Domain Review Stonnington & Boroondara - January 31, 2024

S TO N N I N G TO N & B O R O O N D A R A

J A N U A RY 3 1 , 2 0 2 4

I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H

F E AT U R E

Wacky Ideas Serious Design Dowel Jones furniture is on the rise, and it's all made in Australia.

PROPERTY A Slice of Liveable Luxury — Page 10

CONTENTS

Domain Group is a leading property marketplace made-up of a portfolio of brands. We are united in our purpose to inspire confidence in life’s property decisions. Our brands offer products and solutions to consumers and agents interested in property across every step of their property journey. We are motivated to innovate in our industry and leverage our unique data, products, and technology to deliver solutions to our customers that are found only on Domain.

Broadsheet is Australia’s leading independent publisher. Online and in print, we aim to keep you in the loop with the best Melbourne has to offer and enrich your life in the city.

We won’t waste your time with anything you don’t need to know about – just the essentials in home & lifestyle, art & design, fashion & style, food & drink, entertainment and travel.

Broadsheet also has a presence in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Domain National magazine editor: Natalie Mortimer Editorial producer: Hailey Coules Group picture editor: Kylie Thomson Senior designer: Colleen Chin Quan Graphic designer: Emma Drake Group content director: Mark Roppolo Chief marketing officer: Rebecca Darley Chief executive officer: Jason Pellegrino

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Editor: Jo Walker Assistant editor: Gitika Garg Design lead: Ben Siero Designer: Ella Witchell Sub editors: Adeline Teoh, Annie Toller Writers: Emma Do, Sanam Goodman, Alice Freer, Ruby Harris, Rosie Herdman, Grace MacKenzie, Shannon Valentine Photographers: Jamie Alexander, Jasmine Blom, Pablo Diaz, Amy Hemmings, Kaede James Takamoto, Arianna Leggiero, Jessica Prince, Hilary Walker

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0408 855 903 Contact: editorial@domain.com.au Distribution enquiries:

distribution@domainreview.com.au Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, it is all subject to change.

Broadsheet

Cover credits: Adam Lynch and Dale Hardiman shot by Hilary Walker

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Welcome to our first issue for 2024.

We’re starting the year with a look at Dowel Jones – a Melbourne furniture and fit-out company that manufactures right here in Victoria.

It’s an endeavour co-founders and designers Adam Lynch and Dale Hardiman take seriously, but still have fun with. And it’s something special to have stuff for our homes made so close to home.

Jo Walker Broadsheet Editor

CONTENTS

The Interview with Yasmine Ghoniem PAG E 7

Home Of The Week PAG E 1 0

Feature: Dowel Jones PAG E 1 3

Neighbourhoods: Brighton

“People in Melbourne really appreciate food.

Given our background in fine food, we felt like the hospitality culture in Melbourne really suited us.”

Creative Couples

PAG E 1 6

PAG E 1 8

Creative Couples with Hyoju Park and Rong Yao Soh PAG E 1 8

Property Listings PAG E 2 1

January 31, 2024

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FOR STARTERS

NOW OPEN

THREE OF A KIND

Squeezy olive oils For the slippery-finger-prone, a new wave of Aussie olive-oil brands has your back, subbing out traditional glass bottles for squeezable plastic vessels.

It’s a functional solution that allows for controlled spattering. Melbourne label Supper Supply packs premium extra-virgin olive oil in 100 per cent postconsumer plastic bottles. Goldi’s smooth mix comes from the Goulburn Valley.

And It’s Olio offers McLaren Vale olive oil in playful, retro packaging. — GG

It’s Olio itsolio.com.au

Pony 14 Beatty Avenue, Armadale Supper Supply suppersupply.com.au

Emily Stribley and Michael Valentine opened Armadale’s beloved Neighbourhood Pizza in 2019. Now, the couple has opened a second restaurant, in the former Sonny Chiba space.

Pony is a casual spot with a name inspired by the horseshoe Stribley’s mum spotted at the top of the building. The duo is joined here by chef Mark Jennings, who has 10 years of Melbourne cafe experience.

Highlights on Jennings’s menu include the classic beef cheeseburger (a dish the chef has included on every menu he’s designed), and the whole chargrilled chicken, butterflied and served with salsa verde.

Bar manager Dylan Field (ex-Gimlet) also joins the team, bringing with him a commitment to up the cocktail offering in Armadale. Sip on concoctions like the Spicy Lynette (tequila, cucumber, lime and cayenne pepper) and the Johnny O’Moore (Irish whiskey, Cocchi di Torino vermouth, chinotto and angostura) downstairs in the cocktail bar, which is sun-filled during the day and dark and moody at night. — RH

Photo: Pablo Diaz

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Goldi tastegoldi.com

FOR STARTERS

ADD TO CA RT

READ ME

IN THE DIARY

Petites Pommes classic pool ring

Escape to Nature

Bloodlines by The Huxleys

Want to splash about in style and still look slightly grown-up? These retro striped pool rings from Danish outfit Petites Pommes are inspired by classic holiday destinations and come in a sophisticated range of pastel and neutral colourways. Hand-printed and made to last using materials free of BPA and phthalates, they’re just the thing for lazing in the pool, creek or local billabong. Find them in Australia via Poolside’s collection of mid-century-influenced outdoor furniture and accessories. — JW

Complete with info on 75 national parks around Australia, this visual guide comes to you from the expert team at Australian Geographic and is loaded with inspiration from Alps to ocean.

