Table of contents for August 2022 in Country Style

After recently spending several days in Tasmania, I can confess that, along with so many others, the little island at the bottom of Australia has claimed a piece of my heart. This was my first real trip to the Apple Isle, after spending a fleeting 24 hours in Hobart in 2017. If I was infatuated then, you could say now I’m completely head over heels in love with the island state. So much so, if you look at my computer search history, you’ll find Tasmanian real estate websites. Another country dream is born! The highlight of the trip was Walk on kunanyi’s Wild Wellness Fire and Ice Walk. A group of us strolled along a picturesque track, learning facts about the bush from Andy Crawford of Walk on kunanyi. When…

THEY SAY SUCCESS IS transforming your passion into profit – and when Jane Charles created Ceres Homestead, she proved the point. The lifestyle brand was built from the ground up by Jane, who sourced her inspiration from her magnificent Victorian home and the grand gardens that surround it. In 2008, after a long renovation, Jane and her husband Geordie, 50, and their four children – Edward, 17, William, 15, George, 13, and nine-year-old Isobel (plus their three retriever labradors Lucy, Lottie and Coco) – moved into their lovely period house. Set on 25 hectares just outside Ballarat, Ceres Homestead has long been a part of Geordie’s family property, but it wasn’t until they decided that a country lifestyle would best fit their family that they endeavoured to acquire the homestead…

TAS Stillwater Housed in the restored Ritchie’s flour mill at the mouth of Cataract Gorge on the picturesque Tamar River, it’s easy to see why Stillwater is one of Launceston’s leading fine-dining destinations. Executive chef Craig Will’s seasonal menu celebrates fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, herbs and meat, along with sustainably harvested seafood. Delicious Tamar Valley wines, crafted by local vignerons, pair nicely with Stillwater’s elegant dishes. Expect delicacies such as: crispy-skin Scottsdale pork belly, plum and yuzu, smoked almond and koji pickled fennel; Tasmanian wallaby, smoked macadamia cream, barbecued zucchini, fermented pepper and quinoa; and coconut panna cotta, rhubarb, coconut crumb and rhubarb sorbet. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stillwater also offers luxurious onsite accommodation. Book online. stillwater.com.au…

BY 10.30AM ON A BRISK Monday, Stephanie Trethewey has dropped her children at childcare in town, dashed back to the family property and is on the day’s second Zoom business meeting. Being able to mesh her personal and professional worlds is powerful, says Stephanie: “For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m where I’m meant to be.” For the former city girl, that would be in the midst of creating two impactful businesses with rural roots and national gravitas. Since moving to Tasmania’s Dunorlan (population 108) in 2019, Stephanie has co-founded a trailblazing beef brand and turned sudden isolation into Australia’s first online rural mothers’ group program. Stephanie, 33, has a successful podcast, global influence, and an upcoming book. In March, a social media post that the…

DERBY TAS BEFORE JACK SHAPIRO and Georgina Young had children, they considered themselves ‘outdoorsy’ types. Camping, mountain biking, kayaking and bushwalking were some of their favourite activities prior to the 2011 arrival of their first child, Billy, now 11. Carving out time to explore nature was hard with a newborn, then became a bigger challenge in 2013 when Max, now eight, came along. By the time Luna, now six, was born in 2016, it felt almost impossible to navigate the wilderness with three littlies in tow – but the Hobart-based couple was determined to take family camping trips throughout Tasmania. “Georgina loved mountain biking, but it became difficult to get out on a bike with little kids to look after,” Jack, 40, says. “I loved kayaking, but getting out for…

CYGNET TAS THIS STORY IS A LOVE LETTER to Little Oak, a Tasmanian property situated near Cygnet – the traditional home of the melukerdee people – that shifted the direction of one couple’s life. Eleven years ago, Pip Steele-Wareham and Hugo Lazo left their harried Sydney existence and demanding careers, and became the new owners of a forgotten 1860s cottage on 12 hectares of what was once a fruit orchard halfway up Silver Hill. In 2011, lacking funds and know-how but bursting with determination, the couple, both 42, threw themselves into transforming the bare land at Little Oak – named in honour of Pip’s family farm in New Zealand. Perched above a sweeping valley, but not quite at the top of the hill, frosts were minimal and the winds manageable.…

