pourer, $46, from Clay Beehive; Attik stand, $25, from Ivory House; Sunday Pancakes mixing bowl, $49.95, from Robert Gordon; Freya cake stand, $59.95, and Tinsel bauble in Sage Green, $5.95, both from Provincial Home Living; porcelain bauble, $4.50, from Ivory House; Belgrade goblet, $39.95 for four, from Provincial Home Living; Cassian linen-blend fabric, $25 per metre, from Spotlight. Lucas dining table, $2950, George bench, $1550, and Piano dining chair, $850, all from Domo. ON BENCH Mira throw, $255, and Les Minis cushion, $50, both from Cultiver. Linnea pendant light, $149, from Inartisan. Flourish rug (2.4 x 3m), $1299, from West Elm. FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT Hamptons salad servers, $50, from Few and Far. BOWLS, FROM TOP Solaris coupe bowl, $7.95, from Maxwell & Williams; Dawn bowl, $14.95, from Ecology; Earth bowl, $29.95, from Robert Gordon; Hayden Youlley Paper Series pasta bowl, $48, from Elph Store; Malmo entree plates, $29.95 each, from Papaya; Gordon Ramsay Maze Grill serving bowl, $49.95, from Royal Doulton; Robust Edge bowl, $270, from Milly Dent. Antique Chinese dongbeis, $2900, from Water Tiger. Background from Ines Brenneman. For stockist details, see page 138. >
CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
THE PERFECT HOST
SET THE TABLE WITH BEAUTIFUL PIECES AND WELCOME FRIENDS FOR DINNER. FROM LEFT Tuscan Lane napkin, $55 for four, from Canvas and Sasson; Aalto vase, $299, from Iittala; Fluted deep plate, $39.95, from Royal Copenhagen; Earth dinner plate, $29.95, from Robert Gordon; Cristal D’Arques Macassar crystalline flute, $79.95 for six, from Myer; Vera Wang Duchesse crystal goblet, $149 for two, from Wedgwood; plates, as before; Water jug in Milk, $158, from Mud Australia; Ranya flatware, $59 for a place setting, from Inartisan; Tasting Hour red wineglass, $30 for two, from Noritake; plates, cutlery and napkin, all as before; Harmony prosecco glass, $59.95 for six, Krosno. Extra large Pinstripe tablecloth, $205, from Cultiver. Wall painted Lime Paint in Turnip, $120 for 4 litres, from Bauwerk Colour. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Flax napkin ring, $5, from Ivory House; Kiwano Mushroom napkin, $52 for four, from Walter G; Hessian Frilly White plate, $34, from Clay Beehive; Solaris coupe plate in Sea, $14.95, from Maxwell & Wililams; ED Ellen Degeneres 32cm platter in Taupe Stripe, $34.95, from Royal Doulton; Pinch platter, $65, from Clay Beehive; Flax Mode scoop, $30, from Ivory House; Kinnow Cutlery Occulus servers, $75, from Elph Store; Kintsugi serving plate, $49.95, from Ecology; Brass flat spoon, $18, from Provider Store; stoneware dishes, $45 for a set of three, from Splendid Wren Ceramics; Organic Painterly platter, $105, Natural Curve spoon, $18, and Petal plate, $30, all from State of Permanence. Background from Ines Brenneman. For stockist details, see page 138. >
108 COU NTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
GIFT GUIDE CHRISTMAS
THE CONNOISSEUR
ELEGANT STEMWARE AND HANDMADE CUPS ADD APPEAL. ON TABLE, CLOCKWISE FROM FAR RIGHT Speedy blown-glass carafe, $116, from Noritake; Ceylon teacup and saucer, $24.95, and Earth mini dish, $6.95, both from Robert Gordon; stoneware dish, $45 for a set of three, from Splendid Wren Ceramics; stirrer, $59 for four, from Zakkia; Breakfast board, $7.50, from Heaven in Earth; rustic hanging star, $4.50, from Ivory House; rustic Leopard Drip footed bowl, $45, from Clay Beehive; Maple honey drizzler, $6.50, from Heaven in Earth; Farmhouse Herb bowl, $42, from Clay Beehive; Bud vase (18 x 12cm) in Matt White, $120, from Splendid Wren Ceramics; Natural Textured teapot, $220, from State of Permanence; ceramic lemon juicer, $35, from Provider Store; Moro Celadon fabric (used as tablecloth), $206.25 per metre, from Walter G; Ghost Wares coffee pot, $138, from Elph Store. Vega pendant light, $99.95, from Papaya. FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT Dorset crystal Champagne coupe, $45, from Williams Sonoma; Gin Journeys Aras crystal gin goblets, $199 for two, from Waterford; Speedy blown-glass goblet, $225 for six, from Noritake; Ardan Tonn crystal flute, $99.95 for two, and Vera Wang Sequin Champagne saucer, $149 for two, both from Wedgwood; Cristal D’Arques Macassar flute, $79.95 for six, from Mye Background from Ines Brenneman. For stockist details, see page 138
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ON T HE MOVE
DUNSBOROUGH
LONG FAVOURED AS A SURFING AND HOLIDAY DESTINATION, THIS CHARMING TOWN IS A GREAT PLACE TO TO LIVE. WORDS CLAIRE MACTAGGART PHOTOGRAPHY MARNIE HAWSON ILLUSTRATION DANIELLA GERMAIN
JUST BELOW CAPE NATURALISTE , west of Geographe Bay,
the vibrant coastal town of Dunsborough in the Margaret River region of Western Australia is a favourite vacation spot for many and it’s easy to see why. The diverse beauty of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, its proximity to Margaret River wineries, fresh produce, acclaimed restaurants and hip cafés are part of the appeal, as is the lure of surf breaks at nearby Yallingup, Smiths and Injidup beaches. But it’s also that relaxed south-west vibe that entices many holidaymakers and young families to put down permanent roots in this coastal town of about 5300 people. Isaac Kara, head roaster and co-owner of Margaret River Roasting Company, says it was the lifestyle that lured him back to the region six years ago. The 33-year-old grew up in nearby Busselton, before moving away and working in FIFO mining in the Pilbara for a number of years. He also gained barista and roasting experience along the way. Isaac now lives in Dunsborough with his partner Sarah Wright, 26, and their one-year-old son Moses and travels most days to Vasse, where the coffee roastery and livemusic venue is based, about 15 minutes away.
Yallingup Beach is a popular surf spot 10 minutes from Dunsborough. FACING PAGE Isaac Kara is the head roaster at Margaret River Roasting Company. 112 COU NTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
“Dunsborough is the best town in the state with surf five minutes away and calm beaches. The culture is modern but has a country feel to it,” he says. “I love surfing and the area has amazing wineries, breweries and produce.” Southern California-born Kylie Meeks, 31, moved to Dunsborough more than eight years ago, after living and travelling around Africa for two years. Soon after her relocation to the south-west town, she established Conscious Craves, her plant-based food line, which she began selling at the Margaret River Farmers’ Markets. It is now available at her Conscious Craves café in Dunsborough. “The natural beauty of the land and ocean is what I appreciate the most,” says Kylie. “The air and ocean are clean and I feel that it’s easy to create the lifestyle you want here. The community of Dunsborough is beautiful and I have always felt strongly supported in everything I have done.” Some of her favourite places to visit are Dunsborough bay at sunrise, Injidup Beach and Meelup Beach on a full moon, as well as Sugarloaf Rock and Yallingup at sunset. > For more information about Dunsborough, visit margaretriver.com/towns/dunsborough
DUNSBOROUGH WA ON THE MOVE
Isaac Kara MARGARET RIVER ROASTING COMPANY
Isaac has lived in Dunsborough for six years and runs a coffee roastery in nearby Vasse with Craig Woods and James Tischhauser.
MEDIAN HOUSE PRICE $640,000 MEDIAN RENTAL PRICE $460 per week BY THE NUMBERS The market ranges from $300,000 to over $5,000,000 MARKET WATCH Principal of JMW Real Estate, Ben Jecks, says there is a mix of short-term holiday accommodation units through to prestigious beachside properties. Residents are mostly made up of retirees enjoying the quiet coastal location and young families creating a home and enjoyable lifestyle for their children. “The holiday market continues to expand, but the consistent increase of people wanting to make this part of the world home has underpinned the values in the area,” he says. “I believe this is founded on memories of vacations here, and there is a rise in families and retirees making the Dunsborough lifestyle their very own on a more permanent basis.”
CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT Wild Hop Brewing Company’s outdoor area; surfers at Yallingup Reef; Merchant & Maker is a community hub in Dunsborough; the view from the dining deck at Bunkers Beach House; a coffee made by Isaac Kara of Margaret River Roasting Company. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT A selection of beers at Wild Hop Brewing Company; Empire Homewares showcases a range of Australian and international designers; seasonal food is served at Yarri Restaurant and Bar; the viewing platform at Sugarloaf Rock.
THE ESSENTIALS
Dunsborough is 249 kilometres south-west of Perth via the dual carriageway Forrest Highway and 47 kilometres north of Margaret River via the Bussell Highway.
OPPORTUNITY CALLS
The major employment sectors in the region are retail, healthcare and social assistance, construction, manufacturing, education, and accommodation and food services.
DUNSBOROUGH WA ON THE MOVE
REASONS TO VISIT HEIDI EMMA ART WORKSHOP
Explore your creativity with all the materials supplied plus a glass of wine and a grazing board. heidiemma.com.au SCULPTURE BY THE BAY Visit the Dunsborough foreshore during the March long weekend to enjoy a display of outdoor sculptural works with a view. sculpturebythebay.com.au WHALE WATCHING An estimated 35,000 whales migrate between June and December. Join a charter boat tour or head to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse lookout or Geographe Bay for a great vantage point.