A worthy companion for those planning getaways based on national parks, it’s also a great read for armchair travellers, with a focus on conservation and Indigenous knowledge of the land. Set plans not your thing? This guide will still have you adding some incredible spots to your next trip. — SV

Melbourne-based duo The Huxleys bring their multidisciplinary exhibition Bloodlines to Midsumma Festival, the city’s annual celebration of queer arts and culture. The project pays homage to legendary artists – including Australian icons like Leigh Bowery and Peter Tully – lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the ’80s and ’90s. The flamboyant visual and performance artists present photography, video art, costume design and performance. Entry is free. — GG

$99 / poolsidestore.com.au

$50 / hardiegrantgift.com.au

Klaus, The Huxleys, 2022

Until Feb 11 / Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford / midsumma.org.au

HOME MAKER Authete Studio Sydney-based creative Holly Kent sculpts pared-back ceramics that go big on texture and detail. Her most recent range of handmade vases sees chunky clay chains draped from smooth stoneware silhouettes. There are also striped bowls and incense holders, wavy paint palettes that could double as jewellery dishes or snack platters, sleek mugs plus a selection of hand-engraved glassware in the mix. Kent says Authete’s pieces are “experimental” while fulfilling a functional purpose. “They need to be able to serve you [without [without] without] you being scared of using them every day.” — GG authete.com.au

January 31, 2024

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FOR STARTERS

SNACK BAR

by Audrey Payne

in atest The l e ourn Melb news food

STREET STYLE Chadstone Shopping Centre, Chadstone

Name: Hannah Srinivasan Age: 20 Occupation: Retail store manager Tell us about your outfit today. I’m usually in full black and I like girly dadcore. But the weather is nice, the sun’s out and so I thought, orange it is!

I really like bright colours. How does your style fit in with your lifestyle?

I’m a comfy type of girl. I’m on my feet working for nine hours a day so my style is very functional, but I still want to look cute because I work in retail.

UGO Burrata Bar, a stall dedicated to the creamy photogenic cheese, has opened at South Melbourne Market. Stop by for burrata from That’s Amore Cheese served in 10 different ways.

UGO Burrata Bar, South Melbourne Market Deli Aisle, 322–326 326 Coventry Street, South Melbourne (York Street Entrance) / ugo.com.au Hawthorn’s Kori Ice-Cream – the Japaneseinspired scoop shop from former Luxbite pastry chef Bernard Chu and ex-Tonka pastry chef Joanne Yeoh – has opened a tiny new store in a CBD car park. Try flavours like nashi pear, tofu vanilla and Hokkaido cheesecake. Kori CBD, 392 Bourke Street, Melbourne / kori-icecream.com.au Melbourne-based social enterprise Free to Feed is back with a new instalment of its much-loved Summer Feast series. Celebrate the flavours of Persian, Levantine, Afghan and African cuisines at special ticketed events until March 1. freetofeed.org.au Celebrity chef and cookbook author Karen Martini is about to launch St Kilda Diner Saint George (at the former Saint Hotel) with Sydney’s Public Hospitality Group. Saint George will feature two distinct offerings: the Grill and the Tavern. Saint George open soon at 54 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda A new outpost of South Yarra cake shop Le Yeahllow is open in the CBD. You’ll find Jeff Koons balloon dog cakes, surrealist mandarin entremet and more playful desserts.

Le Yeahllow CBD, 366 Little Collins Street, Melbourne / shop.leyeahllow.com.au

es Takamoto

Photo: Kaede Jam

Photo: Arianna Leggiero

TRANQUIL CHADSTONE

Carlton’s newly revamped rooftop bar Johnny’s Green Room is open with a refit from Dion Hall (Music Room, Her Bar), Italian snacks by Karen Martini (Saint George) and “spritzy and smashable” cocktails from Matt Bax of Bar Americano fame. Johnny’s Green Room, Level 2, 293–297 297 Lygon Street, Carlton / johnnysgreenroom.com Read the full story for each dot point: broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/series/snack-bar 6

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Best known for its iconic shopping centre, Chadstone holds more than just retail therapy. With serene parks, a friendly atmosphere and diverse housing options, Chadstone offers a wellrounded lifestyle for residents.

Photo: Jamie Alexander

MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES CHADSTONE

2 bed unit, $485k 3 bed house, $1.13m 4 bed house, $1.253m Source: Data based on sales within the last 12 months

FOR STARTERS

TH E INTERVIEW

Boundary-Pushing Interiors Expert Yasmine Ghoniem Has Grand Designs Words by Rosie Herdman

When asked how she describes herself and Behind the scenes, Ghoniem is across each what she does, interior designer Yasmine individual project – but as she also runs a busy Ghoniem easily captures how a living space practice day-to-day, she enjoyed stepping back can affect your mental and emotional state. and watching them evolve. “I’m sort of like “I’m a mood maker,” the founding director the prober, the devil’s advocate. I ask them of award-winning multidisciplinary prac- questions to expand their thoughts or contice YSG tells Broadsheet. “Our spaces really firm why they’re doing things, so at the out outtalk about emotions as much as aesthetics … come they’ve really thought about it.”

And of course, there’s the human narrait’s about how you feel in a space.”

Ghoniem started YSG in 2020 but has tive behind each design. “I think that’s what been a respected presence in the industry Grand Designs does really well: the stories are for over a decade, launching design collec- always really interesting, and you’ve got such tive Amber Road with her sister Katy Svalbe, great characters.” a landscape architect, in 2013.

We’re always curious about the homes of those whose job it is to design houses YSG specialises in high-end projects that require thinking outside the box. Some are for other people. Ghoniem moved into also high profile – like Zoë Foster Blake her warehouse-like space a year and a half and Hamish Blake’s colourful (and much- ago, with its beautiful bones, spiral stair stairpublicised) family home. cases, concrete floors and internal courtyard.

