Spicers Magazine - Issue 1 • Summer 2018/2019

Issue 1 • Summer 2018/19

the great outdoors THE NEW SPICERS SCENIC RIM TRAIL BUSH CAMPS - THE NEW GROUP ESCAPES

trial by fire SPICERS HIDDEN VALE AND HOMAGE RESTAURANT RISE FROM THE ASHES

SPICERS GUESTHOUSE

The Hunter Valley’s latest extraordinary retreat

JUDE TURNER

An interview with the Spicers Founder

NEWS & EVENTS

What’s happening in the world of Spicers

DISCOVER THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF THIS LUXURY GUIDED WALKING ADVENTURE

SCENICRIMTRAIL.COM • 13 77 42

WELCOME TO THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE SPICERS MAGAZINE - A DEEPER LOOK INTO OUR WORLD OF RELAXED LUXURY. Spicers was founded on the idea of sharing - sharing good food and wine, sharing memorable experiences, and sharing unique parts of this wonderful country we are fortunate enough to call home. It’s also the idea behind what you hold in your hands.

Our hope with the Spicers magazine is to share more of what we do and what we love. The stories will give you a deeper insight into the people, places and history that make Spicers what it is.

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Like everything we do, this is a labour of love made for you to enjoy, so grab a coffee or a wine, relax and dive in.

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New and noteworthy at Spicers Retreats

Discover the history-making new Spicers Scenic Rim Trail

Chefs in the City 2018 aboard Seadeck Brisbane

Events and occasions at Spicers Retreats

News

Hit the trail

Highlight reel

What’s on

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Spicers Managing Director David Assef

Forget the crowds, we’re rolling out the welcome mat for Summer

A few of our favourite #spicersretreats moments from you - our guests

Introducing ‘Bush Camps’ - a collection of unique country destinations by Spicers

Five minutes with . . .

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Where it all began

An interview with Spicers Retreats founder - Jude Turner

Summer at Spicers

#spicersretreats

Go bush, Spicers style

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A look at the newest Spicers Retreat - Spicers Guesthouse in the Hunter Valley

The post-fire reimagining of Spicers Hidden Vale and Homage restaurant

Have some fun with recipes from our chefs that you can create at home

Rebirth of a classic

From the ashes

In the kitchen

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spicers news 2019 GOOD FOOD GUIDE

SPICERS GUESTHOUSE OPENS ITS DOORS 1 November saw the long awaited opening of Spicers Guesthouse in the Hunter Valley. General Manager Mark Whitnell and his team are ready to welcome you to what is now the largest Spicers Retreat, with 45 rooms and a four bedroom cottage. Éremo - the new onsite restaurant has also welcomed its first guests, with Executive Chef Cameron Matthews excited to be overseeing what is sure to become a Hunter Valley favourite. spicersguesthouse.com

HUNTER VALLEY REUNION Guests who have been fortunate enough to dine in our Hunter Valley restaurants lately have been the beneficiaries of a Spicers reunion of sorts. With Executive Chef Cameron Matthews opening Éremo while also

CURATED PLATE LAUNCHES WITH CHEF DAN JARRETT The Tamarind Head Chef, Dan Jarrett, was in Sydney during October for the launch of The Curated Plate - a four day food event on the Sunshine Coast.

This brand new culinary festival will see acclaimed chef Zaiyu Hasegawa of two Michelin-starred restaurant Den in Japan join Dan and his team at The Tamarind on 10 August for Spicers Den - a five course dinner with a focus on local seafood. An event not to be missed. thecuratedplate.com.au

overseeing Restaurant Botanica, a trusty former lieutenant has been found for the Spicers Vineyards Estate restaurant in Shayne Mansfield.

Shayne worked under Cameron at The Long Apron, with Spicers Apprentice of the Year Eric Benson also persuaded to make the move south to join the Restaurant Botanica team. spicersvineyardsestate.com

The 2019 Good Food Guide has been released, with Spicers Restaurants earning two hats in the revamped publication.

This year’s edition of the highly-regarded guide has seen the standard raised significantly, with only seven restaurants achieving the coveted ‘three hats’ nationally.

Homage and The Long Apron were very pleased to receive one hat each in the new guide.

Spicers Retreats was also proud to sponsor the 2019 Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award. This year’s recipient was Jodie Odrowaz of Iki-Jime in Melbourne.

2018 finalists included Spicers alumni Will Houia who worked in the kitchen at Homage at Spicers Hidden Vale. Will has since gone on to join the kitchen team at the Michelin-starred Relæ in Copenhagen. goodfood.com.au

BALFOUR GOES TO HOLLYWOOD Spicers Balfour Hotel has partnered with our friends at New Farm Cinemas to offer Dinner and a Movie from Tuesday to Saturday.

Book your table between 5:30 and 6:30pm and enjoy a two-course dinner before heading just around the corner to New Farm Cinemas to enjoy a movie of your choice - all for just $49 per person.

Call Spicers Balfour Hotel on 07 3358 8888 to book your table and ticket. spicersretreats.com/dinnermovie

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five minutes with...

DAVID ASSEF, SPICERS RETREATS MANAGING DIRECTOR We grabbed Managing Director David Assef for a few minutes to ask him about sour lollies, his favourite retreat and how he got his start with Spicers.

Best meal you’ve ever had? Tough one! But my bride’s roast chicken is hard to beat.

Where did you first start in restaurants or hotels? My grandmother’s lebanese cooking was like a restaurant when we visited as kids each holiday . . . amazing! However, it all started at the prestigious Lakes Golf Club in Sydney - that was my first taste of a la carte dining.

Favourite holiday destination? There is nowhere like home….

AUSTRALIA!

How did you start with Spicers Retreats? I started in June 2009 with Spicers, setting up and opening Spicers Clovelly Estate in Montville.