WINERIES AND BREWERIES
Visit some of the 100 cellar doors and brewers in the region such as Aravina Estate, aravinaestate.com, Hay Shed Hill, hayshedhill.com.au, Wills Domain, willsdomain.com.au, Wild Hop Brewing Company, wildhopbeer.com.au, and Beer Farm, beerfarm.com.au
REASONS TO STAY
BEACHES Whether it’s the calm waters
of Geographe Bay or nearby Yallingup Beach (one of Western Australia’s most revered surf spots) there are plenty of places to cool off. margaretriver.com/ attractions/beaches NATURAL WONDER Local attractions include Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Meelup Regional Park and Ngilgi Cave. The Busselton-Augusta region is recognised in the top 10 biodiversity hotspots in Australia with more than 2500 species of wildflowers. parks. dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/leeuwinnaturaliste; meeluppark.com WALKING TRAILS The region has many trails including the popular Cape to Cape Track — a 123-kilometre walk from Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse with amazing views of the coastline, woodland and Boranup Karri Forest. trailswa.com.au/ trails/cape-to-cape-track >
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EAT
BARNYARD 1978 This restaurant,
CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE Bunkers Beach House opens for breakfast and lunch; the Empire Retreat and Spa; Yarri Restaurant and Bar. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Kylie Meeks, owner of Conscious Craves cafĂŠ; Merchant & Maker is a one-stop shop; WA Surf Gallery at Aravina Estate; a dish at Bunkers Beach House; Sugarloaf Rock.
cellar door and honey store provides a link between landscape, nature and ecological sustainability. 12 Canal Rocks Road, Yallingup, (08) 9755 2548, barnyard1978.com.au BUNKERS BEACH HOUSE Seasonal food combined with uninterrupted views of Bunkers Bay. Farm Break Lane, Bunker Bay, Naturaliste, (08) 9756 8264, bunkersbeachhouse.com.au LITTLE FISH Enjoy a meal by a lake in the Gunyulgup Valley. 1/4 Koorabin Drive, corner of Gunyulgup Drive, Yallingup, (08) 9755 2455, littlefish.net.au MERCHANT & MAKER A general store with artisan goods, groceries, gifts, coffee, hampers and gourmet food. 35 Dunn Bay Road, Dunsborough, 0498 090 959, merchantandmaker.com.au
YARRI RESTAURANT AND BAR
Casual yet elegant dining spot with a menu showcasing Western Australian ingredients. Cyrillean Way, Dunsborough, (08) 9786 5030, yarri.com.au
SHOP
BEACH LIFESTYLE LIVING
A store with homewares, fashion and furniture. Shop 1, Dunsborough Village Shopping Centre, Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsborough, (08) 9756 8878, beachlifestyleliving.com EMPIRE HOMEWARES Stocks modern homewares, including those by a range of Australian designers. 58 Dunn Bay Road, (08) 9755 3501, empirehomewares.com.au
MILC A curated collection of
Australian and international fashion brands. Shop 2, Dunsborough Village Shopping Centre, Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsbourgh, (08) 9759 1186, milchomewares.com ONE PALM STUDIO Offers a large range of luxury fashion, accessories, jewellery and footwear. 35 Dunn Bay Road, Dunsborough, (08) 9755 3044, onepalmstudio.com
STAY
EMPIRE RETREAT AND SPA Unwind
and rejuvenate with a choice of 11 luxury suites and an atrium-style dining room that overlooks the vineyard. 1958 Caves Road, Yallingup, (08) 9755 2065, empireretreat.com INJIDUP SPA RETREAT Guests can enjoy a private plunge pool in each of the luxurious villas that overlook the Indian Ocean. 31 Cape Clairault Road, Yallingup, (08) 9750 1300, injidupsparetreat.com.au
PULLMAN BUNKER BAY RESORT This five-star luxury retreat, tucked in to Bunker Bay, offers a range of accommodation options with access to the beach. 42 Bunker Bay Road, Naturaliste, (08) 9756 9100, pullmanbunkerbayresort.com.au
YALLINGUP LUXURY RETREAT
Enjoy a break in one of five secluded villas and have your own private chef prepare you a meal. 29 Marrinu Drive, Yallingup, 0400 975 123, yallingupluxuryretreat.com.au
DUNSBOROUGH WA ON THE MOVE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Kylie Meeks
CONSCIOUS CRAVES CAFÉ
Kylie has lived in Dunsborough for more than eight years.
Dunsborough has a comprehensive range of education, health and community services. The greater Busselton area has eight primary schools (five public and three private), five secondary schools (two public and three private K–12). Just 22 kilometres away is the new $120 million Busselton Health Campus, which offers services such as birthing suites, an emergency department, a dental clinic and two operating theatres. CQ University has a Busselton Study Centre. For more information, go to dunsboroughprogress.com.au; dycci.com.au
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SHOP BEYOND THE BIG SMOKE
FROM WALGETT TO DARWIN, HERE’S OUR PICK OF SOME GREAT REGIONAL STORES, AND DON’T FORGET ONLINE SHOPPING. WOR DS ABBY PFAHL
SHOPPING GUIDE REGIONAL LEFT Handcrafted Wonki Ware embossed ceramics for the table from Amara Home in Berry, NSW. FACING PAGE The ivy-covered facade of Amara Home charms visitors from the outset.
homemade poppyseed dressing by local Di Ridge and reusable coffee cups from Huskee. Follow @stonesthrowwalgett on Instagram to see all the new arrivals. While you’re in town, check out newly opened Petals and Seeds Store around the corner, for fresh flowers and juices. 58 Fox Street, Walgett, (02) 6828 3359.
NORTHERN TERRITORY Lulu & Daw
PHOTOGRAPHY ANJIE BLAIR, CHRIS McCONVILLE, STUDIO 23 PHOTOGRAPHY, DANNY WOOTTON
NEW SOUTH WALES Amara Home
The facade of Amara Home in the quaint village of Berry on the NSW South Coast is like something from a fairytale. It’s covered in creeping ivy that shrouds the blacksmith and farrier sign from days gone by. Inside you’ll find a dreamy selection of interiors and high-end fashion in neutral colours. One-off furniture and decorative pieces, sourced from as far as Africa, India and Morocco, sit comfortably among luxury clothing and accessories by Celine, Anine Bing, Jac and Jack, Lucy Folk, and Bemboka. Be sure to seek out knives by Poglia, The Laundress’ genius collaboration with Le Labo and Jérôme Dreyfuss’s buttery soft leather bags — for all of the latest finds in this treasure-trove of a store, follow @amara_home on Instagram. 83 Queen Street, Berry, (02) 4464 2910
Stone’s Throw
There’s a mass of greenery at the entrance to Stone’s Throw on Walgett’s main street, hanging from planters and wheeled onto the pavement in vintage European market carts. The café and shop, owned by Katie Murray and her husband Jay, has been credited with keeping community spirits up in the drought-affected area. With its huge bi-fold windows and brilliant sage-green subway tiles, it’s little wonder locals and visitors flock to the old bank building to catch up, enjoy great coffee and browse Katie’s thoughtful collection of homewares and gifts. There are gourmet pantry items, kitchen and garden accessories, fun tea towels, aprons and calendars by Red Tractor Designs, plus plenty of items to help beat the heat — insulated drink bottles and wine glasses by Corkcicle are ever popular, as is the newly published book by local author Cathie Colless. We love famous
The Star Village Arcade was once home to Darwin’s first cinema. Now, walk the breezy courtyard under the shade of the frangipani tree to find a collection of boutiques, including clothing and accessories hotspot, Lulu & Daw. Each season, owners Susan Forrest and Emily Hardy hand-pick a unique selection of predominantly Australian pieces, with a focus on quality, natural fibres and affordability. The store’s loyal customers love brands like Magpie Goose, Shona Joy, Elka Collective and Auguste The Label, plus a great range of earrings by Middle Child, Annabelle Hardie and Eb & Ive. Warm, honest styling advice from Suse and Emily has locals returning year-round and travellers frequenting the shop in the dry season from May to October. You can buy online, too. Shop 5, Star Village Arcade, 32 Smith Street Mall, Darwin, 0477 691 820, luluanddaw.com
QUEENSLAND Otilly & Lewis
Helen Allison’s passion for travel and interior design inspired her to open a homewares store more than 25 years ago. A decorator’s delight, the shop is named after her twin grandchildren. Regular buying trips across the globe mean shoppers on the Sunshine Coast are treated to Helen’s sophisticated European style. Among her collection you’ll find Caravane French linen and silk bedding, Antoinette Poisson’s stunning wallpapers and textiles, plus Henry Beguelin’s Milanese-made leather bags. Stock up on Cire Trudon candles and Mud Australia ceramics while you’re in store and follow >
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CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE Yield Restaurant and Providore; Grace Shennan, Zoe Howard and Emma Wadley of Acreage; Society of Wanderers cushion at Inky & Moss; Wood You Spoon Me spoon at Yield; The Cottage Herbalist tea at Manteau Noir; Posie candle at Acreage; Society of Wanderers quilt; bowls at Style & Leaf Co. FACING PAGE ciety of ers table linen.
@otillyandlewis on Instagram for locally made furniture. Shop 4, 8 Grebe Street, Peregian Beach, (07) 5448 1524, otillyandlewis.com.au
Inky & Moss Lovers of colour, this one’s for you! Inky & Moss is your one-stop shop for all things bright and beautiful this season, be it homewares or fashion. Owner Chrissy Chandler has a keen eye for bold fabrics and on-trend prints. Her curation of women’s clothing has a large following for a small boutique — sundresses by brands such as Bruno, Alessandra and Binny walk out the door. Tablecloths by Society of Wanderers, glass vases by Marmoset Found, Kollab picnic mats and Marimekko napkins are Chrissy’s top picks for entertaining this season. Not visiting outback Queensland anytime soon? You can shop online. 54 Wyndham Street, Roma, (07) 4622 3455, inkymoss.com.au
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TASMANIA Acreage Four years ago, creative duo Zoe and Jason Howard left inner-city Melbourne for a tree change in Tasmania. The pair purchased a small sheep farm and now also run Acreage, alongside a graphic design and marketing studio, in Launceston. With a clever mix of country hospitality and chic, design-focused homewares, Acreage combines a café offering everything from salads to delicious pastries, a florist and gift shop in one. Don’t miss gorgeous hand-poured Posie candles, a careful curation of lifestyle books, plus new statement table linens and ceramics by Canvas and Sasson that are Zoe’s latest loves. Be sure to browse through the fun selection of greeting cards, too. “We don’t believe in dull cards,” Zoe says. Seasoned customers know to choose their flowers, then sit down to a truffle cheese toastie — yes please!