When she was younger, Ghoniem lived She was keen to live in the place for a while between Australia, the Middle East and to determine the renovation needs. “I think America, eventually settling in Sydney – a number one take home, for anybody who’s if you could call her on-the-go lifestyle set- thinking about designing their own house, tled. “I’ve lived in lots of different countries is give yourself a brief.” my whole life, so I feel my travels have defiWhile Ghoniem usually works with gener genernitely permeated my interiors.” ous budgets and plenty of custom elements, A variety of design novices benefit from she has a tip for those with less to spend: her hefty experience and global point of view embrace colour. “I feel it’s underrated because as part of her latest project: co-hosting the people are scared of colour and don’t apprenew ABC television series Grand Designs ciate that paints are the easiest way to transTransformations. form a space,” she says.

Updating the format we all know and love, You could also take a note from one of the show focuses on renovations of existing YSG’s signatures: the statement ceiling. homes rather than building from scratch. “Ceilings are underutilised areas of colour and It was a great experience, says Ghoniem, patterns. If you’re one of those people who who – like many – was already a fan of Grand don’t like a lot of colour, applying it to a plane Designs. “I couldn’t say no … I loved the idea like the ceiling, where it’s not as visible as the of modernising it slightly and bringing some- floor but still is very much in your peripheral, thing different.” is a great way to explore and have fun.”

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HOME & LIFESTYLE

THE FI T- OUT

Five Reusable On-the-Go Homewares To Feel Good About

By Alice Freer

See demand for your home Download the app

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JOYROLL A C ART – $369 A twist on the classic shopping trolley, Aussie label Joyrolla’s cart will help you carry more, further. Made from lightweight aluminium and recycled polyester canvas with water-resistant coating, each part can be easily ordered and replaced if worn or damaged. Choose between retro colours like ochre and violet or classic black. joyrolla.com

PAN AFTER DAY-TO-DAY BAG – $45 Collingwood homewares store Pan After offers its range of Day-to-Day nylon bags in myriad vibrant colours and practical sizes.

Strong, durable and made for everyday use, this traditional market utility bag can double as a beach tote, an overnight bag or perhaps eye-catching storage around the house. panafter.com.au

HOME & LIFESTYLE

EVERVESSEL GL ASS MULTI BOTTLE – $49 Whether you’re at your desk or in the great outdoors, enjoy a perfectly brewed tea with Evervessel’s nifty double-layered borosilicate glass bottle. Designed to be thermal-shock resistant and not retain or impart unwanted flavours, it’s available in 11 colours. Plus, get personalised laser engraving on the lid. evervessel.com

SEED & SPROUT LUNCHBOX – $45 Perfect for those heading back to the office or preparing the kids for the new school year, The Lunchbox by Seed & Sprout is a 100 per cent leakproof container for long days outside the house. Made from food-grade stainless steel, it’s dishwasher-and ovensafe, and comes in two classic colours – oat milk and juniper. seedandsprout.com.au

KANWAX LUNCH BAG – $39.95 A tougher, more durable spin on the old-school brown paper bag, Kanwax’s lunch bag is ideal for carrying office lunches, drinks or toiletries and other small items. Made with water-resistant waxed canvas and a leather strap to secure contents in place (you can even attach it to your bike), it’s designed to age beautifully.

Available in tan and grey. banish.com.au

EXPERIENCE EXTRAORDINARY RETIREMENT Join us to celebrate the grand opening of Ardency Kennedy Place Delight in glittering entertainment with event MC and Nine newsreader Peter Hitchener, and a special performance by one of Australia’s musical icons. Indulge in all-day refreshments including cocktails on the rooftop terrace, enjoy a wellness treatment, and learn about the television studio history. Plus, take a guided tour of the stunning amenities and designer apartments.

14352 12/23

Thursday 8 February | 11am - 4pm 1 Khartoum St, Richmond 3121

Photographs are illustrative purposes and may depict decorative items not actually provided

by Keyton. Published by Keyton (VIC) Pty Ltd ABN 55 124 646 484.

Scan the QR code to learn more or visit ardencykennedyplace.com.au January 31, 2024

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DOMAIN PROPERTY

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DOMaIn PrOPErTy

W H AT T H E A G E N T S AY S

Dion Besser Besser+Co

HOME OF THE WEEK

A showcase of luxury living

“A stunning showcase of modern sophistication with a clean-lined, voluminous interior with attention to detail and distinctive designer features throughout in a prestigious and convenient location.”

Words by Anders Furze

Here’s a slice of liveable luxury in an enviable location – the heart of Toorak. With a spa on the rooftop terrace, two more terraces, a statement wine cellar and a spacious kitchen, 276b Williams Road is made for showing off.

And if you’d rather be entertained than do the entertaining? Toorak Village is quite literally on your doorstep.

An engineered suspended staircase will take you from the ground-floor entrance up to the first floor, where the living and entertainment areas reveal themselves.

The spacious and sunlit living room has built-in storage and a gas fireplace underlined by a marble and stone mantle.

Show off your collection of the finest drops – 242 bottles, to be precise – in the feature wine room, which is temperaturecontrolled, has glass doors and makes a statement of sophistication along the southern wall of the living room.

This space flows into the meals area and kitchen. The custom-designed stone kitchen has no fewer than three Liebherr fridges, double dishwasher drawers and an island bench that appears to float in mid-air.

Head through the laundry to the covered terrace, which is defined by a suspended fireplace, a barbecue and a servery window from the kitchen. This entertainer’s idyll is next to the first-floor bedroom, which has a built-in wardrobe, desk and en suite.

The floor plan on this level possesses some enviable versatility thanks to a separate room that can handily work as a second, more private living room. But thanks to the built-in storage, this room also nicely works as a fourth bedroom if required.

Head upstairs again to find two more bedrooms. The main bedroom has a walkin wardrobe and stone en suite with a double vanity and bath.