Favourite retreat? You know I’m not going to answer that! And how could I when each and every retreat offers such unique experiences. They all have their own identity, charm and quirks but the common thread that ensures you’ll have a great stay is the incredible personable service delivered by a team who really do care about our guests.

Favourite restaurant? Any of the Spicers restaurants (of course!).

Otherwise, in Australia - Cho Cho San, Apollo, Mr Wongs, Sepia, Chin Chin, TONKA, Ezard, NEWY BURGER CO. I really believe we do fantastic dining in Australia. As for overseas, State Bird Provisions in San Francisco, Pollen St Social in London. Good food, no matter how simple, brings people together for good times - that’s what life is all about and that’s what we aim to create in our Spicers restaurants.

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Red or white? Both in equal parts. A good semillon, reisling and chardonnay or hit me with a pinot from Mornington or a shiraz from the Hunter Valley.

Whiskey or gin? Both...however, tequila takes the cake! White sands, blue ocean, sombrero - that is where it takes me. Give it to me straight or in a margarita. As the saying goes, “Tequila probably won’t fix your problems, but it’s worth a shot.”

Tea or coffee? Mmmmm coffee.

And strong!

is very special - it’s the strength of the business.

Each time we open something new is always a special moment; nine retreats, Hidden Vale Adventure Park and a Great Walk of Australia, Spicers Scenic Rim Trail, in 8 years - that’s a lot of achievement in a short space of time!

And there’s more of those moments to come - the epic seven day full Scenic Rim Trail in particular. It’s taken 10 years of incredible efforts to gain state and federal approval and to be part of making that a reality is amazing.

The beef or the fish? The fish.

Preferably salmon or swordfish.

One thing you can’t live without?

Sour lollies, but I’m weaning off them.

A good run, ride or swim.

Do you have a favourite Spicers moment? They happen everyday, when I hear from guests or read reviews.

To see the care, commitment and dedication that goes into the business from the team is truly commendable and I am extremely humbled by it. Not to mention seeing the team - some of whom have been with us since Spicers formed in 2010 - grow and progress into leadership roles, while others have become experts in their field and are advocates. Seeing them educate and embody the Spicers culture every day

Spicers Retreats is . . . “relaxed luxury” - we create quality experiences where life can be celebrated and shared. We offer an experience that the big hotels just can’t - highly personalised service, enviable food, time and space to do as much or as little as you like and all in truly unique settings. Come with the girls, come with the family, take a trek, or have a relaxing spa - it’s all about keeping it simple and understanding your needs and if we don’t we want to know so we can learn and be better next time.

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just getting started Spicers founder Jude Turner at one of the new eco-cabin locations.

AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OUR MODERN LIFESTYLES ARE HAVING ON THE PLANET AND OURSELVES, THE NEED FOR CHANGE IS OBVIOUS, BUT REVERSING THE TRENDS OF THE PAST 50 YEARS ISN’T EASY. In creating the Spicers Retreats brand, Jude Turner set out to do things differently with a firm commitment to providing relaxed luxury experiences that not only left a minimal footprint but actually contributed positively to their local environments. And along the way, she set a course that would make each property a highly desirable place to work.

It was a bold vision that was never going to be easy to achieve but had

its roots in her upbringing and connectedness to nature growing up in Queensland’s Southern Downs where the Scenic Rim in particular held a special place in her heart. So did the desire to share its magic. The Spicers brand was born in the wild.

It takes its name from Spicers Gap - a mountain pass 100 kilometres west of Brisbane that was the original route over the Great Dividing Range.

Fast forward almost a decade and today Spicers represents a confluence of Jude’s passions being nature, art, sustainability and travel and its success takes a lot from the lessons she learned working in London. With husband ‘Skroo’ Turner at Topdeck Travel, the pair paved the way for what would ultimately become global travel giant,

Flight Centre.

Now with more than 250 team members, nine luxury retreats, eight award winning restaurants, four day spas, Queensland’s only Great Walk of Australia, private cabin sites, cattle breeding operations, a mountain bike park, over 5,500 hectares of nature refuge and a purpose built, Turner Family Foundation funded Wildlife Centre, the Spicers journey has been stellar and the story has really only just begun.

Each retreat has Jude’s personal touches all over it as she takes great care in every project to respect the land or existing buildings. Whether that’s transforming a remote site into a secluded couples oasis or transforming three terrace houses in

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the middle of Sydney into a light filled sanctuary for leisure and business stays, Jude is deeply involved in all aspects of each development.

She is particularly proud of the fact the retreats encourage people to reconnect with nature, to truly unwind in an immersive way. That genuine commitment to the natural world includes ventures like the 5,500 hectares of nature refuge areas across Hidden Vale, Thornton View and Spicers Peak.

Working with Ipswich City Council, more than 3,000 hectares at Spicers Hidden Vale now forms a Nature Conservation Agreement which protects the land and will also see its reintroduction as an important koala habitat. This unique project also allows PhD students from the University of Queensland to track and conserve rare and endangered species of Queensland.

With conversation projects like this running simultaneously with the opening of new luxury experiences, a deep and ongoing commitment to sustainability and heritage, the Spicers way of doing things is definitely unique and delivers on that vision to reverse the high consumption trends of the past century.

Critical to its success in delivering on that mission is the committed team who call themselves ‘Spicerians’.

Jude knew that realising her ambitions for the business needed significant support and the company’s values of Happy, Humble and Smart are lived daily by the Spicerians who together, are creating a new benchmark for modern companies with an ethical agenda.

What part of the process – from sourcing locations to the first guest check-in – do you enjoy most?

The vision of a new location excites me – designing the experience and coming up with those few special pieces that sets that new project apart.

The original art and the suitability of the architecture to its location is very important to me. Then, seeing guests enjoy and experience the spaces as they were planned, makes me feel I got it right. It’s extremely rewarding.

The majority of Spicers Retreats are in lush regional areas, why is that?

