Indice dei contenuti per October 2016 in Country Style

The final days before we send an issue of the magazine to the printer are always very intense. As the deadline rapidly approaches, my desk becomes piled with pages to read. When I come to the end of all the stories, there’s often one that stays in my mind. Frequently, it will be just a simple line from the story that I recall and in this issue it’s in one on page 110. “The best thing about farming is being able to come home and have lunch with Adelaide and the kids,” Tom Harris tells our writer, Barbara Sweeney. How appealing does that sound? Particularly to anyone who has ever done the frantic dash from work to pick up children from after-school care. Tom’s wife Adelaide was a city girl…

“GARDENING IS ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL ACTIVITIES THAT CONNECTS EVERYBODY.” Sarah Curry’s passion for gardening is contagious. “Gardening is one of those beautiful activities that connects everybody,” says the 36-year-old agronomist and fourth-generation farmer who, two years ago, launched a mulch-and-compost business from Major’s Point, her family’s farm near Quandialla in central-west NSW. “It can bring a whole community together, young and old — everyone enjoys it.” Sarah and her farmer husband, Josh, 43, live with their children — Edward, six, Catherine, five, and James, three — on 2023 hectares, where they grow wheat, canola, barley and field peas. The idea for Major’s Mulch crystallised two weeks before Sarah gave birth to Edward (or Ted for short) in October 2009. In preparation for the birth, she’d whipped up a to-do…

FIVE DAYS into the school holidays, when the joy of prolonged pyjama action is replaced by a growing sense of panic on my part (another whole day… gone!) is about when I say to Ed, “Maybe we should, you know, go somewhere.” At the aluminium window with magical phone-reception properties, we’ll Google things like “The Australian Ballet + The Nutcracker” (sold out), “ice skating rinks, Toowoomba” (none), and then, more desperately, “best family holiday, South Pacific” (Vanuatu, closer than you think). This time, though, we were on it. Before the break had even started, we decided to take the kids to my hometown of Sydney for a week. We organised a flat in Rushcutters Bay and tickets to see Mister Maker at the Opera House. I had very low expectations…

Quiet, save for the sound of the occasional car and cockatoos chewing and squawking in the branches of elm, chestnut and stone pine trees, Lambie Street in Cooma, on the southern end of NSW, is something of an unassuming local icon. Once the original heart of town, the street features a string of buildings — including the Royal Hotel and Raglan Gallery and Cultural Centre — that date back to the mid-1800s, when Cooma, the centre of the Monaro region and the gateway to the NSW Snowy Mountains, was first settled by Europeans. “I’ve always liked Lambie Street because that small bit of commercial activity means there’s often people walking up and down,” says artist and designer Kate Litchfield, who lives in a heritage-listed, Georgian-style townhouse on the street. The…

For 91-year-old Richard Prentice, spring is a time to wander the rambling paths of his large mountain garden as showers of cherry blossom petals cascade to the ground in the gentle wind gusts. This flower-filled place is aptly named Cherry Cottage and is one of many picturesque gardens at Mount Wilson in the NSW Blue Mountains. Just over 120 kilometres west of Sydney, this small, quiet village is well off the beaten track. There aren’t any shops or amenities at Mount Wilson, rather, this is a place of old gardens, spreading trees and deep, rich basalt soil. The soils that underpin the gardens here are a legacy of long ago volcanic action, which left isolated basalt caps among the sandstone ridges of the Blue Mountains. It is the basalt soil…

For someone who sought a change in lifestyle, Cherie Hausler is busier than ever. After moving back to the Barossa Valley with her husband Damien Feuerherdt to escape the city rush, the 43-year-old freelance food writer and restaurateur got a job with Maggie Beer, who loved the tea blends Cherie was making for the restaurant, Eat Me, she owns in Bangkok with her brother, Darren. Scullery Made Teas was soon born and stocked at Maggie’s renowned Farm Shop in Nuriootpa, much to Cherie’s surprise. “It wasn’t in the slightest bit planned that way,” she says. “It wasn’t planned at all!” Now dividing her time between Sydney, Bangkok and the Barossa, Cherie loves coming home to the region where she grew up to collect seasonal fruits and herbs for her tea…

