PENINSULA
VISITING & LIVING ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
GET BUSY LIVING
BORN TO RUN
DRAWN TO ANIMALS
DEEP IN BLOOM
SWEET LEGACY
jokester JIMMY THE
The guy who makes people laugh.
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At Living Design Double Glazing, we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
At Living Design Double Glazing, we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
At Living Design Double Glazing we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
At Living Design Double Glazing, we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
At Living Design Double Glazing, we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
we specialise in the supply & installation of high-quality German uPVC windows & doors for residential & commercial projects.
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o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
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We are the only company in Australia o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
Wide range of premium uPVC windows and doors.
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Wide range of premium uPVC windows and doors.
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We are the only company in Australia o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
We are the only company in Australia o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
We are the only company in Australia o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
We are the only company in Australia o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
V-welded corners with no mechanical joints or screws.
Wide range of premium uPVC windows and doors.
Wide range of premium uPVC windows and doors.
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We are the only company in Australia o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
We are the only company in Australia o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
Wide range of premium uPVC windows and doors.
V-welded corners with no mechanical joints or screws.
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Unlike many competitors who use mechanical joints secured with screws, our windows feature fully welded mullions and transoms using V-welding technology.
We are the only company in Australia o ering uPVC Double Hung Windows with our unique manufacturing system.
Unlike many competitors who use mechanical joints secured with screws, our windows feature fully welded mullions and transoms using V-welding technology.
Unlike many competitors who use mechanical joints secured with screws, our windows feature fully welded mullions and transoms using V-welding technology.
Custom-made solutions to suit your home or project.
V-welded corners with no mechanical joints or screws.
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Custom-made solutions to suit your home or project.
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Unlike many competitors who use mechanical joints secured with screws, our windows feature fully welded mullions and transoms using V-welding technology.
Unlike many competitors who use mechanical joints secured with screws, our windows feature fully welded mullions and transoms using V-welding technology.
Unlike many competitors who use mechanical joints secured with screws, our windows feature fully welded mullions and transoms using V-welding technology.
Unlike many competitors who use mechanical joints secured with screws, our windows feature fully welded mullions and transoms using V-welding technology.
Unlike many competitors who use mechanical joints secured with screws, our windows feature fully welded mullions and transoms using V-welding technology.
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With almost 20 years of quality industry experience.
Professional supply installation by our experienced team.
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With almost 20 years of quality industry experience.
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With almost 20 years of quality industry experience.
With almost 20 years of quality industry experience.
With almost 20 years of quality
With almost 20 years of quality industry experience.
With almost 20 years of quality industry experience.
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Come and explore the possibilities for your next project. Our friendly team will help you choose the perfect windows and doors to suit your style, budget, and performance requirements.
Come and explore the possibilities for your next project. Our friendly team will help you choose the perfect windows and doors to suit your style, budget, and performance requirements.
Come and explore the possibilities for your next project. Our friendly team will help you choose the perfect windows and doors to suit your style, budget, and performance requirements.
Come and explore the possibilities for your next project. Our friendly team will help you choose the perfect windows and doors to suit your style, budget, and performance requirements.
Come and explore the possibilities for your next project. Our friendly team will help you choose the perfect windows and doors to suit your style, budget, and performance requirements.
Come and explore the possibilities for your next project. Our friendly team will help you choose the perfect windows and doors to suit your style, budget, and performance requirements.
Come and explore the possibilities for your next project. Our friendly team will help you choose the perfect windows and doors to suit your style, budget, and performance requirements.
Come and explore the possibilities for your next project. Our friendly team will help you choose the perfect windows and doors to suit your style, budget, and performance requirements.
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ARTS
Mother turns grief into community support. 16 BORN TO
Archie’s Commonwealth Games running dream.
Facts,
Landmark reveals colonial licensing
Writers
Andrea Louise Thomas, Cameron McCullough,
Annette Sanfilippo, Sarah Halfpenny
Photography Yanni, Gary Sissons
Creative Sam Loverso, Dannielle Espagne
Publisher Melissa McCullough melissa@mpnews.com.au
Style editor
Annette Sanfilippo annette@mpnews.com.au
The guy who makes people laugh.
Pencil artist captures pets’ personalities.
Underwater portraits explore safety and transformation.
PENINSULA IN STYLE
Modern weddings embrace personal touches.
Nonno’s recipes inspire Sicilian pastry legacy.
Advertising
Belinda Timmerman, 0419 135 900, belinda@mpnews.com.au
Molly Mitchell, 0407 225 261, molly@mpnews.com.au
Phone (03) 5974 9000
Registered address
1/15 Wallis Drive, Hastings VIC. 3915
FB @peninsulaessence
IG @peninsulaessence W peninsulaessence.com.au
1, 8, 15 AUGUST BOOKS, BLOKES AND BUBS
If you live on the peninsula and have a child under four, come along for a free coffee, a special storytime session, and the chance to connect with other like-minded dads and father figures. au.openforms.com
15 AUGUST DAFFODIL DAY FUNDRAISING CONCERT
2-4pm High Street Uniting Church, 16-18 High St Frankston. Featuring Cadence, Lana Hutchinson, Anne Glading and Jenny Stevenson. Tickets $25 / $20 concession. Children free. Afternoon tea included. Book via QR code or pay at the door. trybooking.com
2 AUGUST CLIFFORD DRIVE FRIENDS WORKING BEE
Join volunteers from Clifford Drive Friends Group at a Shire-supported working bee at Clifford Drive Bushland Reserve, Tyabb and get involved in a range of activities to help protect biodiversity in their local bushland or foreshore reserve. mornpen.vic.gov.au
16 AUGUST DEVILBEND TRAIL RUN
Whether you are a seasoned trail runner or are aiming to challenge yourself over a formidable natural course, the Devilbend Trail Run, held at the Devilbend Natural Features Reserve, Tuerong, is for you! devilbend.com.au
14 AUGUST
SOUL NIGHT MARKET MORNINGTON
Peninsula Community Theatre 5pm to 9pm.
Winter Fridays just got better. Shop makers, eat well, grab a drink, stay warm under festoon lights, and enjoy live soul music and an electrifying fire show. SHOP . EAT . DRINK . SOCIALISE unrivalledevents.com.au/soulnight-market
23 AUGUST FILM SCREENING: ON THE BEACH
Celebrating Frankston’s 60th birthday, the FAC presents a free screening of Stanley Kramer’s adaptation of former Langwarrin resident Nevil Shute’s bestselling novel. Following a global nuclear war, Australia becomes the only safe haven in the world for humans. Filmed on location in Frankston, Mt Eliza and Melbourne. artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au
GETTING BUSY living
By Sarah Halfpenny Photos Yanni & supplied
Whenyou ask Chantelle Ross about her son, she doesn’t talk about how he died. She talks about his laugh.
“It was infectious, and he could find humour in almost anything,” she says of Jamerson, or Jammo to everyone who knew him. “I also smile thinking about how easily he could convince everyone to head off on another camping or fishing trip. Those simple moments together are the ones I treasure most.”
Jamerson, a marine electrician with a huge circle of friends and an even bigger heart, died in a hit-and-run in Hastings in October 2022, as he was celebrating his 23rd birthday with frien He owned his first home by 20, was already planning to buy an investment property, and had a devoted partner, Lucy, and a dog, Bronco, who Chantelle says was “rarely far from his side.”
But what defined Jammo most wasn’t what he achieved; it was his generosity
“But what defined Jammo most wasn’t what he achieved; it was his generosity,” Chantelle says. “Outside of work, he was always helping family and mates with electrical work, fixing the family boat, or organising another camping or fishing trip.”
Out of that loss, Chantelle founded Projex J, a grief support organisation whose ethos is drawn straight from how he lived.
“The ‘J’ is for Jamerson, but Projex J represents something much bigger,” she says. “After Jammo died, I knew I wanted his life to continue making a difference.”
continued next page ...
2026 GEM SHOW
AUGUST 29 & 30 PENINSULA
CONTACT
Maria Jackson - 0427 196 103
Melody Duthie - 0414 811 930
E: frankpengem@gmail.com
W: frankstonlapidaryclub.com
Its tagline, ‘Get Busy Living’, wasn’t invented for the cause; it was already her son’s way of doing things.
“It wasn’t something we came up with after Jammo died, it genuinely reflected how he lived,” Chantelle says. “Today those words remind us that, while grief changes us forever, life can still hold purpose, connection and moments of joy. It’s not about moving on; it’s about carrying the people we love with us as we continue living.”
Looking back, I wasn’t trying to survive the future, I was just trying to survive the next hour, then the next day
Chantelle doesn’t shy away from how dark those first days were. “Looking back, I wasn’t trying to survive the future, I was just trying to survive the next hour, then the next day,” she says. But she’s equally clear about what got her through: family, friends and a wider community that carried her when she couldn’t carry herself.
“There were services available, but I couldn’t find ongoing, local community support where a person could simply sit beside others who truly understood,” she says.
“I realised there were so many people navigating grief in isolation, and I wanted to create a place where nobody had to pretend they were okay.
“In navigating my grief I leaned in on the lessons I learned from the passing of my mother. I realised that it was essential to feel my pain, to work through it, to allow it and to talk about it. I was determined not to repeat the same mistakes I made in my grief after the loss of my mother.
“Our loved ones wouldn’t want us to spend our lives mourning them; they would want us to live our best lives in their honour.” This understanding shaped the practical, holistic approach that Projex J now embodies.
Projex J currently runs several groups across the peninsula, including Grief Support, Bereaved Parents Together, Youth Grief Support, and Breathwork for Grief. Each combines lived experience with professional guidance. “Every group is different because every person’s grief is different,” Chantelle says.
“We create a safe, welcoming space where people can share as much or as little as they choose.” Sessions draw on a mix of approaches – grief counsellors, guest speakers with their own lived experience, and simple tools like breathwork – but for Chantelle, what happens outside the room matters just as much.
continued page 12 ...
“The friendships that grow beyond our groups are often the most powerful part,” she says. “People continue checking in on one another, catching up for coffee, walking alongside each other through anniversaries and difficult days.”
The organisation’s signature event is the Get Busy Living Fishing Day, which hands out around 100 fishing rods to local kids in Jamerson’s honour.
“Fishing was Jammo’s happy place,” Chantelle says. “The day celebrates his life, strengthens community connections, and raises funds so we can continue delivering free grief support throughout the year.”
She’s deliberate about keeping the day, which falls close to the anniversary of Jamerson’s death, focused on celebration rather than sorrow. “Why are we placing importance on the worst day of our lives? Their death wasn’t who they are. Their life is who they are.”
It’s an attitude she’s had to practise. “It’s brain training,” she says. “Every time you think something negative, just think something positive, and it becomes automatic.” Grief, in her telling, still comes in waves – “it takes your breath away, and you just stop, and you endure it”. But she insists that it passes, and a good cry is “so cathartic,” never something to push down.
continued page 14 ...
Family threads through everything Chantelle does. Raised in a big, closeknit family – Irish on her mother’s side, Italian on her father’s – she says when tragedy struck, she knew people would rally around her.
These days, Chantelle lives in Jamerson’s house. “I’m warm, I’m safe, I’m living in my son’s home, and I got to be his mother,” she says. Her daughter Jewell lives next door with her partner Shane and their two young daughters, Emerson, named for her uncle Jamerson, and Marlowe, named in memory of Shane’s brother Mark, who died as a teenager. “There are no coincidences,” Chantelle says of the way their two families’ losses became intertwined.
Success won’t be measured by the size of our organisation. It will be measured by the stories of people who tell us, ‘I felt seen,’ ‘I found my community’
Recognised as the Mornington Peninsula’s 2026 Citizen of the Year, Chantelle is quick to redirect the credit. “It reflects every volunteer, facilitator, supporter, donor and participant who has helped build Projex J into what it is today,” she says. “Community built Projex J, and this award belongs to our whole village.”
Her hopes for the next five years are, characteristically, about others rather than herself. “Our vision is for no one on the
Mornington Peninsula to feel they have to navigate grief, trauma or isolation alone. “Success won’t be measured by the size of our organisation. It will be measured by the stories of people who tell us, ‘I felt seen,’ ‘I found my community.’”
For anyone reading this who is grieving and can’t yet picture surviving it, Chantelle wants them to know something simple. “Don’t think about next month or next year. Just focus on today. And don’t try to carry it alone. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, there is hope.”