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Spicers started on country land we already owned. I genuinely wanted to share those locations and what ‘getting into the bush’ restores to the human spirit. I figured they’d only come if they also had the promise of a comfortable bed and good food and wine.

Our first property was Spicers Peak Lodge located on the Scenic Rim just two hours drive from Brisbane. There was nothing else at Spicers Peak and it wasn’t a popular destination for travel – I had to create the whole experience.

That proved to be challenging so I looked for destinations where I could still provide a Spicers experience, where people were already travelling for other reasons.

Why are you such an advocate for conservation & sustainability?

In my youth I probably didn’t think

The vision of a new location excites me - the experience and those special pieces that set it apart. about it much. I took my country upbringing for granted. I believe now we owe it to others and future generations to leave the land, flora and fauna in a better way than we discovered it or at the very least let’s try not to destroy anymore.

You studied art, what kind of art do you enjoy/appreciate?

I prefer Art that communicates and makes people question or discuss rather than the skill of representing something that a photograph can do well. You might call it Impressionist!

My not so secret passion or hobby is collecting Australian artists mostly from the mid-20th century.

At the Retreats, I like to add some humor that makes people smile at the discovery. I have spread some of both collections into the Spicers retreats, I’ve had some fun with installations like the snooker balls at Peak or the phone box and the kangaroo with the camera. It’s been important to me that the artworks at each Spicers is

appropriate to the property’s style and feeling; not just as decoration.

Do you like to read and/or listen to music? What interests you?

My music taste is very eclectic! Queen, Bryan Adams, Joshua Kaddish, Sam Smith, Paloma Faith. Anything except techno - even some country.

I’m always looking for new to add to the playlist - I have music on when bike riding and in my car. I have discovered audio books in the last few years which are great. My favourite past books include Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and In Falling Snow by MaryRose MacColl.

Superb food experiences appear to be a cornerstone of Spicers Retreats.

Was that always an important part of your vision for the portfolio?

Given we had to create the whole experience at our first retreat, we quickly learned that great food and good wine is an important part of this. It’s remained part of the brand experience and has set us apart from other hotels.

Would you call yourself a foodie?

What style of food do you enjoy?

Wouldn’t call myself a foodie ...

I assume that means you know something about it other than just eating, which I do plenty of. My belief is to get the best quality and freshest ingredients and don’t do too much to it. Fresh, simple, but always tasty and light preferably. Presentation is important - I’m not sure about the recent trend to chop everything up.

I used to love the idea of small tasting plates but it can get too complicated in mixing flavors and too heavy ... if you’re having tastes they should complement each other not complicate the palate. I can’t do matching wines anymore.

Otherwise, mostly I prefer one simple dish. Grilled fish or French lamb cutlets with only one or two vegetables or a good curry or simple pasta. I love bread but tend to steer away from it now, Ash’s (Head Chef Homage) smoked butter is amazing.

I’m definitely a repeat offender and less experimental than in the past - we seem to go back to the same restaurants and have the same good dish. I like a light citrus soufflé otherwise I’m not a dessert person definitely savoury!

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the long & winding road BORNE OF A DESIRE TO SHOWCASE THE BEST OF THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH WITH SUSTAINABILITY AT THE FOREFRONT AND RELAXED LUXURY AS ITS DEFINING DIFFERENCE, SPICERS IS ABOUT TO BEGIN A MOMENTOUS NEW CHAPTER. After seven years of exhaustive planning, research and regulatory processes, Queensland is about to get its first Great Walk of Australia when the Scenic Rim Trail joins a prestigious list of 12 iconic national routes.

We are proud to have established this asset for everyone to enjoy.

Opening in mid-2019, the new fivenight experience builds on the existing Scenic Rim Trail luxury walking adventure that traverses the World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park west of Brisbane.

The new trail experience - also open to the public - stretches 50 kilometres, including 32 kilometres of existing trails and 18 kilometres of new tracks.

Two new Eco-Camps will be a feature of the five-day experience that connects Mount Mistake from the north to the Spicers Canopy Eco-Lodge in Spicers Peak Nature Refuge at the southern end.

Led by expert guides and with a maximum group size of 10, Australia’s next Great Walk offers the trappings of luxury at day’s end that have been the hallmark of the Spicers Canopy Tents experience enjoyed by thousands of glampers already.

Arriving each day to a sophisticated bush camp where a hot shower, delicious meals and great wine are waiting before you climb into a Spicers signature bed - and then do it all again

- is a short break like no other. Even your luggage is transported for you - all that’s left to do is walk and enjoy.

When it opens officially next year, the new continuous Scenic Rim Trail will stand alongside Australia’s internationally acclaimed walks like Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain Huts, the Larapinta Trek in WA and Victoria's Twelve Apostles.

To help Queensland reach a milestone of this magnitude standing alongside such notable landmarks required the tireless contribution of a dedicated team. Here’s what some of the project’s leaders have to say about their involvement in this fabulous venture.

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I bet three years, Skroo bet two years and Jude five ... and it’s now been seven!

- DAVID STENT

TOP Sylvester’s Ridge in the Mistake Mountains, just one of many amazing geographical formations on the Spicers Scenic Rim Trail.

INSET Ascending Spicers Peak

DAVID STENT - BROTHER OF SPICERS FOUNDER JUDE TURNER How did it all start?

The Queensland Government released a public request for ecotourism ventures back in 2011. We were one of three submissions that met the criteria.

Frankly, we assumed that when the new Government came in it would all be scrapped.

I was a walker and had run walking businesses. My business partner Graham Hickson and I started Hidden Peaks Walks in 2009. We also got the Scenic Rim Trail walk started in 2014, Spicers Canopy was built in 2013.

Jude also had a passion for walking.

We had a bet seven years ago how much longer it would take to get the Scenic Rim Trail underway. I bet three years, ‘Skroo’ (Jude’s husband, Graham) bet two years and Jude five ...

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and it’s now been seven!