The heated floor ensures an air of cosiness in here, and the second upstairs bedroom has a built-in wardrobe, a study nook with a built-in desk, and a private terrace.

The upstairs home office has a built-in wardrobe and is bathed in light thanks to several skylights. But it’s really all about that entertainer’s rooftop here. You’ll be hosting friends and families with ease on the wraparound terrace.

The promise of plenty of al fresco fun beckons, thanks to a spa and outdoor shower.

As for the property’s surrounding location, Como Park and the greenery of the Yarra River are a short stroll up Williams Road. Head around the corner, and you’ll quickly find Toorak Village’s shops and lifestyle amenities.

The No. 58 tram can easily be caught from here, and Hawksburn and South Yarra train stations are both close by. Back at the property, there’s secure storage for two cars.

Toorak 276b Williams Road $2.8 million-$3 million 4

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Private sale Agent: Besser+Co, Dion Besser 0412 556 443 Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Toorak

NEED TO KNOW The highest recorded house price for Toorak (past 12 months) was $33.5 million for 1 Whernside Avenue in August 2023.

RECENT SALES

$3.4 million 593a Toorak Road, September 2023

$4.2 million 2/65 Lansell Road, August 2023

$2.817 million 5a Balmerino Avenue, August 2023

January 31, 2024

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FEATURE

FUNNY BUSINESS Words by Emma Do · Photos by Hilary Walker Dowel Jones co-founders Adam Lynch and Dale Hardiman design seriously good furniture that’s made in Australia and built to last.

In 10 years of operation, they’ve never lost their sense of play.

FEATURE

D

owel Jones is the punny alias of furniture designers Adam Lynch and Dale Hardiman. The pair launched their venture as fresh-faced graduates in 2014, having first met in university where they studied industrial and furniture design together. In Hardiman’s words, the duo were “naive enough to start a business without caring about falling flat”.

From the outside, Dowel Jones can look like a boutique consumer brand (and you will certainly find its furniture in well-decorated homes), but the small business’s bread and butter is in supplying hospitality and commercial spaces with colourful, minimalist designs. If you’re reading this from a Melbourne cafe, you might even be perched on a Dowel Jones chair right now.

Lynch and Hardiman always wanted to make contemporary furniture in Australia, and make it affordable – not just for regular customers, but for venues, too. Their first big break came in 2015 when a version of the duo’s Hurdle chairs were requested for the Broadsheet Restaurant’s pop-up dining events. “That was really our origin story for the first few projects,” Hardiman says. “From that, we were approached by hundreds of cafes and venues saying, ‘We would love to buy your furniture.’”

The two get a bit misty-eyed over the Hurdle range (still in production today), describing it as the thing that truly “grew the business”. It was Hurdle, too, that made them passionate about manufacturing locally.

“We were 23- and 21-years-old. I’m sure any student would understand: if you email a manufacturer and ask for a quote, they have very little interest in speaking with you,” Hardiman explains. “Only this company spoke to us and agreed to take on prototyping and manufacturing.”

Two years later, over an emotional phone call, the duo learnt that the owner of the business had been on the verge of bankruptcy.

“It’s why they’d taken on our furniture. Now, it’s been 10 years and we’ve sold enough Australian-made product for that business to continue, which I think is indicative of what design can do for local manufacturing,” Hardiman says.

Making in Australia comes with higher labour costs than overseas production, so to keep their furniture affordable, Lynch and Hardiman built a design ethos centred on collaboration. Rather than dream up Dowel Jones concepts from thin air, they first ask their factory – a steel fabricator, for example – about how to produce 14

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a cost-effective product. In the case of the Hurdle chair – a simple, moulded plywood seat with a tubular steel frame – it meant coming up with a design that had the fewest number of welds. According to Hardiman, the resulting design turned out like “nothing else on the market” at the time, simply because it was specific to one factory.

It’s no surprise that the pair believe good design comes from constraints. “A lot of time we don’t go seeking inspiration,” Hardiman says. “We go and visit factories and talk with them about what they’re working on.”

The company now employs six staff and has two factories across Geelong. Timber production is done in-house, while other components like steel fabrication, wire bending and upholstering are outsourced to local businesses – though, as more workshops close down, the goal is to eventually bring everything under the same roof. Most pieces are made to order and offer extensive customisation – a boon for commercial clients. Hardiman likens their way of working to that of graphic designers.

“We design a language, a silhouette. It’s up to the interior designer and architect to change the colours, patterns and fabrics.”

Now, it’s been 10 years and we’ve sold enough Australian-made product for that business to continue, which I think is indicative of what design can do for local manufacturing.

The duo split tasks according to their strengths – Lynch is the more hands-on and technically minded of the two, and oversees the brand’s day-to-day production in Geelong, while Hardiman, based in Melbourne, considers himself the lateral thinker. “We have always been able to challenge each other’s thinking,” Lynch notes. “We actually have quite different approaches, which has proven to be fruitful.”

Of course, there are always hiccups in the process. Last year they excitedly sent off a new sofa design, only for the prototype to return comically small. “It was just terribly wrong,” Hardiman laughs. “Because I don’t work in the physical most of the time, I sometimes get carried away with the aesthetic side, so it was the size of a kid’s sofa.”

If the pair’s design process is a bit unorthodox, it’s only natural that their brand image and marketing follow suit. There’s a cheeky sense of humour imbued in Dowel Jones, from product names – a stool with thick steel legs is deemed Sir Burly; another with a circular frame is Bradley Hooper – to a penchant for costuming, to the brand’s social media presence, where Hardiman likes to let loose his silliest and most absurd ideas. On the Dowel Jones Instagram page, for example, you can watch the team hose down a chair at the car wash to show off the product’s sturdiness, use a floor lamp as a ramen bowl, or turn a scalloped side table into a cake (there are no discernible reasons for the latter hijinks, just your viewing pleasure perhaps).