Find out more about Chantelle’s work online.
IG @projextj
W
projexj.org
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BORN TO run
By
From his first primary school cross country race, to the start line at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Archie Hewett’s path to representing Australia has demanded everything he has.
continued page 18 ...
Sarah Halfpenny Photos Yanni
The Mornington resident competed in the 1500m on 27 July –under the T20 classification for athletes with an intellectual disability – in what will be his debut at a major international Games.
His mum, Sarah Hewett, traces it all back to a cross-country race when he was in Grade Five. The quiet and unassuming Archie represented Benton’s Junior College, finished in the top ten and progressed to regionals. “By Grade Six he was coming first in every round and made his first state team,” Sarah said. “He went to Queensland for nationals and it was like, oh, he can actually run!”
He joined Mornington Little Athletics Club and became a dominant force across both track and cross country, representing Victoria at state level every year from Years Seven to Ten – virtually unbeatable as a junior.
Training six days a week under Verway’s guidance – complemented by weights and physio sessions – Archie has steadily evolved from a gifted junior into a national-level competitor.
At the 2025 Virtus Games in Brisbane, Archie won gold in the steeplechase in his first outing under the classification. “Something opened up for Archie,” Sarah said. “He found his people. He became very comfortable with who he is and what he could do.”
Every psychologist we’ve met has said they don’t know how we’ve got him where he is, but the support he must have is incredible
Much of that development is credited to coach Dane Verway, who has worked with Archie for four years. A former Paralympics physio, Verway identified the T20 pathway in late 2024 and, following an assessment by Athletics Australia, Archie was confirmed eligible.
SENIORS FERRY
Australian Athletics took notice. He was soon named as one of just three Australians invited to an international classification race in Dubai, then raced a punishing schedule, including Melbourne’s prestigious Maurie Plant Meet, to earn the qualifying time he needed for the Commonwealth Games.
Archie entered the Games as both the youngest and least experienced athlete in the field, with a personal best of 4:05 and a singular ambition: to break four minutes. “He’s definitely the underdog,” Sarah said. “But we know he hasn’t reached his full potential.”
After Glasgow, Archie will join the Victorian Institute of Sport on their invitation, with the LA Paralympics in 2028 firmly in his sights.
He arrives in Glasgow with the backing of a large and devoted family – he’s one of six children and the fourth-born to single mum Sarah. “Every psychologist we’ve met has said they don’t know how we’ve got him where he is, but the support he must have is incredible,” said Sarah.
“Running is Archie’s happy place, and he has great opportunities coming his way.”
Archie departed for a training camp in Barcelona on 23 July before heading to Glasgow, where his 1500m race on 27 July was televised live on the Seven Network.
Follow Archie’s journey on Instagram.
IG @watch_archie_run
SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER TH
First Saturday of the Month | Sept - May | 9am - 2pm
JIMMY THE jokester
By Cameron McCullough Photos Yanni
He cut his teeth as Jimmy Giggle in the hit children’s series “Giggle and Hoot”, but after a decade in the role, constant travel, and a young family, Jimmy Rees wanted a change. It was time to move on.
I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do at the time, but in hindsight it was
It was 2019, and Jimmy’s future was uncertain. He knew he wanted to stay in entertainment, but doing what? While on the hunt for his next role, he toyed with the idea of making a few funny videos.
“I knew ‘Giggle and Hoot’ was coming to an end, and I had a considerable following because of the show, so I thought I would give it a try. I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do at the time, but with hindsight it was.”
Then came a little thing called Covid. You may have heard of it.
Locked down with the rest of us, Jimmy doubled down on the idea of making content; a creative outlet for his creativity. Perhaps to help him through Lockdown as much as everyone else.
“The short, hyper, fun, and silly video thing was rising. It gave me the confidence. I just basically picked up the camera and started making videos,” said Jimmy.
“Kudos to my wife. I was borrowing all her clothes to dress up in, and saying ‘I know we have three kids under five, but can I have a couple of hours to make some videos’, because I felt that if I get this right, then I can make a living out of it.”
“The thing that surprised me the most was just how fast it happened for me!”.
Fast forward to 2026. Jimmy boasts an astounding 4.5 million followers across the platforms of Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook and You Tube, and in 2024 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to arts as an entertainer, and to the community.
continued next page ...
The funniest thing is coming in on a Monday and saying ‘Here are all the stupid things I wrote down at midnight’
It was a nod to his contribution towards getting many people through Covid with his humorous videos, but also to his community and charity work.
Jimmy’s work with children’s charities stemmed from his Jimmy Giggle character, but was forged through the personal tragedy of losing his beloved nephew Rye in 2022.
“Very Special Kids were amazing to my nephew. My own experiences have caused me to reflect after going to places like Bear Cottage in Sydney, which is like a hospice for kids. You see families grieving when you walk through the door.”
Jimmy says those experiences have shaped who he is today.
“To see these things up close and to see this adversity is unbelievable. And what I realised is that you go to some of these places and the wards are full.
As a parent you just think ‘Oh my God’. It is just heart wrenching.”
The experience didn’t make him shy away from, but lean into what he is good at; making people laugh. To make their days easier.
“I think everyone needs a bit of light humour. The whole schtick around my stuff online is ‘zoom the lens out guys’.”
Asked if people have lost the ability to laugh at themselves, Jimmy says “To a degree”.
“At the moment, everything seems so politically charged. You have to pick a side. Can we just go back to ‘not giving a flying’?”
At the heart of the content Jimmy creates is the ability to laugh at oneself. Laugh at the ridiculousness of society, and often the part we willingly play in it.
“I mean, we are all crowded around a kid’s football match and some parents are losing their mind at the umpires! That is, objectively, just weird and funny!”
Along with the humour comes responsibility and commitment.
A nondescript factory in Mornington is where Jimmy works 9am – 5pm creating content. Resplendent with hundreds of outfits, props, cameras and lighting equipment, and an assistant, Cam, to help him pull it all together, he is pumping out content to the entire planet.
“The funniest thing is coming in on a Monday and saying, ‘Here are all the stupid things I wrote down at midnight’,” said Jimmy.
“And let’s face it, there is crazy stuff happening in the world, so there is no real shortage of material!”
Jimmy sees his content as a way to build his profile rather than provide an income. That way he continued page 24...
What’s coming up at...
THEATRE WITHOUT A SAFETY NET
Innovative theatre collective re:group brings its acclaimed production POV to Frankston Arts Centre on September 23, blending live documentary filmmaking with unpredictable, immersive performance. Created by a team of long-time collaborators led by director Solomon Thomas and writer Mark Rogers, the production centres on 11-year-old Bub, an aspiring documentary filmmaker trying to understand her mother’s struggles with mental illness. A child actor guides two unrehearsed adult performers through the story using hidden prompts, creating a unique show that changes every night.
Exploring family dynamics, childhood and mental health, POV challenges traditional theatre conventions by handing narrative control to its youngest performer. The result is a compelling mix of fiction and live “documentary” that captures genuine reactions and real-time negotiation between actors.
Bold, moving and original, POV demonstrates why re: group remains at the forefront of contemporary Australian theatre.
BLUES GUITAR ROADSHOW FEAT ANA POPOVIC
Wednesday 5 August, 7.30pm
Live music at it’s best, with the thrill of a music festival in one unforgettable night! Featuring Ana Popovic (US), Geoff Achsion, Jimi Hocking, Brett Garsed and more.
RIDE THE CYCLONE: THE MUSICAL
Friday 7 – Sunday 9 August
Cube 37
Peninsula-based Entr’acte Theatre Company present the ride of a lifetime! Six teens. A novelty fortune teller. A broken rollercoaster ride. The chance to live again. Ride the Cyclone promises laughs, fun, and reflection.
CHRISTINE ANU
Friday 14 August, 8pm
Cube 37
Christine Anu, one of Australia’s most loved voices, performs My Island Home and new music from her album Waku in a powerful, uplifting live performance.
See it at Frankston Arts Centre on Wednesday 23 September, 7.30pm. Tickets available at thefac.com.au or by calling 03 9784 1060.
HIT PARADE OF THE 50’S & 60’S
Friday 28 August, 7.30pm
Relive the “good old days of rock n roll”! Get ready to embark on a nostalgic journey with Hit Parade, a tribute to the unforgettable hits of the 1950s and 1960s. Led by the remarkable Glenn Starr.
TOM GLEESON OUT OF TOUCH
Friday 4 September, 6.30pm
Hard Quiz host. Taskmaster Australia host. Gold Logie winner. 5 times AACTA winner. Tom Gleeson is completely out of touch. His head is up his arse. Come along to the show and take him down a peg.
TONY & GAGA: AN OPULENT BIG BAND EXPERIENCE
Saturday 5 September, 7.30pm
Cube 37
Big Band Brilliance meets Hollywood Glamour! Acclaimed vocalist Sarah C and fashion icon Dom Bagnato, backed by a lavish Big Band, celebrate the music of Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga.
is not at the mercy of ever-changing algorithms but rather can produce what he thinks will best engage the audience. The brand he has built through the content has allowed him to take the show on the road, selling out venues across Australia.
Jimmy will be bringing his show “Meanwhile in Frankston” to Frankston Arts Centre in September. In the meantime, there is a little jaunt over to the hugely popular Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he has ten shows booked.
“I've only been to New Zealand, which is really just part of Australia, so this is huge. It’s a bit of a test run for the overseas market. You can see on your stats that you have a decent following overseas, so why not give it a go?”
It is the “business of making people laugh”, and Jimmy has embraced it fully. Born from quitting his stable job and throwing himself at the mercy of the universe, having the universe throw back challenges galore, and having it work out just fine.
FB @jimmyreesofficial
IG @jimmyrees_
TT jimmyrees
W jimmyrees.com.au
By Nicole Barros
By Amanda Steadman
By Wendy Hall
DRAWN TO animals
By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Gary Sissons
Frankston portrait artist, Lorna Wheele of Pop-Up Pawtraits captures the essence of her subjects in just ten minutes. Even more impressive, she does it in the vibrant atmosphere of an outdoor market. The clients who commission Lorna routinely comment on how accurately she conveys the unique personality of their dog, cat or the occasional chicken.
Lorna works from a photograph, often on a phone, focusing first and last on the windows to the soul. “Like people, I find the greatest connection through the eyes. Looking at an animal closely, I get to know who it is, not just its physical make up, but its character,” she says.
continued page 28...
The funny thing is that Lorna has never had a pet of her own although she has longed for one her whole life. “When I was little, I used to cry under the kitchen table about not having a dog. I was always drawing dogs. I even wrote a dog ownership manual when I was a child,“ she says.
When I was little, I used to cry under the kitchen table about not having a dog. I was always drawing dogs
It was just a matter of circumstance that her family never had a dog. Nowadays, she gets vicarious enjoyment drawing them and also feels lucky and very happy to be sharing a home with her brother and sister-in law’s two Blue Heelers: Echo and puppy, Dory, who is an adorable bundle of rambunctious energy.
Lorna comes from a tiny village outside of Brighton in Southern England. While an idyllic place for a child, when she grew older, Lorna wanted to spread her wings to Brighton and beyond. Lorna’s mother is an artist/illustrator. “We were always drawing. It was just something my mother, sister and I were intrinsically interested in,” she says. Her father is a graphic designer. A good sense of line runs in the family.
When Lorna went to high school to do her A levels, she chose art and photography as her subjects. After that, she completed a
foundation year in drawing and painting before being accepted into Kingston School of Art in West London where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration/Animation.
In 2018 she started sketching her friends’ dogs. She decided to try a little pop up market for London’s Dogs Day Out where she added colour to the mix. People loved her life-like portraits of their pooches. She was invited back for a Halloween event with dogs in costume which she loved. The instant success of these events gave Lorna the idea for her current business, Pop-Up Pawtraits.
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She continued making detailed custom pet portraits for friends and family while living in Sussex. Lorna tried a market in a pub garden that went so well that she was offered a regular spot. On top of experience, it gave her insight and an opportunity to work on branding and development.
When Lorna came to Melbourne for a wedding in October of 2025 she decided to stay. She was encouraged to apply for Emu Plains and Little Beauty Markets and was immediately accepted.
Her first market was at Emu Plains in January 2026. She was instantly embraced by market goers clambering for her amazing 10-minute pet portraits.