JUDE TURNER - SPICERS FOUNDER When did you first discover the Scenic Rim? I knew of Mount Mitchell and the Cunningham Gap area and the old Spicers Gap road from my childhood growing up in Warwick and Toowoomba.

What’s your memory of how the project started?

I really felt Queensland deserved a Great Walk like other parts of Australia and New Zealand that I had walked with friends.

We had owned the two farming properties of Old Hiddenvale and Spicers Station (previously Henrietta 9

Downs) since the late nineties and being a keen walker myself, I imagined a walk between our two properties.

Each with a different high quality experience for each night showcasing the varying terrain, vegetation, wildlife and spectacular views.

As a thank you to my brother Dave and our friend Graham Hickson, I sent them to do the Bay of Fires walk and shared my vision that we could create a walk between our two Retreats.

How did the specific trail route come about?

The spectacular Main Range National Park lies between our two properties Spicers Hidden Vale and Spicers Peak Lodge.

We began by building the luxury tented Canopy site on Spicers Peak Station and Dave and Graham devised a three day adventure starting at Spicers Gap walking into Canopy and up to Spicers Peak Lodge.

hurdles or that it would cost so much.

What are you most looking forward to with the new walk?

Seeing it come to fruition while I’m still able to do it! And as with the Retreats I love to see people using and enjoying the places and experiences we’ve created.

I really believe Queenslanders deserve a great walk like other states.

Who do you think the 5-day-walk will appeal to?

Anyone who appreciates the bush, enjoys walking but wants a hot shower, a comfortable bed and some great food and a glass of wine at the end of the day!

‘Active’ holidays are good for everyone especially if you live in a city and are office-bound. And I hope internationals tourists who want to feel what Australia really has to offer.

When did you start going on walking holidays?

In my late forties, mostly with a group of friends.

Which trails have you walked?

The Overland and Milford tracks, the Routeburn, Queen Charlotte ... parts of France and England. And the Bay of Fires and Cradle Mountain.

What is Spicers relationship to and/or history with the land that the walk covers?

The Spicers story began out of a passion to share Queensland’s high country. Spicers Gap is a mountain pass 100 kilometres west of Brisbane in the Scenic Rim and was the original route over the Great Dividing Range. This beautiful yet somewhat undiscovered region was the inspiration for the naming of Spicers Retreats and also the setting for what would become the Spicers Scenic Rim Trail.

What have been the key challenges associated with bringing the new five day walk into being?

Getting permission to build the eco sites in the National Park. Seeing the success of the Tasmanian and NZ walks, I never imagined it would take so long and we’d have to jump so many

Amphitheatre Eco Camp Lounge

BEN O’HARA - TURNER FAMILY FOUNDATION What is the 5-day-walk project aiming to achieve? How does it build upon and enhance the experience of the existing 2-day-walk?

To create a unique Queensland walking experience that traverses through beautiful landscapes while rewarding walkers with quality accommodation, great food and wine.

It is in a different region of the Scenic Rim so the vistas and landscapes are different. Guests will walk to a new destination each day whereas the current walk returns to Spicers Canopy each evening.

Why is sustainability so important to the walk?

It’s part of The Spicers philosophy and DNA. And caring for the National Park we’re showcasing and our own land enhances this.

CLAIRE BAGULEY - DESIGN / PROJECT MANAGER, SPICERS RETREATS You are particularly keen on prototyping to ensure high design process standards – could you tell us more about this?

Prototyping of design concepts allows us to test the design from both a spatial experience and constructability perspective in a controlled environment - normally a warehouse or builder’s site.

We also invest in full or partial pre-fabrication where suitable. This is often chosen for both speed of construction and reduced impact on the final building’s resting place.

We use this methodology and partial pre-fabrication with many of our projects and particularly when they are remote or what we are designing will be multiplied.

For the two Eco camps located within the National Park, we are faced with pristine, remote sites and multiplicity of building forms. We wanted to ensure every detail had been resolved prior to setting foot in the National Parks. It is our intention for the onsite build time to be as short as possible and for the buildings to be erected with minor impact on the surrounding land.

We invested the time to undertake prototypes of the three main building typologies of the Eco Camps - Eco Cabin (for sleeping), Wash Pavilion (for bathing) and Common Pavilion (for eating and gathering).

These prototypes were constructed in a controlled warehouse facility.

We tested everything from how the vertical exterior cladding connected with the window frames and how we could achieve the same junction over and over again, to the colour of the internal ply, the depth of the wardrobe, where the deck chairs would live when the cabin isn’t in use to whether the anticipated sight lines in each cabin afforded complete privacy from one cabin to another.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Artist’s impresion of the Timber Getters Eco Cabins.

Project manager Claire Baguley and project architect Luke Rowlinson.

Sustainably harvested timbers have been used throughout.

All furnishings have been prefabricated to the highest standards.

The prefabrication workshop where every building is engineered.

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TO DO

escape the coastal crowds If you’re a city dweller chances are summer holidays are the time you yearn to getaway, relax and unwind after the year that was. But the annual coastal migration comes with highway traffic, parking wars, long queues and soaring prices.

So we’d like to let you in on our little secret . . . go in the opposite direction.

