Precinct Explore the delights of New South Wales’ Moss Vale
WE REVEAL AUSTRALIA’S MUST-VISIT SHOPPING DESTINATIONS AND THEIR HIDDEN GEMS
THIS SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS town has been somewhat in the shadow of better-known Bowral, 10 kilometres away. Yet a welcome influx of fabulous new stores and eateries is transforming the main street into a destination all of its own, an extra lure for visitors who are drawn to the area’s rolling countryside and vivid change of seasons.
1 | MOSSY STORE
Architect Genevieve Furzer and photographer Simon Kenny’s inviting store is an homage to the handmade, well made and Fairtrade. Sitting alongside self-taught carpenter Simon’s beautiful timber pieces, which include armchairs, Shakerinfluenced tables and a divine swing seat, are mostly Australian products for every part of the home. “Everything has to be useful, fit for purpose and made to last,” says Genevieve. Her mantra for the store is ‘heirloom not landfill’, with many pieces, such as Seljak blankets from Tasmania and Scott Chaseling Cupcycles, having serious eco-credentials.
MUST-HAVES: Hand-forged Celtic letter opener in leather sheath, $195; Pleco corn-based bags, from $36/small; Simon Kenny swing seat, $5250.
OPEN: Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm;
Sun, 11am-3pm.
VISIT: 394 Argyle St; 0409 223 277.
BOOKMARK: facebook.com/
mossystore.
2 | BOWERBIRD ON ARGYLE
A relative newcomer to the strip, Karen Edwards’ extensive store unfolds into a series of ‘rooms’, each with its own distinctive aesthetic – think cosy library, classic French, Hollywood Regency – giving visitors a wide and eclectic mix of homewares to discover. “I try and make it so that there’s something here for everybody,” explains Karen. Alongside myriad pieces, large and small, Bowerbird also offers a supply-and-hang wallpaper service, and hosts a selection of other creatives, including Romance Revisited clothing, an upholsterer and furniture restorer, and Alpana Collections’ super-pretty alpaca textiles.
MUST-HAVES: Rasch wallpapers, from $180/10m roll (above right); finial ornaments, $149/small; gold moosehead, $450.
OPEN: Mon-Sun, 9.30am-5pm. VISIT: 416 Argyle St;
(02) 4868 1125.
BOOKMARK: facebook.com/ bowerbirdonargyle.
3 | HIGHLANDS MERCHANT
Owner Lisa Wisken drew on a career in marketing and a stint at Bowral’s Flour Water Salt to bring this inviting eatery to Moss Vale, hot on the heels of the opening of Suzie Anderson Home, next door. With an emphasis on supporting local producers and delivering fresh, light meals with a menu that is updated weekly, this little spot was packed out the door on our visit – largely thanks to superb coffee and dishes such as their toasted panini roll with poached eggs, spinach, leg ham and Drunken Sailor tomato relish.
MUST-HAVES: Pink Dragon cold-pressed juice, $7; All
Day breakfast roll, $14.50. OPEN: Mon-Sun, 8am-3pm.
VISIT: 405 Argyle St;
(02) 4869 5746.
BOOKMARK: highlands merchant.com.au.
4 | SUZIE ANDERSON HOME
A true retail destination, interior designer Suzie Anderson’s store is a treasure trove of French provincial and Hamptons-style furniture and homewares. Expect to find collections in luscious natural materials such as timber, linen, leather and rattan, with a predominantly neutral palette and soft touches of gentle colour. The store is set up in a series of gorgeously styled zones that make you want to whip out the plastic and say, “I’ll have the lot, please.” This newer space is larger than Suzie’s Bowral outlet, giving her the opportunity to tweak her timeless aesthetic. “I like classic, ageless sorts of things, but because I’ve got a few rooms here I can go a little more ethnic or tribal,” says Suzie. “I can play a little bit.”
MUST-HAVES: Scallop 4-hook coat rack, $99; Hale Mercantile Co tablecloths, $239; rattan chair, $750; leather pet bed, $1035.
OPEN: Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm;
Sun, 10am-3pm.
VISIT: 409-411 Argyle St;
(02) 4868 2662.
BOOKMARK: suzie andersonhome.com.
5 | THE GREEN HOUSE
Fans of Bowral’s much-morethan-a-garden-store The Potting Shed will adore owner Maureen Gardner’s more recent venture. The Green House, in the 19thcentury former station master’s cottage and garden, is a real browser’s delight, showcasing extraordinary one-off treasures for the garden, in addition to a curated selection of homewares and, of course, plants. “We particularly look for the unusual, things that will add beauty to your home,” says Maureen, whose stock includes French wrought-iron baker’s stands, antique wooden doors from Rajasthan and steel obelisks crafted by the local Men’s Shed. The interior also doubles as an exhibition space for fashion designer Trent Nathan’s artwork.
MUST-HAVES: Terracotta potted plants, from $20; antique bird feeder, $45; synthetic crystal Mario Luca Giusti picnicware, from $35/glass.
OPEN: Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm; Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
VISIT: 247 Argyle St; 0419 154 860. BOOKMARK: