O pen
Panoramic Perfection
8 Clifftop Court, Dromana
In Conversation with Christopher Boots
8 Clifftop Court, Dromana
Panoramic Perfection
Positioned high on the hill in a quiet court, this is a once-in-ageneration opportunity to secure a front-row seat to stunning sunsets and a constantly changing coastal panorama.
Stephen Baster, Marshall White Director/Auctioneer
Perched atop the prestigious Anthony’s Nose escarpment, 8 Clifftop Court is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most exclusive residential landholdings. Boasting uninterrupted 180-degree views from Portsea to the CBD and down to Mt Martha, this clifftop retreat offers a rare coastal connection —where sunsets, storms, and sea life become part of everyday living.
The elevated weatherboard residence captures the outlook through expansive glazing and a wrap-around balcony, with panoramic views achieved from nearly every room. The openplan lounge and dining space features a dual-sided fireplace and a fully appointed Miele kitchen designed for both function and entertaining.
The home includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms, with the main suite offering a walk-in robe, spa bath, and ensuite.
A self-contained two bedroom unit on the lower level adds flexibility for guests or multigenerational living. With two driveways, a double carport, ample storage, and rear beach access, it’s a secluded coastal sanctuary close to Dromana, McCrae Village, and Peninsula highlights. ■
For enquiries contact Jake Egan 0491 129 137 Stephen Baster 0417 695 644 VIEW LISTING
by Nic Gossage
In Conversation with
CHRISTOPHER BOOTS
We spoke with Christopher Boots, Founder and Creative Director of his namesake studio, about the origins of his practice, the power of collaboration, and how light can transform not just a space – but the way we feel within it.
Photography
How did the Christopher Boots studio begin? What was the moment or idea that started it all?
The idea wasn’t so much a lightning bolt as it was a slow burn – a lifetime of collecting, questioning, and refining. Rocks in my pockets as a child, sketchbooks stacked high, ideas scribbled in the margins. The studio was born on 11-11-11, but its origins trace back to those early walks along the beach with my mum, collecting quartz and wondering about the stories held in stone. In truth, it began with curiosity – about how light can shape space, how objects can hold meaning, how we might honour the natural world while creating within it.
What role does collaboration play in shaping each piece, especially with artisans like glass blowers or stone masons?
Collaboration is the heartbeat of what we do. No piece is born in isolation – it emerges through dialogue, friction, and rhythm. A glass blower might teach us something about breath, a metal worker about tension, a stone mason about patience. We work with artisans whose hands carry knowledge passed down over generations – their touch, their intuition, becomes part of the piece.
How does working with architects and designers influence the outcome of a collection or custom piece?
It’s like responding to a poem mid-verse. Architects and designers present a context – a rhythm, a palette, a set of constraints – and within that, we explore. Sometimes they come to us with a clear vision, other times with a question. Either way, it’s a conversation. The pieces we create are shaped not just by materials but by the spaces they’re destined for –spaces imagined, drawn, or detailed by others. When someone truly understands space, form, and feeling, it allows us to create something more nuanced and attuned. It becomes about resonance – emotional, spatial, even spiritual.
In what ways does your work transform a space beyond just lighting it?
Light is the most subtle sculptor. It can soften or sharpen, quieten or amplify. But beyond that, the objects we create carry presence – they’re not passive. They draw your eye, invite touch, and stir memory. The way they interact with space isn’t just functional – it’s emotional. They create mood, tempo, a sense of occasion. Sometimes, a piece anchors a room; sometimes, it lets the architecture breathe. I often say we’re in the business of making future relics – things that feel like they’ve always belonged, even when they’re brand new.
What does the future look like for the Christopher Boots studio? Are there new materials, ideas, or directions you are excited to explore?
We’re always looking forward – but with a deep reverence for what’s come before. There are new materials on the horizon, particularly recycled and repurposed glass, which is a beautiful paradox: waste transformed into wonder. I’m also interested in furniture again and how we might translate our material language into different typologies. But more than anything, we’re seeking to create experiences. That might take the form of a Salon dinner series, a publication, or a piece of sound. We’re building a world – slowly, intentionally – one object, one collaboration, one moment at a time. ■
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Grilled Marron with Mornay & Coral Sauce from Omnia
A signature Omnia dish, this grilled marron is elevated with a rich Mornay and delicate coral sauce - a perfect balance of elegance and indulgence.
Ingredients Method
Marron
Coral Sauce
1 part marron coral 1 part butter Salt, lemon juice, and parsley
Sauce Mornay
30 g butter
100 g white onion
500 g Gruyère
165 g white wine
1060 g heavy cream
2 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
1 pinch xanthan gum
Marron
1. Cut the marron in half, scoop out the coral immediately, and clean the head thoroughly. Remove the digestive tract from the tail.
2. Freeze cut side down on a gastro tray lined with Chux wipes. Rinse the coral lightly in ice water to remove any dirt, then portion into small bags (enough for 5–10 portions) and store.
Coral Sauce
1. Gently cook all ingredients in a small saucepan to order. Spoon into the marron head before serving.
Sauce Mornay
1. Sweat the onions in butter, then add thyme and white wine.
2. Reduce the wine to a sec (almost dry). Add the cream and Gruyère (wrapped in cheesecloth) and steep on very low heat for 35 minutes.
3. Temper the egg yolks with the sauce, then return to heat and cook gently for 15 minutes to thicken.
4. Strain and press through cheesecloth. Put the sauce into a whipped cream canister and use two gas cartridges to make it fluffy and easy to pour. (Or whisk by hand or an electric beater)
To Serve
1. Place marron cut side up in a roasting tray with a foil rig to keep it flat. Apply cheese sauce from the siphon onto the marron tail. Roast in the Josper (or on the grill setting under a hot oven broiler) until cooked and the sauce has caramelised.
2. Spoon over the coral sauce and serve on the main plate with Parker House rolls and fresh lemon.
Omnia
625 Chapel Street, South Yarra
RSPCA MILLION PAWS WALK 2025: ONE LAST LAP
On Sunday 25 May, 2025, the RSPCA’s beloved Million Paws Walk will take its final steps, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in Australian animal welfare history. A signature event on the national calendar since 1994, it has united animal lovers in a spirited celebration of compassion, raising over $17 million nationally to support the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of vulnerable animals.
This final edition, themed One Last Lap, promises to be a beautifully curated experience—part nostalgic tribute, part joyous gathering. Held in prestigious locations across Australia, including Melbourne’s Albert Park Lake, the event will combine leisurely walks with lively entertainment, gourmet food offerings, designer pet accessories, and a showcase of curated market stalls. For discerning guests and their four-legged companions, it’s a rare opportunity to immerse in a day that is equal parts philanthropy and elegance.
But Million Paws Walk is about more than just the experience— it’s about impact. Each registration, each donation, and each step taken contributes directly to the RSPCA’s vital mission: providing refuge, medical care, and second chances to thousands of animals every year. Every registration will have
come with a customisable fundraising page to track your incredible efforts to support thousands of animals in the care of RSPCA across the country.
As the RSPCA turns the page on this iconic tradition, its commitment to animal welfare remains as unwavering as ever. The proceeds from this final walk will continue to fund crucial services—ensuring that the legacy of the event lives on in the lives of the animals it helps.
For those who appreciate experiences with lasting meaning, Million Paws Walk 2025 offers a rare opportunity to be part of a moment that blends elegance, empathy, and legacy. This final chapter is not just a walk—it’s tribute to decades of dedication, a celebration of the bond between people and their pets, and a powerful gesture of support for the future of animal welfare. Join the legacy, leave your mark, and walk with purpose. ■
LEARN MORE
Buyers Look Ahead
As we move through May, market activity is steadily returning to pace. Buyers and sellers alike are re-engaging with purpose, with many people now planning moves ahead of the July school holidays. The rhythm of the property market is beginning to feel familiar again - considered, yet confident.
What’s particularly interesting is the increasing number of homeowners already turning their gaze toward spring. Conversations around pre-listing preparation, campaign strategy, and market timing are happening earlier than usual this year. This early planning reflects a sense of optimism and a desire to stay one step ahead in a market that continues to reward readiness.