EVANDALE TAS “I buy goods that I love. I connect with traditional goods, natural homewares, textiles and fibres.” THERE’S OFTEN AN EXCLAMATION of delight as visitors cross the threshold of The Evandale Village Store in northern Tasmania. The original cedar shop counter holds confectionery, string and ceramics, while enamelware and pots filled with brushes grace floor-to-ceiling shelves. Est Australia soap and skincare, pure beeswax and Huon pine infuse a mellow, organic scent, and customers stay to explore the treasure-trove of handmade goods. Just 15 minutes’ drive from Launceston, The Evandale Village Store has been a drawcard for this beautifully preserved heritage town since it opened in 2018. Owner Carolyn Imlach, 59, has been making her all-natural body-care range, Est Australia, for 24 years, with a store in Melbourne’s Hawthorn. Here,…

NATASHA MULHALL Formerly an interior architect, Natasha’s design knowledge shines through in her photography, as shown in our story on the historic Twamley Farm on page 62. Childhood holidays for Natasha were spent in Orange and Braidwood, NSW, as well as northern Italy with her mother’s relatives. “Most of my family grew up on seaside farms and make traditional food like prosciutto, calamari and homemade wine (and grappa!),” says Natasha. “This helped me understand the different ways we can live, eat and enjoy life.” Based in Hobart, Natasha thinks it’s the perfect blend of city and nature. “Wallabies, pademelons and possums visit my garden – we’re in a constant ‘dialogue’ about which of my beloved plants they get to eat and what they don’t!” LAURA BARRY Launceston-born journalist Laura revisited…

Splash happy It’s rare for utilitarian objects like sinks to be inspiring – but historic Australian pottery brand Robert Gordon creates basins that are works of art. Highly skilled craftspeople custom-make and hand-glaze each piece to order in their Melbourne workshop, meaning each one is unique. Visit robertgordoninteriors.com STEP IT UP Kiwi designer Karen Walker has teamed up with Country Style favourite Merry People to create a green and gold version of the popular Bobbi Gumboot. If you’re yet to take a leap into Merry People’s warm, dry world, this cheerful colour combo will do the trick. Visit merrypeople.com COSY TOES Nothing warms up a room like a wool rug. Oh Happy Home is Goodweave International-accredited, meaning its pieces are ethically made. And its luxurious Jasper rug is super-soft and…

LOCAL HERO FINALISTS PATRISHA HURLEY The town of Condobolin, NSW, can count its lucky stars that it has Patrisha Hurley OAM as a resident. She’s been a member of the CWA for 65 years, says granddaughter Tasha, and has served as the organisation’s state president, as well as working for the local historical society and PAH&I. “She’s spent her life contributing to both her local community and region, all while living 100 kilometres from town running her family farm, which she still lives on at 85,” Tasha says. “And she’s still trying to better the community, preserve the history of our area – and argue with council about fixing our roads!” JOSHUA GILBERT Worimi man Joshua Gilbert is a farmer and academic with a mission: he wants to bring the…

KING ISLAND TAS WHEN EMILY AND NATHAN HUNT spotted a run-down old aluminium ‘carapark’ for sale on Gumtree, it was the beginning of a journey that has seen the King Island couple launch two food-related businesses, starting with a coffee and food van. It was during a visit to Tasmania that Emily and Nathan spotted the vintage 1957 caravan for sale. “It was located on an old farm property near Launceston and it was full of farm junk,” says Nathan, 35. “You couldn’t actually get through the door – from the front to the back end and up to the roof height it was just full of farm stuff.” Undeterred, the couple snapped up the van, spent a year restoring it and brought it back to King Island three and…

1 Chinese elm wood two-door cabinet, $4575, from Few and Far. 2 Mirro 1.0 extended wall light in Black Grey, POA, from Est Lighting. 3 Large Botanica Macedon vase, $72.95, from Robert Gordon Australia. 4 Harper Latte cushion, $154, from L&M Home. 5 Robert Gordon Poets Dream fruit bowl, $89, from Domayne. 6 Oscar Sling leather armchair in Black, $899, from Early Settler. 7 Hexagon 51mm mosaic tiles in White, from $7 per piece, from Rossetto Tiles. 8 Turner Hastings Novi fine fireclay double bowl butler sink in White, $1979, from Harvey Norman. 9 French Green paint sample, $11/100ml, from Porter’s Paints. 10 Agra rug in Juniper, from $4900, from Armadillo. 11 Manor single bed in White, $549, from Early Settler. 12 Retreat curve log basket, $147, from Amara.…

