Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2015 i Australian Country

Most of the time I do this without suffering too much from the green-eyed monster but occasionally, just occasionally, I am truly envious of the people I meet. As a passionate foodie, they are usually the ones with abundant kitchen gardens. Living on the third floor of an apartment building the best I can manage are herbs in pots and the occasional cherry tomato plant. So naturally I was transported to my version of heaven when we visited Jane and Neil Mackenzie at Mansfield on the Manning on the NSW Mid North Coast. In slightly more than the year since they took over their property with self-catering guest accommodation they have built the most amazing vegie garden and supplemented the bones of an orchard with a truly astonishing array of…

Olivia Evans and Bruce Mayne are a remarkable double act. The father-and-daughter duo welcomes guests to their central Queensland cattle station with a mug of billy tea, Anzac biscuits and damper, followed by wine, beer and nibbles. With smiles as big as their back paddock, Olivia and Bruce greet every guest by name and have the knack of making total strangers feel instantly like old friends. Their hospitality is a charismatic combination of a genuine warmth coupled with a curiosity about each new arrival that would be impossible to fake. But for all their charm, the hosts at Bandana station are but a warm up to the main act, which is the spectacle of sunset on the escarpment that runs through their property. It’s a one-off performance, each evening slightly…

Saffire Freycinet (Tas) Guests enjoying a luxurious stay at the Saffire Freycinet on Tasmania’s east coast can now indulge their senses in a series of extravagant cooking classes. Lovers of fine dining can experience behind-the-scenes demonstrations from the chefs at Saffire’s exceptional Palate restaurant while drinks connoisseurs can enjoy a Cocktail Mixology class. As with everything at the first-class Saffire hotel, these classes are the epitome of indulgence, promising a string of picture-perfect dishes and tantalising cocktails to conclude. saffi re-freycinet.com.au I Feel Good Wholefoods Cooking (NSW) Last year Adam Guthrie sold his Berry-based business to concentrate on his real passion, food. A trained chef and committed vegetarian for more than 20 years, Adam and his wife, Roo, launched I Feel Good, an online portal and app aimed at educating…

Boarders are at home at Scotch College. Scotch’s purpose built complex provides a learning, growing, caring environment that gives our girls and boys every opportunity to develop into independent and resilient learners. The Rosevear Boarding precinct includes individual and shared rooms; separate study and socialising areas; and monitored internet access for study and for communication with home. This recently completed boarding house was designed to encourage both achievement and fun. Boarders live on a spacious campus with access to the school’s gyms, pools, ovals and grounds. But most importantly Scotch boarders totally immerse themselves in the passion, history, respect, individuality and culture that makes Scotch, uniquely Scotch. Limited places still available for some year levels in 2016. Register online for a tour or for further enquiries please contact enrolments@scotch.sa.edu.au or…

Adirondack Chairs e: sales@adirondackchairsaustralia.com.au,w: adirondackchairsaustralia.com.au Australian Pearl Divers ph: 02 90218000, e: sales@australianopalcutters.com, w: australianpearldivers.com.au Art Hide e: info@arthide.com.au,w: arthide.com.au Artisanti e: shop@artisanti.com,w: artisanti.com Astro Lighting w: astrolighting.co.uk Australian Alpaca Centre e: retail@alpacacentre.com.au,w: alpacaaustralia.com.au Australian Cast Signs PO Box 650,Matraville NSW 2036. ph: (02) 93112266, w: austcastsigns.com.au Babe Scrub w: babescrub.com Backstreet Shopper e: backstreetshopper@gmail.com,w: backstreetshopper.com.au Banjo’s Bushland Retreat MoonabungMountain Range, Vacy NSW 2421.ph: (02) 9403 3388,e: bookings@banjosretreat.com.au,w: banjosretreat.com.au Barefoot Springs 155 Carrington Rd, Beaumont NSW 2577. ph: (02) 44460509, e: info@barefootsprings.com.au,w: barefootsprings.com.au Blake & Taylor w: blakeandtaylor.com.au Burbia e: prints@burbia.com.au,w: burbia.com.au Brigid McLaughlin 67 Waratah St,Haberfield NSW 2045, ph: 02 97164331, w: brigidmclaughlin.com Calico Fudge PO Box 2135, BoroniaPark NSW 2111. ph: (02) 9807 7755,w: calicofudge.com Candle Me ph: 0400 347 004,w: candleme.com.au Casavino Luxury Villas 230 Main Rd,McLaren…

SANDR A HINTON STYLIST Sandra has been weaving her magic through the pages of Australian Country for more than a decade. With a background in visual merchandising, she brings her unique eye and creative flair to our setting the scene pages as well as styling other stories for this, and our stablemate title, Homespun. KEN BRASS PHOTOGRAPHER Ken has been on the road again. From central Queensland to various points on the NSW map with a few detours along the way to shoot the lemons recipe feature and the Bollywood setting the scene pages, he’s been busy converting creative country dreams into the images you see on our pages. MERYL HANCOCK WRITER Meryl is predominantly interested in writing about the renewable and recyclable elements of architecture and design. From quirky…

For as long as she can remember Lisa Toyer has been in love with the silver screen. As a toddler she loved nothing better than to visit her grandmother and together they watched the entire Rodgers & Hammerstein repertoire … South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Carousel, The King & I, Oklahoma … and as many repeats as her granny could bear. Lunchtimes were not so much an occasion for sandwiches and sweet treats as an excuse to cosy up in front of the TV for the midday movie. “My grandmother was this incredibly elegant woman and she encouraged my passion for film,” Lisa recalls. “She also introduced me to [musical director and choreographer] Busby Berkeley’s shows and I would dance in front of the TV.” That, in turn, led…

