Regional Shopping Guide
JANUARY IS A POPULAR MONTH FOR A ROAD TRIP. AS YOU PASS THROUGH RURAL TOWNS OR STAYA FEW DAYS, TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT THESE STORES.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA Bella Yorke Boutique
Situated on the east coast of the Yorke Peninsula, the small town of Ardrossan is known for its long fishing jetty, abundance of blue swimmer crabs and relaxed seaside pace. In 2015, local mother and daughter-in-law team Liz and Amy Abell decided to open a shop to bring their love of fashion to life. Housed in a quaint building next to Ardrossan’s iconic bakery, complete with ocean views from the doorstep, Bella Yorke Boutique has a focus on keeping stock affordable to accommodate its regional customer base. Today, the shop is the perfect place to pick up a printed sundress, pair of bright earrings or cute fringed sandals at a great price. Amy’s eye for colour and fun accessories (check out her range of on-trend headbands) means she has a loyal following in the area, both young and old. Visit Bella Yorke Boutique’s website to shop online. 33 First Street, Ardrossan, (08) 8897 0249, bellayorke.com.au
VICTORIA The Marigold Merchant
Greeted by a sea of dusty pink, mustard yellow and sage green, you’ll find hip homewares, bedding, rattan furniture and framed prints at The Marigold Merchant in Warragul. But it’s the delightful collection of baby and children’s clothes, plus sweet pieces for the nursery, that brings in customers. Hayley Scott opened the shop in late 2018, as the sister store to her fashion offering, Dear Blackbird Boutique, a few doors down. Hayley has a clean, crisp and functional website that gets a work-out from customers all over the country (tip: it’s great for newborn presents). Popular brands include Sage x Clare, Kip & Co and Wandering Folk, with Quincy Mae, Children of the Tribe and gorgeous French label Louise Misha leading the children’s wear charge. Follow @themarigoldmerchant on Instagram for gift ideas and updates. Shop 2, 12 Napier Street, Warragul, (03) 5623 1386, themarigoldmerchant.com.au
Merricks General Wine Store
Nestled between the rolling hills and sparkling coastline of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, this rustic farmhouse-inspired general store is adored by Merricks locals and visitors. The fine selection of wine, art and produce on offer is mostly sourced from the surrounding area. The bustling space hosts a busy summer of events (book launches, live music nights and guest speakers), including The Traders — a pop-up shop inside the on-site Merricks House Art Gallery, where an eclectic collection of fashion, homewares, hampers and more is curated by store owner Samantha Baillieu and her daughter, Georgia. Stop in and wander the cottage gardens, enjoy the bistro’s French-country fare and shop Stuart Cantor’s dreamy European summer photographs, floaty Palm Noosa dresses, Marigold Interiors’ treasures from Asia as well as locally crafted jewellery by Edenborough Evans. You can also purchase a selection of produce and wine online. 3460 Frankston-flinders Road, Merricks, (03) 5989 8088, mgwinestore.com.au
NEW SOUTH WALES Three Donkeys Home
Quieter than its well-known neighbour Terrigal, the beachside town of Wamberal is the perfect place to stop for a few hours, or even days, on your way along New South Wales’ Central Coast. In any case, a visit to Three Donkeys Home is a must. Owners Joanne and Roy Mussalli opened the store, affectionately named after their three children, a year ago. Joanne has a knack for sourcing vintage furniture and French farmhouse-style homewares with a modern feel — their calming neutral tones make the shop a pleasure to browse through. We love lush linens by In The Sac, Meg By Design tunics and Joanne’s stunning selection of 10 Stones ceramics. Don’t miss her stylish range of mesh cloches over timber boards, too — essential for our kitchens in summer, be they country or coastal. Post-shopping, pop three doors down to this busy duo’s original venture, Three Donkeys café, for wholefoods and great coffee. 1/2 Ghersi Avenue, Wamberal, (02) 4309 5440, instagram.com/threedonkeyshome
Flots & Jets
“My mum had one of those!” is a phrase heard often, and received warmly, by Flots & Jets owner Megan Ridgway. The shop, in Megan’s coastal hometown of Yamba, was originally opened to alleviate her house of some of the interesting pieces she’d gathered over time while raising her five children — “items that I could see value in, when others couldn’t,” she explains. Four years on, the quirky store is a stylist’s dream. As Megan tells us, “it’s filled with found objects, weird collections and lots of old vintage and retro pieces like bottles, boxes, patterns, tins, lamps, buttons, beads and more.” A keen recycler and true >
creative, Megan values things that are well-crafted and made to last. She finds joy in giving pre-loved possessions a new chance to add character to our homes. In store, you’ll also find a selection of modern treasures, such as Pony Rider textiles, Moe Moe jewellery and gorgeous Just Enough Beach soy candles, hand-poured in Yamba. 3/13 Yamba Street, Yamba, 0421 742 122, instagram.com/flots_n_jets
TASMANIA Coco Blue