Here’s our top 40 summer holiday ideas to make your break just that bit more special: 1. Go swimming – morning, noon, night 2. Relax on a sun lounger by the pool and fix that office tan 3. Treat yourself to a Spa Anise massage, facial or both 4. Get your right brain working with a good book or two 5. Be adventurous and sample a variety of summer cocktails 6. Enjoy the simple pleasure of summer fruits – mango, peaches, nectarines and cherries for a start 7. Unplug from technology and purposefully connect with each other – tell bad jokes, make ‘top 5’ lists and play board games 8. Trade foot massages with your significant other 9. Make the time to catch the sunrise or sunset 10. Take an afternoon siesta 11. Sway in a hammock with a chilled champagne (or two) in hand 12. Enjoy a picnic under the shade of an old tree 13. Get out of the city for some star gazing & chart the sky above - the Sky Guide app is a great start 14. Eat dinner alfresco in the balmy evening air 15. Go for a morning bushwalk and work up a thirst 16. Kick off your shoes and play some bocce & croquet on the lawn TO DO

17. Dust off your Scrabble skills & challenge your companion 18. Make a propert occasion of dining out - the kind of food you can’t make yourself 19. Meditate & do some yoga 20. Eat ice cream . . . daily 21. Cool down with an iced coffee or espresso martinis - your choice 22. Give your inner sloth some love and sleep in late 23. Indulge in a long bubble bath 24. Relax on your balcony with a cheese plate & a frosty beverage 25. Set out to meet new people and make new friends 26. Read the newspaper and do the crossword 27. Go for a mountain bike ride 28. Check-in your phone with reception & take a digital detox 29. Pick up one of the many non-fiction books learn something new 30. Zone out with mindful colouring 31. Connect to Wi-Fi, find a podcast & lose yourself for a few hours 32. Partake in a wine or beer tasting at the bar 33. Grab some binoculars and do some ornithology (bird watching) 34. Try the signature cocktail 35. Delve into the world of sudoku 36. Have a chat to the chefs & learn more about the produce they use 37. Explore the surrounding region or nearest town 38. Plan a private dining experience on your deck 39. Grab your iPhone or DSLR camera and brush up on your photography 40. Lay out one of our big beach towels poolside and read your favourite magazines Each retreat has an enticing summer escape package, giving you the time and space to do all of the above and more.

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rebirth The Éremo Private Dining Room at Spicers Guesthouse.

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IT’S NO SECRET WHY MORE THAN FOUR-MILLION PEOPLE VISIT THIS STUNNING WINE-GROWING REGION EVERY YEAR. Within easy reach of Australia’s largest metropolis, the spectacular Hunter Valley was the perfect location for a very special addition to the Spicers family.

A celebrated foodie hotspot and a favourite luxury getaway destination, this 30,000 square-kilometres of indulgence has a new icon right in the heart of wine country at Pokolbin. We are delighted to welcome you to the very special Spicers Guesthouse.

Quite apart from the stunning refurbishment and significant upgrade of the much-loved original “Guest House” built more than three decades ago, our ninth Retreat has a tantalising additional attraction.

Multi-hatted Executive Chef Cameron Matthews and his team have opened Éremo as the centrepiece of the retreat that took 18 months to remodel.

Cameron’s modern Italian restaurant, the first Italian eatery among Spicers Retreats, is a fantastic addition to the foodie offering in this sumptuous valley. The acclaimed chef has spent months working with local providores and producers sourcing the finest ingredients to create signature dishes for this eagerly anticipated establishment.

Meaning ‘Hermitage’ in Italian, Éremo also offers a private dining room for small group special occasions while the variety of larger spaces are ideal for weddings and conferences.

An integral component of our new Hunter Valley experience, the restaurant sits among 16 acres surrounded by the sweeping Brokenback Range and neighbouring vineyards.

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Here in some of Australia’s best Semillon and Shiraz country, touring cellar doors is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in this epicurean world. And with 150 wineries to choose from in the country’s oldest winegrowing region, you’re certainly spoilt for choice.

Famous family names in the winemaking industry like Tyrells and De Bortoli were among Australia’s first producers and they remain as popular as ever today.

After a day spent enjoying the many cellar door experiences on offer, returning to Spicers Guesthouse at the end of the day will feel like returning home - exactly how we want you to feel.

To achieve that ambition has been an incredible journey.

In a whirlwind 18 months of activity, 950 people were employed, 8000 cubic metres of sandstone excavated and re-used on site, 2000 square metres of carpet laid, 225 trees and 17,000 shrubs planted, 11,000 square metres of plasterboard installed and 2.5 kilometres of paths created!

In the final three months leading up to the Guesthouse opening, the finishing touches saw 19,000 hours of labour required to get the job done.

The full upgrade included modernising of the main building housing a new bar, the restaurant, private dining room, conference/ function rooms, a commercial kitchen and staff facilities. Along with the refurbished guest rooms, the landscape was also overhauled and included the addition of a new pool and function lawns with mountain vistas.

Despite the scale of the works undertaken, it was important to Spicers that the memories and reflections of the locals and visitors who had enjoyed the original property were honoured.

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Spicers Guesthouse with the Brokenback Mountain range in the distance.

OPPOSITE TOP The new pool area is perfect for long, lazy afternoons.

OPPOSITE MIDDLE Head Chef Cameron Matthews in Éremo Restaurant.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM King Deluxe room.

The familiar entry lawn and huge signature Plane tree for example still welcome everyone to the property.

Similarly, the core design intent for the design team led by Jude, Katherine and Melina was to ensure the new fitout respected the integrity of the past.

Now with those familiar touches of the Spicer’s brand of relaxed luxury, the property’s contemporary facelift retains the welcoming charm of the original Guest House.

The reception, bar, restaurant, alfresco dining and guest lounge were retained in their original locations and have been fully upgraded with a new interiors including bespoke joinery and tactile, luxury finishes.

The design’s colour palette is a neutral base of timber and stone punctuated by rich, deep, ink tones and subtle metal accents. A mix of textures and patterns created by the use of natural materials gives a multi-layered

dimension to each space. Simple nostalgic references have been overlaid with luxury finishes and contemporary styling elements.

The existing style of the three guest wings was that of a traditional guesthouse with several bedrooms serviced by shared bathroom facilities on each floor but each of the 45 guest rooms has been upgraded to included an ensuite.

The Hunter wing is linked to the

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main building and contains 11 guest rooms including two suites. The Garden and Valley wings are linked to the main building via covered breezeways and have 34 guest rooms between them. Guest rooms in these buildings are split over two levels and include communal guest lounge spaces on each level. The Garden wing also includes two suites.