FOR DISCOVERING SINGLEFILE WINES Some wineries make a huge splash while others do the slow grow. Singlefile is one of the latter. It dates back to 2007 when Phil and Vic Snowden bought a vineyard in Denmark, WA. Since then they’ve reconfigured that vineyard and sourced quality grapes in the Great Southern region, all the while building an enviable reputation for top notch wines at real world prices. Look into how they’ve achieved this in a marketplace full of wineries trying to do the same thing and you realise that this is no fluke. Everything is thought through — from the soils and the viticulture to the winemaking, marketing, and the consultants they employ. The label now boasts a dozen or so wines — all of very high quality —…

CONVERSATIONS WITH CREATIVE WOMEN: VOLUME TWO TESS MCCABE, CREATIVE MINDS, $29.95 The second volume in the popular Conversations with Creative Womenseries is just as enlightening as the first, tackling the struggles of balancing a creative career alongside the daily trials of family commitments and financial pressures. Featuring interviews with 16 talented Australian female creatives, Conversations gives readers a rare insight into the personal lives of Australia’s most successful, offering advice to inspire budding businesswomen everywhere, from those who can truly relate. THE THOUGHTFUL HOME TAHN SCOON, NEW HOLLAND, $19.95 From Australian Country’s own contributor, stylist Tahn Scoon, comes a home decorating guide that is as pretty as it is practical. With her trademark love of worn-and-wonky interiors in tow, Tahn brings her decorator’s eye to the world of publishing, offering…

The kitchen tabletop in Dorothy Kelly’s Emu Plains home on the outskirts of Sydney is awash with a subtle palette of kangaroo paw, mulla mulla, bottlebrush, yellow button flowers, smokebush, grevillea, banksia and gum leaves. In her workroom and garage, there are stores of containers filled with similar treats that she has hunted and gathered over the course of the year. Lifting a lid is as exquisite as opening a chocolate box, the scent equally as evocative and I’m transported into the Australian bush with one sniff. “I started collecting native flowers in 1985 after returning from our daughter’s wedding in England,” she explains. “I’ve never studied floristry but I arranged the wedding bouquets, pew markers and guest baskets and wanted to try pressing flowers to create pictures.” It was…

The deal was done in a hotel room in the middle of a sweltering Sydney summer, with a real estate website on the laptop and a map of NSW on the bed. London residents Jane and Neil Mackenzie were on one of their regular trips back to Australia, so in the heat of the day they decided to take the plunge and make the visit a permanent one. “We knew we wanted to do something in hospitality, so it just made sense to be within weekend commuting distance of Sydney,” Jane explains. ”We worked out what we could afford by selling our home in London. There were a couple of non-negotiables: I wanted a swimming pool and air conditioning and Neil wanted a Wolf cooker.” Cooma-born-and-raised Neil had spent the…

A bit like salt, the lemon has been such an essential ingredient in cooking for centuries that it has assumed a commonplace status. But there is nothing commonplace about this fruit. Early recordings are of its cultivation in Egypt and Greece, where it was partner to the olive in culinary standing. The Romans transported it to France, Spain, Portugal and North Africa; in 1493, Christopher Columbus brought lemon seeds to South America and it appeared in France and England in the 18th Century. Botanists there marvelled in its qualities and established orangeries to cultivate it. After the American Revolution, Spanish missionaries took it to North America. Always recognised for its medicinal properties, the list of applications as an antibacterial and antiviral aid, a rejuvenator and anxiety soother and a digestive…

A STRONG FOUNDATION Lay the groundwork for a relaxing bathing experience. The right tiles and a lick of paint see once-average bathrooms shine. TESTING THE WATERS These showers, baths and tapware essentials are worth a plug. FILL THE BILL Vanities, mirrors and storage, oh my! WARM & FUZZY Linen and slippers complete the spa experience. Here are a few favourites.…

CALICO FUDGE Indulge in a piece of smooth, creamy fudge from Calico Fudge. Crafted using tried-and-tested cooking techniques, each delicious batch is available in a range of flavours that is certain to suit all sweet tooths. calicofudge.com HARKAWAY HOMES A signature house from Harkaway Homes, the Gabled Victorian Traditional series is an exemplary design that caters to a large family and those seeking extra breathing space. harkawayhomes.com.au MAISON LIVING We love this vibrant painting from Maison Living’s latest collection. This textured gem brightens up interiors with a contemporary edge and retails for $430. maisonliving.com.au TRELOAR ROSES We love the colourful new varieties added to Treloar Roses’ vast selection of stunning fauna. The Wedding Bells rose boasts large pink blooms with a classic form and a delightful fragrance. Prices for this…

Australia uncovered I do so look forward to sitting down and relaxing with a copy of the latest Australian Country mag. I usually find a comfortable blend of old and new for me. There’s usually at least one area mentioned in the magazine that I’ve been to before so it’s always a joy to revisit these places by way of the gorgeous photos and interesting articles. By the same token, there’s always an article about an area I’d like to visit. In your May edition this was Cobbold Gorge, a definite on my must-see list, so thanks for including this article. Early November last year, a friend and I spent a lovely day together visiting some of the open gardens during the Castlemaine Festival of Gardens. One of these was…