Coco Blue in Campbell Town is located along the Heritage Highway, the main road connecting the north of Tasmania to the south. “We often have tourists come in, stretching their legs with a coffee in hand,” says owner Jo Taylor, “plus we get a lot of husbands looking for ‘lost’ wives!” We can attest the light-filled weatherboard cottage is just the sort of place we’d love to get lost in. Jo wryly tells us she encourages “mooching” in store, and we know some customers do spend more than an hour browsing her stunning collection of antiques, art, homewares, women’s fashion, babies’ clothes, lifestyle books and men’s products — all carefully sourced from Tasmania, mainland Australia and beyond. Jo and her husband Dave are wool producers, so items made from natural fibres rate highly for Jo. She names Bow and Arrow, Woolbabe and Binny as some of her best suppliers. We can’t resist Antica Farmacista candles and locally made Just Add Moonshine jams and chutneys — and there’s a waitlist in store for The Essential Onion Jam. She says, “it’s addictive and always sells out.” Where do we sign up? If you’re not in the area, visit Coco Blue’s website to shop online. 80 High Street, Campbell Town, (03) 6381 1150, cocobluegiftware.com.au
QUEENSLAND Fabric Society
Fabric Society is a long-held secret among Noosa regulars. Every year, those in the know make the 20-minute drive from the Sunshine Coast holiday destination to see ‘the quilt lady’, as Diana Boden is fondly known, in her permanent store at the Eumundi markets. Here they shop Diana’s exquisite range of vibrant Indian cotton kantha bedspreads, along with tablecloths, cushions, placemats and more. Breathable, lightweight and beautifully soft, the pieces are ideal for summer. Diana’s faithful clientele know she has an exceptional eye for detail, quality and price, thanks to her studies in screen-printing and textiles. Years spent in India, China, Mozambique, Thailand, Bali and Singapore also mean she’s carefully hand-picked a loyal group of fair-trade suppliers. This season, stock up on fresh blues and whites, teal greens and calming grey tones. Diana’s restocked her palm tree prints in green, pink, blue and soft grey — “everyone loves the palm print,” she tells us. Another rare find? Extra-long (340cm) cotton tablecloths for extra-long lunches and big family barbecues. Fabric Society is open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and by appointment, or buy from afar online. Shop 216, 1–7 Napier Road, Eumundi Square, 0416 293 205, fabricsociety.com.au
Gypsy and the Bowerbird
When their favourite Mackay boutique came on the market, sisters-in-law Stephanie Hain and Claire Hammill jumped at the opportunity to buy it. The pair have since enriched the store with earthy colours and bohemian style, selling an eclectic mix of vintage and modern interior pieces. Independent brands from Australia and New Zealand feature heavily — think tribal pieces from Indigo Love Collectors and Maison & Maison, decorative tiles by Ahoy Trader and summer essentials from The Beach People. With five children between them, it’s no wonder Stephanie and Claire also stock stand-out kids’ products, such as Olli Ella’s clever Strolleys and the Little People, Big Dreams books by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara. Look out for baskets and rugs picked up recently on a buying trip in
Morocco — Stephanie and Claire toured with Pip Brett from Jumbled in Orange, NSW, and Julia Green from Greenhouse Interiors in Victoria’s Barwon Heads. Conveniently, Gypsy and the Bowerbird shares space with The Deli Nook, who are arguably the best baristas in Mackay so you can get your caffeine fix in store. The ladies also have an impressive website to browse from home. Shop 2, 139 Victoria Street, Mackay, (07) 4953 5125, gypsyandthebowerbird.com.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA Short St Gallery
What better way to spend a summer afternoon in Broome than to immerse yourself in local culture. For more than 20 years, Short St Gallery has been specialising in contemporary art, showcasing some of Australia’s most collected and respected Indigenous artists. Owner Emily Rohr and staff also work with and source from community-run art centres around regional Australia. The public gallery, located in the heart of Broome, holds specialised exhibitions each month, with this year’s calendar curated to include newcomers and established artists. More magic is to be found in the gallery’s studio space at Town Beach — a hidden stockroom or annexe. Walk down the red dirt path to the historic white bungalow surrounded by palm trees, with open louvres and a weathered front door. Inside is described by the gallery as “a true Kimberley treasure trove” and it is run by friendly staff and knowledgeable resident artists. A visit to the gallery or studio is an amazing way to learn about complex and diverse Indigenous art practices. It’s easy to see why many clients return yearly for professional advice and, of course, to add to their expanding collections. 7 Short Street, Broome (public gallery); 3 Hopton Street, Broome (studio space, by appointment only), (08) 9192 6118, shortstgallery.com
Coco Blue in Campbell Town stocks antiques, art, homewares, fashion and babies’ clothes.