CROWD FAVOURITES Barossa Farmers Market. Where the locals love to shop and catch up, these vibrant markets showcase a range of fresh and preserved foods, all produced in the region. Open from 7:30am-11:30am each Saturday. Corner Nuriootpa and Stockwell roads, Angaston. (08) 8564 2058; barossafarmersmarket.com.au Barossa Wine Trails Take a self-guided tour of the region’s best wineries, with trails from Bethany to Angaston. Maps available from the Barossa Visitor Information Centre. Barossa.com Barossa Regional Gallery A mix of local, national and international works on display, including this month’s ‘Vineyards, Farms and Orchards’ exhibition by Anne Marie Graham. 3 Basedow Road, Tanunda. (08) 8563 0849; barossagallery.com Kaiserstuhl National Park Early mornings are the best time for wildlife watching in this conservation park, which has two defined walking trails but no picnic…

THE DISTANT HOURS FOCUS ON CHIC SEPARATES. Mesop ‘Chester’ coat, $329. Bec & Bridge ‘Abella’ top, $200, and ‘Abella’ pants, $200. For stockist details, see page 135. NATURAL SELECTION GET SWEPT UP IN TAILORED LINES AND SOFT HUES. Iris & Ink gilet, $435, and sweater, $184, both from The Outnet. Arielle Mermin ‘Sheila’ dress, $372. FACING PAGE Rhys wears Jac + Jack ‘Andrea’ jacket, $599, and ‘Folded Collar’ shirt, $220. Ted Baker ‘Heatro’ pants, $279. Ollie wears Country Road smock, $159, and pants, $199. Marimekko ‘Louhi’ choker, $595. For stockist details, see page 135. FRINGE BENEFITS CLASSIC TONES KEEP THE FEELING NEUTRAL. Camilla ‘Threaded Spell’ fringed jumper, $379. Bec & Bridge ‘Azura’ skirt, $150. FACING PAGE Ollie wears Third Form ‘Broken Ways’ dress, $289. Marimekko ‘Oili Metal Ball’ necklace, $230.…

ANNA DELPRAT This Sydney-based stylist travelled to Cooma, near the NSW snowfields, for our house story on page 42 . There’s nothing like old-fashioned country hospitality — and it was on show when former Country Style staffer Anna (now the editorial and style coordinator for Vogue Living) visited artist Kate Litchfield in Cooma. “She was so lovely and welcoming, and offered me the old pair of R.M.Williams boots she’d found at an op shop and couldn’t resist, even though they didn’t fit her,” Anna says. “Unfortunately, they didn’t fit me either!” The country drive to Cooma was another highlight, reminding Anna of the “magical annual trip” she’d make as a child to Wentworth Falls in the NSW Blue Mountains. “Dad, an artist and school principal, would take my siblings…

weekend a way VICTORIA Polperro Villas Head to Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula for an indulgent weekend away in these beautiful villas with stunning vineyard views. This month, the Ultimate Luxury Package includes two nights in a villa, a three-course lunch or dinner at Polperro Bistro, two passes to Peninsula Hot Springs, a bottle of Champagne, an in-room continental breakfast and wine tasting. $870 per person. Guest chef Kevin Cherkas of Bali’s Cuca will also take over the kitchen for the Swig & Nibble event (7th–9th). Bookings essential. (03) 5989 2471; polperrowines.com.au NT Wildman Wilderness Lodge Situated on the Mary River Wetlands in Arnhem Land, this remote eco-lodge allows guests to immerse themselves in the dramatic landscape. The on-site restaurant overlooks the national park and infuses seasonal…

Build up green tones and natural textures for a table of plenty.…

TEN YEARS AGO, after the arrival of their children — Tanisha, now 13, and Jazmyn, 11 — Stuart and Lisa Bell packed in their nomadic life and settled near Lisa’s parents in Dromana on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Which is where daughter number three, six-year-old Amelie, was born. The cheffing life provides plenty of opportunities to move around and, before he became a father, Melbourne-born Stuart took full advantage, working at The Loose Box in WA and at Michelin-starred Dublin restaurants Peacock Alley and Thornton’s. But when the time came, settling down was no hardship. “I’ve always had a connection to the country and this area has the best of both worlds: it’s rural but we’re also only an hour from Melbourne,” he says. “The move suited us and we all…