As a standalone dwelling, ‘The Cottage’ has four King bedrooms, a FEATURE

living room, separate sitting room, dining room, kitchen, ensuite and main bathroom. It also offers guests their own private garden and lawn and a large covered wraparound veranda to enjoy the surrounding bush landscape.

All guest rooms have been luxuriously appointed with Queen or King-size custom Spicers beds (twin bed availability with King Rooms), en suites feature dual rain head shower and heated towel rails,

custom designed furniture, artworks

by Australian artists, 49” flat screen televisions, Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speakers, Minibar, Nespresso coffee machine, reverse cycle air-conditioning, luxurious bathroom amenities, bathrobes and slippers.

Every space has been designed to feel homely and inviting with those special touches that make staying at Spicers Retreats so unique.

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chefs in the city THURSDAY 18 OCTOBER • SEADECK BRISBANE

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#spicersretreats PHOTOS TAKEN BY YOU - OUR GUESTS

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from the ashes ON SATURDAY 7 APRIL 2018 THE HISTORIC HOMESTEAD AT SPICERS HIDDEN VALE - HOME TO HOMAGE RESTAURANT BURNED TO THE GROUND. WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE.

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Living on the world’s driest inhabited continent, Australians have always had a great respect for fire - its ferocity and its power of rejuvenation.

Its immediate impact is often devastating but the recovery period that follows a large fire event builds incredible bonds between those affected as together, they share a new beginning.

And so it was when the gorgeous 100 year-old homestead housing our celebrated Homage restaurant at Spicers Hidden Vale was completely destroyed in April 2018.

The comeback from that devastating day that impacted so many people has been extraordinary.

Less than three months after the blaze, Spicers Hidden Vale was reopened and Homage was reimagined.

In 2019, on the 100th anniversary of a fire that also levelled the original dwelling, a new homestead will retake centre stage at the retreat with a new kitchen, restaurant, function spaces, bar and lounge, and reception.

This is a very special place to many people and its next chapter is an exciting one unfolding already. For guests, expect to discover innovations, borne of adversity, that elevate your enjoyment beyond what the retreat has been known for throughout its first five years as Spicers Hidden Vale.

Homage is now located in the historic barn, previously a games area, adding a unique element to the sumptuous dining experience.

“We’re working with traditional methods of cookery; fire, smoke, a preserving room and coal pits,” said Homage Head Chef, Ash Martin.

“There are no shortcuts. That’s what Homage has always been about but now we’re doing it so visually in front of our diners and in such a pure form.

“There is real irony that fire has been such a focal point of our cooking over the past five years. We’re stripping it right back, and elevating it. The venue that we are running from, our 100 year old barn, is a better-suited setting for the style that Homage is all about.”

OPPOSITE The entry to the Homestead.

TOP Damage to the Homestead was extensive.

MIDDLE LEFT Very little was salvaged.

MIDDLE RIGHT Within days the team, led

by General Manager Andrea Martin, were planning for upcoming events and reopening.

BOTTOM The wine cellar.

FEATURE

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ABOVE The coal pit and wood-fired oven where the majority of cooking takes place.

RIGHT At the pass.

FAR Exploring native ingredients like emu.

OPPOSITE TOP The new Homage Restaurant now at home in the historic barn.

OPPOSITE BOTTOM Head Chef Ash Martin.

Homage was founded on principles that respect the land now and into the future, that vision continues unabated in the wake of the fire.

“We’re adding a higher purpose that we had started to integrate pre-fire sustainability, recycling, composting, zero food waste and origin,” added Ash. The vision for Homage was literally to pay homage to the land, the people and the produce of the region.

The “land” is the most fertile farming country in the southern hemisphere and here, the 12,000 acres that included ‘Old Hidden Vale Station’ boast some

of the richest soils. Rejuvenation of the property under Spicers also saw the creation of the largest private wildlife refuge in Australia with its one-of-akind wildlife research, breeding and release facility in partnership with University of Queensland.

The ‘people’ not only acknowledges the Cotton Family who first occupied the homestead a century ago but the contemporary farmers and producers who are great supporters and friends of Hidden Vale. In the clean-up after

the fire, the efforts and help of the local community was incredible.

The ‘produce’ refers not only to the food bursting from the bountiful soils but the provenance – a promise that we would only use sustainable, ethical and where possible, organic produce on our plates. This was taken a step further

22 FEATURE

with the introduction of the 89-bed market garden, installation of bee hives, an animal nursery and preserving room all driving toward a goal of zero waste production and self-sustainability.

The power and passion of the people connected with this property is evident to everyone who stays and fairly soon, you’ll realise why the fire didn’t stop them continuing their endeavours to create amazing guest experiences in a truly unique environment.

The final word goes to the Ash who sums up the legacy of the fire in human terms and why the bond is so special at this incredible property.

“I was completely shattered after the fire. Homage is my home but the one thing that stood out in the days that followed was that the team didn’t leave our side,” he said.

“Homage was not the homestead, it was the team and the identity and our purpose so it could carry on. We’re now in some ways going to pay homage to Homage so we want to make the experience the truest version of what we stand for.”

FEATURE

In the days that followed the team didn’t leave our side.

- ASH MARTIN

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what’s on

spicersretreats.com/events for more

masters of modern art from the hermitage Monet. Cézanne. Matisse. Picasso. Gauguin. Kandinsky.

Pissarro. Malevich. Denis. Bonnard.

Masters of modern art from the Hermitage presents a magnificent selection of works from the towering figures of modern art. Drawn from the unparalleled collections of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, the exhibition is opportunity to see rare works from the modern masters – a journey of startling colour and form, groundbreaking endeavour, and bold leaps of the imagination.

Until 2 March 2019 - Art Gallery of NSW Visit spicerspottspoint.com for Summer Getaway packages, including two adult tickets to Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage (valued at $56).

(Right: Cézanne’s Great pine near Aix, 1895/97)

sunshine coast asian food festival 2019 After the wonderful success of 2018’s inaugural event, Spicers Tamarind’s Asian Food Festival is back with new flavours, new experiences and new partners.

