Precinct Visit the hidden gems of Queensland’s Maroochydore
WE REVEAL AUSTRALIA’S MUST-VISIT SHOPPING DESTINATIONS AND THEIR HIDDEN GEMS
THERE’S A LOT MORE than the beach to see and explore in Maroochydore these days, with a former industrial estate now a shopping haven for lovers of handmade homewares, furniture and on-trend accessories. And, once the outlets here have been exhausted, a short drive towards the coast will reveal even more retail bliss.
1 | RAW SUNSHINE COAST
A sweet present from timber craftsman Chris Rawlins to his girlfriend Katie Bishop marked the beginning of this successful small furniture business. “It was a beautiful little bench seat handcrafted from reclaimed VJ boards,” says Katie. “Chris even engraved a love note!” Soon, Katie was designing pieces for Chris to build and they realised there was a demand for their Scandinavian-style wares. With the birth of their baby, Indie,
Katie recently started stocking babywear, too, including her own sweet line of linen nappy covers.
MUST-HAVE: ‘Freja’ bedside table (bottom right), from $895.
OPEN: Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm;
Sat, 9am–2pm.
VISIT: 23 Kayleigh Drive,
0413 111 595. BOOKMARK:
rawsunshinecoast.com.au.
2 | THE DAILY SOCIAL
The Daily Social cafe around the corner from Raw Sunshine Coast is run by Jac and Zoe Stanton, who serve delicious sweet treats and bagels inspired by Jac’s time spent living in New York. Savour your slice of the Big Apple under the shade of palm trees in the cafe’s courtyard before you continue your retail journey.
MUST-HAVE: Coffee by First Batch Coffee Roasters in Noosa.
OPEN: Mon–Fri, 6am–2pm;
Sat, 7am–noon.
VISIT: 23 Kayleigh Drive,
0484 017 132.
BOOKMARK: thedailysocial.com.au.
3 | THINGS OF METAL & WOOD
You know you’ve found Paolo and Belinda Baretta’s Things Of Metal & Wood when you spot the cute awning over the coffee window attached to their showroom. Beyond the door that separates the cafe/showroom from the workshop, you can watch Paolo at work and soak in Belinda’s eclectic array of modern art and homewares. “Pushing the boundaries of design with the combination of metal and wood inspires the endless possibilities of our furniture,” says Paolo.
MUST-HAVE: Custom-made indoor/outdoor table and bench setting (left), from $3800.
OPEN: Mon–Tues, 9am–3pm; Wed–Fri, 9am–4pm; Sat 9am–1pm.
VISIT: 45 Wises Rd, 0407 011 772. BOOKMARK:
thingsofmetalandwood.com.au.
4| HELLO TRADER
Hello Trader is full of carefully curated wares, ranging from vivid Moroccan rugs to locally made ceramic tableware. Owners Chelsea and Jimmy Bennie spent five years in wedding and event styling before transforming what was their light-drenched storage space into a dreamy showroom. “We work directly with global artisans, and think it’s pretty special that 100 per cent of our collection is handmade,” enthuses Chelsea. The couple is working on their own designs as well, focusing on the philosophy that less really is more if you choose the right pieces.
MUST-HAVE: Leather and teak woven bedhead (pictured, centre), from $499/single.
OPEN: Tues–Fri, 10am–3pm;
Sat, 9am–1pm.
VISIT: 1/14 Kayleigh Drive,
0451 551 384. BOOKMARK: hellotrader.com.au.
5| COAST STORE
In an historic beach bungalow on the banks of the Maroochy River you’ll find Coast Store
– a crisp-white weatherboard wonderland for lovers of colonial and coastal interiors, curated expertly by Emilia Johnston, a former magazine stylist. “The trick in a home is to merge all your objects into a stylish sanctuary, and it’s the same in the shop, but you need to mix more styles and try and make it work in a small space,” says Emilia with a smile. Laid out over three rooms, locally-made ceramics by Michael Pugh, gorgeous floor cushions by Queensland designer Cassandra Harper and myriad imported wares delight at every turn.
MUST-HAVE: Gold cutlery, from $4.90/piece; ‘Married To The Sea’ ceramic platter, $99, square tray, $49, trinket dish, $12 (below left).
OPEN: Tues–Fri, 10am–4pm;
Sat, 10am–2pm.
VISIT: 67 The Esplanade,
0423 247 372. BOOKMARK: coaststore.com.au.