29 Kingsway, Launceston, (03) 6334 0824, acreagetasmania.com.au, instagram.com/acreagetasmania
VICTORIA Black Salt Co. Based near Victoria’s infamous surf beaches, this unique showroom is decked out with one-of-a-kind homewares and furniture, boasting cool coastal-luxe style with a tribal edge. Mother-daughter pair Amber and Jenny Foster design their pieces in-house, then travel the world (often with family in tow!) to work alongside their skilled artisans. Handmade cabinets, buffets, bookshelves, mirrors and bedheads all prove hugely popular. We love the woven palm leaf wall hangings, rattan pendant lights and brass hooks for an instant hint of the tropics at home. Amber and Jenny have, of course, mastered the art of summer entertaining, with their ethos of sustainability shining through
SHOPPING GUIDE REGIONAL
— they tell us “on a balmy night, we love setting up for dinner down by the ocean with our rattan beach chairs, reusable coconut bowls, palm spoons and bamboo straws.” Black Salt Co. is predominantly an online business — follow @blacksaltco on Instagram. The showroom is open by appointment. 2/5 Haystacks Drive, Torquay (by appointment only), blacksaltco.com
Yield As if the town of Birregurra wasn’t charming enough, husband-and-wife team Simon and Kara Stewart opened Yield Restaurant and Providore in the
If you love bold colours, in both homewares and fashion, then Inky & Moss in Roma is your one-stop shop.
spring of 2018. Walk inside the provisions store and step back in time — the space is lined with vintage scales, biscuit tins and a butter churn, Fowler jars filled with preserved fruits and dried garlic flowers. The shop sells an artful selection of local produce and gourmet goods, many of which are used in chef Simon’s adjoining restaurant. Stand-outs include The Great Ocean Road’s Apostle Whey Cheese, The Farming Mums preserves and oil from Birregurra Estate Olives. Browse non-edible gifts, too, like handcrafted ceramics, botanical soaps and Apollo Bay’s beautiful Wood You Spoon Me
hand-carved spoons. Plan a visit to fill your pantry or picnic basket, ideally, in the mornings from Friday to Monday, when Simon sells his spelt sourdough fresh from the oven. 43 Main Street, Birregurra, (03) 5236 2611, yieldbirregurra.com.au
Manteau Noir Daylesford is a much-loved fine food, wine and shopping destination. A particularly special offering, Manteau Noir was opened in 2014 by Victoria Varrasso, designer of the store’s eponymous range of linen clothing and handmade Italian shoes. Victoria describes the shop’s interior as being “cloaked in a deep moody indigo that highlights the beautiful French antique fixtures and meticulous visual merchandising,” thanks to its refurbishment in collaboration with interior designer Carole Whiting. “Visitors comment that inside is dreamlike, another universe, a sensory treasure-trove,” says Victoria. Some of the objects to discover include niche perfumes, printed cushions by artist Anita Mertzlin, locally blended teas by The Cottage Herbalist and clothing by cult Japanese label Ichi Antiquités. Shop 1/27 Vincent Street, Daylesford, (03) 5348 1902, manteaunoir.com.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Style & Leaf Co. This smart homewares and gift shop brings its modern Scandi style to the town of Katanning. With an impressive range of Australian and international design products, owners Lisa Thompson and Jenna Green are passionate about what they put on the shelves. Neat merchandising means a visit to the Clive Street store is a pleasure — there’s everything from kids’ Tiger Tribe activity sets and the ever-popular Jones & Co ceramic face vases to sumptuous Salus skincare. Our pick for summer soirées? Must-have Menu salt and pepper mills. It’s no surprise that there’s also some interior design expertise at play here — you can book a consultation and shop online. 145 Clive Street, Katanning, 0417 184 185, styleandleafco.com.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ENTREPRENEUR FLISS BROPHY SHARES THE FASHION INSTINCTS THAT MAKE HER THE MOST STYLISH ‘BAG LADY’ AROUND. PHOTOGRAPHY M A R NIE H AWSON ST YLING JO CA R MICH A EL
FLISS BROPH Y FASHION Fliss outside her studio on her cattle property on the south-west coast of Western Australia. Fliss’s dress is by Bird & Kite. Shoes are a prototype for Bahru. Earrings are Kor by Lisa Gardner. The wreath, made from gum leaves and native foliage, is by local florist Cherise Woodhams of De La Terre. Fliss and Cherise are holding a wreath making workshop on December 7th. To book, visit bahru.com.au FACING PAGE Fliss in her garden. For stockist details, see page 138.
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FASHION FLISS BROPH Y Fliss with Mozzie the Jack Russell, and a resident hen. After living overseas for several years, Fliss relishes life back on the family farm. BELOW LEFT Crisp linen and foliage on the dining table. BELOW RIGHT Lucy, Jack and Fred in the hay shed.
FLISS BROPHY ACCESSORIES DESIGNER AND MUM OF THREE , 4 3
Since returning to her family’s property in south-west Western Australia six years ago, Fliss Brophy juggles raising three kids with her fashion business Bahru. Where do you live? I live on our beef farm with my husband and our three kids. There are three houses on the property, my parents’ homestead where I grew up (and where they still live), our house, which was my grandparents’s, and a worker’s cottage. What do you love most about living on the farm? The connection with nature, open space and the proximity to the beach. It’s an unbeatable place to raise our kids. How would you describe your style? I live in jeans, a shirt and trainers when I’m not in work boots. What guides your fashion choices? I like to keep things simple with natural fabrics like cotton, linen and wool. Who most influences your style? My mum — she always looks gorgeous even in her work clothes. What’s the best style advice you’ve ever received? Wear what you feel comfortable in. What are your favourite clothing labels? Nobody Denim for jeans, Catherine Murphy cotton shirts, Armor Lux for striped tees and Spring Court trainers. I also love Seaside Tones and Bird & Kite dresses. Where do you shop for clothing and homewares? Darling & Domain in Mosman Park, Life & Soul Boutique, Emporium of Eshe in Bunbury and Stackwood and Staple Store in Fremantle. I also love Milc for clothes and Empire Homewares, both in Dunsborough. What are you reading or listening to? I’m reading Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko and getting endless inspiration from The House and Garden at Glenmore by Mickey Robertson. I’m also listening to podcasts such as Chat 10 Looks 3 and The High Low. What are your tips for choosing the perfect bag? Firstly, think about what you’ll be using the bag for. Is it just for everyday things or is it for carrying kid’s items or a laptop and files for work? Secondly, think about how you want to wear it and finally, think about what you’ll wear it with. What features are important? All Bahru bags come in a range of sizes and colours and have light chambray lining so you can see inside. There are zips and slip pockets to keep your things organised and straps that can be adjusted for ultimate comfort and styling. Do you have a signature perfume? Melis natural perfume in Amandi is my current favourite. What is your favourite make-up brand? I don’t wear much make-up, but for everyday skincare I like We Are Feel Good Inc. sunscreen and Rohr Remedy products. What do you never leave home without? My Bahru Mini Florence in French Navy, lip balm and the kids. Take a look inside Fliss’s beautiful home on page 48. For more information, visit bahru.com.au
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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Fliss and her family live on the edge of Geographe Bay — sand dunes and the beach lie beyond the treeline; Fliss and Dave Brophy with children (left to right) Fred, 10, Jack, 11, and Lucy, eight; mother and daughter; the Brophy’s weatherboard cottage; the festive table features lovely organic ceramics by Winterwares with gift wrapping and cards by Alana Bezant of She Eats Paper; Fliss off to feed the chooks. For stockist details, see page 138.
FASHION FLISS BROPH Y Fliss at work in the Bahru studio, housed in the converted old stone stables. Hanging from the coat rack is a Singapore bag by Bahru, on the workbench are Paris bags in Army and Caramel. The artwork is by Thomas Tjapaljarri from Papunya Tula. For stockist details, see page 138.
Fliss chooses comfortable pieces made from natural fibres when she’s doing chores on the farm.
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style and substance
FLISS CHOOSES EASY ELEGANCE WHEN IT COMES TO DRESSING FOR THE FARM. 1 Aurellia dress in Sage, $239, from Bird & Kite. 2 Flax water jug in Duck Egg Blue, $54, from Darling & Domain. 3 Coco Milk moisturiser, $24.95, from We Are Feel Good Inc. 4A Amandi perfume, $59.95, from Melis. 5 Bessette Slim Illuminate jeans, $229, from Nobody Denim. 6 Paris bag in Blush, $280, from Bahru. 7 Krystle Knight Spirit Light bra acelet, $89, from Milc Homewares. 8 Chat 10 Looks 3 podcast with Leigh Sales and An nnabel Crabb, from iTunes. 9 The House and Garden at Glenmore book by Mickey Robertson published by Murdoch Books, $65, from Booktopia. 10 G2S 1001 Classic Canvas shoes, $135, from Spring Court. 11 Armor Lux Heritage long sleeve T-shirt in Navy, $100 0, from Irving & Powell. 12 Liberty pants, $79.99, from Black Pepper. 13 Lilly pilly and o omega 3 moisturiser, $35, from Rohr Remedy. For stockist details, see page 138.