MEET THE PRODUCERS Peter and Alicia Cain, Dad’s Oats, Natte Yallock, Victoria One night, over a glass of wine, siblings Peter and Alicia Cain came up with the idea of selling their father Maurice’s oats direct to customers. “We were talking about how wine is appreciated for its flavour and provenance,” Alicia says. “Dad’s always grown good-quality oats and we thought it would be great to tell our story.” Natte Yallock in north central Victoria is mixed farming territory — traditionally cropping, merino wool and prime lamb, as is the case on the Cain family farm, Fairview. The area is known for producing top-quality oats. “It’s the combination of low summer rain, good spring rain and long daylight hours — just what oats need,” Alicia explains. The top five per…

KNOWN FOR ITS full-bodied shiraz and rich foodie culture, the Barossa Valley, located 60 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, is one of the world’s great wine regions with an extraordinary history. First settled by Europeans in 1842, the region boasts more than 160 years of continuous winemaking and some 550 grape-growing families, many of which are the sixth generation to work the land. Set in a valley formed by the North Para River, the region is blessed with warm weather and low rainfall, and spans some 912 square kilometres, taking in a range of towns and villages with a combined population of around 20,000. Most live in the main towns of Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Angaston, Williamstown and Lyndoch. The streetscape reveals the cultural history of the place, with stone cottages and churches…

1 ALABASTER “Beautiful clothing and homewares. Owner Bridget Laucke has a wonderful way of finding all the special pieces for her store that, as locals, we would have otherwise only imagined finding among the plethora of shopping choices in Melbourne or Sydney. There’s every reason to shop locally because of Bridget’s keen eye for bespoke beauty. I love the whole feel of Alabaster, especially on Saturdays when I hang out with the girls and serve tea and cakes as part of a lovely start to everyone’s weekend.” 69 Murray Street, Tanunda. (08) 8563 0857; alabasterstore.com.au 2 PIONEER ANTIQUES “This is a great second-hand shop for rustic, vintage kitchenware. I send everyone here! It’s crowded with all sorts of local vintage finds, so it’s worth giving yourself some time to rummage…

At Margan Restaurant in Broke Fordwich, NSW, the award-winning food is served against a backdrop of the rugged Brokenback Range. Views are striking from the verandah, and in the foreground, the creak of a gate and the snip of shears precede a chef’s mid-service dash across the kitchen garden, sprigs of ferny fennel in hand. “There’s something special about knowing ingredients can be picked mere hours before they’re on the plate,” says owner Lisa Margan, who, along with her vigneron husband, Andrew, and a sprinkling of innovative winemakers, producers and restaurateurs, is quietly building Broke Fordwich, the hidden gem of the Hunter Valley, into a quality food and wine tourism destination without the hustle and bustle. As one of Australia’s oldest viticulture regions, with some plantings dating back to the…

 TO SAY THE FOUNDER of L’Occitane En Provence, Olivier Baussan, is devoted to his native Provence in France is a huge understatement: he has such a passion for the local landscape that it’s almost as if his beloved distilled lavender, rosemary and verbena are the life force that pumps through his veins. “I love Provence and all its magical mysteries just waiting to be discovered,” he says in his thick French accent. “I WANTED TO CHANGE THE WORLD FROM WITHIN PROVENCE.” The story of how Olivier, 64, began to distill local plants and eventually turn them into a range of a global natural cosmetics range is almost a fairytale fable. While studying literature in the picturesque town of Aix-En-Provence, Olivier developed an interest in essential oils. By chance, in 1976…

THIS CHINA came from England 100 years ago and is part of a dinner set. There’s writing on the bottom that reads: T.Goode & Co, South Audley St, London. Crown, Staffordshire England, and the number ‘5864’ in orange paint. I would love to know more about it! M. Crowley, BARRABA, NSW Crown Staffordshire China was established in 1897 and produced some of the best tableware throughout the 20th century. Your Prunus pattern dinner service was marketed through the fashionable firm Thomas Goode, established at that London address in 1875, which still sells the finest glass, tableware, silver and napery today. The delightful Prunus pattern is an imitation of Chinese and Japanese blue-and-white porcelain, and became highly popular in England during the late 19th century. The green version, number 5864, became…

CAMPED UNDER THE stars in the rugged alpine landscape of Mount Buller in Victoria’s High Country are some of the 217 Year 9 Geelong Grammar students currently living and studying at Timbertop, the school’s residential campus in nearby Merrijig. Other students are back in the dorms, doing homework, penning letters to family or setting their alarms early to chop wood for the fires that heat the water. It’s term three and most have embraced the life — and lessons — on offer in this unique school setting. “I think we’re different to many of the other outdoor education experiences, in that students are here for the whole year,” says Tom Hall, head of Timbertop. “We’re a regular school for the majority of the week, but then for two and a…