While the recent election naturally drew public interest, it
has done little to shake the determination of buyers or the intentions of vendors. Enquiry levels remain strong, and the core motivations driving real estate decisions - lifestyle, location, and long-term investment - continue to guide both ends of the market.
If you are looking to make a move before winter or preparing for a strategic spring launch, now is the time to take those first, informed steps. The groundwork you lay today could make all the difference tomorrow.
Start the conversation now. Contact your local Marshall White team to position your property ahead of the active winter and spring markets. ■
By John Bongiorno
From $1,995,000
Bakehouse Terraces, located at 390A Queens Parade in Fitzroy North, offers 14 architecturally designed terrace homes in one of Melbourne’s most desirable inner-city suburbs. Once the site of a historic bakery, this development combines heritage charm with modern living.
390A Queens Parade, Fitzroy North
Developed by Architecture by
Coastal Retreat
Recently renovated with coastal-inspired style, this single-level four-bedroom home in a quiet Mornington cul-de-sac features a new kitchen, light-filled open-plan living, landscaped gardens, and a paved courtyard. A double garage, off-street parking, and a fully fenced rear yard complete this relaxed, family-friendly retreat. For enquiries contact Kate Morgan 0473 001 022
The Local Edit
Melbourne Design Week - 15th May - 25th May 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3006
Aesop x Other Matter at Melbourne Design Week15th May - 25th May 2025
Aesop Flinders Lane, Aesop Collins Street, David Jones Bourke Street, Aesop QV
Fondue Chalet at Fed Square - 15th May - 22 th May 2025
Fed Square, Skyline Car Park, Melbourne VIC 3000
The Birds at Malthouse Theatre - 16 th May - 7th June 2025 113 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006
Shoreham Community Market - 17th May 2025
67-85 Byrnes Road, Shoreham VIC 3916
Rocky Road Festival at the Mornington Peninsula
Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery - 17th May 2025
45 Cook Street, Flinders, VIC 3929
Sigur Rós Australian Orchestral Tour in 2025
- 19 th May - 21th May 2025
Hamer Hall, 100 St Kilda Road, Arts Centre Melbourne, Southbank VIC 3006
Editor's Preview Dinner at Junda Khoo's Ho Liao - 23 th May 2025
235–251 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
RSPCA Million Paws Walk - 25th May 2025
Multiple locations across Victoria
You Matter's High Tea for Hope - 25th May 2025
The Westin Hotel, 205 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
The Mount Martha Briars Market - 25st May 2025
The Briars, 450 Nepean Highway, Mount Martha VIC 3934
HSBC German Film Festival at Palace Cinemas
- Until 28 st May 2025
Your local Palace Cinemas
Van Gogh at the Lume - Until 1st June 2025
5 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf VIC 3006
Van Gogh High Tea - Until 1st June 2025
Crown Towers Hotel Lobby, TWR, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in Concert - 4th June - 7th June 2025
Hamer Hall, 100 St Kilda Road, Arts Centre Melbourne, Southbank VIC 3006
Rising - 4th June - 15th June 2025
Melbourne, VIC 3000
French Impressionism - 6 th June - 5th October 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3006
Point Nepean Portsea Market - 7th June 2025
Pt Nepean National Park, Ochiltree Road, Portsea VIC 3944
Mornington Racecourse Market - 8th June 2025
Mornington Racecourse, 320 Racecourse Road,
Mornington VIC 3931
Soul Night Market Mornington - 13 th June 2025
Peninsula Community Theatre, 91 Wilsons Road, Mornington VIC 3931
Regional Farmers Market at Abbotsford Convent - 14th June 2025
1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Lightscape at Royal Botanic Gardens - 20 th June - 10 th August 2025
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, VIC 3004
Titanic: A Voyage Through Time - Until 3 th July 2025
206 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Run Melbourne - 13 th July 2025
Melbourne Park Oval, 20 Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne VIC 3004
Top Arts 2025 - Until 20 th July 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3006
Orchestra Victoria: Meet at the Market Series - 25th July 2025
The Meat Market, 3 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051
Beetlejuice the Musical - Until 3 th August 2025
Regent Theatre, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Martin Grant Exhibition - Until January 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3006