Like most artists, Lorna had a back-up plan. She completed a Post Graduate degree in Education and worked as a secondary school art instructor teaching art and photography. When she moved to Australia she continued as a casual relief teacher while building her Pop-Up Pawtraits business. continued page 32...
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Though Lorna has always dreamed of exhibiting in a gallery, she hasn’t achieved that yet. She’s quite happy at the moment working in her favourite medium – pencil – on her favourite subject which is animals.
“I love the softness of lead on the page. It has an immediacy, but not a permanence so I don’t get freaked out. I can just erase it if I want. I can document what I see in real time on the spot. Pencil is my friend. I most enjoy drawing from life,” she says.
When she isn’t drawing pets, Lorna likes to sketch during her travels, hang out in cafés and people watch. “I love people just milling about in cafés. I like to draw people’s hands. I love drawing forgotten areas like the corner of a building with a lone bin or a falling-apart shed with a corrugated iron roof,” she says.
Most of her pet portrait work comes through the markets, but strong word of mouth has also funnelled a lot of people to her Instagram account where she is more than happy to accept new commissions. And eventually, she’ll get that dog.
• Nursery décor
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• Nappy bags & parenting essentials
• Pregnancy & postpartum care
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IG popuppawtraits_
Image: Melbourne, 1957. Courtesy Herald Sun
DEEP IN bloom
By Sarah Halfpenny Photos Yanni and supplied
Jaye Selga had built a successful side career photographing portraits of women and families, when the birth of her son upended everything.
“After becoming a mum I nearly gave photography up altogether; it had been a chaotic year, but the universe had other plans,” says Jaye.
With no spare room left at home to shoot indoors, instead she began taking portrait and glam shoots outdoors along the peninsula coastline. To satisfy her creative side, she then set out to try something different: photographing mermaids.
A search online led her to Marianna the Mermaid, a professional performer who agreed to model for her.
“After that first shoot at Rosebud beach I was obsessed,” says Jaye. That single afternoon “opened up an entire world of learning, opportunities, friendships that eventually led me to my first exhibition, and into competitions,” she says.
That obsession grew into a distinct visual language built on
I missed the smell of salty air, and the comfort of knowing I was close to the ocean
breath-hold, fabric, movement and natural light, with portraits that sit somewhere between photography and painting. These days Jaye moves between three identities - mother, registered nurse and underwater fine art photographer - and all three are threaded through Bloom, her debut exhibition, which showed at Oak Hill Gallery in Mornington in June.
Water has always meant home for Jaye. She grew up in Roxas City, the self-declared seafood capital of the Philippines, and has lived on the Mornington Peninsula since September 2011.
“I’ve never lived far from a body of water,” says Jaye.
The only exception was a stint studying in Bendigo; landlocked and hard to bear. “I missed the smell of salty air, and the comfort of knowing I was close to the ocean,” she says.
The work began with a question I kept returning to: what becomes possible when a person is safe, protected and nurtured
Most of Jaye’s shoots take place in a hired pool rather than open water. The bay is reserved for subjects who are strong, confident swimmers, often professional mermaids trained to move in tails, or experienced underwater models. Every session begins with a risk assessment and an unhurried safety briefing before anyone gets in the water, a discipline she credits partly to her day job.
“Even if I wasn’t a nurse, safety would still be the number one priority in underwater photography,” says Jaye.
Her clinical training sharpens these instincts further. Knowing advanced life support and reading a face for the first flicker of fatigue or discomfort has become second nature both on shoots and at home with her child. “If I deem a shoot unsafe for anyone involved, I won’t do it,” she says.
Bloom was shaped first by becoming a mother, and by the awareness that comes with wanting children and vulnerable people to be safe in the world.
“The work began with a question I kept returning to: what becomes possible when a person is safe, protected and nurtured?” says Jaye. She wanted the series to acknowledge the realities of child trafficking, abuse and exploitation, without confronting viewers with them directly. Rather than images of sorrow, Jaye chose to focus on the other side of that conversation: the possibility of healing, softness, confidence and beauty when someone is held in safety.
“Water can give life, but it can also take it away. Underwater, humans are vulnerable; it is not an environment where we naturally
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WE’RE HEADING TO THE VICTORIAN ORCHID SPECTACULAR!
White Hill Orchids is excited to be a vendor at Victoria’s largest orchid show – the Victorian Orchid Spectacular!
Come and visit us for an incredible weekend celebrating all things orchids. You’ll discover:
• Spectacular orchid displays
• Orchid seedlings, mature plants & flasks for sale
• Pots, premium potting bark & growing accessories
• Potting demonstrations & informative orchid lectures throughout the weekend
Whether you’re just starting your orchid journey or you’re a seasoned collector, there’s something for everyone!
Be sure to stop by the White Hill Orchids stand and say hello—we’d love to see you!
Please note: Our shop will be closed for the entire weekend of the show while we’re at the Spectacular, so come and see us there instead!
COME AND VISIT US! 28TH, 29TH & 30TH AUGUST
BOXHALL PAVILLION, KCC PARK, 655 WESTERN PORT HIGHWAY, SKYE
Photo: Carly Jacoby
thrive,” says Jaye. “But with guidance, trust and care the people I photograph are able to relax. They can appear calm, serene and almost weightless because they know they are safe.”
“That is what Bloom is really about,” says Jaye. “It is my answer to that original question: when someone is safe they do not just survive; they can soften, trust, open and bloom.”
It is my answer to that original question: when someone is safe, they do not just survive, they can soften, trust, open and bloom
A portion of every sale from the exhibition was donated to the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, the Australian charity working to protect children and young people from violence and trauma, a practical extension of the dedication running underneath the whole series.
Bloom is also, by Jaye’s own account, the first body of work that belongs entirely to her. Earlier in her career, her photography was shaped by what clients wanted rather than what she wanted to say.
“I gave myself permission to stop chasing what I thought people wanted from me, and instead follow the visual language that felt most natural to me,” says Jaye.
Getting the work onto a peninsula gallery wall took persistence. With no formal exhibition history behind her, Jaye sent applications to galleries across the region, many of which were booked out years in advance or simply did not reply. Oak Hill Gallery was the first to agree, and Jaye says there was something fitting about her debut landing on the same coastline that drew her to Australia in the first place.
The women in Bloom’s images are largely friends; people Jaye trusted to understand what the project was trying to say, and to hold the stillness an underwater shoot demands. “Building that trust”, she says, “happens slowly, in the run-up to a shoot and the close attention paid to breath and body once underwater.”
Once the show opened, Jaye noticed that many visitors were first drawn to the colour, the fabric, the strange calm on her subjects’ faces, and only later asked how the images were made. “I hope they realise that the beauty is not just decoration, it is part of the message.”
Photos: Carly Jacoby
Redefining “Artisan” Bread
Bloom closed at the end of June, but Jaye is not treating it as a finished chapter so much as a beginning. A new series, The Red Ballroom, is due for release in 2027. It is still shot underwater but pitched as bolder and more theatrical than its predecessor, with what Jaye describes as a stronger sense of courage, visibility and transformation. A third body of work, more mythical and whimsy, is aimed at 2028, continuing to explore the emotional language of water, movement and the body.
While Bloom asked what becomes possible when someone feels safe enough to soften and open, Jaye’s next work suggests she already knows: the courage to be seen.
Follow Instagram to see more of Jaye’s work
IG @theweightlessarchive
Photo: Carly Jacoby
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Already having released their debut single over the hill in May, and their second single, warm night, in late July, St Andrews Beach duo SAMSCOUT interweaves folk, pop and indie rock influences with honest lyricism.
Sam Richardson and Scout Hook are multidisciplinary artists with a creative relationship spanning nine years. In each other, they found the song they had always been listening for. Travelling through life and landscapes with their dog, Winty, they write stories shaped by sunsets, melodies sculpted by the waves and harmonies carried by the wind.
Two years ago, Sam and Scout packed up their guitars into a second-hand caravan, beginning a songwriting roadtrip along Australia’s east coast. Following their adventures, SAMSCOUT’s debut album Painted Lines was born. Produced by Lewis Hosie in his home studio, the record features Ash Griffin, Brendan Hook, Warwick Hook, Ben Ingvarson, Michael Ingvarson, Shane Lestideau, Julian Steel and Sam Watts.
SAMSCOUT’s debut single over the hill received airplays across triple j Unearthed, PBS 106.7FM, Inner FM 96.5, Fleurieu FM and KCR FM. Their music is poised to reach the hearts of all who need it, with their second release due to continue along the trajectory of the transcendent sound they are known for.
Music videos for both tunes are out now on YouTube, filmed by friend Jackson Howe, with editing, direction and choreography by Sam and Scout.
Artwork for the album, handmade by Scout, honours their late grandfather, legendary cartoonist Jeff Hook, who was a Mornington Peninsula local for many years. Jeff continues to be a great inspiration to Scout and always encouraged them to follow their creativity.
Through SAMSCOUT, music becomes a sanctuary – to share in the ups and downs of being human, to navigate relationships, and to get back in the driver’s seat of our lives.
SAMSCOUT welcome you to celebrate the Painted Lines album launch at Northcote Social Club on Saturday 7th November.
IG @_samscout_ W abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/samscout
Photo: Hattie Hook
Let the Mornington Peninsula
Yearround you willfinda calendarburstingwithevents , entertainment and activitiestoenjoy . Outdoor markets , foodand winefestivals , and familyfun activitiesfor the kids . fart and music are moreyourmuse, takea lookatthe everchanging rogram ofe hibitions , music erformances , dance and theatre onoffer aroundthe region . entertain you!
Mornington Racecourse
MORNINGTON PENINSULA RESIDENT PUBLISHES FIRST NOVEL AT 83 YEARS YOUNG
Mornington Peninsula resident Brigid Carrick was about to selfpublish when Ventura Press, NSW came a-knockin’.
Her first short story was published in a popular women’s magazine many years ago. In recent times she has rediscovered her enjoyment of creative writing, and so far, three of her short stories have been accepted for publication in an anthology and a magazine proving it’s never too late to write.
Before settling in Australia, Brigid trained and worked as a midwife in Ireland in the 1960s and 70s, when contraception was illegal and women’s choices were tightly controlled. As a young midwife, she was sent into some of the poorest areas of Dublin, where she witnessed firsthand the realities many women faced, including one woman delivering her ninth baby after more than twenty pregnancies.
Brigid emigrated to Australia in 1969 where she met and married her husband and raised two daughters. She worked as a midwife, teacher and after-hours manager at the Royal Women’s and the Royal Melbourne Hospitals, until she retired in 2018, but those early experiences stayed with her.
Now living on the peninsula, Brigid has turned those memories into her novel, The Belfast Express , inspired by the real-life ‘Contraception Train’ — when Irish women travelled to Belfast in defiance of the law to access birth control.
Step into 1970s Dublin, where eighteen-year-old Brianna Robinson is determined to carve out a future as a nurse/midwife.
Join Brianna on her secret adventures to London, her training as a nurse and midwife and her struggles providing care to those most in need, while the ever-watchful eye of the Catholic Church and the Irish Government looms above.
A story of courage, resilience, and rebellion, this novel invites readers to follow Brianna’s journey through a world where compassion is in short supply and her only choice is to break the rules.
Brigid’s writing influences include Maeve Binchy, Frank McCourt, Ian McEwan, and Jennifer Worth (Call the Midwife).
You can find The Belfast Express in bookstores, online retailers, and as an e-book. W brigidcarrick.com
THE WORLD HAS
TOO MUCH GREAT WINE. HERE’S WHY THAT’S VERY GOOD NEWS FOR YOU...
MEET JOSEPH – THE MAN WHO SPENT 21 YEARS TURNING AN INDUSTRY SECRET INTO THE PENINSULA’S WORST–KEPT ONE.
Joseph knows wine the way most people know their own neighbourhood. After years on the wholesale side of hospitality, he spotted something the industry wasn't advertising - most wine passes through so many hands that by the time it reaches yours, you've already paid for everyone's glass.
So he cut out the middlemen, went direct to the wineries, and brought the good stuff home to the Peninsula!
Joseph heads into the Barossa, McLaren Vale, the Clare Valley and beyond - tasting some of the best Australia has to offer, buying in volume, paying on the spot. No wholesaler. No middleman. Just great wine at great prices, waiting for you in Dromana and Hastings.
Consumers have been paying too much for wine, for decades.
