WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Yellow Bird

Along with clothing, pretty gifts and gentle baby products from local makers, this boutique is known for the motherdaughter duo at its helm. Christine Alberts and Tracy Drummond’s line of Yellow Bird home fragrance products remains the store’s biggest seller, with regular customers dropping in for refills. The hand-poured candles, olive oil soaps, room sprays, linen sprays and diffusers first became popular at humble market stalls, after which Christine and Tracy opened Yellow Bird as a pop-up shop. They now ship their products all across the country from a permanent, light-filled location on one of Albany’s main streets. Follow @yellowbirdalbany on Instagram and watch for a new website launch. 187 York Street, Albany, 0407 444 415.

String + Salt

Step inside this home cook’s paradise in the heart of Warragul, West Gippsland, and you’ll be wowed by the floor-toceiling shelves of jars. Filled with herbs, spices, salts and teas, they create a kind of modern apothecary — you can purchase by weight, with goods carefully scooped, measured and wrapped as you choose. Browse earthenware ceramics, a thoughtful collection of cookbooks, plus chic tableware and kitchen tools made in natural materials and muted tones. Then wander through to the concept kitchen and dream of what rangecookers by the likes of AGA, Falcon and Rayburn might look like in your home. Dave and Michelle Cann own the store, with Michelle describing it as “a pleasing intersection of the humble, practical, sustainable and luxurious. While everything is centred around good living, you could walk out with a bag of smoked salt and a biodegradable scrubbing brush … or an Italianengineered steam oven!” Visit the website to book sought-after places in String + Salt’s cooking classes on everything from salumi-making to authentic Turkish and Malaysian cuisine. 42 Smith Street, Warragul, (03) 5622 2119, stringandsalt.com.au

“We want visitors to get a real Tasmanian experience — take some time out, sit under the trees, drink a beer and eat some cheese.”

LEFT String + Salt in Warragul offers all the amazing ingredients a home chef could ask for, as well as a range of beautiful implements in which to sift and cook them. BELOW If you’re a lover of cheese, head to Bruny Island Cheese & Beer Co. Nick Haddow has been creating delicious artisan cheeses for years.