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BEAUTY
M OS T WA NTE D
WHEN IT COMES to legendary beauty
brands, an inspiring behind-thescenes story can make the products themselves all the more alluring. Take La Mer’s Crème de la Mer moisturiser ($455 for 60ml), which has a devoted following and an intriguing history. In the 1950s, Dr Max Huber, an aerospace physicist, suffered burns to his face after an explosion in the lab. After 12 years of rigorous experimentation, Huber produced a ‘miracle broth’ made from fermented kelp which, legend has it, erased all evidence of the accident. Such was Huber’s belief in the rejuvenating powers of his broth, he reportedly ate it by the spoonful as well applying it to his skin. After Huber’s death in 1991, Estée Lauder snapped up the formula and made La Mer a billion-dollar brand. Price can play a role in building a cult brand. Look at La Mer’s competitor, the recently ‘remastered’ La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream. At $690 for 50ml, it’s an investment. But products with budget price tags aren’t excluded from the cult-product club. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Night ($48.99 for 50g) sells like hotcakes — 17 jars every minute — precisely because it feels incredibly luxe yet is very affordable. Same goes for Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream Skin Protectant ($28 for 50ml). For more than 75 years, the multipurpose balm has been a bestseller, with one tube still flying off shelves every minute. According to Mark Curry, co-founder of the much-hyped skincare newbie The Inkey List, price is not the defining factor. “To achieve cult status, brands and products must excel in every aspect, not just price,” says Mark. The Inkey List’s Caffeine Under-Eye Serum ($18 for 15ml) is sold every 80 seconds, a staggering figure given the brand is just six months old. “There has to be an ingredient, texture or formulation that keeps people coming back for more,” adds Mark.
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Ground-breaking technology also draws customers in droves. Bioderma Sensibio H2O micelle solution ($29.99 for 250ml), the first no-rinse cleanser, is sold every two seconds somewhere in the world. The ceramic technology in GHD’s Gold Professional Hair Styler ($280) revolutionised home hair straightening, while the Beauty Blender cosmetic sponge ($30) helps you apply foundation flawlessly without any tricky brush techniques. Then there’s the award-winning Oribe Texturising Spray ($66 for 300ml). Still in a hair category unto itself, it has the
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Night; La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream; Avène Eau Thermale; Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm; The Inkey List Caffeine Under-Eye Serum; Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick; La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream; Bioderma Sensibio H2O. For stockist details, see page 138.
volumising grit of dry shampoo and the glossy finish of a shine enhancer. As far as brand stories go, it’s hard to resist the fairytale charm of the top-selling Avène Eau Thermale spray ($25.95 for 300ml). It originates from a postcard-perfect village in the south of France. The story began in 1736, when the local water was attributed to healing a nobleman’s horse suffering from a skin condition. The product has since made skincare history, with one of these facial spritzes selling every second. Legions of make-up artists use it both to prep skin and set a look. Look through any make-up pro’s kit and you’re likely to find a few more cult favourites. Among them are MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo ($36), a velvety cherry red loved for its matt finish; Clinique’s Almost Lipstick SPF 15 in Black Honey ($39), a gloss/lipstick hybrid with a plum-like hue that looks flattering on any skin tone; and Lancôme’s Grandiose mascara ($54), an enduring favourite for its signature swan neck that makes applying the ultra-glossy long-wear formula a cinch. Dermalogica Microfoliant ($80 for 75g), Revlon ColorStay foundation ($34.95 for 30ml), and Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick luminiser ($78 for 10g) can be regularly found in bathrooms around the country. And, if the stats are anything to go by, most handbags have at some point harboured a Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm ($6.99) — one is sold every second across the globe. While all of these cult products have taken years, even decades, to build a devoted following, The Inkey List has proven that it’s now possible to create a zealously dedicated global fanbase in the space of a few months. “To reach cult status, you have to be amazingly good at the obvious and be curiously intriguing at the unobvious,” says Mark, who hints that social media and direct customer engagement play a key role. “It also doesn’t hurt if it looks terrific in a photo.”
PHOTOGRAPHY PRUE RUSCOE STYLING LARA HUTTON
CULT BEAUTY PRODUCTS ARE MUST-HAVES FOR A REASON, WRITES JULIETTE WINTER.
“There has to be an ingredient, texture or formulation that keeps people coming back for more.�
COLLECTABLES
MUSEUM PIECES
DISCOVER UNUSUAL PIECES FOUND IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS OF GALLERIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. STICK FURNITURE IS ANCIENT and examples can be found
in many different cultures. In Australia, the tradition was strongest in northern Tasmania in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Craftsmen — including Jimmy ‘Possum’ (so-called because he lived in the bush, perhaps in a hollow tree), Mick Cook, Lennie Longford, and members of the Larcombe family — mostly lived in and around Deloraine. They made chairs for their own use and to sell, supplementing their income as timber workers and farmers. Locals with long memories tell tales of Jimmy Possum bringing a chair into town to sell for a few shillings as late as the 1930s. Several members of the Larcombe family made furniture for use on their farms. The chair below, made by George in about 1900, is an outstanding example. George’s chair has the back legs passing through the slab of the seat and forming supports for the arms of the chair. This construction technique found in Irish stick furniture is used by several of the Tasmanian chairmakers and suggests their Irish origin. Individual characteristics can sometimes help identify a maker. Chairs made by the Larcombes usually have slats instead of spindles for the back supports. The chairs were made from slabs of blackwood for the seat, with other native hardwoods, including eucalypt and tea tree, used for legs and arms. These robust, hard-wearing timbers were good for making stick furniture as craftsmen relied on pegs rather than nails, screws and joints in their construction. Chairs were often painted and used on verandahs. This armchair was donated to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery by Mark Lewis, the great grandson of George Larcombe. Like many similar examples of stick furniture it has been treasured by the descendants of the maker. Tasmanian stick chairs are rarely offered for sale. They are tru ue museum pieces. Tasmanian Museum m and Art Gallery Dunn Place, Hobartt, Tasmania tmag.tas.gov.au
George Larcombe, Armchair, c.1900 Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart.
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$50
$10 0
COLLECTABLES JOHN McPHEE EVALUATES READERS’ PRIZED OBJECTS AND CURIOS. THIS LITTLE CHINA lady was part of my great-grandmother and grandmother’s collection and is a mystery to me. Could you identify her? Also, what type of glue should I use to reattach the counterweight to the head? Kylie Edwards, Rosebery, NSW These amusing ceramic figures with nodding heads have their origin in Asia, especially China, with some made as early as the 18th century. They were copied by many European potteries, including the famous Meissen factory. Your elegant woman wearing a kimono and playing a traditional Japanese string instrument was probably made in Germany or Austria. Her white hair assures us she was not made in Japan. You asked about repairing the broken weight, I suggest you remove as much of the old glue as you can and then use PVA glue.
I WAS HOPING you could tell me more about this tea set that has been handed down through my family. Brian Meleng, Campbelltown, NSW The Staffordshire pottery James Sadler and Son was established in 1882 and specialised in teapots. By about 1900 the firm was well-known for its Brown Betty teapots, produced in thousands. The barrel-shaped teapot with accompanying sugar bowl and cream jug was introduced in the 1930s and the coloured transfer decoration embellished with some gilding proved very popular. The image on your tea set is known as the thatched cottage and was probably the most popular decoration. Like others with groups of people in 18th-century dress, the imagery was a form of escapism during the Great Depression and the years leading into World War II. The firm closed in 2000. A similar tea set is in the Hokonui Pioneer Village and Museum in New Zealand. John McPhee is an art historian who has worked in art museums for 30 years and was curator of Australian Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Australia. If you have a precious (or simply mysterious) object that puzzles you, send your inquiry, along with a colour print or high-resolution digital image, your suburb or town, and your daytime telephone number, to austcountrystyle@bauer-media.com.au. The photographs must be clear and show the whole object against a white background. Photographs will not be returned, even if they are not published.
BOOK CLUB DESIGN, HORSES, TRAVEL, CRIME, POLITICS, FICTION, FACTUALS… HERE IS OUR ROUND-UP OF THE YEAR’S BEST BOOKS, PLUS THE BEST OF THE NEW RELEASES. REVIEWS ANNABEL LAWSON
Mary Moody, Simon & Schuster, $35 Mary Moody wrote six mini-features for our very first diary, under the rubric Troubleshooting in the Garden . They inspired Kevin Lane to produce characteristically witty paintings. One of them hangs on my wall. A yew tree shaped into a muscular Adonis is visible behind a voluptuous middleaged lady brandishing shears. Two intriguing memoirs, Au Revoir and Last Tango in Toulouse, told of Mary’s adventures in France and after. A lover. A break-up. A forgiving husband. You have to respect a lady who, to salve her grief when her trusty husband died, drank two bottles of wine a day, then bounced back to normal levels of consumption unscathed. Now that the opioid crisis has shown where medical solutions can lead, alcohol and chocolate seem less depraved. Visits to Vancouver, Cannes, the Himalayas and Bali show us Mary as a good Samaritan. Helping with other people’s problems eases grief — up to a point. She once again lives in the Blue Mountains with her family. I’m not going to spoil the surprise but by the end of the book Mary’s got options. I feel confident that there’s another book in this endearing saga.
MAYBE THE HORSE WILL TALK Elliott Perlman, Vintage, $32.99 Perlman is best known for his holocaust novel The Street Sweeper, published in 2011, which won him world fame. His fifth novel, a bittersweet comedy, features a fictional Melbourne corporate law practice. Stephen Maserov has a job that he hates. He’s been kicked out of the
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family home for working too hard and now he’s working harder than ever to support his disenchanted wife and two adorable sons. Escape from his terrifying and terrified overlords beckons in the shape of secondment to a fearlessly fraudulent yet nonetheless likable client. I can testify to the fact that a career that started with a private office and clerical support plus drivers can end with a ‘hot’ desk (no one owns it) and elbow-to-elbow jostling for access to equipment. Over the past two decades treatment of office staff has deteriorated. Maserov’s case survival depends on his ability to make sexual harassment charges go away. There are tender moments but outrageous humour is on almost every page. The thump and wriggle of those glorious Restoration comedies (Congreve, Vanbrugh, Wycherley, Farquhar) returns after 350 years.