Follow us for new arrivals, tasting events & specials! winelovers.warehouse Wine Lovers Warehouse
HASTINGS
LOCATION: 2080 Frankston - Flinders Rd, Hastings
OPEN: Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 6pm
DROMANA
LOCATION: Unit 5, 3 Trewhitt Court, Dromana Industrial Estate
OPEN: Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 6pm
When you walk through the door, you’re not just browsing - you’re tasting. Pull up a glass, chat with the team and let them point you in the right direction, whether it’s for tonight’s dinner, a special occasion, or just something new.
This is your local. And it’s only on the Mornington Peninsula! Keep an eye out for community events hosted right here in store.
The Peninsula’s worst-kept secret is waiting for you!
Two stores 250,000+ bottles
Free tastings Tuesday to Saturday in store.
By Annette Sanfilippo
WITH THIS ring
Weddings today are fast becoming the events that dreams are made of.
Real fairytales (ahem, Taylor and Travis), with real happenings.
Organising a wedding these days is no mean feat. You almost need a degree in the subjects of event management, finance, marketing, and even psychology. Gone are the days when you could predict how the day was going to pan out as a guest. The new wave of wedding etiquette has arrived, and these highly-produced events are rewriting bridal culture and couture from the moment you receive the ‘Save the Date’.
Carefully curated functions immerse guests into a wonderland where locations hold intimacy and special memory
week! From the bridal shower, hens and buck nights, shopping trips, rehearsals and fittings, your calendar will be overflowing in the lead up to the momentous day. Couples are creating journeys and writing themselves, (and you), into a story of fun, drama, spectacle, and excitement all neatly tied up in surrounds that fit with their personality, history and aesthetics.
No longer do we have a set of preplanned guidelines and traditions that fit within the industry and businesses that bring this special day to life. Couples are taking charge and insisting on setting their own template, so saying ‘I Do’, is how they want to do it!
Weddings are exclusive, fashionable affairs and are extending beyond the day itself, often a three-day package, sometimes a whole
Carefully curated functions immerse guests into a wonderland where locations hold intimacy and special memory. It seems that built-in, breathtaking backdrops are a prerequisite. Think old stone buildings with enchanted gardens, rustic farms with barns found at the end of a sweet, floral-lined winding road or forest destinations canopied by lush branches to form the alter. So much thought is going into capturing the ceremony in a unique and bespoke manner. Even decorations are playing a new role. The element of surprise is something couples want guests to anticipate.
continued next page...
Gender equality is another reason many traditions have changed
Colour palettes, festoon lighting, food displays, florals and sundry décor all take centre stage and double up in non-traditional ways taking guests on culinary adventures with maximalist moments and unexpected twists and turns. Food has moved rank from being served to fill time until the next moment on the schedule to star of the show, and music has become a symphony to set the scene. Band stages are being replaced by spontaneous saxophone solos, group singalongs, and special guest appearances.
No longer is the cake standing alone on a white tablecloth. Couples are sharing interactive duties of spreading cream layers on part-prepared desserts, tossing berries on pastry cakes and finishing presentations with dusting icing sugar together. Champagne towers have made an entertaining comeback, set off by the couples filling the sparkling stack of stemware in an impromptu manner for all to enjoy.
From personalised cocktails to suit the theme or personalities, wedding favours to gift and entertain, and even artists sketching guests in their attire throughout the event, it’s hard not to get excited about an upcoming nuptial. They are full of artistry and emotion with every detail intentional.
Where it can get a little tense is when you receive a mood board along with the invite instructing you what to wear or what not to wear. It may read, no patterns please, block colours only, neutral beachy tones, or a touch of sparkle. Social media is driving a trend to create the perfect wedding ambience so photos, video and the surrounds look uniform, coordinated and thoroughly Insta-worthy. Sometimes guests are asked not to share photos or to share any taken using a QR code, sending them all to an online album to be censored.
Many of our expected wedding experiences are being omitted or modernised to align with the current climate or political mindsets. If you delve into some of the origins it’s no wonder we want to nuance traditions to suit our modern world.
The bouquet toss stems from 14th-century England and Europe. Guests believed touching or tearing off a piece of the bride’s dress brought good luck. To escape this, brides began tossing their bouquets as a distraction so they could make a safe getaway. By the 1800s, this practice evolved into a softer ritual meant to pass on "good fortune" to the single women in attendance. These days, that bouquet is open to anyone to catch! And let’s not talk about the garter removal and toss. <shudder>
Gender equality is another big reason many traditions have changed. Brides no longer feel the need to veil themselves to be revealed to their partners. Instead, long, sheer lace trimmed mantilla style headpieces frame their faces and swathe over their dresses, often carrying a signature detail such as embroidered initials of a loved one or a family heirloom.
Carrying traditional flowers such as roses or calla lillies are often replaced with whimsical dried florals, decorative brooch posies, pretty pouch bags or lush greenery. Rings have become bespoke and non-traditional in styling reflecting originality, and vows, though still deeply meaningful, are light-hearted and a bit more relaxed. Move over dad! These days anyone can walk down the aisle with the intended. How about a flower granny?
‘Love is love’, and it’s so much about that feeling today more than ever before. The time has come for the opinions of others to be pushed aside and to forget the timeline and enjoy. It’s your special day so ‘do you’ without any judgement.
Though not every couple chooses to walk down the aisle these days one thing is for sure, the ones that do, ranging from traditional
venues and suppliers here on the Mornington Peninsula and I’m sure they are ready to inspire and help create and personalise the big day to perfection.
If you get a chance, take a look back into the history of some other wedding traditions; you may get a bit of shock with some of their origins. My favourite is wearing our rings on the fourth finger on the left hand. Do you know why? Oh, and that poetic verse about something blue...I simply love it.
Cheers to all who are about to say ‘I Do’!
Fashionably yours,
For every soul - big and small
At Blüte Sound Therapy & Wellbeing, Jessica creates a warm, nurturing space on the Mornington Peninsula where children discover calm and adults come home to themselves through the gentle power of therapeutic instruments, cacao, Reiki, and more.
Come as you are. Leave feeling whole
MONDAY TO SATURDAY - 9.30AM-4.30PM SUNDAY - 10.00AM-3.00PM | ONLINE 24/7 open
THE RANGE PENINSULA
RETIREMENT VILLAGE
VILLAS FROM $565,000 SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
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The Range Peninsula Retirement Village is a friendly new concept in retirement living, boasting high quality bespoke residential villas set inside a secure, gated community.
The Range Peninsula Retirement Village villas deliver a unique quality of life and first-rate owner benefits. It’s the smart choice.
Discover a boutique, family-friendly, comfort-plus lifestyle village – with just 46 Villas that’s what The Range Peninsula Retirement Village offers.
Each Villa offers retirement luxury living with Caesarstone benchtops, air conditioning, built -in-robes, double glazed windows, high ceilings and European appliances.
Share stories with other residents over a cuppa in the community centre or get creative with those who share similar interests.
Whether it be a craft morning, a game of indoor bowls, darts, billiards or simply enjoying a movie or sports event on our big screen.
Tone up in the gym, enjoy time in the potting shed and raised vegetable gardens or simply relax with a book from the library.
Discover Independent Living with a sense of community complete with security for peace of mind.
Inspired by some of Australia’s most celebrated, heritage-listed retirement properties, The Range Peninsula Retirement Village is designed to be both beautiful and practical. With gardens and walking paths arranged around the beautifully appointed clubhouse, its pedestrian-friendly village layout connects residents to friends and neighbours, and to the
village’s social hub. You’ll revel in the benefits of smartly designed oneand two-bedroom villas in a keyless swipe-to-enter gated community set among stunningly landscaped gardens.
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There’s something for everyone.
A: 46 Baxter-Tooradin Rd, Baxter
Eos Blaiz Brandy Leather 103 Railway Parade, Seaford 9785 1887
DFO Moorabbin, 250 Centre Dandenong Road, Moorabbin Airport 8904 1479
MAIN STREET EYECARE
Oliver Goldsmith Kendal Shop 7/68 Barkly Street, Mornington 5975 3235
BABA-LANDO BABY BOUTIQUE
Bouclé Kids Stool Shop R073, Rosebud Plaza 37-38 McCombe Street, Rosebud 0493 304 648
BIJA STORE
Luna Chair 114 Nepean Highway, Dromana 0490 354 623
AVEDIS JEWELLERY
Clawset Diamond Huggies
Karingal Hub Shopping Centre, Shop S105/330 Cranbourne Road, Frankston 9789 2388
Stay warm this winter with essential accessories made from possum merino wool.
Gloves | Hats | Scarves | Socks
Available in a wide range of colours for cheering your team or just walking the dog.
Open 7 days a week Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5pm Saturday 9.30am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 4pm
DETENDU LIFESTYLE
Bridge & Lord Wrap Topper Upstairs at Dromana Indoor Market 110 Nepean Highway, Dromana 0408 554 202
• Improve posture, strength & flexibility
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SWEET legacy
By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Yanni & supplied
Pastry chef Jessinta Fantauzzo is the peninsula’s Pied Piper of Sicilian cannoli and other traditional Italian desserts. People come from all over to eat her delicious fresh-made pastries. Jess is a stickler for perfection, just as her Nonno (grandfather), Lino, taught her. “Everything I do is from scratch following the recipes of my grandfather and great-grandfather,” she says.
“In my family, we did a lot of cooking. I started prepping in the kitchen when I was seven. I spent weekends at Nonno’s house cooking and baking. We made everything. When I was little, I was always creating art or cooking. Making food is a form of art,” she says. Jess distinctly remembers telling her Nonno that when she grew up she was going to open a cake shop in his name. At just 24 years old, she did.
In my family, we did a lot of cooking. I started prepping in the kitchen when I was seven
Jess nearly got knocked off course in Year 10 by a negative cooking teacher. She thought that she had better go into beauty therapy like the other girls around her, but then she remembered the promise she’d made to Nonno. Jess left high school at the end of Year 11 to study at William Angliss Institute in Melbourne where, after eighteen months of hard work, she achieved a Certificate IV in Patisserie.
“After that, everything I learned, I learned from Nonno. I’m a visual learner. I watched Nonno and worked on his recipes for three months before I opened my first business, Mio Nonno, in Airport West. I worked seven days a week for three years until everything was just right. I had to get the nod from Nonno before anything went on the shelf, ” she says.
continued page 58...
A strong work ethic and artistic flair runs through her veins. Her father is an entrepreneur with his own bespoke signwriting business and her mother is a florist. Jess’s Nonno, Lino and his father, Vincenzo had their own shop, Pasticceria Belvedere in Thornbury. Despite the pressure and expectation she put on herself, Jess was determined to make a success of her own business.
Jess’s Dad, Enzo, encouraged her to move from Airport West to the Peninsula a year ago. He knew there was nothing like Mio Nonno in the region. Jess had a dessert cabinet at Two Buoys Restaurant in Dromana, but it wasn’t long before she outgrew it. In March this year, she opened Mio Nonno Pasticceria at Mia Roma Caffé in Rye and it’s been going gangbusters ever since.
Jess relies on local producers for her ingredients, but imports chocolate from Italy. Her goal is to have empty shelves in her dessert fridges because as she says, “ When you eat a cannoli, it needs to be fresh and crunchy. The shell should not lift off the custard. My cannoli are piped fresh.” She’s obviously gotten it right because 250-300 cannoli are flying off the shelves every week.
continued next page ...
It’s fitting that Jess’ favourite dessert is cannoli She doesn’t like them too sweet and they have to be plump. “My Nonna wanted the look of the desserts to be just right. She was very particular. I am very much like that too. Everything has to look appealing.
My Nonno wanted the taste to be perfect. When Italians come to visit my business, they tell me ‘it tastes like home’. That is the biggest compliment I could get,” she says.
cosy vibes. Handcrafted artisanal lemonade on tap.
For us, cooking is love. I put love into what I make and you can taste it
Jess has fond memories of the big smile on Nonno’s face as he made cannoli for the family. He always had a piping bag and icing sugar on the kitchen counter and he would make one after another until the grandchildren and their cousins had had their fill. “For us, cooking is love. I put love into what I make and you can taste it,” she says.
Jess makes six varieties of cannoli: three custard filled: vanilla, chocolate and a mix of the two. In her ricotta versions, customers can choose: plain, pistachio coated or chocolate dusted. The ricotta cheese is sweet, but the shell counterbalances that sweetness. And while her cannoli are very popular, Jess makes plenty of other things.