SUNDAY BEST Make the ultimate fashion statement and build a collection of seriously chic pieces from Eva’s Sunday, where each design works seamlessly with the next to create a wholly individual look. evassunday.com.au GET GLOWING The Hivita Luminous White skincare system harnesses the power of tomato extract and jojoba leaf to refresh skin naturally. luminouswhite.com.au SUMMER LOVE Handmade in Rajasthan and Bengal, the Read & Bell collection features effortlessly stylish pieces in soft Indian cottons. readandbell.com LIGHT BRIGADE Brighten up your home with a little bling. The ‘Stella’ pendant light from Domayne features a bell shaped bevelled shell with a luxurious copper finish. domayneonline.com.au RETRO GLAM You’ll always be in good form in flattering vintage-style dresses by Retrospec’d. These Australian made dresses are available in sizes 6–18. retrospecd.com LUSH LIFE…

“Misty morning here, but off to collect the fresh eggs for breakfast...” INSTAGRAM Our Country Style Heirloom Recipes cookbook inspired many of our followers to get busy in the kitchen. Photography Sam McAdam-Cooper, Styling Anna Delprat. I love the cherished recipes. Tried and tested, withstanding the test of time… Cannot be beaten. @cereshomestead I bought the new cookbook, it is perfect, can’t wait to pop on my apron and cook up some old-fashioned goodness. @Cath.riley. Follow us on Instagram @countrystylemag FACEBOOK Our August cover prompted many lovely comments from our readers on Facebook. Photography Mark Roper, Styling Tamara Maynes. Escape the everyday, that’s certainly what that cover says. And as I sit here on a very cold overcast day, it evokes a lot of pictures of sitting around on that…

FEW DRINKS HAVE the history or allure of Champagne, the sparkling wine made with grapes only produced in the Champagne region of France. To celebrate this iconic drop, Country Syle has partnered with the Champagne Bureau, Australia, to invite readers to two exclusive events. On Global Champagne Day on Friday, October 21, join us for a four-course dinner matched with Champagne at Simonn Hawke’s acclaimed restaurant Lolli Redini, in Orange, NSW, or journey north in November for a luxurious dining experience at the Byron at Byron Resort and Spa, including a four-course degustation menu by guest chef Ross Lusted from Sydney’s The Bridge Room. Guest speakers on both nights will reveal more about Champagne. ORANGE, NSW DATE Friday, October 21, 2016. TIME 7pm. PRICE $195 per person. WHERE Lolli Redini,…

“We like staying home. It’s a very peaceful place.” There are the people for whom the end of one project signals the start of another. And then there are those like Annie and Mike Dowd who thought the new home that they had only just built at Main Ridge on the Mornington Peninsula was going to be forever. That was, until a neighbouring farm came up for sale. But fate has an inevitable way of drawing you off course, and in their case it all started with Annie’s fascination for an overgrown, rather mysterious garden that she saw on her daily walks. “I’d walk past the garden every day with our dog, Adelaide, and I used to always peer in — I just fell in love with it,” she says.…

Create your ideal sofa with Domayne ®  – just select the shape, size and fabric. A wooden dining table is a classic piece – at Domayne ®  , you can pick your preferred stain, height, length and style. Customise your bed by choosing the style, frame and finish from the options at Domayne ®  . VISIT DOMAYNE.COM.AU TO BROWSE OUR FULL RANGE OF FURNITURE, BEDDING AND HOMEWARES Domayne® stores are operated by independent franchisees. Advertised prices valid at New South Wales stores only. Prices may vary between states due to additional freight charges. Offer ends 31/10/16. *King single sheet sets each consist of 1x fitted sheet, 1x flat sheet and 1x standard pillowcase. Queen sheet sets each consist of 1x fitted sheet, 1x flat sheet…

AS FAR AS BEES are concerned, it’s all about having a mix of flowers in your garden with something in bloom year-round. Many natives are long flowering and highly attractive to bees, but, if natives aren’t your thing there are lots of exotics that offer pollen and nectar. When choosing plants, it’s good to keep in mind the design of the flowers, and therefore their accessibility to bees. So-called ‘single flowers’, with just one ring of petals and exposed reproductive parts in the centre, generally produce larger amounts of nectar and pollen that bees can easily get to — examples are lilies and foxgloves. Plants in the daisy (Asteraceae) family, such as coneflowers (Echinacea spp.), produce composite flowers that often have the appearance of single flowers and are usually good…