PARIS AND OTHER DISAPPOINTMENTS Adam Rozenbachs, Penguin Viking, $34.99 Adam took his father, Tom, to Munich, Berlin, Paris and England for three weeks. His father was born in Germany and migrated here as a young child. He’s a crusty old so-and-so but Adam, with a couple of weeks free between comedy bookings, wants to give him a treat so off they go. Turns out that Bamberg, where Tom thought he was born, knows naught of him nor his ancestors. Munich’s quite jolly, cousins welcome them and Dad suddenly, from recesses of his memory, spouts passable German. Berlin is where Dad shows his limitations. The encounter with the mattress in Paris isn’t pretty. In fact — as far as these two are concerned — Paris sucks from A to Z. Once they’re in London the beer is good and the sausages understated. They
upgrade to business class on the way back and Dad declares it’s worth every penny. Well done Adam. You, finally, did something right.
JOE COUNTRY Mike Herron, John Murray Press, $32.99 At Slough House, MI5’s failed spies, condemned to clerical duties, live out their days in shared ignominy and on frozen salaries. As though vermin and non-functioning heat and light systems were not enough, their boss is the unspeakable Jackson Lamb. In each successive novel in this hilarious series we lose one or two agents whom Herron has caused us to care about. As ever, Di Taverner is Desk One back at Regent’s Park, MI5 headquarters. She makes Prison Warder Ferguson (see below) look benign. The streets and louche cafes around Aldersgate spring to life. This is England at, possibly, its unfinest hour. Irresistible.
THE GLOVES ARE OFF Maggie Kirkpatrick, New Holland, $32.99 Kirkpatrick’s warts-and-all autobiography exposes the mixed blessing of career success when the character you’re famous for is Joan Ferguson, in the television series Prisoner and Wentworth. The current reworking of the earlier series, can go further than 1980s television taboos would allow, but Maggie’s portrayal of Ferguson, the evil prison warder, broke new ground. Two decades later, Ferguson’s reputation came back to bite her creator. Maggie was convicted of sexual assault. An appeal found her innocent. The comedy role of Madame Morrible in Wicked came as blessed distraction. Little did we know, however, that for several months Maggie was doubled up with pain
photography nic gossage styling sophie wilson Vase and Bowl, Both from Papaya. Decoration from Provincial Home Living. For stockist details, see page 138.
THE ACCIDENTAL TOUR GUIDE
BOOKS
in the wings, floated on to play her scene and then, offstage, crumpled back into abject agony. Any actor will tell you how that magic works, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could bottle it? Her taste in men she says, credibly, is bad. Her roles, however, are memorable. It’s a surprising story, well told; acting is indeed a bareknuckles business. Not for softies.
AUSTRALIAN DESIGNERS AT HOME Jenny Rose-Innes, Thames & Hudson, $59.95 “Sanctuary, comfort, privacy and soft attractive surroundings” is how Cornelius Horgan defines what ‘home’ means to him. He honed his expertise as PA for the legendary Leslie Walford in the 1970s. (Walford was a good friend to Country Style in the early days and pointed us in the direction of some wonderfully creative country chatelaines.) So what is this book? Thames & Hudson commissioned Rose-Innes to visit 20 designers in their homes, to photograph how they lived away from their studios and to talk about principles, achievements, and life in general. The result is a treasure that I would probably grab if my home was on fire. It is deliriously inspiring. There’s a ditzy little Q&A at the back of each interview. Blankets or doonas? (most vote for blankets), cooking skills? (most say ‘no’), favourite candle? (Dyptique Figuier rules, okay?). Read no more than three a day otherwise you’ll become dizzy with yearning. Ask yourself which home would you be happy in and why? If you’ve been too timid up to now, maybe you’ll go for the house of Christian Lyon, which is way, way, way over the top — “the fireside wall is of backlit white onyx”. Blainey North’s bedroom has tasselled lampshades that tremble in air currents and make the light on the walls look like the bottom of the ocean. (I want a wall with a luminous projected forest of silver birch in winter.) If the hurly-burly’s getting to you, you’ll pick Michael Love’s cool calm Sydney house
solemnised with antiquities. Love’s indigo cashmere walls and plentiful orchids have a sedative effect. “What about children and dogs with muddy paws?” may be the first thought that crosses your mind. Linda Kerry, Heidi Bowman and Lisa Burdus have no problems. Beauty and practicality go hand in hand. There’s something here for everyone.
BEST OF 2019 FICTION BRUNY Heather Rose, Allen & Unwin, $32.99 Brilliant farce about China’s bid to buy Tasmania. COMEDY THE GODMOTHER Hannelore Cayre, Black Inc, $27.99 Hardworking, financially challenged court translator in Paris forces herself to commit the perfect crime. COOKERY MIDNIGHT CHICKEN Ella Risbridger, Bloomsbury, $39.99 Oodles of personal stories fill the pages but the food is genuinely terrific. AUTOBIOGRAPHY BECOMING Michelle Obama, Viking, $49.99 The most wonderful First Lady in living memory.
BIOGRAPHY GULPILIL Derek Rielly, Pan Macmillan, $29.99 Full of surprises, hilarity and pain. The legendary dancer/actor in decline. HISTORY OPERATION BABYLIFT Ian W Shaw, Hachette, $32.99 Six hundred newborns were flown out of Saigon in boxes as the Vietcong advanced. Australia should be proud. CURRENT AFFAIRS THE NEW SILK ROADS: THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD Peter Frankopan, Bloomsbury, $27.99 Give yourself the cold shivers: this all happened while our media were caught up with affairs closer to home. TRAVEL BACKYARD TO BACKPACK Evie Farrell, Murdoch Books, $32.99 She sells up, quits a top job and takes a six year old on a two-and-half-year tour of the hotspots of the world. SCIENCE ON EATING MEAT Matthew Evans, Murdoch Books, $32.99 A balanced view, pacy, jolting and occasionally funny. CRIME JOE COUNTRY Mike Herron, John Murray Press, $32.9 Great series. See review on facing page.
YO U R 2 0 2 0 Q U E E N S L A N D JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
BRISBANE
GOLD COAST
BRISBANE
- Curiocity Brisbane • WOW Australia
- Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival
- Scenic Rim Eat Local Week GOLD COAST - Cooly Rocks On SUNSHINE COAST - Holden Women’s State of Origin
Paul Blackmore / Heat 3 (from ‘Heat’ series) (detail) 2018, printed 2019 / Courtesy: The artist
BRISBANE Brisbane International GOLD COAST
BRISBANE Water at GOMA GOLD COAST
BRISBANE CMC Rocks QLD BRISBANE
- Sand Safari Arts Festival - Queensland Ballet - The Star Gold Coast presents Shanghai Magic Millions Carnival GLADSTONE Ballet: The Lady of the Camellias - Pacific Fair Magic - Agnes Blues, Roots Millions Polo & Rock Festival SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND THE WHITSUNDAYS SUNSHINE COAST COUNTRY - Whitsunday Clipper - Noosa Festival of - Stanthorpe Apple & Race Carnival Surfing Grape Harvest Festival
GOLD COAST
BRISBANE
BRISBANE
- Groundwater Country Music Festival
- Ekka (The Royal Queensland Show) - Quandamooka Festival
- Brisbane Festival
MACKAY - Mackay Festival of Arts TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair
BRISBANE Brisbane Cycling Festival GOLD COAST
THE WHITSUNDAYS
- Gold Coast Film Festival - Hilly Half Marathon OUTBACK QUEENSLAND - Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival
TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND - Port Douglas Carnivale
OUTBACK QUEENSLAND Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival
BRISBANE - Queensland Ballet’s The Nutcracker - Woodford Folk Festival
GOLD COAST - SWELL Sculpture Festival
TOWNSVILLE NORTH QUEENSLAND - Australian Festival of Chamber Music GOLD COAST Vodafone Gold Coast 600 SUNSHINE COAST
TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Laura Quinkan Dance Festival
SUNSHINE COAST Noosa Eat & Drink Festival
THE WHITSUNDAYS Hamilton Island Race Week
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND COUNTRY Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers OUTBACK QUEENSLAND - Birdsville Races
- Caloundra Music Festival - Noosa Triathlon Multisport Festival TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND - Port Shorts Film Festival - Yarrabah Music & Culture Festival
BRISBANE The Ring Cycle THE WHITSUNDAYS - Airlie Beach Festival of Music - Hamilton Island Triathlon - Whitehaven Beach Ocean Swim TOWNSVILLE NORTH QUEENSLAND
CAPRICORN One Hot Night GOLD COAST - Australian PGA Championship
- PBR Australia Grand Finals
Find your perfect next Queensland event at queensland.com/events Events, dates and venues are subject to change without notice. Indigenous artwork © The State of Queensland (Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games) 2019.
WORLD PREMIERE OPERA A new Ring Cycle for Brisbane Opening November 2020
EVE NTS CALE N DAR
S AV E T H E D AT E Queensland may be beautiful one day, perfect the next – but it’s bringing more than sunshine and picture-perfect vistas in 2020, unveiling a huge events calendar for the year ahead. From world premiere operas and beachside food festivals to blockbuster art exhibitions, endurance races and floral fiestas, there’s never been a better time to visit. Ready to find your perfect next event?
A DAY BY THE WATER Quench your thirst this summer at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, as blockbuster exhibition Water arrives. It’s an immersive experience that explores our most vital resource. Walk across Olafur Eliasson’s rocky riverbed (created by over 100 tonnes of rock), see life-size predator and prey gather to drink at Cai Guo-Qiang’s waterhole, or watch Angela Tiatia’s tidal currents rise and fall. Brisbane 7 Dec 2019 – 26 Apr 2020
DINE ON THE BEACH
FLOWER POWER
Dinner and a show is done a little differently in Queensland.