Some of her other desserts are: ‘fafella’ butterfly cupcakes with custard and liqueur, ‘cannoncini’ puff pastry horns, continental birthday cakes with layers of custard infused with liqueur and chocolate flake plus a new favourite, ‘zeppoli’, hot donuts with or without jam.
“Living on the Mornington Peninsula has relaxed me and made me the best version of myself. I love what I’m doing and the local support has been amazing I have a lot of repeat customers,” she says. That’s what happens when you create a product with heart. Come taste the love at Mio Nonno inside Mia Roma Caffé in Rye.
BARN DOOR SALES MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM - 4.30PM AND8AM-12.30PMSATURDAYS
Tired of stale tasting supermarket eggs? Our farm is family owned and managed. We have been producing quality eggs for over 40 years, supplying the public, cafes, restaurants and other businesses on the peninsula
r from our barn door. Come and visit our Free Range hens roaming in their paddocks!
FARM FRESH FREE RANGE EGGS AT WHOLESALE PRICES!
CHOOK POO BY THE BAG
COME AND SEE THE ROAMINGCHICKENS FREE IN THE PADDOCK!
FB @Mio Nonno_Pasticceria IG @miononno_pasticceria
Coffee the COUNTER
Sip your way across the Mornington Peninsula with our guide to the region's best coffee destinations, from coastal cafés to tucked-away local treasures.
SAGES CAFE
Great coffee, greater purposeseasonal dishes by Chef Zac Poulier. Every visit supports employment opportunities for people with a disability.
THE CHOCOLATERIES MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Indulge in a coffee or hot chocolate while watching talented Chocolatiers craft irresistible handmade chocolate creations
MORNING GRIND
Drive through coffee van serving the finest coffee experience you can find on the Peninsula. Monday to Friday 5.30am to 9.30am
85 Sages Road, Baxter @SagesCottageBaxter @sagescafebaxter 0437 421 074
38 SOUTH SEAFORD
Family owned and community minded, serving expertly brewed coffee, fresh modern food, and warm coastal hospitality for locals, families, and visitors alike.
45 Cook Street, Flinders mpchoc.com.au @mpchocolaterie @mpchoc
71 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Mornington morninggrind.com.au morning.grind.coffee
131 Nepean Highway, Seaford 9024 0138 @38southbarcafe
OLIVE
& BEAN DELI CAFE
A welcoming Somerville Central café serving excellent coffee, delicious paninis, toasties and deli goods, located next to Target.
20/49 Eramosa Road West, Somerville 0435 132 894 @oliveandbeancafe
THE LAUGHING LARK
Hidden just outside Bayside Shopping Centre, serving quality coffee, fresh all-day breakfast and lunch amongst relaxed vibes.
1/16 Clyde Street Mall, Frankston laughinglark.com.au @laughinglarkcafe
LANEWAY ESPRESSO
Your local brew stop in the heart of Dromana, for a bit of good conversation, great food and even better coffee.
167 Point Nepean Road, Dromana @lanewayespressolittletreasures 5981 4624 @lanewaydromana
GRAZE & WANDER
Somerville’s warmest cafe, bringing you delicious hot made to order food, homemade sweet treats and coffee by Little Rebel.
2/1065 Frankston-Flinders Road, Somerville @graze_and_wander
BEA’S ASIAN MART & CAFE
Enjoy quality coffee and authentic Filipino comfort food, where every dish celebrates tradition, flavour and family.
29 Marine Parade, Hastings 0489 029 862 @beasfilipinocafe.com.au
AVENT’S GOURMET KITCHEN
Discover great coffee, artisan products made in-house, affordable take-home meals and a free 24/7 community garden.
2/61 Cool Store Road, Hastings @aventsgourmetkitchen @Avents-Gourmet-Kitchen
NORDIE CAFE
Serving exceptional Allpress coffee alongside fresh, relaxed Peninsula hospitality. The perfect local stop for breakfast, lunch or takeaway in Red Hill.
1008 Mornington-Flinders Road, Red Hill 5989 2171 @nordiecafe
HARRY’S McCLELLAND
Set among bushland and sculpture, Harry’s serves Little Rebel coffee, seasonal Peninsula produce and a relaxed vibe. Open Wednesday to Sunday.
390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin mcclelland.org.au
KATIES OF MOUNT ELIZA
Serving Dimattina coffee, Prana wet chai and yummy food made here.
STEAMIN' MUGS
Freshly brewed crafted coffee, and traditional dishes with a delectable twist, all served in a bright, modern-day vibe.
24 High Street, Hastings steaminmugs.com.au @steaminmugshastings
THE SOMERS GENERAL
The Somers General is a relaxed café + store by the beach in Somers. Offering a modern dine-in menu and Industry Beans coffee.
2 The Boulevard, Somers thesomersgeneral.com.au @thesomersgeneral
COFFEE TREAT
Mornington's latest coffee go-to. Serving iconic iced brews, premium roasted coffee, a delicious grab-andgo menu, friendly and a welcoming atmosphere.
89
@katies_of_mount_eliza
ELEMENTS EATERY
Award-winning eatery and cafe serving delicious coffee and food in a welcoming community atmosphere, 7 days a week.
Yawa, 100 Besgrove Street, Rosebud elementseatery.com.au @elementseatery
FLOURISH CAFE
Serving great coffee and delicious food. Flourish has a friendly, family atmosphere. Pop in and say "hi"! Fully licensed, open daily 8am-3pm
44 Norman Avenue, Frankston South 9787 8489 @flourish_cafe
MUSTARD MOOROODUC
Uncover the Peninsula's hidden gem at the historic Coolstores. Serving exceptional coffee, epic toasties and cosy courtyard vibes.
BÜTTERKEN BAKERY
204 Main Street, Mornington @coffee__treat @CTcoffee Bütterken brings Germany's "Kaffe und Kuchen" (coffee andcake) tradition to Mount Eliza with Commonfolk coffee and artisan pastries.
54 Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza @butterken_bakery_ @Butterkenbakery
8/475 Moorooduc Hwy, Moorooduc 0485 522 998 @mustardcafeau
FLINDERS GENERAL STORE
Offering a sustainably sourced speciality coffee exclusively roasted by Blume Coffee. Sweet, rich & complex. Ethically delicious.
50 Cook Street, Flinders @flindersgeneralstores
Shop 4, Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza
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FOCUS on Dromana
Photos Yanni
Dromana is located between Safety Beach and McCrae, and situated at the foot of the towering peak of Arthurs Seat, 66 km south of Melbourne.
Dromana's commercial centre is concentrated along the coastal boulevard of Point Nepean Road, with Arthurs Seat and its surrounding bushland providing a scenic backdrop to the shops and cafes along this route. Dromana's foreshore reserve lines the coast and consists of grassy picnic areas, shelters, walking tracks and designated camping areas. The calm, sandy beaches provide safe swimming and boating opportunities. Points of interest along the coast include the Dromana Pier and the rocky cutting at Anthony’s Nose where a boat ramp is situated.
Interiors | Furniture | Objects
Heronswood is a historic property situated on an elevated 2 hectare allotment on Latrobe Parade, overlooking the bay. The house and surrounding gardens date back to 1871 and are open for visitors to explore and enjoy. The property includes a cafe which serves organic produce from the gardens and fresh food from local growers where possible. There is a retail shop and nursery, with garden workshops held regularly. Heronswood is managed by Diggers Club, Australia's largest garden club, which also looks after the cool climate St Erth Gardens at Blackwood in the Macedon Ranges.
The completion of its pier took place in 1872, allowing the shipping of produce to the city markets. In 1881, Dromana was well established as a seaside resort.
It is believed that the name Dromana is of Irish origin and that it came about from the influx of gold prospectors in the mid19th century. There is a Dromana on the tidal section of the Blackwater River, near Cappoquin, County Waterford in Ireland, and this is the most likely origin of the name.
The first subdivision of Crown lands in Dromana occurred in 1854. Dromana Post Office opened on 12 April 1858.
In 1841, Hugh Jamieson purchased 5,120 acres (2,070 ha), or eight square miles, of land from the Crown for 1 pound an acre under the terms of the short-lived Special Survey regulations. The purchase included the northern part of the present suburb of Dromana to the east of Safety Beach. The area is known as Jamieson's Special Survey in cadastral surveys.
A major contributor to the development of Dromana was Spencer Jackson. One of his greatest achievements was the facilitation of the construction of a road to the summit of Arthurs Seat in 1929. Dromana's pier was much longer in those days and Dromana shared with Sorrento the ability to accommodate the bay steamers which did much to promote Dromana as a tourist destination. The McKeown and Shaw families ran guest houses for over half a century.
Dromana is known for its number of vineyards. More than 22 separate vintners operate within Dromana, as well as several vineyards. The Dromana Drive-in cinema is a popular entertainment spot for locals and holidaymakers alike.
Dromana and neighbouring Tuerong to the north, are home to a number of vineyards, some with cellar doors open for wine tasting.
Somerville Vet Clinic is Now Open!
We’re excited to welcome pets and their families to our brand-new purpose-built Somerville Vet Clinic.
Designed with patient comfort and modern veterinary care in mind, the new facility features spacious consulting rooms, dedicated surgical and treatment areas, and separate dog and cat spaces to help reduce stress during visits.
We look forward to caring for the Somerville community in our beautiful new clinic while continuing the compassionate, family-focused service Westernport Veterinary Clinics has provided for 50 years.
Holistic Health Centre offering personalised care for your overall health and wellbeing, with our experienced team of allied health and complementary medicine practitioners.
There’s always something fabulous to do in Dromana. Head down to the beach with its white sands and calm waters, then enjoy a relaxed lunch at one of the many cafes or restaurants. Sip amongst the vines at one of the many wineries or taste an awardwinning drop at one of the local distilleries. Check out the must-visit industrial estate area and browse the eclectic mix of produce and artisans hidden in this trendy nook in Dromana. For history buffs there’s plenty to peruse at the Dromana Historical Society. Movie buffs can catch a flick at the local drive-In. And green thumbs would not want to miss calling in at the picturesque gardens at Heronswood Estate, the home of the Digger’s Club.
CAFÉ safari
Whether you want to start the morning right or you're seeking an afternoon pick-me-up, freshly brewed coffee and delectable menus are a must-have for locals and visitors. Here are just a few places to check out when you're in this beautiful part of the world.
AU CROISSANTERIE
4A/277 POINT NEPEAN ROAD
A croissanterie and espresso bar, where friendly staff members are ready to brew your favourite coffee just the way you like. Serving freshly baked croissants along with delectable food and coffee every day of the year.
PIER STREET KITCHEN
19 PIER STREET
Serving breakfast, brunch and lunch with a Mediterranean twist, Pier Street Kitchen is known for its friendly atmosphere, amazing food and extensive locally-driven wine list.
CUSTOM INTERIOR
LANEWAY ESPRESSO
167 POINT NEPEAN ROAD
A much-loved, eclectic space serving coffee made from beans by Odyssey Coffee Roasters alongside cafe favourites. Enjoy brioche French toast or maybe a croissant burger, while you soak up the sun in the laneway.
PILGRIM DINING
277 POINT NEPEAN ROAD
Enjoy fresh, homestyle meals and friendly service at Pilgrim Dining. From hearty breakfasts to satisfying lunches and dinners, there’s something delicious waiting for everyone.
WOMBAT CAFÉ
230 BOUNDARY ROAD
The mission at Wombat Cafe is to provide wholesome, 100% plantbased and cruelty free food to both vegans and non-vegans in a fun and friendly environment.
in the delivery of first aid training courses to individuals and organisations across the Mornington Peninsula. Offering flexible delivery options for most courses, including distance learning, face to face, classroom based training and via our online e-learning system.
public courses monthly out of Mount Martha Community House and Balnarring Community Hall.
CREATING BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILES
As we celebrate Dental Health Week, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the importance of lifelong oral hygiene and routine dental check-ups. From the moment a child’s first tooth appears to the golden years of adulthood, oral hygiene plays a vital role in overall wellbeing. Good habits formed early – like brushing twice daily, flossing and regular dental visits – set the foundation for a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.
In childhood, dental check ups help detect early issues like cavities or crowding, and promote education around diet and oral care, this can lead into a consultation with the orthodontist to discuss interceptive treatments. As teenagers and adults, the focus often shifts to preventative care and correcting misalignment – where orthodontic treatment, such as braces or clear aligners, come into play. Orthodontics is more than cosmetic; properly aligned teeth are easier to clean, reducing the risk of decay, gum disease, and even jaw issues.