DOWN THE GARDEN PATH THIS IS AN ODE TO Australian gardeners. To the people who garden in the hot sun and pouring rain. Who run out to stake precious flowers in ear-snapping winds. Who, in drought, save all the water that can possibly be saved to pour onto precious jade trees at the back door or chrysanthemums planted at the front; plants given to them by someone beloved, so they CANNOT PERISH. You know the ones? Do you have them, too? Bless the fierce and resilient gardeners who protect, maintain and commit to their plots even when perhaps, really, we should be tarping them. Every flower not native to Australia blooms because of you. Viva, undeterred and resilient plants-people! Australia is not an easy place to be a gardener. We…

KING ISLAND TAS JOURNEY LOCALS CALL IT THE King Island wave. It’s a quick lift of the forefinger as you pass another car on the wide dirt roads and gravel tracks that crisscross the island. “It doesn’t matter if you know each other or not, that’s what happens,” says Ian Johnson, head chef at Wild Harvest restaurant and owner of King Island Tours. He’s notched up nearly 50 years on the island – and he knows it’s that wave (or rather, what it represents) that’s so central to life here. “It’s a very friendly island,” he explains. “Most visitors are blown away by just how friendly it is.” You might assume this rocky speck of land stranded in the middle of the Bass Strait needs this kind of selling point.…

STEPHANIE TRETHEWEY FARMER, JOURNALIST AND ENTREPRENEUR, 33 Stephanie lives on a 182-hectare property in Dunorlan, Tasmania, with her husband Sam, 38, and their children Elliot, three and a half, and Evie, 19 months. The family has three dogs – blue heelers Oxley and Lottie, and kelpie Trek – and 1500 cattle. What do you love about living in the country? I love the freedom and how connected we are to our food. I grew up in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and was a city girl through and through, until I fell in love with a farmer! How would you describe your style? When I’m not on the farm in jeans, a work shirt and muddy boots, my style is minimalist with a rural, feminine touch. Are you interested in fashion? Yes,…

AT THE FOOTBALL A COUPLE of weeks ago, the youngest – and therefore the loudest – ticketholder in our row gave full voice to the line that has long preserved us as a proud nation: “Our home is dirt by sea.” “Hang on,” I thought. “Where did that come from?” Then I realised that his previous line had been: “We’ve garden soil and wealth for toil.” Even before kick-off, I was doubting the wisdom of instilling in tiny children in school assemblies the grandiose eloquence designed to galvanise adult allegiance and patriotism. Right after the half-time argument over fractional offside penalties and the need for six more schooners of beer, we considered the anthem issue. Apparently, anthem lyrics are a worldwide trap for young players. A couple of our number…

GOOD NIGHT IN It is late on a Friday evening, and the cool of the season has seen me add a final winter layer to my bed, a lovely plush blanket in a deep grey. As I take my time to flick through the pages of the June issue, I am in awe at how you so perfectly capture each glorious season in the pages of Country Style. I felt I was right there in Tassie, Ballarat or Orange when admiring the gorgeous homes and spaces that people have created... Now, I want to plan a winter escape to all of the places featured. Thank you, Country Style, for your endless inspiration. I don’t know how I would spend my quiet evenings in without you. Emma Wood, Cardiff Heights, NSW…

TAS Bay of Fires Apartments A nature-lover’s paradise, the Bay of Fires boasts sparkling seas and pristine white sand. For visitors to the area, the luxurious Bay of Fires Apartments are ideally situated in the main street of St Helens. Each freshly renovated suite offers a king-sized bed topped with beautiful linen, a private ensuite, and a small bar for afternoon wine sessions. With four layers of acoustic-proof plaster, the rooms provide the ultimate peace and quiet for a relaxing night’s sleep. Spend your days at nearby boutique wineries, picturesque Binalong Bay, and Pyengana, home to St Columba Falls, Pyengana Dairy and the heritage-listed Pub In The Paddock. Then head back to your room and unwind with free wi-fi, a brand-new smart TV and plush lounge chairs. bayoffiresapartments.com…