Go country for Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers – one of Australia’s longest running floral events.
Dine on the state’s best produce with your feet in the sand at Noosa Eat & Drink Festival. Running over four gourmet days, this event celebrates what makes dining out in Queensland great: from locally-caught seafood to hand-harvested wines. You’ll also meet culinary talent from Queensland and around the world. Sunshine Coast 14 – 17 May 2020
The city’s gardens burst with colour during this ten day floral fiesta. There’s also a food festival, sideshow alley, grand parade and huge line-up of live entertainment to enjoy. Toowoomba’s country charm continues with great dining experiences, art to explore through the streets and galleries, and national parks on its doorstep. Southern Queensland Country 18-27 September 2020
CELEBRATE INDIGENOUS ART Queensland is the only state in the country where you can experience both of Australia’s Indigenous cultures. So head to the tropics for one of the country’s finest celebrations of Indigenous art. Cairns Indigenous Art Fair showcases art from fashion and painting to film screenings and live performances. Meet the artists, learn the history behind their work, and discover something to add to your collection back home. Tropical North Queensland 10-11 July 2020
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND COUNTRY Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
WORLD PREMIERE OPERA Experience the retelling of Wagner’s legendary tale The Ring Cycle through a futuristic lens, thanks to a spectacular new production by visionary Chinese director Chen Shi Zheng. This 15 hour epic is performed over four nights, with an international cast of opera stars, immersive virtual effects, costumes and props. And you can only see it at Brisbane’s QPAC theatre. Brisbane 10 Nov – 5 Dec 2020
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138 COUNTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
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FIELD GUIDE
FIELD GUIDE
LIGHT AND BRIGHT
BEAUTY SLEEP
TAKE A SEAT
The Set cushion in Citrus will add a touch on cheery sunshine yellow to any room. domayne.com.au/ set-cushion-citrus.html
Ruby Simone silk pillowcases, luxuriously finished in a high-density silk are essential for luminous skin and hair. rubysimonesilk.com.au
The Rodeo outdoor dining chair not only looks good, it’s comfortable too. harveynorman.com.au/rodeo-outdoordining-chair.html
IT’S A WRAP
CARRY ON
TAKE A TOUR
A beautiful Smitten Merino scarf is so versatile. Wear it as a wrap, pashmina, travel wrap and sun protection on holidays. smittenmerino.com
The Arlington Milne Paige crossbody bag is made from premium leather with a removable strap — practical and stylish. unearthedhomewares.com
Join Nina’s Pathways small group tour of Sri Lanka in April 2020, or let us organise a departure date that suits you. ninaspathways.com.au
GET COVERED
SUMMER BLOOM
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Australian Seniors Insurance Agency are the over 50s insurance specialists offering cost-effective policies. 1300 078 291, seniors.com.au
Add lasting colour to your garden with Fleming’s collection of repeat flowering Endless Summer hydrangea. flemings.com.au
Rodney Clark has a modern collection of women’s fashion brands, including Gordon Smith, Hammock & Vine, Threadz, and Clarity. rodneyclark.com
BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPHY GUY BAILEY STYLING ANNA DELPRAT
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COUNTRY EMPORIUM
RITZYROCKS
Australian Designed & Handmade Jewellery Specialising in Venetian Glass. Express post & special gift on order.
www.ritzyrocks.com.au
BINNY SANCIA MLM the Label CAMILLA PRIMNESS LUNE SPRING COURT DEVOTION MORRISON NOW IN ORANGE cint_boutique
cintboutique
www.cint.com.au
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@judeaustralia Superior Quality Australian Made Knitwear
Shop online at judeaustralia.com
Hearts And Minds Art, Noosa gallery : homewares : stationery 0418 108 299
heartsandmindsart.com.au
WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY
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COUNTRY EMPORIUM
Rural Australian Artist Original artworks, fine art prints & commissions
kim haines creations | kimhainescreations@gmail.com
www.kimhainescreations.com.au
For 20% Off Use code COUNTRYSTYLE at checkout!
Enter discount code COUNTRYSTYLE for 10% off all orders
Soft, superfine merino wraps in travel pouches – For wherever life takes her
shop online, instore or at a stockist near you
ellaandsunday.com.au
Made in Australia
www.glamwrap.com.au
Ph 0408 819 007
Dee Jackson Australian artist, Dee Jackson, creates beautiful watercolour portraits. Commissions Welcome.
Dee Jackson T: 02 9416 2265 | M: 0439 986 452 E: deejackson@deejackson.com.au www.deejackson.com.au
100% Pure French Linen For You And Your Home PRE ORDER WEST HAMPTON 4 PCE SET
$1100.00 47 CHURCH STREET, BRIGHTON VICTORIA PHONE: 0448 865 728 TO ORDER WWW.MRSBLANCHETTS.COM
TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369
West Australian Designed Shipped Worldwide
www.bedtonic.com
the perfect Sunday feeling! SHOP ONLINE
www.lazysundaylifestyle.com
@wherethewildwomanroams
We are here to help you SOURCE, CREATE & CAPTURE
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TRIPOLINA CLASSIC FOLDING CAMPAIGN CHAIRS 0423194240 muumuudesign1@gmail.com
www.muumuu.net.au
COUNTRY EMPORIUM
Visit our beautiful boutique at 24 WINGEWARRA ST, DUBBO showcasing a range of handpicked homewares, fashion, gifts, accessories & furniture.
Meron Somers Artist
Authentic French styled market baskets for all your carrying needs.
0411 424 225 | www.meronsomersartist.com
Afterpay and Australia-wide shipping
www.albanyecohouse.com.au
2ducktrading.com.au 02 9380 2672
For unique and beautiful hand-made home wares, soft furnishings, jewellery and gifts personally curated from around the globe and around the traps 287 Comur Street, Yass, NSW 02 6226 1240 shop@merchantcampbell.com
mer chant camp be l l . com. au
PJ MILLER
HOME OF BOWRAL BOXERS
uy no or ri while stocks last!
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French Country nighties & brunch coats sizes 8-24 Pretty Liberty cotton boxers & nightshirts Beautiful clothing for women through all ages and stages of life www.zephyrloungewear.com 1800 804 776 Zephyrloungewear
WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY
www.bowralboxers.com.au Phone (02) 4862 2520
FREE POST* for Christmas use the code ACS
*Australia only, ends 18.12.19
DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 143
HOME A ND GA RDEN EMPORIUM
6*' %4'9'. )1$'.+0 0''&.'%4#(6
Specialty Needlework Store • Supplies and Workshops 02 9498 6831 THECREWELGOBELIN.COM.AU
Buy an
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•
Homewares •
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Australian Made Leather Accessory Brand
www.laurajaynewicks.com.au
Stockist of Society of Wanderers 0413 960 031 ingridmansleyinteriordesign@gmail.com U N E A R T H E D H O M E WA R E S . C O M
Pure Cotton Nightwear
www.knisa.com.au | 0411 267 872 TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369
Furniture
Interior Design
HOME AND GARDEN EMPORIUM
Handmade ceramics from Spain
Keep your wooden cutting boards & kitchen benches safe this Christmas
ORDER ONLINE OR FIND A STOCKIST NEAR YOU
www.sunpots.com.au 02 4847 5052 info@sunpots.com.au
www.howardproducts.com.au
1800 672 646
DOG PORTRAITS Swings Teepees Swags
• Waterproof • Soft & Comfortable • Contoured Inner Sole • European Inspired • Ultra Lightweight • Rubber Pads on Sole for Traction
Cradles Rope ladders & more...
Australian made since 1993 Ph 0414 551 895
www.swingz.com.au
A-F FULGENCE
www.affulgence.com.au
Garden and Service Clogs 03 9708 2017 www.otwayfootwear.com.au
FLEXIBLE STEEL GARDEN EDGING WHICH BENDS TO VIRTUALLY ANY SHAPE FOR LAWNS, DRIVES, PATHS, FLOWER AND VEGETABLE BEDS. EverEdge® is easy to install (no extra pegs or joiners), suits all soil types and is available in a variety of colours and depths. EverEdge is made from 1.6 mm gauge PLOG VWHHO JDOYDQLVHG DQG SRZGHU FRDWHG RU ZLWK D &RU 7HQ UXVWHG ƓQLVK
www.everedge.com.au WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY
0488 010 203
We grow the best roses in Australia Potted and Gift Roses are now available online 08 8739 3321 • www.wagnersrosenursery.com.au
DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 145
• Separate Large Artists Studio • Courtyard • Spacious Interiors • Outdoor Entertaining • Country Gardens and Pond 3
2
4
Price: Offers over $1,495,000
19 BROLGA LANE, DULONG QLD Set on 3+ acres of ‘Monet’ style gardens this artist retreat is a haven for anyone wanting peace and tranquillity. The wonderful home is exquisitely finished and offers fabulous indoor/outdoor entertaining, a separate artist studio, raised vegetable gardens and solar energy.
Contact: Linda Shore-Perez 0427 378 687 linda@villarealestate.com.au
villarealestate.com.au
THE OLD BANK
F SA OR LE
COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS
Prestige Properties | New South Wales
Moroccan Haven For Sale on the Sunshine Coast
84 LACHLAN STREET, HAY NSW
This historic two storey, double brick mansion stands in the centre of Hay, a building of such rich history in the Riverina. Originally built in 1891 to house the London Chartered Bank. The beautiful, fifty square building consists of five bedrooms, three bathrooms, formal sitting room, dining room, office and the original banking chamber. The stunning marble fireplaces in each bedroom, local red-gum benches and cedar staircases are elegant features, that tie in with the modern luxuries of spa baths, split system air conditioning/heating and evaporative cooling.