Orthodontic treatment at any stage – yes even later in life – can improve function, comfort and confidence.
You do not need a referral to see the team at Dr Peter Scott & Associates. Contact the clinic to organise a consultation time with one of the specialist orthodontists to discuss the best treatment options for either yourself or your child.
W drpeterscott.com.au
Dr Peter Scott and Associates are specialist orthodontists offering orthodontic care for children, teens and adults alike in both the Mornington Peninsula and inner Melbourne.
Dr Peter Scott is also a consultant at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Specialist Orthodontists
Creating Beautiful Smiles on the Peninsula for Over 35 Years
Expertise in Child and Adult Orthodontics
Early Assessment Of Dental Development and Facial Growth
Ideal Age of Initial Assessment 7-9 Years
Early Intervention Where Appropriate for Best Outcome
No Referral Necessary
Interest Free Payment Plans Available Braces and Aligners
50 YEARS OF CARING FOR THE MORNINGTON COMMUNITY
A milestone built on trust
In 2026, Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic will proudly mark 50 years of supporting the dental health and wellbeing of local families.
Founded in 1976 by Dr John Osborne, the clinic has grown to become one of Mornington’s longest-standing privately owned dental practices. From the beginning, its philosophy has been simple: good, honest dentistry grounded in integrity, compassion and genuine care.
That approach has shaped the clinic for generations. Families returned year after year, children grew into adults, and many long-term patients introduced their own children and grandchildren to the practice. For the team, that trust has always been a privilege.
Continuing the legacy
In 2012, Dr Osborne welcomed Dr David Laskey to the clinic. A UK-trained dentist, born in Wales, David shared the same values and patient-first approach that had guided the practice since its earliest days.
The two worked side by side for six years, combining long-standing community care with contemporary dental techniques and technology. As Dr Laskey has reflected, “We were a good team because we shared a passion for ethical, patient-centred care.”
In 2018, Dr Osborne made the decision to hand the practice to someone who would keep it privately owned, locally focused and true to its roots. David was that person.
Today, under Dr Laskey’s leadership and supported by a skilled and caring team, Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic continues to care for patients across every stage of life. In Dr Osborne’s words, “David was wonderful and he became my rock. He brought the clinic into the modern age, embracing contemporary procedures and technologies.”
Prevention is still at the heart of good dentistry
While dentistry has changed significantly over the past 50 years, one thing has remained constant: prevention matters.
Regular dental check-ups are one of the simplest ways to look after your teeth and gums. They give your dentist the opportunity to assess your oral health, identify early signs of decay, gum concerns, tooth wear, cracks or other changes, and provide advice before problems become more complex.
Preventive care is not only about having your teeth cleaned. It is about understanding what is happening in your mouth and making informed decisions about your long-term dental health.
Caring for every stage of life
For children, regular visits help build healthy habits early. For adults, preventive care supports strong teeth and gums through busy working and family years. For older patients, it plays an important role in maintaining comfort, function and quality of life.
At Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic, preventive care is delivered with the same philosophy that has guided the practice for five decades: honest advice, careful treatment and a focus on what each patient genuinely needs.
Making the most of your health fund extras
The clinic also understands that many patients want to make the most of their private health insurance. Many health funds include dental extras that you can use towards check-ups, cleans, x-rays and other preventive services, depending on your individual policy.
Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic works with a number of health funds, including Bupa, HCF, NIB, Defence Health and Medibank Private. For eligible patients, the extras may help reduce out-of-pocket costs where cover applies.
If it has been a while since your last dental visit, checking your health fund extras can be a helpful reminder to book your next appointment. Regular preventive care may be covered in part by your policy, and using your available benefits can help you stay on top of your oral health.
Looking ahead to the next generation
As the clinic approaches its 50-year milestone, the team remains proud of its place in the Mornington community. The technology, treatments and facilities have evolved, but the heart of the practice remains the same.
Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic continues to offer good, honest dentistry with integrity, caring for local families today while looking ahead to the next generation of patients.
If you are overdue for a check-up or would like to make use of your health fund dental extras, now is a good time to book.
To arrange an appointment, contact Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic.
A FAMILIAR FACE HELPING WITH COMPLEX TEETH NEEDS
For many people on the Mornington Peninsula, Dr David Laskey is already a familiar name. As the owner of Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic, David has been part of the local dental community for many years working alongside a team that has cared for generations of families in Mornington and the surrounding peninsula.
The peninsula is not only where David works. It is also home. He has lived locally for more than 14 years and is raising his child here, building strong personal and professional ties within the community.
That connection is one of the reasons Mornington Prosthodontics exists.
Located in Mornington, Mornington Prosthodontics provides specialist restorative dental care for patients with more complex dental needs. The practice is led by David, a registered Specialist Prosthodontist with advanced training in the repair and replacement of missing, worn, broken or heavily restored teeth.
For local patients, this means specialist care is already available close to home.
Care for worn, missing and broken teeth
Loose dentures, missing teeth, worn-down teeth and failing dental work can affect everyday life in practical ways.
Some people notice they are avoiding certain foods. Others find their dentures feel less stable than they once did. Some are concerned about teeth that are wearing down, breaking, chipping or no longer functioning comfortably. Others may have crowns, bridges, veneers or implant restorations that need a more detailed assessment.
These concerns are not always about appearance. Often, they are about function, comfort and understanding what is happening before the problem becomes more complex.
A prosthodontist is a dental specialist focused on restoring and replacing teeth. This may include dentures, dental implant restorations, crowns, bridges, veneers and full mouth rehabilitation. It can also involve assessing and managing failing dental work, missing teeth, loose dentures and more complex bite or restorative concerns.
While general dentists provide many important restorative treatments, a prosthodontist undertakes additional specialist training to manage more complex cases. This can be particularly important when several teeth are involved, when existing dental work is failing, or when treatment needs careful planning across the whole mouth.
When teeth or dentures stop working the way they should
People may seek advice from Mornington Prosthodontics for a range of reasons.
Some patients are concerned about dentures that feel loose, uncomfortable or less stable than they once did. Others may have missing teeth and want to understand whether dentures, bridges or dental implant restorations may be suitable.
Some people come in because their teeth are worn, broken or no longer functioning comfortably. Others may have older crowns, bridges or veneers that are starting to fail and need assessment before deciding what to do next.
There are also patients who need more comprehensive treatment planning, such as full mouth rehabilitation. This may be considered when many teeth are worn, damaged, missing or heavily restored, and when the overall bite and function need to be carefully reviewed.
The first step is always assessment.
A consultation allows the clinician to understand what is happening, identify the underlying issues and explain what options may be suitable based on the patient’s clinical needs, oral health and circumstances.
A local specialist with a careful approach
David’s approach is calm, considered and practical. Patients are not rushed through the process. The focus is on careful assessment, clear explanation and treatment planning tailored to the individual.
For some people, the right option may be relatively straightforward. For others, the situation may be more complex and require a staged plan.
In either case, the aim is to make sure patients understand their dental condition and the options available before making decisions about care.
Technology also plays an important role at Mornington Prosthodontics. Digital scanning, 3D imaging and computer-guided treatment planning can help support accurate assessment and detailed planning.
However, for David, good dental care is not only about technology or technical skill. It is also about listening.
Dental concerns can be personal. People may feel unsure about their teeth, uncomfortable with their dentures, or frustrated by dental work that has not lasted as expected. Taking the time to listen, assess and explain is an important part of specialist care.
Specialist care, close to home
For David, establishing Mornington Prosthodontics was a natural extension of his connection to the local community.
Through Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic, he has long understood the needs of patients in the region. Through Mornington Prosthodontics, he provides a dedicated specialist pathway for patients who need more complex restorative assessment and care.
If you are concerned about loose dentures, missing teeth, worn-down teeth, broken teeth or dental work that is starting to fail, a consultation can help you understand what is happening and what options may be suitable.
To arrange a consultation with Dr David Laskey and the team at Mornington Prosthodontics, contact the clinic.
LiveWell Dental believes exceptional dentistry isn't about doing more, it's about doing what's right.
For over 25 years, Dr Fadi Badra has built his reputation on honest, conservative dentistry that puts your long-term oral health first. Rather than simply treating today's problem, he carefully considers the future of your smile, creating treatment plans that preserve healthy teeth, prevent future complications and provide lasting results. Every patient is treated by the same experienced dentist at every visit, ensuring personalised care, continuity and advice you can trust. Every diagnosis and treatment plan is developed by Dr Badra using his own clinical judgement, experience and a thorough assessment of your individual need, not by artificial intelligence. When restoring teeth, craftsmanship matters. Dr Badra works closely with a trusted local dental laboratory to personally design every crown, creating restorations that are tailored for strength, function and a natural appearance; not simply the quickest solution. Whether you need a routine examination, emergency treatment or complex restorative care, LiveWell Dental’s focus remains the same: protecting your smile for years to come.
Patient testimonials:
"The best dentist I’ve seen in Melbourne. I have lived here for six years and seeing a dentist was like seeing a butcher UNTIL I went to Live Well Dental. They are kind, clean and courteous. 100% recommended!"
Andrew Radziewicz
"Can't rate Fadi and his team more highly. Typically, dentists give me anxiety however Fadi makes you feel relaxed, has a laugh to help ease the nerves and is very genuine and caring about the patient in the chair. The staff are all wonderful and it is clear that he cares for his staff the same as his patients with their demeanour and professionalism.”
Simon Gordon
"This was my absolute best visit to a dentist. I am normally quite anxious with appointments, but I’ve never felt more relaxed. Dr. Fadi kept me informed of what was happening and gave me breaks when I needed them. Everyone treated me kindly and I felt welcome. This will be my go-to dentist from now on!"
Paris Biggs
Big thank you to Dr Fadi Badra and his team. When my daughter’s four wisdom teeth were removed she felt extremely comfortable and had no bruising on her face. The service she received was amazing. Friendly, professional and caring. Very clean and modern facilities. Highly recommended!
Sheila Smith
At Peninsula Orthodontics, we believe that orthodontic care is about more than straight teeth- it’s about creating confident smiles, building lasting relationships, and making every visit a positive experience for the whole family. From your child’s first orthodontic visit to fine tuning your own smile, our friendly team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Our dedicated orthodontic specialists, Dr. Doug Lee and Dr. Alan Tran are supported by our university-trained oral health therapists and our qualified dental assistants. We are proud to have been part of the Mornington Peninsula for over 40 years.
We believe that apositive orthodontic experience begins the moment you walk through our doors. Our practice has been thoughtfully designed to create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where children, teens and adults feel at ease. Our staff is always ready with a warm smile, and we pride ourselves on clear communication, compassionate care, and a genuine commitment to each patient’s journey.
Being part of the peninsula community means everything to us. We’re proud to sponsor local clubs including Southern Peninsula Basketball Association, Mornington Football Club Womens Program, Mt. Martha Cricket Club, as well as Beleura, Mt Eliza, Sorrento, Dromana, Red Hill, Hastings and Balnarring Junior Football Clubs, and Beachcombers Basketball Club.
Start your smile journey with us as we invite you to schedule a consultation and experience the Peninsula Orthodontics difference. Our dedicated team is ready to welcome you and your family, answer your questions, and help take the first step towards creating a beautiful smile.
W peninsulaortho.com.au
BUILT FOR LIFE ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Beachstone Homes designs and builds custom residences that reflect the Peninsula’s relaxed coastal lifestyle while combining thoughtful design and enduring quality.
Life on the Mornington Peninsula moves to a different rhythm.
Days are spent by the coastline, long summer evenings stretch well past sunset, and homes naturally become gathering places for family and friends. Whether it’s time spent around the pool, mornings in the garden, or weekends shared between the golf course and a local winery, the Peninsula lifestyle blurs the line between indoors and out.
For many, building here represents more than simply creating a house — it’s about designing a home that enhances their lifestyle.
Based locally, Beachstone Homes specialises in designing and building custom homes for families and retirees who want more than just a house. Whether it’s a forever home, a coastal retreat or a multi-generational residence, each project is thoughtfully designed to complement the homeowner’s property and lifestyle.
The team at Beachstone Homes have lived and worked on the peninsula for decades, raising their families here and developing a deep understanding of the community. That local knowledge informs every project, ensuring each home responds thoughtfully to coastal conditions, orientation, views and the surrounding area.
