Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue #26.1 February/March 2023 i Australian Country

It’s gusting 50 kilometres per hour at Cape Grim on the very north-western extremity of Tasmania, but guide Laura Dabner assures everyone that’s barely a breeze in these parts. Winds of up to 160kph are not unheard of as the Roaring 40s crash into the coastline after blowing westerly between latitudes 40°S and 50°S. They have plenty of time to gain momentum as they’re uninterrupted by land for almost 20,000km across the Southern Ocean from the Patagonian coast of South America. As Laura wryly observes, this explains why most residents in this neck of the woods have very tidy backyards. It also means it’s a great location for the Woolnorth Wind Farm, with a total of 62 turbines producing 10 per cent of the island state’s power. The turbines Laura…

OUR PLACE IN THE COUNTRY Peter and Janelle’s aim is to breed the bestpossible genetics to advance their awardwinning flock of sheep for meat. It’s lambing season in the NSW central west and the latest additions to Tara Country’s stud books are taking wobbly steps as they find their land legs after the confines of their mothers’ wombs. While the newborns in the nursery paddocks may appear as cute as bugs’ ears, Tara’s owners Peter and Janelle Matus explain that there’s serious business at play here. Their aim is to breed the best-possible genetics to advance their award-winning flock of sheep for meat. Located on the outskirts of the historic village of Rockley near Bathurst, Tara’s 300 acres (120 hectares) is home to a mix of primarily Border Leicesters, Poll…

ON THE RIGHT TRACK Never underestimate the power of a first impression. That’s the mantra of stylist Amy Bowe, who has built a hugely successful business based on the seductive art of creating interiors with instant appeal. Amy and her business partner, Monica Willis, run South Coast Property Styling from an office in Berry in the Shoalhaven region of the NSW south coast. Their bread-and-butter trade is staging houses for the property market, bringing in furniture, props and artworks to inject a little wow factor into interiors so the homes have instant appeal to prospective buyers during inspections. They swoop in with their truck full of everything from beds and linen to paintings, lamps and the occasional artfully placed cookbook to transform the mundane into the memorable for the all-important…

ON THE RIGHT TRACK Motor mechanics and the mining industry may sound like unlikely training grounds for flower farmers, but that is precisely the skill set Phil and Fiona Medwin brought to their Tasmanian farm. Granted Phil had grown up on the farm, where his parents, Rodney and Christine, had farmed for most of their lives before retiring to the historic seaside village of Stanley. They raised sheep, grew mixed vegetables and poppies for the pharmaceutical industry, continuing a farming tradition established in 1841 when William Medwin, his wife, Elizabeth, and their eight children, arrived from England and settled with a 500-acre (202-hectare) land grant at Black River. Most of the early years were spent clearing land, dealing with bushrangers and trying to establish themselves in their new habitat, which…

GARDEN PROFILE "We gradually spread out into the valley, planting conifers, willows, English elms and more than 1000 blossom trees. Southern Tablelands residents Pat and Bill Rhodin say their passion for gardening has taken them around the world. Twice, in fact, as on two occasions, their first home garden in Canberra won competitions with world trips as prizes. But 30 years ago, they moved out of the national capital in search of more space in which to build their dream garden. Now for one month each year, the world comes to them to see their remarkable 10-acre (four-hectare) site at Sutton north-east of Canberra just off the Federal Highway. “We bought the property in 1993 and for the first few years concentrated on developing around the house,” Pat recalls. “We…

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THINGS WE LOVE…

COUNTRY RESTORATION “ I like buildings with heritage. I find the history interesting and I like all the different layers of time. “ Te two ways to burn money are to start a wine business and do up an old building,” Sue Bell says as she chats from the upstairs office of her cellar door, while a wine tasting is currently being held downstairs. And she’s referring to not one, but two old buildings. Located in Coonawarra in South Australia’s Limestone Coast region, Sue’s winery and cellar door, aptly named Bellwether Wines (for her surname, Bell, and its meaning as something that leads trends), is housed in an old stone shearing shed built in the 1860s. Meanwhile, Sue’s home, a 15-minute drive away in Penola, which she bought in December…

MOVING TO THE COUNTRY Wendy Page candidly admits she was a most reluctant convert to country living. Growing up with her dad in the army meant she lived all over the world until her family finally settled in Perth and her career as an ABC TV producer further cemented her love of travel, not to mention the bright lights of big cities. Wendy’s husband, quantity surveyor Alan, also loves to travel, mainly in his pursuit of top skiing spots around the world. They met on a skiing trip to Scotland while they were both working in London and, on return to Australia, lived and worked in Sydney for most of their careers. Alan, however, had family in northern Tasmania and, after many years of holidays with them, felt the urge…

PUKARA ESTATE Earth & Grace skincare from Pukara Estate combines the nourishing properties of olive oil with the regenerative elements of natural extracts. The olive oil body bar, $11.95, is made from olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, aloe vera, frankincense and vanilla. pukaraestate.com.au SMITTEN MERINO The Smitten Merino Zero Waste cami top, $110, is cleverly handmade from Tasmanian Merino wool using the brand’s offcuts to create a multi-coloured fashion piece. Not only is it an eco-conscious choice but, due to the unique manufacturing method, each top is truly one of a kind. smittenmerino.com RESTORATION STATION Every house needs a chandelier, and Restoration Station has a great selection, including the Prague pendant (pictured). Most designs are available in three-, five- or nine-light options and are made with real crystal, not…