Tickets $99 per person - five courses and two beverages. $145 includes Riesling Masterclass with Spicers Sommelier Peter Marchant.

1pm - 6pm, Saturday 16th February 2019 Spicers Tamarind Retreat - 88 Obi Lane Sth, Maleny.

Phone 07 5420 5420 or visit spicersretreats/aff for more information or to book.

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WHAT’S ON

spicersretreats.com/events for more

what’s on

hunter valley concerts If the recent opening of Spicers Guesthouse wasn’t enough reason to visit, 2019 will see some big name artists touring through the wonderful Hunter Valley.

RED HOT SUMMER FEATURING JIMMY BARNES 2 February 2019 - Roche Estate With Jimmy Barnes, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Living End, Diesel Music, Richard Clapton and Chocolate Starfish, this is set to be a fantastic day of music.

Tickets from ticketmaster.com.au

RNB VINE DAYS 2 February 2019 - Bimbadgen Back for the second year in a row, RnB Vine Days will feature some of the biggest hitmakers of contemporary RnB including Nelly, Craig David and All Saints.

Tickets from vinedays.com.au

howard smith wharves now open Stage one of the Howard Smith Wharves is now open, with lift access from Bowen Terrace, just a one minute walk around the corner from Spicers Balfour Hotel. Felon St Brewery - with over 50 taps - has now opened with more to come in this vibrant addition to Brisbane.

JOHN BUTLER TRIO + MISSY HIGGINS 16 February 2019 - Bimbadgen A Day on the Green event, the ‘Coming Home’ tour will see the John Butler Trio and Miss Higgins reunite with Dan Sultan and Stella Donnelly supporting.

Tickets from adayonthegreen.com.au

RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS 23 February 2019 - Hope Estate 12 years is a long time between tours. The Red Hot Chilli Peppers return with their trademark funk-rock sound and high-energy performances for what is sure to be a memorable live show.

Tickets from hopeestate.com.au

KYLIE MINOGUE 16 March 2019 - Bimbadgen The Golden Tour marks Kylie’s very first time performing outdoor headline concerts in Australia, playing all her hits as well as songs from her latest album ‘Golden’.

Tickets from adayonthegreen.com.au

BRYAN ADAMS 23 March 2019 - Bimbadgen Canadian rock icon Bryan Adams returns to the Hunter Valley with his signature brand of feel-good rock’n’roll that has seen him sell more than 65 million albums worldwide.

Tickets from adayonthegreen.com.au

WHAT’S ON

the 9th asia pacific triennial of contemporary art at goma The incredible APT series returns to QAGOMA in Brisbane’s Southbank - a short CityCat ride from Spicers Balfour Hotel. This free contemporary art exhibition brings creativity, colour and cross-cultural works together in what is a highlight of the Brisbane arts calendar.

With over 400 artworks by over 80 artists, collectives and groups, APT9 captures the energy in the art scene throughout Asia, Australia and the Pacific.

Visit qagoma.qld.gov.au for more information.

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Spicers Mount Mistake Farmhouse 26 FEATURE

answering the call of the wild A short getaway with friends is an increasingly popular way to escape the rat race and have some fun while you catch your breath for a moment.

But if you add a touch of luxury and a classic Aussie bushland setting to the equation, you suddenly have something much more than a short break to look forward to … you have something quite magical you’ll talk about for years.

Spicers Bush Camps are a unique and very special kind of group getaway that connect you with the outdoors in a way

you never imagined.

With all the enjoyment of getting away from it all, without any of the hassle of carrying your own camping gear or worrying about pitching a tent, this is serious fun.

With four different locations to choose from in South East Queensland, each has its own unique charm. And regardless of which retreat you choose, you and your friends or family can have it all to yourself.

As you’ve come to expect from

Spicers, everything is done for you and the highest quality facilities and amenities at each camp means unpacking your gourmet food and fine wine is about as strenuous as it gets. And if you really want to take it up a notch, you can even book one of Spicers’ chefs to cook and cater for your group throughout your stay.

With hot showers, comfortable beds, fresh linen, contemporary cooking facilities and manicured surroundings, this is glamping taken to a new level.

SPICERS MOUNT MISTAKE FARMHOUSE Available for group-bookings only, a short break at this remote and spectacular getaway is the stuff of dreams. Picture yourself with a bunch of friends or family having an exclusive mountaintop to yourselves - those incredible views over the Main Range National Park are all yours.

There are two accommodation options at this stunning property - the main house, offering six king rooms, and a standalone cottage.

King Rooms Spicers Mount Mistake can cater for up to 14 guests with its seven luxury FEATURE

• Bathroom amenities provided – shampoo, conditioner and body wash • Bedside table with lamps

rooms, each with its own large private ensuite. Each room features: • Spicers king size bed (or twin bedding available on request) • Spicers robes and slippers • All bedding & towels supplied

‘Hansel & Gretel’ Cottage The cottage is located about 20 metres from the main house and features: • King bed and large private ensuite • Spicers king size bed (or twin bedding available on request) • Spicers robes and slippers • All bedding & towels supplied • Bathroom amenities provided – shampoo, conditioner and body wash • Bedside table with lamps

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SPICERS CANOPY LUXURY TENTS Within the sweeping Southern Downs just 90-minutes west of Brisbane you’ll find an oasis fondly known as the basecamp for the magnificent Scenic Rim Trail three-day walk.

Considered one of the premier glamping experience in Queensland, the 10 twin-share Spicers Canopy Luxury Tents are also available for private group bookings during the week and on weekends from November to February.

This spectacular setting includes a hot tub, mountain lodge lounge and kitchen, an event space and direct

access to more than 40 kilometres of spectacular walking trails.