Natural materials, light-filled interiors and strong indoor–outdoor connections are recurring elements in Beachstone Homes’ projects — design features that suit the relaxed coastal lifestyle of the peninsula while remaining timeless and refined.
The company is known for delivering homes through a highly personalised and transparent building experience, combining thoughtful design with meticulous construction.
A feature of Beachstone Homes is its integrated design and construction approach, which provides a single point of contact throughout a clear and collaborative process — from initial design conversations through to construction and completion.
Clients are also guided through a structured selections process covering materials, fixtures, cabinetry, lighting and home automation, ensuring every element works cohesively and reflects the overall vision for the home.
Beachstone Homes’ commitment to quality construction has been recognised through multiple Housing Industry Association (HIA) awards, making the company one of the most awarded residential builders based on the Mornington Peninsula.
The delivery of their homes is guided by a simple philosophy: homes should be thoughtfully designed, carefully constructed and created to be enjoyed for generations — built for life.
P 5987 3449
E info@beachstonehomes.com.au
W beachstonehomes.com.au
EXCELLENCE BUILT ON EXPERIENCE
TWO AWARDS - ONE EXCEPTIONAL
Gstruct Group has been recognised at the 2026 Master Builders Victoria Awards, receiving both Eastern Regional Residential Builder of the Year and Best Multi Unit Development for its exceptional Blairgowrie project on the Mornington Peninsula.
These prestigious awards acknowledge more than a single development—they recognise years of industry experience, technical expertise and a commitment to delivering some of Victoria's most complex and architecturally significant residential projects.
Specialising in luxury custom homes and bespoke architectural transformations, Gstruct Group has established a reputation as a trusted builder throughout the Mornington Peninsula and inner Melbourne. The company is known for delivering technically demanding projects requiring meticulous planning, innovative construction methods and exceptional craftsmanship.
The award-winning Blairgowrie development perfectly demonstrates these strengths. Nestled within the coastal dune landscape, the project comprises two architecturally designed residences that presented significant engineering and construction challenges from the outset.
Built on difficult sandy soil conditions, both homes incorporate advanced AFS concrete wall systems and extensive suspended concrete slab construction to ensure long-term structural integrity.
To facilitate the basement excavations, engineered sheet-pile retention systems and ground anchors were installed, enabling the construction team to safely build below ground level. The result is two sophisticated homes that combine complex structural solutions with seamless integration into their coastal surroundings.
Both residences showcase premium finishes and meticulous attention to detail, featuring large-format travertine stone, limewash paint finishes, Venetian plaster, custom veneer joinery, hydronic floor heating and fully integrated Dynalite home automation systems.
While united by exceptional quality and architectural excellence, each home has its own distinctive character.
House One embraces a contemporary coastal aesthetic with maintenance-free composite cladding and thoughtfully designed living spaces that maximise natural light and capture bay views.
PROJECT
The second-floor living area extends effortlessly to a rooftop terrace and entertaining bar, creating a spectacular setting overlooking the Mornington Peninsula.
House Two takes the project's complexity even further. Featuring striking Blackbutt timber and Alucobond cladding, the residence includes a dramatic curved soffit following a full-length skylight, a suspended fireplace and hearth, and one of the home's most remarkable engineering achievements—a cantilevered negative-edge swimming pool positioned on the upper level. Complete with both a glass side and glass-bottom base, this highly specialised installation represents a rare feat of residential construction and engineering.
At the heart of Gstruct Group is founder and director Glenn Longstaff, whose hands-on approach, technical knowledge and unwavering commitment to quality have helped establish the company as a builder of choice for complex architectural homes. Glenn personally oversees every project, working closely with clients, architects and consultants to ensure each vision is brought to life with precision and care.
Receiving both the 2026 Master Builders Victoria Eastern Regional Residential Builder of the Year and Best Multi Unit Development awards is a significant milestone for Gstruct Group, reinforcing the company's dedication to innovation, craftsmanship and construction excellence.
The team extends its sincere thanks to its clients, consultants, trades and project partners whose collaboration and trust helped bring this remarkable development to life. These awards are a reflection of what can be achieved when visionary design, technical expertise and exceptional workmanship come together.
With every project, Gstruct Group remains committed to creating extraordinary homes that are as enduring as they are inspiring.
Bringing ambitious architectural ideas to life.
Call or email Glenn to start the conversation
E glenn@gstruct.com.au
P 0412 504 225
Spring
TRANSFORMING SPACES
From
IG @livingscapes.oz W livingscapes.com.au
✓Carpet and rug
✓Tile and grout
✓Upholstery
✓Mattress sanitising
✓Pavers & Concrete
6011
0417 321 860 www.domesticbliss.com.au
Sarah's Steam Cleaning helps refresh, sanitise and restore homes and businesses across the Mornington Peninsula with powerful, hygienic steam cleaning solutions. Using high-temperature steam cleaning, the team removes built-up dirt, stubborn stains, allergens and bacteria without harsh chemicals, helping extend the life of carpets, rugs, upholstery, mattresses, tiles, grout and outdoor hard surfaces.
Every job is completed by a fully trained technician who takes pride in delivering exceptional results and friendly, reliable service.
Sarah's Steam Cleaning is the younger sister business of Sarah's Domestic Bliss Cleaning, a trusted local company established in 2013. Together, the businesses are passionate about providing professional cleaning services that residential and commercial clients can rely on.
Servicing Frankston South, Hastings, Rosebud, Flinders and surrounding suburbs, Sarah's Steam Cleaning delivers quality workmanship, outstanding service and impressive results every time.
P 5925 6011 W domesticbliss.com.au
DESIGNING HOMES
THAT FEEL LIKE HOME
Building a home is one of life's biggest milestones, and Bevnol Homes believes the journey should be just as rewarding as the finished result. Family-owned since 1989, the company has built a reputation for quality craftsmanship, personalised service and homes designed around the people who live in them.
With more than 37 years of industry experience, Bevnol Homes works closely with clients from the initial design concepts through to construction, ensuring every home reflects their lifestyle, vision and budget. Whether building a first home, downsizing or creating a forever home, every project is approached with care, integrity and attention to detail.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, Bevnol Homes takes a collaborative approach, refining each design to create a home that is both functional and timeless.
From the first conversation through to handover, the team is committed to making the building experience enjoyable, straightforward and rewarding.
P 9786 6277
W bevnol.com.au
AWNINGS & CURTAINS
Designing your Dream Home Starts Here
Family owned since 1989.
Custom homes designed around the way you live.
From concept to completion, Bevnol Homes creates personalised homes with quality craftsmanship, integrity and over 37 years of building experience. Start the conversation today.
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME WITH STYLE
For more than 40 years Westernport Blinds has been helping peninsula homeowners transform their spaces with high-quality indoor and outdoor window furnishings. Renowned for exceptional service, expert advice and premium products, the locally owned business offers an extensive range of curtains, shutters, blinds and awnings to suit every home and lifestyle.
Their impressive Hastings showroom allows customers to explore a wide selection of styles, fabrics and finishes firsthand. The dedicated alfresco display area showcases an extensive range of outdoor solutions, including the popular E-Zip and E-Shade systems, folding arm awnings, traditional awnings and a variety of motorised options.
Seeing the products in person, feeling the fabrics and experiencing how the window furnishings operate gives customers the confidence to make the right choice, backed by knowledgeable local advice, professional installation and ongoing support.
With warmer weather just around the corner, now is the perfect time to prepare outdoor entertaining areas and create a more comfortable, stylish home for summer.
• No more mud in your gutters
• No more vermin or birds in your roof
• Gutters stay clean - no more cleaning
• Protect your most valued investment -your home, your building
• Save money and cleaning time
• 28 year guarantee
Creating a beautiful home is not just about interior design or the furniture you choose. It is shaped by the people who live there, and the memories created over time.
Homes quietly witness life’s many chapters — the early years of building a future, celebrations with family and friends, and the everyday moments that eventually become treasured memories.
Over the years, those chapters grow into a lifetime of experiences, hopefully even including the joy of watching grandchildren begin lives of their own.
After investing so much of life into a home, the thought of leaving simply because stairs become difficult can be heartbreaking. For many people, moving away from a beloved family home is not a choice they want to make — it is one they feel forced into.
A home lift can help change that.
Installing a RESiLIFT helps home life last. It provides safe and easy access between floors, helping maintain independence and comfort as needs change over time. A lift can also make everyday life easier, from transporting groceries and suitcases to moving firewood, pets, or other heavy items between levels.
But RESiLIFT doesn’t just support homeowners. It can also make it easier for parents, grandparents, and friends to visit comfortably and safely.
By removing the barrier of stairs, a home lift helps ensure your home continues to serve your family through every stage of life.
To learn more, call to arrange a free home consultation.
YOUR PREMIUM ESCAPE AWAITS WITH LAMBLE TOURS
Refresh, recharge, and rediscover - your mid-year getaway awaits Every Lamble Tours journey is thoughtfully crafted with care, knowledge, and attention to the little things. With years of hands-on experience, each itinerary is designed not just around destinations, but around what truly makes a holiday special. Explore Lamble Tours range of short getaways and extended holidays.
With their convenient home pick-up and return service across metropolitan Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, your holiday begins the moment you step out the door.
Immerse yourself in a warm winter escape on the sunshine coast, or explore the natural beauty of Hervey Bay and Fraser Island.
Looking ahead, you can discover the incredible beauty of Norfolk Island or secure your place on the Overland Train to Adelaide, complete with the magic of the Christmas Pageant.
Due to current circumstances, tours may be subject to fuel surcharges without notice. Please refer to the Lamble Tours Standard Booking Terms & Conditions on the website.
P 0418 853 810
E lambletours@bigpond.com
FB @lambletours
W lambletours.com.au
Transform Your Life WITH TAI CHI!
Learn from Sifu Jenny Harrison, a highly respected instructor with over 40 years of teaching experience.
Classes for Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced students.
Discover the satisfaction and joy of mastering a new skill.
New beginners classes start in Hastings Friday Sept 4th @ 2:00pm
Classes in Mount Martha,Mornington and Hastings
9 DAYS NORFOLK ISLAND
Tuesday 16 – Wednesday 24 Feburary 2027
Discover the incredible natural beauty of Norfolk Island that is also rich is history and culture. From pristine waters, rugged cliffs, convict ruins and breathtaking scenary –paradise awaits. Join us for many memorable highlights
Cost: $4,660
Per person twin share/double. Single supp: $750
Please pay deposit of $200 ASAP to secure booking
Note: Entry requirements for Norfolk Island photo ID, current drivers licence, or current Passport or photo ID obtained from Australia Post
5 DAYS - Q TRAIN & THE SHIPWRECK COAST Monday 23 – Friday 27 March 2027
From the rails to the rugged coast – experience culinary delights and breathtaking ocean views in one unforgettable journey. Savor fine dining on the Q Train, then explore the raw beauty of the Shipwreck Coast and its iconic landscapes.
Cost: $2,570
Per person twin share/double. Single Supp $470
10 DAYS – AUTUMN EAST COAST TASMANIA
Thursday 1 – Saturday 10 April 2027 FLY/FLY
A 10-day autumn escape through Tasmania blending vibrant food, wild coastlines, and crisp seasonal landscapes. From the historic charm and breathtaking views of Launceston to the rugged beauty and gourmet experiences of Bruny Island, Cost: TBA
For a detailed itinerary phone: 0418 853 810 or Email: lambletours@bigpond.com
Home pick up & return service metropolitan / Mornington Peninsula
More and more people are discovering the benefits of Tai Chi and are pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable and accessible it can be.
Tai Chi is one of the most accessible forms of exercise and can be adapted to suit any age, fitness level, or physical ability. People come to Tai Chi for many reasons. Some wish to improve their balance, flexibility, strength, and overall wellbeing, while others are looking for a gentle way to stay active, reduce stress, and find a sense of calm in an increasingly busy world.
Rising Moon Tai Chi offers dedicated beginner classes where new students learn the fundamentals in a supportive and welcoming environment. To meet growing demand, a new weekly Beginner Tai Chi class will commence in Hastings on Friday 4 September from 2:00–2:45 pm.
Those who begin practising Tai Chi often find that its benefits extend well beyond improved fitness, bringing greater awareness, confidence, and calm to everyday life.
Osteoporosis affects more than 1.2 million Australians, weakening bones and increasing the risk of fractures. The good news is that exercise can improve bone health and reduce fracture risk.