When Covid rolled around, the brand also launched a competition called Design From Home, inviting anyone, regardless of experience, to submit a design for the chance to win prize money and to potentially see their creation realised. It’s how the Big Friendly couch, a voluminous lounge with invitingly puffy arms, came to be. “We aim to be very approachable,” Lynch says, noting his pride for the community they’ve created, both online and in person.

Neither he nor Hardiman have aspirations for Dowel Jones to be a “behemoth business”, especially if doing so compromises their values. In 2018, an American company approached the pair to start exporting the brand’s designs. They started sending 40-foot -foot containers of Australian-made fur furniture to the US, but Lynch and Hardiman soon felt concerned about the carbon mileage they were racking up. In the end, they signed a partnership to manufacture the designs stateside, despite the cut in revenue.

The design duo’s primary interest lies in making furniture that stands the test of time, both physically and aesthetically. They like to test the former by literally throwing and smashing their designs (which also makes for fun viewing on social media). “It has to be able to be sat on at an airport 1000 times a day and never break,” Hardiman says.

Aesthetic durability is trickier. In general, Dowel Jones pieces shy away from trends, and if a piece eventually does feel dated, it has at least been made in a way that makes reupholstering and repair an easy task. The pair even track Dowel Jones furniture on the second-hand market to see if their designs still resonate. Hardiman says, “The point isn’t for us to try to sell more furniture – we don’t want people to get rid of it.”

When they look back at the last decade, Lynch and Hardiman are most proud of supporting businesses around them. The partnerships and collaborations, whether with manufacturers and fabricators, local artists or their online audience, have all contributed to Dowel Jones’s success. The brand’s next collaboration is characteristically unexpected.

To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Lynch and Hardiman will produce 10 different projects, one of which involves working with kids at Geelong’s Museum of Play and Art. “It’ll be a few hundred children creating this work,” Hardiman says with a smile. “They’re going to be the artists and we’ll be the manufacturers.” Stay tuned for the oddball creations – one may just end up in a lounge room near you.

NEIGHBOURHOODS

LIKE A LOCAL

Brighton

NEED TO KNOW One of the most exclusive suburbs in Melbourne, Brighton is renowned for its upscale boutiques, schools and vibrant cultural scene.

Seaside elegance creates an unparalleled lifestyle for residents.

By Ruby Harris

Average Age

48

Median Weekly income

$2,710

B

righton (or, as it’s often referred to, Braaaahton) is the absolute heart of bayside Melbourne. A trip to the upscale suburb isn’t complete without a walk along the beach to see the famous Brighton bathing boxes.

Originally built more than 100 years ago, these vibrant structures are an iconic landmark, and worth a visit.

For food, you’re spoiled for choice. A juice from Bright’n’Fresh (inside a fruit shop of the same name) is always a good idea. So is a DIY acai bowl or smoothie from Blitz Bar’s newly opened second outpost.

As for cafes, The Little Ox has been around for 15 years, serving up consistently good coffee in a former milk bar. Stop by for breakfast or lunch and don’t skip out on the Mexican eggs. Brighton Schoolhouse is another local favourite, housed in an 1840s building that was once a (you guessed it) schoolhouse. There’s also Sons of Mary – owned by two brothers and named after their mum – for classic brunch fare or dinner.

And don’t miss out on a seat outside at The Pantry – you’ll feel like a local when you’re sipping your coffee in the sun.

Brighton has a great shopping scene, with most of it conveniently located on the same street. Big-name favourites, high-end designers and chain stores like Mecca, Scanlan Theodore, Assembly Label and Stylerunner, among others, have outposts on Church Street, as do boutiques such as Elka Collective and The New Trend. And if you’re in need of a mid-shopping snack, stop at Kokoro Sushi – there’s often a line waiting to order.

For dinner, head to The Royale Brothers for what might be the south side’s best burger. Or go to Ichika (conveniently next door to dessert hotspot Yo-Chi) for a Japanese feast.

There are also two Palace Cinemas in the area, so a post-dinner movie is always tempting. But if you’re planning a night at home or you’re entertaining, pop by Keith Homemade Cakes during the day to pick up a chocolate mousse cake – you’ll understand why when you take the first bite.

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Owner

Renter

Family

Single

74%

54%

Clockwise from top: Half Moon on Church Street, photo Amy Hemmings; Sons of Mary, photo Jessica Prince; Greenery and cycling, photo Amy Hemmings; Brighton Schoolhouse, photo Jasmine Blom

26%

46%

NEIGHBOURHOODS

W H AT T H E A G E N T S AY S

Kate Strickland Marshall White “A coveted Melbourne suburb, Brighton boasts city proximity with the coastal charm of Port Phillip Bay (plus iconic bathing boxes), four train stations, three shopping strips and premier schools.”

Clockwise from top: The Baths Middle Brighton, The Little Ox, Bathing boxes, and Summertime sculpture, photos Amy Hemmings

MEDIAN HOUSE PRICES

Median price houses

$3,072,500

Median price units

$1,242,500

Distance from CBD

11km

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Brighton

January 31, 2024

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HOME & LIFESTYLE

CREATIVE COUPLES

Hyoju Park and Rong Yao Soh Words by Sanam Goodman · Photos by Kaede James Takamoto

The duo met at culinary school, have Michelin-starred backgrounds, and chose to call Melbourne home. Now they’re sharing the love at Madeleine de Proust.

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or Hyoju Park and Rong Yao Soh, there seems to be no challenge too big to conquer. The couple survived a long-distance stint in their relationship, moved their lives from the UK to Australia, and lived through Melbourne’s many Covid lockdowns while working in some of the city’s top restaurants. Now they’re the co-owners of Madeleine de Proust, a quaint Lygon Street patisserie specialising in titular dainty French sponge cakes.