Set deep within a 5,000-acre private nature refuge, the tents are framed by stunning mountain vistas of the Scenic Rim. Sit back, soak in the views and breathe the fresh mountain air from the private verandah of your African safari-style tent.

Three well appointed bathrooms located in the main lodge have hot showers ready to welcome the weary explorer at the end of the day.

Spicers Canopy Tents are available for Sunday to Thursday bookings only

during the Scenic Rim Trail season from March to November.

The tents: • Polished timber floorboards • All bedding & towels supplied • Appelles bathroom amenities – shampoo, conditioner & body wash • Bedside table with lamps • Covered verandah with deck chairs • Hot water bottle turn down service • Spicers robes and slippers • Communal bathrooms located near the main lodge

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SPICERS HIDDEN PEAKS CABINS From tents to bush cabins, our next outdoor adventure waiting for you to explore lies adjacent to ancient Gondwana rainforest along the Great Dividing Range.

Less than 90 minutes west of Brisbane, Spicers Hidden Peaks Cabins are situated on private farmlands surrounded by pristine wilderness.

Your own private haven, six wellappointed triple-share cabins - each with its own ensuite - encircle the central lounge and outdoor sandstone fire pit that becomes the vibrant focal point of every evening.

The communal lodge with its large kitchen and dining area and fabulous fire pit is a highlight of this retreat.

There is a lot to see and do in the region but if you also just want to stay put, it’s the perfect relaxation destination. And it’s an ideal place to let the kids run wild and explore within the fully fenced grounds.

With world class bushwalking on your doorstep, mountain bikes to use or watercraft to hire on Lake Moogerah, you’ll love falling into those super comfy cabin beds at the end of each day spent exploring.

You might even consider treating yourself to a touch of pampering with a spa treatment or sumptuous lunch at Spicers Peak Lodge which is just 30 minutes away.

The cabins: Each cabin features a balcony with lounge chairs, perfect for reading and enjoying the glorious mountain and bush views. They also feature: • Double and single bunk bed • Ensuite with sink, toilet and shower • Polished floorboards • Balcony with armchairs • Combustion fireplace • All sheets, towels & duvets supplied • Showers (run on a four minute timer) • L’Occitane bathroom amenities shampoo, conditioner and body wash • Additional camp beds can be booked for a second child for $20 per stay

FEATURE

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SPICERS HIDEAWAY CABINS To really connect with the Australian bush and see plenty of it as you go, mountain biking is a great way to fully immerse yourself in the great outdoors.

A little over one-hour’s drive from Brisbane, Hiddenvale Adventure Park in Grandchester is one of the State’s great biking destinations with more than 100 kilometres of trails to explore.

And no problem if you have little or no experience, you can hire top quality mountain bikes for the weekend onsite.

Cyclists and bushwalkers are drawn to Spicers Hideaway Cabins - located on the same 12,000 acres as Spicers Hidden Vale - but if you’re looking for a place to simply unwind, it’s also perfect. With a rolling green lawn, a communal lounge overlooking the dam and four two-bedroom cabins, an abundance of bird life, kangaroos and curious wallabies in the camp, this is an idyllic getaway spot.

The cabins The four two-bedroom standalone cabins feature a balcony with each bedroom comprising one double bed

and a single bed overhead. Each cabin is constructed from native hardwood.

Bush View Cabins The two Bush View cabins contain two bedrooms each with a shared balcony and include: • Double and single bunk bed • Polished floorboards • Covered deck with deckchairs • Wood burning fireplace and firewood is provided • Sheets, towels & duvets are supplied • L’Occitane bathroom amenities shampoo, conditioner and body wash • Cabins located close to the communal bathrooms

Dam View Cabins The two Dam View cabins have two bedrooms each with a shared balcony and also include: • Double and single bunk bed • Polished floorboards • Covered deck with deckchairs • Sheets, towels & duvets are supplied • L’Occitane bathroom amenities shampoo, conditioner and body wash • Cabins located close to the communal bathrooms

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stanthorpe apple parfait, blue cheese snow, cheese milk crisp Serves 8 APPLE PARFAIT • 100g apple puree • 300ml milk • 300ml full cream • 100g caster sugar • 1g gellan gum • 100ml fresh apple juice • 8 apple stalks 1. Bring apple puree, milk, cream and caster sugar to the boil then strain.

2. Pour into round silicon molds the size of a small apple.

3. Set in the freezer until hard.

4. Stir the gellan gum in the apple juice until dissolved.

5. Remove the frozen apple parfait balls from the molds.

6. Once only, dip into the balls into the apple juice solution.

7. Make a small indent in the top to form the shape of an apple then garnish with an apple stalk. Retain in freezer until serving.

RECIPES

BLUE CHEESE MILK CRISP • 200ml milk • 80g blue cheese • Salt to taste • 50g corn flour • 10ml water 1. Bring milk, cheese and salt to the boil.

2. With the corn flour and water, make smooth slurry.

3. Whisk the slurry into the milk until thickened.

4. Allow to cool slightly then thinly spread mixture onto baking paper.

5. Dehydrate overnight at 90C. 6. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

LIME MERINGUE • 2 egg whites • 125g caster sugar • Lime zest 1. Whisk sugar, egg whites and lime zest until stiff peaks form.

2. Place into a fine point piping bag.

BLUE CHEESE SNOW • 50g blue cheese • 150ml oil • 500g maltodextrin 1. Blend blue cheese and oil together.

2. Strain thoroughly. Retain the oil only.

3. Whisk the oil and maltodextrin together until it forms a texture of grainy snow.

TO SERVE • Place one apple parfait on each plate.

• Sprinkle the plate with blue cheese snow.

• Garnish with blue cheese milk crisps.

• Pipe small points of lime meringue onto the plate (see image above).

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dine with us.

Spicers Guesthouse

Spicers Vineyards Estate

Spicers Balfour Hotel

Spicers Clovelly Estate

Spicers Tamarind Retreat

Spicers Hidden Vale

Spicers Peak Lodge

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