Price on Application
CONTACT: Darren Tapper - 0429 447 579 | Co-Agent - Roger Ellis - 0418 650 420
THE LITTLE COOKING SCHOOL
VISIT NUNDLE
HARBOURSIDE APARTMENTS
The little cooking school offers informal, relaxed cooking classes showcasing the best regional produce resulting in a delicious, leisurely lunch. Adjoining the school is a newly refurbished accommodation sleeping 8. Fully self-contained and stylishly appointed. Accommodation, dining and cooking class packages available.
Feel welcome year-round at Nundle, a charming town of 300 people in the beautiful Hills of Gold, 50km south-east of Tamworth. Relax in the peaceful environment, surrounded by sheep and cattle grazing properties, and forest and bushland covered hills forming part of the Great Dividing Range.
Sydney’s absolute waterfront accommodation offers fully serviced and equipped studio, one and two bedroom apartments. Conveniently situated at McMahons Point Ferry Wharf Harbourside is the perfect Sydney base for business or pleasure.
0400 417 711 6 Henry Lawson Drive Mudgee www.littlecookingschoolmudgee.com.au
Nundle Visitor Information 02 6769 3026 NundleNSW #nundlensw www.nundle.com.au
MUDGEE, NSW
TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369
NUNDLE, NSW
NORTH SYDNEY, NSW
02 9963 4300 stay@harboursideaparments.com.au harbourside apartments www.harboursideapartments.com.au
COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS
New South Wales
Discover a full spectrum of events and experiences all year round.
orange360.com.au
LU X U RY H OL ID AY H O ME MAN AG E R
TEAK TREE FARM
BYRON BAY HINTERLAND, NSW A peaceful country escape, close to the eclectic town of Mullumbimby or a short drive to the famous coastal towns & beaches, or the beautiful Hinterland Villages. Circ.1905 farm house sits on 50 cattle grazing acres. Amazing wildlife. A total experience. 0448 343 422 teaktreefarm@gmail.com Teak Tree Farm www.teaktreefarm.com
WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY
Experience the ultimate holiday home or share yours with the world.
contemporaryhotels.com.au
DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 147
COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS
New South Wales | South Australia
CHELSEA PARK & ARCADIA HOUSE Relax in the Southern Highlands
Chelsea Park is Hollywood in the Highlands. A boutique bed and breakfast in an art deco mansion, with three unique bedrooms. Ideal for reunions or girl’s weekends away. Close to all the magic of the Southern Highlands.
Arcadia House is a country-style home located close to the heart of Bowral. Fully self contained accomodation for familes and groups close to all the attractions. Savour the lifestyle and relax in the Southern Highlands.
589 Moss Vale Road, Burrudoo NSW 2576 • 02 4861 7046
124 Old South Road, Bowral NSW 2576 • 02 4861 7046
www.chelseaparkbnb.com
www.arcadia-house.com
KINGFISHER PAVILION JERVIS BAY, NSW
ECO RETREAT Each of the 4 luxury Villas at La Rocher Eco Retreat offers spectacular views of the world heritage Mount Warning/ Wollumbin and Border Ranges. Serenity, peace and tranquillity allows you to truly unwind and nourish your soul in this lush hinterland paradise, close to ancient rainforests and some of Australia’s best beaches. A comfortable 2-hour drive from Brisbane and just over 30 minutes from the Gold Coast airport.
gprocher@me.com • 7 Minto Place, Smiths Creek, NSW 2484 • 0402 272 727
www.larocher.com
Kingfisher Pavilion is a private suite at Bundarra Farm. Fronting Currambene Creek, which flows into Jervis Bay. Kangaroos and birdlife share the farm with cattle, horses, ducks and chickens. Featuring an outdoor spa, fire-pit and picnic table. The Kingfisher Pavilion is the ultimate luxury getaway. 0478 008 814 kingfisherpavilion@gmail.com www.kingfisherpavilion.com
Create a Masterpiece with Jacqueline Coates BLOOMS WORKSHOP DATES 2019/2020
Learn all about acrylic paint. Includes art materials and catering. Transform your creative abilities.
MELBOURNE – Glen Iris
Blooms Freestyle 2 days $1850 pp Jan 3 & 4, 2020 Hours 9-5.30pm daily Create 3 paintings including a 1m square floral Blooms 3 Day Painting Workshop $1480 pp March 18 from 2-9pm, March 19 & 20 from 9-5.30pm – Paint a large Blooms style canvas.
SYDNEY – Willoughby
BRISBANE – Metro Arts
Blooms 2 day plus one evening $1350 pp Dec 11 &12 9-5.30pm plus evening Dec 10 from 4pm till 8.30pm
BAROSSA VALLEY – SA
Blooms 4 Day Painting Workshop $2350 pp April 18-21 plus evening of April 17, 2020
4 Day Painting Workshop $2350 pp Jan 9-12th 2019 plus evening of Jan 8 – Paint two midsize canvases in acrylics
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND
PERTH – Midland Junction Art Centre
FRANCE - BLOOMS
Blooms 4 Day Workshop $2350 pp Evening Feb 28, 2020 from 5.30-9pm Then daily from Feb 29 to March 3 – Paint 2 large canvases in acrylics
Paint Blooms USA Los Angeles February 7-9, 2020
4 Day Painting Workshop $2450pp Sept 25-28 plus eve of Sept 24, 2020 May 5-17, 2020 $7697pp package inc art supplies, catering French chef, accommodation & transfers to/from Paris
artscreativehub.com/workshops • Phone 0412 587 438 or 0429 100 929
TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369
BOSCOBEL OF TASMANIA
SHIP INN STANLEY
Country Mile Escape is a rural getaway showcasing some of the best scenery, wineries and national parks the Gold Coast Hinterland has to offer, come and enjoy our private and spacious boutique self-contained studios on our 70 acre retreat.
History and luxury combined in beautiful, private guest suites. Beaches and cafes are within a 20-minute stroll. Great day trip options including Cradle Mountain. Excellent for cycling: road, MTB or paths. Breakfast includes delicious local produce.
Seven luxurious ensuite rooms with stunning views of the bay, and the Nut. Walking distance to the cafes, restaurants and beaches, with off-street parking, free wifi, gym, yoga studio and guest laundry.
0419 090 246 www.countrymileescape.com.au
0408 474 095 hello@boscobel.com.au boscobeloftasmania www.boscobeloftasmania.com.au
0439 749 140 hello@shipinnstanley.com.au shipinnstanley shipinnstanley.com.au
STANLEY, TAS
WEST ULVERSTONE, TAS
with a Tasmanian gourmet indulgence
Experience Summer in Tasmania. Join us for one of our cooking classes or experience our rustic dining showcasing local produce and wines. Luxury guest house and unique cooking school just minutes from Launceston. www.redfeatherinn.com.au
“Peace on earth. This is truly a magical part of the world”
Golden light and long views to the bay. The sun is your companion. Cygnet in Summer, dream the days away.
Queensland | Tasmania
embrace summer
COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS
COUNTRY MILE ESCAPE
GOLD COAST HINTERLAND, QLD
@frenchmansrivercygnet
www.frenchmansriver.com.au • Kate/Posie 0466 790 142 • book@frenchmansriver.com.au
WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY
DECEMBER 2019 COU NTRY ST Y LE 149
From the pristine environs of Tasmania’s beautiful North West Coast comes a range of stunning world-class single malt whiskies. Crafted from premium Tasmanian barley and some of the world’s purest drinking water these whiskies capture the very spirit of Tasmania, pure, fresh and alluring.
PETER RABBIT™ GARDEN CAMBRIDGE, TAS
Take an enchanting stroll through Peter Rabbit’s™ garden, the only one in Australia. Also see, Jemima Puddle-Duck™, Jeremy Fisher™, Benjamin Bunny™, Mr Todd™, Two Bad Mice™, Mrs.Tiggy-Winkle™ & Tailor of Gloucester™.
8009
www.hellyersroaddistillery.com.au
03 6248 5555 Riversdale Estate, 222 Denholms Rd, Cambridge www.thepeterrabbitgarden.com.au
COAST HOUSE TASMANIA
Tasmania
COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS
EXPERIENCE TASMANia, in spirit
Treat yourself to a totally private, tranquil waterfront retreat yet just a few minutes to the village of Cygnet. Far away from city distractions. Visit Galleries, wineries and restaurants or just relax at our cosy winter retreat. “We have been astounded by the beauty and tranquillity, superb accommodation and sublime location at Coast House”
www.coasthousetasmania.com | stay@coasthousetasmania.com | Tel: 0409 446 290
RIVER COTTAGE TASMANIA
NOVO LUXURY APARTMENT
RIVERSDALE ESTATE
Escape life’s hustle & bustle at our tranquil cottage by the river. Close to beautiful sandy beaches + cafes & a short drive to the popular tourist towns of Penguin & Burnie. We are approx. 1.5 hour drive to the iconic Cradle Mountain & approx. 50 minutes to the beautiful historic township of Stanley.
Novo Luxury Apartment is newly renovated c. 1912 heritage listed property in the coastal seaside town of Penguin. Enjoy 180 degree uninterrupted north facing sea views over Bass Strait. Relax and enjoy this private stunning luxury 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment.
French provincial styled cottages on private country Estate, set amongst award winning vineyard and olive grove. 1 queen and 2 singles. Panoramic water views, rolling countryside, rambling walks & private beach. Families welcome!