“It was tricky to convince Hyoju to start a new business,” Soh tells Broadsheet. “There are so many uncertainties that come with taking a risk and trying something new, but we got through it by supporting each other.

We’ve learnt so many things together.”

The couple met at culinary school in London, bonding over a mutual love of fine dining and the shared, sometimes lonely, experience of being far away from home – South Korea for Park, Malaysia for Soh. During a busy couple of years studying and working in Michelin-starred restaurants, the pair found themselves spending more time with each other – first as friends, and then more.

“He was always so headstrong, with a lot of big goals,” Park says, describing what first attracted her to Soh. “He’s a perfectionist and always wants to be better, which makes me want to be better. Underneath all of that, he’s got a really warm heart.”

Soh’s answer to the same question is simple. “She’s like sunshine to me,” he says.

“She’s always so positive and tries really hard to make people feel relaxed and happy. And she makes really delicious desserts.”

Once the culinary course was done, Park and Soh were tasked with finding a place they could both move to when their time as students in London came to an end. After considering a number of cities across the globe, they landed on Melbourne.

“People in Melbourne really appreciate food,” Soh explains. “Given our background in fine food, we felt like the hospitality culture in Melbourne really suited us.”

Following a brief period working in Seoul’s two-Michelin-starred Mingles, Park landed a position at Melbourne icon Attica. A year later – all the while doing their relationship over long distance – Soh joined her, securing a job at Matilda in early 2020.. “Then lock lockdowns started a week after I got my job, and I unfortunately lost it,” Soh says.

“I was busier than ever, though,” Park adds.

“It was a really stressful time, and I don’t think I would have gotten through it without him. He would cook all my favourite comfort foods and

HOME & LIFESTYLE

give me hand massages at the end of the day.”

The idea to open Madeleine de Proust started as one of those lofty goals of Soh’s – the kind that attracted Park to him in the first place. While the pair both enjoyed their culinary work, Soh found himself wondering how sustainable their careers were, and how much opportunity it offered them to progress.

“We knew we always wanted to do something with pastry, but we didn’t want it to be just

another pastry shop,” Park says. “Madeleines were the first thing I ever baked, so they’re incredibly nostalgic for me.”

After countless hours – and dollars – spent poring over branding, recipe testing, building an online presence and finding stockists in the initial stages of their business, the pair found a charming spot on Lygon Street and launched a bricks-and-mortar bakery late last year.

“The shop has been designed to evoke

feelings of nostalgia, but also be quite futur futuristic,” Soh explains. “The same way that the flavours are all very familiar and important to us, but have been manifested in the madeleines using modern techniques.”

As for how the couple spends their time when they’re not at the shop? Apart from indulging in the cooking and baking of others by visiting Melbourne’s best restaurants and dessert shops, spending time outside and

in nature has proven to be a welcome relief to the often-stressful experience of running a small business.

“We like to go to the beach together, and go for scooter rides,” Park says. “I like gardening and flower arranging, and I occasionally do painting and pottery. Sometimes when you do too much cooking you get tired of it and don’t enjoy it as much, so we’re always trying to clear our minds and make sure work stays fun.”

January 31, 2024

MELBOurnE

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TRAVEL

It’s Not Just Good Vibes, Byron Bay Has Good Eating Too

by Grace MacKenzie

W

e flock to Byron to holiday; we move there in masses – and our desire to do either hasn’t slowed a lick.

The allure is in the low’n’slow wave breaks onto long stretches of sand. The mini city under a salty haze. The sleepy undertones cut with a flash of hot spots to shop and dine. There’s no hype needed for the Bay, but a tight clutch of stops in town shine brighter than the rest.

In the buzzy Arts & Industry Estate, a friendly class in the light-filled Creature Yoga space will stretch you into the barefoot local you’d like to be.

Float to Happy Days for a cuppa (made on beans

Photo courtesy of Destination NSW

roasted just next door), house-made sourdough or a standout breakfast plate before a dip at Belongil Beach. And to stay, check in at Cali-style oasis The Swell.

The waterside kitchens here are captained by some of the best. Bar Heather’s Ollie Wong-Hee is flawlessly pumping out snacky swordfish skew skewers and shiitake-topped potato chips. At Karkalla, Bundjalung woman Mindy Woods is championing native ingredients – via bunya nut miso, akoya oysters and kangaroo meat – on Main Beach; and Katrina and Karl Kanetani, the chef couple at Beach, deliver the Byron experience you

pictured: standout seafood on an oceanfront deck.

If there’s a tourist trap to risk, it’s Jason Saxby’s Raes on Wategos. The whitewashed dining room is coveted for a reason: his deft combo of simple flavour and theatre (the mint slice, a choc-covered river mint mousse, arrives in a vintage Arnott’s bickie tin). At Kouzina, a lively home-style Greek spot, charcoaled fish and fresh dolmades are elevated by BYO and a group to feast with.

Stop at Bay Grocer for the perfect mementos (locally made pantry goods); shop in-store at St Agni, Arcaa and Rowie; then hike to the light lighthouse, like the tourist you are.

DOMaIn PrOPErTy

LUXURY Words by Richard Cornish & Shae Wiedermann

Brighton 194a Esplanade $5.5 million-$6 million 4

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Private sale Agent: Marshall White, Ben Vieth 0404 084 793 When the sun sets over Brighton, this three-level seaside home is flooded with rich golden light. The main living area, with its fine marble floors and dark timber-lined walls, looks out over Port Phillip Bay to the city lights. The kitchen is an entertainer’s dream, with a spacious island bench and Wolf and Liebherr appliances. It has a home cinema and three bedrooms with en suites, and the crowning glory of this luxurious home is the rooftop garden with a spa and outdoor kitchen.

