On the Beach: A holiday retreat on the wild SA coast

TWO SISTERS HAVE CREATED A WHIMSICAL BEACH COTTAGE ON THE RUGGED SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COAST.

WHEN SISTERS Emma Read and Sarah Hall arrive at their beach cottage at Marion Bay on the southern tip of the Yorke Peninsula, their children race to the yard and climb in the branches of a casuarina tree, before they all set off for Penguin Point. The beach is a two-minute walk through wattle and saltbush shrub, where the cousins clamber over sand dunes and search for shells. “It always feels like coming home,” says Sarah, 43, who like her sister Emma, 41, is based in Adelaide, 287 kilometres to the north-east. “We’re so happy to arrive and there’s a big exhale and a sense of relief.” At the gateway to Innes National Park, the town with its craggy, pristine coastline and string of lighthouses is the perfect setting for Emma and Sarah’s children to spend their holidays. Sarah and husband Adam and their children 10-year-old Story and Arlo, six, have been holidaying here for the past four years with cousins Tuesday, 10, eight-yearold Reggie and Abel, five, who are Emma and Matt’s children. Back in Adelaide, the cousins live just up the road from each other and attend the same school, but nothing compares to their carefree coastal adventures. “We love Enid Blyton books and this place evokes that feeling. There are coves to explore and shipwrecks just off the coast,” Sarah says. “The kids crave this space to run free.” Growing up, they inherited a flair for interiors from their mother who worked in design. However, decorating remains a sideline hobby as Emma works as a social worker while Sarah is a public sector lawyer. Once the children were old enough to attend school, they began searching for a house and in 2015 they spotted the >

cottage listed at Marion Bay. “It was so cute and we loved it because it was a weatherboard with good bones. We could see the potential, plus it’s in a great location,” Emma says. At the time, the cottage had a lime green interior, which was later repainted white. Many family working bees later and the nearby shed was converted into additional bedrooms and a living area by lining it with plywood, installing sliding barn-style doors, and painting the concrete floor. The shed was linked to the house with a large deck, which created an additional entertainment area. “It had to stay humble and not too precious — that was really important to us,” says Emma. “We were careful not to overdo it. The bathroom had yellow tiles and a mosaic around the bath and we wondered how far do we go regarding our beliefs about recycling and reusing material. In the end we kept the tiles and put weatherboard over the mosaic. Now it’s one of our favourite rooms. The yellow tiles make it!” The sisters have thrived on their combined creative project, which they say has brought them even closer. They’ve created a beautiful and restful space with daybeds — perfect for afternoon naps — and a collection of vintage wares sourced from their favourite stores in Adelaide and beyond. Every item in the house has been carefully considered for purpose, comfort and beauty. “We wanted it to be whimsical, romantic and magical — a place to go and dream on holidays,” Sarah says. “It’s a good interior when every little area tells a story.” Earlier this year, they decided to open the cottage as a holiday rental so others can enjoy it. “It’s a great feeling sharing what you love with others,” Emma says. The partnership between the two couples has been so successful that they recently purchased a tin shed on the Yorke Peninsula with plans to create another holiday house. Emma and Sarah love nothing more than walking along the beach together, collecting foliage and pebbles as they go.“this has changed our lives. Having a house with my sister means we get to grow up all over again,” Sarah says. Visit mysisterandthesea.com Follow @readandhall

PHOTOGRAPHY MARNIE HAWSON MARION BAY SOUTH AUSTRALIA HOME Sisters Sarah and Emma looking out towards Chinamans Hat Island. FACING PAGE Looking down the hall into the kitchen. “We love collecting vintage glasses,” says Emma. The model ship USS Constellation was purchased at Scammell Auctions in Adelaide. “It has tiny ropes and sailors, and we let the children play with it.” For stockists details, see page 136.

CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT “Everything gets hung here in summer — bathers, wetsuits, towels and sunhats,” says Emma of the hooks that were found at the local dump; the pathway to the front door; the children love to toast marshmallows over a fire pit in the garden while sitting around and reading; “This is where we hang out, close to the fire and the kitchen,” says Sarah. The Danish oil painting was found at Scammell Auctions. The pendant over the dining table is from Ikea; the dining table was from a CWA Hall, found on Gumtree. The sisters scoured op shops for vintage seascapes such as the one that hangs over the day bed; a print on linen hangs by the front door, sourced from @thestoryofvintage on Instagram; Emma and Sarah watching the Pacific gulls at Innes National Park.

HOME MARION BAY SOUTH AUSTRALIA The sailor portrait in the kitchen was sourced from a Danish op shop when Emma and Sarah holidayed in Europe for Emma’s 40th. The original kitchen sink was kept. “We try and reuse things that don’t need replacing,” says Sarah. The sisters enjoy foraging for plants and drying them for display in the cottage.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Emma foraging in the dunes; Chinamans Bay Island; Emma’s bedroom features bed linen from I Love Linen, lamps from Ikea and a small nude found at the Porte de Clignancourt flea market in Paris; a vintage dust pan and brush was an op shop find; the living room in the converted shed was lined in ply and features a red rug from Armadillo & Co; Emma and Sarah love catching up at their beach cottage. “We have so much fun together and gravitate to the same things,” Emma says.