0408 450 116 info@novoluxuryapartment.com.au novoluxuryapartment www.novoluxuryapartment.com.au
03 6248 5666 | 0448 701 447 wendy@riversdaleestate.com.au 222 Denholms Rd, Cambridge www.riversdaleestate.com.au
HEYBRIDGE, TAS
0478 437 700 rivercottagetasmania www.rivercottagetasmania.com.au
TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369
PENGUIN, TAS
CAMBRIDGE, TAS
5 days including rainforest, waterfalls & coast
KANANOOK HERITAGE HOUSE BAIRNSDALE, VIC
• • • • •
Relax at tranquil Kananook’s circa 1880’s Executive Suite with glorious views over rolling green countryside or enjoy the Victorian period charm of the detached ‘Private Residence’ Apartment. This fine Country House has every new modern luxury for a world class contemporary getaway. Revitalise and reconnect.
Fully guided, pack free – approx. 49km of walking Experienced local Tasmanian guides Most meals and snacks of local Tasmanian produce Cruise the Pieman River Small group of 10 or less
Contact us on (03) 5639 2615
www.parktrek.com.au
0400 33 55 46 www.kananookheritagehouse.com
Luxurious Accommodation in a Historic Homestead Situated on a Working Australian Farm in the Western District of Victoria. One hour from Geelong Great for Milestone celebrations, family and friends. Fully self contained homestead • 7BR with own bathrooms • 4 inviting fireplaces • Pool • Spa • Tennis Court • Fishing • Bike riding & much more.
Tasmania | Victoria
Voted Top 52 Weekends Away in the nation in the Good Weekend October 2017.
COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS
Hike Tassie’s Tarkine Wilderness
0458 507 655 • WWW.NARINGAL.COM.AU
BRIGHT 29 BRIGHT, VIC
Think beautiful solid timber furniture and natural wooden floors, set against bright light walls and plantation shutters that open to traditional lead light windows. Not forgetting the exquisite accessories thrown in for good measure. – This is indeed a beautiful country hideaway.
Located in the beautiful Alpine Valley’s townships of Bright, Big Sky Walkers Lane boasts 4 warm an inviting bedrooms, 4 well appointed bathrooms and plenty of space to spread out whilst enjoying your next escape to the country.
0418 813 971 reservations@3741boutique.com.au www.3741boutique.com.au
w w w. b i g s k y ret re at s . co m . a u 0 4 1 8 8 1 3 9 7 1 | re s e r va t i o n s @ 3 74 1 b o u t i q u e . c o m . a u
WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY
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COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS
Western Australia | Escape and Explore
FOR THE BIRDS YALLINGUP
MOORE RIVER HOLIDAYS
NINGALOO BED & BREAKFAST
Breathtaking views to the Indian Ocean, For The Birds Yallingup is a sanctuary bounded by national park, valleys and expansive vineyards. Set in the heart of the Margaret River wine region, this wonderful light ďŹ lled spacious residence, boasts ocean or forest views from every room.
Moore River’s No.1 Kayaking Holiday Home on the banks of the Moore River. A region bursting with Stargazing and Pinnacles. One hour north of Perth, Why wait for a long weekend?
Want to swim with whalesharks? Want to snorkel Ningaloo Reef? Stay with us, it’s private, relaxing and personal. Not suitable for children under 10.
MARGARET RIVER, WA
MOORE RIVER, WA
NINGALOO, WA
0419 909 167 mooreriverholidays rona@mooreriverholidays.com.au www.mooreriverholidays.com.au
0412 843 788 info@forthebirdsyallingup.com www.forthebirdsyallingup.com
2020 Tours
0409 250 548 ningaloobedandbreakfast@netspace.net.au www.ningaloobedandbreakfast.com.au
Discover Persia
Spring and Autumn Private, guided tours of Poland’s food, culture, art & designs.
CHOOSE BETWEEN 10 TO 30 DAYS TOUR IN OCT/NOV
Fabulous opportunity to learn from local artisans
Persian Jewels 10 days - $5,570 Taste of Persia (FOOD TOUR) 12 days - $6,250 Persian Veils (WOMEN'S TOUR) 14 days -$6,560 Persian Discovery 16 days - $6,770 Persian Dreams (choose between a 19, 25 or 30-day tour
experiencepoland.net/tours 0405 336 240
info@experiencepoland.net
For a FREE Info Pack contact your Kiwi/Iranian guide Mehdi
textiles Art Culture
HISTORY | NATURE
1800 778 694 • hello@travelandtour.com.au
www.travelandtour.com.au
NINA’S PATHWAYS
CULTURE | INDULGENCE
/[ UOCNN ITQWR VQWTU QH 5TK .CPMC CTG RGTUQPCN CPF ĆƒGZKDNG $QQM PQY HQT C TGOCTMCDNG GZRGTKGPEG YKVJ 0KPCoU 2CVJYC[U CPF NGV WU DG [QWT IWKFG KP VJKU VTQRKECN RCTCFKUG 0419 213 327
TO ADVERTISE CALL 02 9282 8369
| www.ninaspathways.com.au |
/ninaspathways
COUN TRY A ND COA STA L R ETR E ATS
Discover the heart and soul of Puglia with ITALIAN TOURS!
Slow down and experience the best of Puglia on one of these truly small group tours. 3-10 May 2020 | HIGHLIGHTS OF PUGLIA TOUR 11-24 May 2020 | PUGLIA - THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED TOUR
Book your 2020 tour now! 02 9358 4923 | ciao@italiantours.com.au |
CUSTOMISABLE + COST EFFECTIVE WALKING TOURS
with Wayfarer Experiences
with the Iberian Specialists D Tailor Made Itineraries D Historic Accommodation D Expert Advice Ph: 03 9867 8833
WAYFARER PROVIDE:
• Walking Maps • Sim card • Local contact
• Accommodation • Daily breakfast • Luggage service
Take your first step. Visit wayfarerexperiences.com.au
AM
Departing 27 June 2020 from $6599 per person twin share from $7399 single
OBER
13 DAY KAMALAYA WELLNESS SANCTUARY & KOH SAMUI GETAWAY
IONAL ADD PT
ON
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www.ibertours.com.au
See more of Europe, village to village with a series of self-guided walks across multiple countries. You could walk the Cotswolds (UK), then the Salzburg region in Austria before finishing your Europe walks in beautiful Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.
Escape and Explore
EXPERIENCE
NP L AY
& Morocco…
M
IO
Spain, Portugal
italiantours.com.au
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Price includes airfares ex Melbourne* and a 7 Night Stay at the World’s Best Wellness Sanctuary** *other cities available on request **Winner of World Spa Wellness Awards 2018
1300 885 255 w w w. s i s t e r h o o d w o m e n s t r a v e l . c o m . a u
WWW.HOMESTOLOVE.COM.AU/DIRECTORY
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COUN TRY SQUIRE
A HEATED DEBATE THERE’S NO DENYING CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL WHEN THE BEACH COMES TO YOU, WRITES ROB INGRAM. level, summer holidays meant going to the beach. Everyone went to the beach. We were expected to go to the beach. It was unpatriotic not to go to the beach Old-timers remember how it was. I was discussing the summer break with an old-timer the other day and he asked, “Are you going to the beach?” “Those were the days,” I said, “but now the beach has pretty much come to us.” We used to go to the beach for sun and sand and warm days and balmy nights. Or sometimes to the river. Remember rivers? Some used to run so you could float down them on tractor tyres or air beds. That was back when the fish were under the surface. Today, ravaged by the worst drought on record, we’ve got all the sand we need here at home. It came in on the dust storms from the west and piled up against the house and the US President’s sanity. I’m wondering if, perhaps, the out-buildings and the fences. And it has completely he’s a climate change visionary. Maybe he wants to buy changed the nature of the game at the Royal & Ancient Golf Greenland because he figures it will be the new Riviera? Club of St Barry’s, bastion of the noble sport in Dunedoo. When children around the world go on strike to tell us that Today, all you need is a putter and a sand wedge. when they replace us and they’re in charge they’d like farms So we don’t need to go to the beach for sand… or sun… and food and rivers and forests and snow and rain too, you’ve or warm days. I read recently that 20 of the 21 hottest years got to listen. When young couples stop planning to have since the 1860s occurred in the past quarter of a century. children because of uncertainty about the future — of any We’ve seen — or felt — nine of the 10 warmest years guarantee of breathable air and drinkable water — you have on record since 2005. Last year and last summer were to wake up to the horror of what we’ve the hottest ever. And there’s AGED BY THE RAV AY, TOD nothing we can do about it. RECORD, done to the planet. ON T UGH DRO RST WO No, we’re not going to the beach this The only sensible advice I’ve WE D SAN THE ALL GOT VE WE’ summer. We’re okay for sun and sand seen about climate change was E. HOM AT E HER D NEE and warm days and balmy nights. And a message on a T-shirt. It said: we’re okay for melanomas and UV radiation, for that matter. “Think Globally, Act Locally… Panic Internally.” How can We’ll save the planet our exhaust emissions of driving to the you not panic when this year’s UN Climate Change Summit coast. We’ll draw the curtains and close the blinds and turn announced the global warming outlook is much worse than the air conditioning down to 20. We’ll watch the cricket on originally predicted. That’s pretty bad when they originally television and wonder why there are no spectators sitting predicted it would destroy the planet. When we moved to the Central West of NSW — a four-hour out in the sun at the ground. We’ll give the barbecue a miss this summer, and find something in the fridge. drive from the coast — the town sign read ‘Elevation 400 We’ll Think Globally, Act Locally and Panic Internally. metres Above Sea Level’. Well, at the rate the glaciers and sea ice are melting, the sea will soon be lapping at our ankles. And we’ll despair that there are still people out there who think global warming is just about changes in weather. This realisation is starting to have a strange effect It’s about changes in whether we can go on living or not. on ordinary people. Most folk will tell you that I’m pretty But have a great summer break anyway. ordinary and I’m beginning to change my opinion about
154 COU NTRY ST Y LE DECEMBER 2019
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL WEE BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPHY SAM McADAM-COOPER STYLING PHOEBE McEVOY
BACK IN THE days before we preheated the planet to meltdown
Follow us:
www.blackpepper.com.au 1800 001 399 blackpepperau @blackpepperau