Toorak Penthouse, 20 Grange Road $10 million-$11 million 3

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Balwyn 15a Fitzgerald Street $3 million-$3.3 million 4

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Black Rock 22 Central Avenue $2.75 million-$3 million 4

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Expressions of interest Agent: Marshall White, Marcus Chiminello 0411 411 271

Auction: 3pm, February 17 Agent: Jellis Craig, Patrick Dennis 0409 321 159

Auction: Noon, February 17 Agent: Hodges, Michael Cooney 0418 325 052

A masterpiece of design, this exquisite penthouse sits among the green canopy of tree-lined Grange Road. Close to the buzz of Toorak Village, this quiet, tranquil retreat has exceptional flow throughout the open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas, which open to a wraparound balcony. The interiors, from the dark oak flooring, burnished copper double doors, brushed brass and marble in the bathrooms and cellar, are all beautifully finished.

Many treasures lie behind the modest and polished facade of this Balwyn house. It has three thoughtfully designed floors – that are accessible by a lift – a gym, a butler’s pantry and two terraces, one of which has a barbecue kitchen and views towards the Dandenong Ranges. Each of the bedrooms has an en suite. With the added delight of a solar-heated pool within a landscaped garden, this abode takes functional family living to a whole new level.

A block back from the golden sands and banksias of Black Rock Beach sits this modern, spacious four-bedroom home packed with amenities. The lap pool, built by English Channel swimmer Albert Bardoel, sits snugly to the house and leads to the Mediterranean-inspired courtyard. The owners have refurbished the interiors with new fittings, making the most of the three-metre-high ceilings. It’s close to top schools, Beaumaris and Brighton shopping and golf courses.

January 31, 2024

MELBOURNE

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DOMAIN PROPERTY

OPEN FOR INSPECTION Words by Kay Keighery, Maria Harris & Shae Wiedermann

Malvern 4/11-13 Sorrett Avenue $2.55 million-$2.75 million 3

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Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, February 13 Agent: Kay & Burton, Jamie Driver 0400 126 612 This three-bedroom townhouse in one of Malvern’s most prized tree-lined streets has been completely renovated to create a luxurious and light-filled low-maintenance, singlelevel haven. Just moments from dining, retail, trams and parks, it features formal and informal living areas and highend finishes, including engineered oak floors and Carrara marble. Each bedroom has an en suite, while the sunny, private back garden has a built-in barbecue and a sauna.

Hawthorn East 184 Rathmines Road $2.45 million-$2.6 million 4

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Ashburton 3 Oliver Street $2.1 million-$2.3 million 4

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South Melbourne 204/201 Ferrars Street $1.35 million-$1.45 million 3

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Auction: 12.30pm, February 10 Agent: Marshall White, Nikki Van Gulick 0419 325 911

Auction: 10am, February 10 Agent: Fletchers, Michael Rosano 0419 595 183

Auction: 2.30pm, February 10 Agent: Jellis Craig, Mack Burgoine 0439 464 625

Beautifully elevated in a leafy street, single-level Hereford combines the charm of a c1895 Victorian home with contemporary appeal, including informal living and dining opening to a deck and private back garden. The traditional Victorian floor plan of rooms ranging off a central hall has four bedrooms, two bathrooms – including an en suite – plus high ceilings, cornices and open fireplaces. It is within walking distance of several schools, parks, transport and shops.

There’s really no cause for an average-sized family to ask for more here. With four bedrooms, a fitted study, a roomy lounge and an open-plan hub adjoining a deck-pool-and-lawn backyard, there is ample space and opportunity for sociable family activity. Rock up to a leafy front yard announcing a carport attached to the single-level pile. Newly painted and admirably appointed, the interior is bright and welcoming. The main bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite.

Six Degrees Architecture design meets environmentally sustainable living at this luxurious two-level apartment, an easy walk or bike ride from South Melbourne Market, the CBD and the beach. High ceilings combine with leafy outlooks, city views and a covered terrace. Finishes include granite and stainless steel with V-Zug appliances. Downstairs, three generous bedrooms include the main suite with en suite and treetop views. The rooftop terrace has stunning bay and city views.

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Beaumaris 1a Bonanza Lane $2.29 million 4

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Highett 12b Molong Avenue $1.7 million-$1.79 million 4

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Malvern East 3/1906 Malvern Road $2.1 million-$2.3 million 5

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FIND YOUR NEXT HOME

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Contact agent Agent: Buxton, Claude Mery 0422 455 848

Auction: 1.30pm, February 17 Agent: Hodges, Angus Graham 0401 505 259

Expressions of interest Agent: RT Edgar, Rachael Fabbro 0412 547 690

Striking architecture by Peter Pontifex and life-easing automation ensure this home is one for those seeking the finest in contemporary family accommodation. Close to the beach, buses and schools, the noteworthy newbie struts space, light and top-end style in impressive doses.

Recently completed, this Highett house offers grand scale in a great location. The house features two main bedrooms (one upstairs and one downstairs), each with a walk-in wardrobe and en suite, plus two large secondary bedrooms with built-in robes and a bathroom between them.

A lift links the three levels of this capacious new townhouse. The ground level comprises a double garage, bedroom and en suite, and open-plan hub. Ascend for a lounge, bathroom and three bedrooms, including one with en suite. Rise again for a retreat and the main bedroom with full trappings.

Hover your camera over the code to view live listings on domain.com.au

As Australia’s leading and award winning wardrobe company, our wardrobes can organise and enhance your life.