A DAY IN THE COUNTRY THE SAYING “AS THE DAYS grow longer, the cold grows stronger” was surely coined to describe winter down here in Tasmania. If you’re reading this column in the northern states, there is every chance you can see signs of the end of winter. It will be there in the lengthening days and the buds on trees. You’ll be watching birds hunting for nesting spots and wondering where you put your lightweight cotton tops. But August in Tassie can be, to put it simply, a bit of a slog. It’s true there is more daylight but, if anything, it’s colder than July. All the winter celebrations – the solstice; the rousing communal delight that is Dark MOFO – are distant memories. The wood shed is low…

PAKENHAM VIC BACK IN 1979, WHEN ROBERT GORDON was knocking together an eight by 10-foot shed in his garden to use as a pottery studio, a tradie made a joke that turned out to be eerily prescient. “I’d got this secondhand galvanised iron for this little shed, and the carpenter who was finishing off my house build was laughing at me,” remembers Robert. “He said, ‘This is the start of a multimillion-dollar business.’” The chippie was joking, but he wasn’t wrong. The company that began in that shed is Robert Gordon Pottery, a much-loved landmark of the Australian ceramics industry. After 43 years in the thick of it, Robert has passed the brand on to his children, Bobby, Kate and Hannah, to take into its next chapter. (Youngest son Sam…

THE INTERIORS THAT TASMANIAN STYLIST Julie Willis creates are so welcoming that when people walk into a room, they feel like they’re being hugged. Julie’s approach to interior design is not just moulding beautiful spaces, but evoking the intangible – “that feeling that you just want to be there and don’t want to leave,” she explains. Julie, 52, recently completed a major apartment renovation with her youngest son Jackson, 23. The duo turned an ugly duckling into an oasis in Hobart – known to the traditional owners as nipaluna. Named The Binney, the apartment boasts views over the River Derwent – all the way up to kunanyi/Mount Wellington – and is the city cousin of Julie’s other stunning short-stay rental property, The Drifters House, in the seaside town of Bridport.…

1 Yashi cushion in Dove, $69.95, from Provincial Home Living. 2 Adra sweater in Vapour Grey, $259, from Elk the Label. 3 Tiffany solitaire diamond stud earrings in Platinum, $3200, from Tiffany & Co. 4 Natural For Birds cotton cashmere waterfall cardigan in Greyslate, $169.95, from Birdsnest. 5 Ainsley black leather boot, $399.95, from Alias Mae. 6 Alpaca Sandy throw, $375, from Pepperwhites by Tara Dennis. 7 East Coast General Everyday belt in Black, $149, from St Agni. 8 Diptyque Orange Ambre candle, $137, from Mecca. 9 By Terry Terrybly Waterproof mascara, $71, from Mecca. 10 Wesley fedora in Grey, $89.95, from Brixton. 11 High-waist straight jean in Blue, $139, from Country Road. 12 Until Izipizi Sun Collection E sunglasses with green lenses, $89.95, from Hard to Find. 13 Small…

SLEEP SOLUTION The King Koil Chiro Luxury Estate Mattress aids sleep and is backed by the International Chiropractors Association. harveynorman.com.au TIMELESS DESIGNS With a focus on trans-seasonal, high-quality linen garments, Eva’s Sunday designs ageless clothing for size inclusivity. evassunday.com.au GREAT OUTDOORS The Arroll side table base is one of the items with 40 per cent off at Le Forge’s warehouse clearance sale. Includes factory seconds. leforge.com.au COASTAL LUXURY The stylish Bay of Fires Apartments in St Helens are perfect for exploring the north-east coast of Tasmania. bayoffiresapartments.com YARNS GALORE Cosy up with local and international yarns, notions and accessories for the contemporary knitter and crocheter at Skein Sisters. skeinsisters.com.au BUDDING BEAUTIES The winter rose is a tough perennial that blooms perfectly in semi-shaded areas of gardens in temperate regions. postofficefarmnursery.com.au…