At Back In Motion Balnarring and Carrum Downs, we are proud to offer the ONERO® program, an evidence-based exercise intervention for people with osteoporosis or low bone density (osteopenia). Developed by Professor Belinda Beck of The Bone Clinic, ONERO® has been shown to increase bone density, improve muscle strength and physical function, and reduce fracture risk.
ONERO® is a supervised, high-intensity resistance and impact training program delivered by certified physiotherapists. The program uses targeted exercises to strengthen bones, improve posture, build muscle, and enhance balance and mobility. Because falls are a major cause of osteoporotic fractures, ONERO® also focuses on reducing falls risk through improved strength and balance.
The experienced physiotherapy teams from Back In Motion Balnarring and Back In Motion Carrum Downs are excited to offer the evidencebased ONERO® program to the local community. The program is tailored to each participant’s needs, medical history, and fitness level, allowing safe progression under expert supervision.
A growing body of scientific evidence has demonstrated that ONERO®, supervised, bone-targeted high intensity resistance and impact training, reduces osteoporotic fracture risk in post menopausal women and older men with low to very low bone mass. The evidence -based ONERO® program improves bone, muscle, and physical function and is safe for people with low bone mass when supervised.
Participants receive:
• A comprehensive physiotherapy assessment
• Education and training for safe exercise performance
• Small-group ONERO® sessions with supervision
• Regular progress reviews and monitoring
• Education on bone health and safe movement strategies
Eligible participants may be able to claim private health insurance rebates on class fees.
ONERO® is suitable for people with osteoporosis or osteopenia, postmenopausal women, older men with low bone mass, those wanting to prevent age-related bone loss, and anyone seeking a structured way to improve strength, balance, and bone health.
To find out more about the ONERO® program, contact Back In Motion Balnarring on 5983 1021 or Carrum Downs on 9773 6620
It's never too late to start strengthening your bones and investing in your future health.
1. Apartment sharer
5. Desert the boat! (7,4)
11. Shocking
15. Male person
16. Actress, ... Thurman
17. Proverbs
19. Cartoon detective, Dick ...
21. Chamfer
23. Obliterated
25. Wax lyrical about
27. Go in front of
28. Beer
30. Dollop
31. Bee's liquid harvest
32. Food store
33. Deep laugh (2,2)
34. Pioneer
35. Nicotine plant
36. Stretched firm
38. Erode
40. Hotels
42. Wipes
44. Flying toy
45. Yours
46. Actor, ... Neeson
48. Sent on job
49. Masterpiece, Mona ...
50. Undeniable
51. Ruffle (hair)
52. Pitfall
53. Cotton spool
54. Parrot
55. Curry accompaniment
56. The Owl & The Pussycat writer, ... Lear
58. Refreshed (memory) (7,2)
59. Of race & culture
61. Greatly love
63. Neither
64. Misjudge
65. Lebanese timber
67. Light craft
69. US astronaut, ... "Buzz" Aldrin
71. Dumbfound
73. Supplementary
74. Actor, ... Poitier
76. Excavates (4,2)
78. Grovel, ... oneself
80. Curse
82. The Lincoln Lawyer actor, ... Phillippe
83. Brief inspection (4-3)
85. Mortified
89. Of the sea
91. EP or LP jacket
93. Flightless bird
94. Public speaker
96. Soreness
98. Dinosaur, tyrannosaurus ...
99. Show agreement
100. Sweet dessert wine
102. French resort coast
103. Language rules
104. Featured museum object
105. Follow (along)
106. Shade
107. Merciful
108. From Sydney or Darwin
110. British medal (1,1,1)
112. Swiss cereal
114. Tasteful
117. Strips
120. Table support
123. Persian Gulf republic
125. Against
127. Root vegetable
128. Taunts
131. Unfastened
133. Levels
134. Rowing team
135. Becomes worthy of
136. More sensible
137. Earls
140. Crimson
141. Crack task force (1,1,1)
142. Piquant
145. Famous king of the Huns
147. Most apprehensive
148. Counsel
150. Perfumed powder
151. Current (1,1/1,1)
152. Violent mood
153. Downfall
154. Eremite
156. Siamese
158. Restaurant list
160. Arctic native
162. Custom
163. Bison-skin dwelling
164. Fail suddenly, ... out
165. Tertiary college
166. Musical twosomes
167. Bother!
168. Page
170. Numerous 172. Player piano
173. Onto
174. Soup legume
177. Hunting hound
179. The N of NB
180. Says yes to 182. No good
183. Court doorkeeper
185. Tree-dwarfing art
187. Himalayan region
188. Room within roof
189. Banner
191. Korean karate, ... kwon do 192. CIA's Cold War foe (1,1,1)
193. Liqueur, creme ... (2,6)
194. Disillusions
195. Endures longer than
1. Overwrought
2. Cry of discovery
3. Truants
4. Radiate
5. Deer horn
6. Modify
7. Hot air appliance
8. Peace prize
9. Linger
10. Young fowl
11. Sharp tooth
12. USA citizens
13. Idiot
14. Tiresome
18. Big all-day sucker
20. Fancy neckties
22. Star of Lou Grant (2,5)
24. Loathing
26. Blatant favouritism (3-9)
29. Treatment using essential
oils
37. Director, ... Hitchcock
38. Highborn (4-4)
39. Queen hit, Bohemian ...
40. Plucky
41. Snoozers
43. Curved fruit
44. Actress, Deborah ...
47. Disputable
57. Transfer stickers
60. Earth's glacial period (3,3)
62. Excel
66. Gaunt
68. Requiring
69. Electric fish
70. Likable
72. Quirks of nature
73. Dilation
75. Small island
77. Nitrogen-rich crop-booster
79. Femme fatale
81. Beaver-built barrier
84. Twisting
85. Carbonated
86. Six-sided figure
87. Chewed
88. Carnival's driving amusements
90. Accosts
92. Social ills
95. Occasions
97. Ceylon, ... Lanka
101. I am, they ...
109. Song, Auld Lang ...
111. On the contrary
113. Actor, ... McGregor
115. Glowing coal
116. Take into custody
118. Duelling weapon
119. Universal ages
121. Turns inside-out
122. Coordinate (3,2)
124. Appealingly
126. Magazine retailers
129. Kidnapped
130. Incomes
131. Not faded
132. Impede
138. Delphi seer
139. Sausage dogs
143. Jets
144. Kimono-clad hostess
146. Animal den
149. Roll-top
155. Re-engage
157. Vaporise
159. Weirdest
161. Mistaken
165. Hitched (a ride)
169. Flourishes
171. Made snug home
172. Removes feathers from
175. Cylinders
176. Reveal secret (3,2)
177. Strand on sand (of whale)
178. Luxury car, ... Martin
Somerville's Wine Café
By Lisa Bayley – Somerville, Tyabb and District Heritage Society
Standing near the roundabout on Frankston-Flinders Road and Eramosa Road is one of Somerville's most recognisable landmarks — the distinctive pink building that has occupied the site since at least the late 1870s or early 1880s. For much of its early history the premises operated as a Wine Café, a type of small-scale hotel licensed under Victoria's Colonial Wine Licence system.
The Colonial Wine Licence
In 1884 Peter Holmes applied for a publican’s licence for his business premises in Somerville. The application was refused because the building did not meet the legal requirements necessary for a full publican’s licence and Holmes was forced to continue operating under a Colonial Wine Licence. But what exactly did this mean?
Liquor licensing has always been a complex area of law, and the Colonial Wine Licence was introduced in 1864 as an attempt to regulate and limit the sale of alcohol. During the late nineteenth century the temperance movement, which promoted moderation or abstinence from alcohol, was particularly strong. Throughout Victoria there was constant political and social tension between supporters of temperance and those connected to the liquor trade.
The Colonial Wine Licence permitted the sale of wine, cider and perry — the pear equivalent of apple cider. The Victorian government believed these drinks caused less drunkenness and were more "civilised" than beer or spirits. The licence system was also designed to encourage locally produced Australian wine, reduce reliance on imported alcohol and provide a more controlled alternative to full hotel or public-house licences.
Above: The Wine Cafe in the 1940's
century Victoria, hotels were expected to serve an important public function beyond simply providing alcohol.
Licensed hotels were required to accommodate travellers, particularly in rural districts where roads were rough and journeys between towns could take considerable time. Premises seeking a publican's licence generally needed guest bedrooms, dining facilities and suitable accommodation for travellers and their horses.
Holmes never succeeded in obtaining a full publican's licence. In the early twentieth century the Somerville Hotel opened, and Henry Gomm obtained the district's publican's licence at a time when only a limited number of licences were available. Holmes did, however, later obtain a grocer's licence, allowing him to sell sealed alcohol from a separate shop across the road from the Wine Café.
A stop on the coach road
The Wine Café was far more than simply a place to purchase alcohol. During the coaching era it operated as an important stopping place for mail coaches travelling between Melbourne and Hastings and was closely associated with Cobb & Co. drivers and passengers.
continued next page...
Before railways and motor vehicles transformed transport, establishments such as Holmes' Wine Café formed an essential part of Victoria's communication network. Travellers could rest, exchange news and continue their journey, while mail coaches connected Melbourne with the growing settlements of the Mornington Peninsula.
Historical accounts describe the premises as a regular stopping place on the route between Melbourne and Hastings, where travellers could connect with coastal transport services and continue on to destinations such as Phillip Island.
More than a place to drink
The Wine Café also served a broader civic purpose, particularly before the construction of the Somerville Mechanics' Hall and other public buildings.
Under colonial licensing laws, licensed premises could be required to make rooms available for official proceedings, and it is documented that magisterial inquiries were held at the Wine Café. In small rural townships, hotels and wine cafés often functioned as informal courthouses, meeting halls and centres of local administration because few dedicated civic buildings yet existed.
As a result, the building occupied an important place within early Somerville society. It was not merely somewhere to purchase alcohol, but also a transport stop, accommodation house, meeting place and civic centre during a formative period in the township's history.
Above : Late 19th century photos of the intersection from the other side of the railway line showing the Wine Cafe on the left
Changing hands, changing times
Peter Holmes passed away in 1916, and it appears that around this time Robert Wadsworth took over the Colonial Wine Licence. The premises remained associated with the Holmes family until 1924, when it was sold to the Sheffield family.
The Sheffield family made a number of visible changes to the property. Verandas were added, the roofline was altered to a pitched roof, and palm trees were planted at the front of the building.
The Sheffield family continued to operate the Wine Café until December 1945, when the licence was transferred to Jean Simms. A little over a year later, in February 1947, the licence passed to Ruby Ann Warne who continued operating the premises until it was purchased by Len and Lubov Sterling during the mid-1950s.
It was around this period the Wine Café ceased operating as a licensed premises and became a private residence, although the exact date the Colonial Wine Licence ended is not known. The Colonial Wine Licence system itself was gradually phased out across Victoria during the 1950s and 1960s and no longer exists today.
By the late 1960s the building was undergoing further change. The surrounding verandas were deemed unsafe by the Council and removed, together with the palm trees which had become one of the property's most distinctive features.
The surrounding streetscape also changed. The Somerville Soldiers' Memorial, visible in earlier photographs near the roundabout, was relocated in 1966. It was first moved to the entrance of Clarinda Street before eventually finding its present home at Fruit Growers Reserve on Jones Road, Somerville.
continued next page...
Above: The Wine Cafe in the 1930's Below: The Wine Cafe in the 1950's
The building today
Today, the property is entering a new chapter in its long history. Following the death of its owner, the son of Len and Lubov Sterling, in July 2025, the site is being administered by State Trustees as part of a deceased estate and is currently undergoing clean-up and maintenance works in preparation for a future sale.
For well over a century the site, which has 15 rooms and a lobby, has been connected to community life in many different ways — as a Wine Café, coaching stop, accommodation house, business premises and local landmark. As the property prepares to pass to a new custodian, its story serves as a reminder of the many layers of history that remain embedded within Somerville's built heritage and of the important role the site has played in the development of the township.
continued next page...
The Wine Cafe building as it is today
Above: A floorplan of the Wine Cafe interior (Picture: OBrien Real Estate)
We are proud to be one of the best cleaning services on the Mornington Peninsula, and we’re offering a FREE bathroom deep clean in exchange for a “before and after” feature. To enter, simply send a photo of your bathroom along with a short reason why you need our help to:
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