1300 366 222

creativebydesign.com.au

651 Burwood Road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123

WARDROBES DOORS LIVING SPACES WALL BEDS GARAGES PANTRIES HOME OFFICES LAUNDRIES January 31, 2024

MELBOURNE

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19 Ferncroft Avenue, Malvern East 5 A

2 B

3 C

Within a glorious garden and pool oasis, this captivating c1930’s 5-bedroom residence has been extended over the years to provide outstanding family living only 2 doors from Hedgeley Dene Gardens. Land size: 929sqm approx.

Auction Saturday 17th February at 11.30am Viewing Inspect Thursday 12-12.30pm & Saturday 11.30-12noon Contact Jack Moss 0439 378 954 John Manton 0411 444 930 Fiona Ansell-Jones 0410 325 240

marshallwhite.com.au 24

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3/ 7 Mercer Road, Armadale 3 A

2 B

2 C

This classically designed 3-bedroom residence delivers a premier lock up and leave lifestyle. The gourmet kitchen, dining area and expansive living room open to the private north-facing garden.

Auction Saturday 17th February at 10.30am Viewing Thursday 11-11.30am & Saturday 1-1.30pm Contact James McCormack 0410 503 389 James Tomlinson 0408 350 684

marshallwhite.com.au January 31, 2024

MELBOurnE

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218 Coppin Street, Richmond 4 A

2 B

1 C

Desirably positioned just metres to Barkly Gardens, this captivating 4-bedroom Victorian residence’s brilliantly renovated dimensions cater to every modern family requirement from working from home to relaxed indoor-outdoor living and entertaining a stunning west-facing outdoor oasis with BBQ deck and off-street parking.

marshallwhite.com.au 26

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Auction Saturday 17th February at 1pm Viewing Thursday 12-12.30pm & Saturday 11-11.30am Contact Anthony Smith 0419 888 980 Stuart Evans 0402 067 710

18/15 Copelen Street, South Yarra 3 A

2 B

3 C

This stunning ground level 3-bedroom boutique residence’s palatial dimensions have been luxuriously refurbished throughout to provide the ultimate lock up and leave South Yarra lifestyle. Expansive living and dining areas, home office and premium chef’s kitchen open to a broad terrace.

Expressions of Interest Close Tuesday 20th February at 5pm Viewing Wednesday & Saturday 12.30-1pm Contact Abby Innes 0423 210 790 Richard Mackinnon 0414 822 579

marshallwhite.com.au January 31, 2024

MELBOurnE

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34C Palermo Street, South Yarra 3 A

3 B

2 C

This spectacular 4-level residence delivers sophisticated inner urban family living. The expansive living/dining room and gourmet kitchen open to private courtyard. The main bedroom with lavish en suite, robes, home office and sundeck complement 3 additional bedrooms and 2 stylish en suites.

marshallwhite.com.au 28

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Expressions of Interest Close Tuesday 20th February at 3pm Viewing Wednesday & Saturday 11.45am-12.15pm Contact Abby Innes 0423 210 790 Joseph Ben-Danan 0408 135 948

1/12 Tollington Avenue, Malvern East 3 A

2 B

2 C

This stunning single level boutique residence has been stylishly refurbished and boasts an abundance of natural light. The wide hall introduces formal living and dining rooms whilst a gourmet kitchen and family room opens to a north facing courtyard. Double garage.

Auction Saturday 17th February at 12.30pm Viewing Inspect Thursday 11-11.30am & Saturday 9.45-10.15am Contact Fiona Ansell-Jones 0410 325 240 Daniel Wheeler 0411 676 058

marshallwhite.com.au January 31, 2024

MELBOurnE

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4 St Helens Road, Hawthorn East 3 A

1 B

3 C

Classic refurbished clinker brick 2-storey family home featuring a generous northfacing sitting/dining room, stylish granite/Euro kitchen, adjacent laundry, powder room and informal family room opening to a deck and spa pool; overlooking an outdoor dining area and private walled rear garden. A sky-lit staircase leads upstairs to 3bedrooms plus a bathroom and city views. Incls garage+OSP.

marshallwhite.com.au 30

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Auction Saturday 17th February at 11.30am Viewing Thursday 11-11.30am & Saturday 11.15-11.45am Contact James Tostevin 0417 003 333 Robert Le 0409 877 851

January 31, 2024

MELBOurnE

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115 MONT ALBERT ROAD CANTERBURY 5 5 8

KAYBURTON.COM.AU 32 DOMAIN BROADSHEET

1180 sqm*

Expressions of interest Close 17 February at 5pm

Viewing By appointment

Sam Wilkinson Garrick Lim Isabella Maugeri

J a nu a r y 3 1 , 2 0 2 4

0400 169 148 0424 439 242 0438 096 720

*Land size approx MELBOURNE 33

179-183 HOTHAM STREET EAST MELBOURNE

Close 5 March at 12pm

0407 881 327

0421 655 716

g 1012 sqm*

KAYBURTON.COM.AU 34 DOMAIN BROADSHEET

*Land size approx.

49 Essex Road, Surrey Hills 4

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PRICE GUIDE $1,900,000 - $2,090,000 AUCTION Saturday 10 February 10am VICTORIAN ELEGANCE This north facing double fronted Victorian c1895 4-bed home is nestled in one of Surrey Hills’ coveted tree-lined streets.

Families will relish the dual living zones, with a serene formal living room enhanced by an open fireplace, and separate light-filled open plan family and meals domain. The versatile floorplan offers a large study, perfectly suited to working from home and studying.

Double doors open out to the spacious backyard, a wonderful entertainer’s hub featuring a paved patio and luxe in-ground solar heated pool, surrounded by lush lawns and landscaped gardens.

Adding further value to this prime lifestyle property is a sensational location, just a short stroll to Union Station, local shops, schools & cafés.

heavyside.co

Tim Heavyside 0403 020 404 January 31, 2024

Wendy Zhou 0420 824 677

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