BRITAIN STILL relishes its role as matriarch of its colonial progeny, deriving amusement from Australia and New Zealand’s constant squabbles over sporting one-upmanship, and which country invented the pavlova and the lamington. However, Ol‘ Blighty may be surprised to learn that New Zealand lays claim to naming that venerable English dish, Beef Wellington. Oh, crumbs! According to the late Clarissa Dickson Wright, the former doyenne of British cookery, the dish was named for a civic reception in Wellington, New Zealand, although it had appeared on English menus some time before this. Lucky for us, it was not named after Hawkes Bay’s Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu, which bears the world’s longest place name. As a journeyman chef in 1988, I found myself…

 WHEN THE DAY of this very special reader event dawns, cookbook author Belinda Jeffery (above right) and chef Sean Moran LEARN NEW, EXCITING WAYS TO UNITE SEASONAL FLAVOURS AND TEXTURES. (left) will rise early to prepare for the arrival of their guests. The wood-fired oven will be stoked and platters for a vast variety of salads will be polished in readiness for lunch. Tables will be laid and the shed will be a hive of activity. The lunch, to celebrate the release of The Salad Book (Lantern, $39.99), Belinda’s latest tome, is being held at Sean’s Bilpin farm, in the NSW Blue Mountains, on Sunday, October 16. And on the drinks menu, Mudgee’s Lowe Wines, Ovvio Organics teas and The Little Marionette coffee. During the day, Belinda will conduct cooking…

IN YEARS TO come, you’ll find yourself telling the story to friends or family about how you came to made a beautiful copper spoon one day in South Australia’s Barossa Valley. The spoon-making workshop with artist Ilona Glastonbury from Otti Made is just one of four practical, hands-on creative sessions that you’ll experience as part of this maker’s workshop that Country Style is hosting at Langmeil Winery in Tanunda on Sunday, October 30. Using reclaimed copper, Ilona will help you create a beautiful, rustic spoon to treasure. On the program alongside Ilona, three other local artisans will present workshops in what is a celebration of the vibrant and diverse artisan community of the Barossa. You will make a nature mandala with Janelle Amos of Self Pollinate, using an array of…

GETTING THERE Car From Sydney, take the Calga exit off the M1 (Pacific Motorway) for scenic Tourist Drive 33 via Wollombi. Alternatively, stay on the motorway until the Cessnock/Vineyards exit. A Wine Tour In Broke This local business specialises in group wine tours with a range of options that visit cellar doors and nearby attractions. 0417 968 440; awinetourinbroke.com.au BEST TIME TO VISIT Broke is a fantastic destination for a getaway any time of the year. With summer comes harvest time. This is always an exciting season in wine country, where you can enjoy a chilled, crisp semillon by day and a dazzling star-filled sky by night. In the winter months, it makes a perfect weekend escape with its array of cosy B&Bs and renowned Hunter Valley shiraz. Better yet,…

1 With a subtle almond scent and a luxuriously silky texture, L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil ($37, 250ml), cleanses and nourishes the skin with softening almond and grape seed oil. It also works wonders as a shaving oil. 2 L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream ($42, 150ml) is so popular one is sold every three seconds around the world. Blending 20 per cent shea butter with coconut oil, honey and almond, this cream nurtures hands and cuticles back to health. 3 If you’ve ever been lucky enough to see the rolling hills in Provence covered with vibrant blue lavender flowers, you might have glimpsed the actual organic lavender used to create L’Occitane Lavender Foaming Bath ($43, 500ml). 4 Using almonds harvested in the South of France, L’Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate ($62, 200ml)…

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WHY CONJURE UP NEW WORDS WHEN OLD ONES GIVE LANGUAGE MORE CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY? THE LONGER that I last in the country, the more I’m convinced that all things last longer here (with the possible exception of a Bundy and Coke). Clothing fashions certainly do — I even saw someone in a duffel coat the other day. I personally will occasionally extract some relic from a bygone era from the wardrobe and pull it on, safe in the knowledge that I’m not expecting to see anyone that day. Haircuts also last longer in the country — personal grooming doesn’t rate highly in the priorities of men whose major social event of the year is likely to be the Pig Doggers’ Pub Crawl. And hats, too, clock up remarkable feats of…