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charlie albone IN FULL BLOOM
plus ALISON wHyTE + RUBy wAx + GEORGE KAPINIARIS +
March 29 - apriL 4, 2017
LUKE McgrEgor? By SARAH HARRIS
MELBOURNE’S FAVOURITE DISH
SOUTH EAST
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COLOUR ME HAPPY “Eat colourfully” is the staff’s mantra – and they mean it. The menu at new health and wellness venue Greenfields Albert Park is a visual feast made for Instagram. Traditional breakfast favourites, smoothies and picnic baskets are filled with gluten-free and organic goodies, which you can enjoy lakeside with the pooch or after a yoga session. ●
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» greenfieldsalbertpark.com.au
Drop by the Westin pre-Comedy Festival if you want the laughs to go down even more smoothly. The hotel has revived its Comedy Cocktail list, inspired by some of the headliners. We’re liking The Big Creasey, named after Joel, because its Midori, Cointreau and lemon juice combo is designed as “the original acid-tongued prince”. ●
THE BIG CREASY
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mtay@theweeklyreview.com.au
compiled by Miranda Tay
This week we’re talking about …
» $15 Comedy Cocktails on presentation of a valid Comedy Festival ticket (normally $20) » westinmelbourne.com
CELEBRATE THE GARDEN Love how the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show takes us into the reds and golds of autumn’s seasonal outdoor beauty. This year’s highlights include massive woodland installations by the City of Melbourne, fab show gardens by the likes of Charlie Albone and Phillip Withers, and an edible garden by The Diggers Club. ● » Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, March 29-April 2 » Tickets: melbflowershow.com.au
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Grace trouser: Textured viscose weave T straight-leg trouser Undercover 2: Aviator-style rose-gold tone and pearlised pink acetate sunglasses
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Following a sell-out season in Sydney, The Kit Kat Club is returning to Melbourne for a new Australian revival of one of the world’s most-loved musicals, Cabaret, at The Athenaeum Theatre from April 27. All your favourite songs – including Cabaret, Money and Don’t Tell Mama – will be brought to life with Kelley Abbey’s brilliant choreography and intoxicating performances from the whole cast. You could win one of two double passes, valued at $160 each, to the 7.30pm performance on Tuesday, May 2. ● cometothecabaret.com.au
Congratulations to the following winners from March 15: Angela Mucic, Jasmina Zaharijevski, Conrad D’Costa, Gemma Wylaz, Chloe Wilson, Tom Ryan, Vanessa Roberts, Jef Tan, Nick Bilionis, Brooke McGlashan, Amy McCann, Stephanie Epp, Daniella Jenkins, Marion Gielen, Alex Taverner, Chris Petroulis, Charlotte Campbell, Lisa Baguley and Joanne Garrivan. Entrants must be over 18 years old and reside in Victoria. See our competition T&Cs for details. All winners will be contacted direct by the prize supplier and within seven days of winners being drawn. Queries to: freebies@theweeklyreview.com.au
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Contrasting styles: The late evening sun clips the edge of Southbank’s Prima Pearl apartment tower, against the dramatic backdrop of Turner-esque clouds and the old steeple of the church at Melbourne Grammar School. A plane streaking across the sky adds to the dramatic contrasts. ●
EDITOR’S DESK When I sat down to go through the program for this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival last week, I started to feel slightly overwhelmed by that very 21st-century condition known as FOMO. With 556 shows playing in three weeks, it’s almost impossible to know what to see – and what to miss. How to choose between the raft of big international names like Ruby Wax and Arj Barker, local stars such as Wil Anderson and Dave Hughes, and scores of unknowns, any one of whom might turn out to be comedy’s next big thing? A good place to start might be zeroing in on the endearingly gawky but increasingly popular Luke McGregor and his close circle of funny friends and collaborators, who together look set to take on the mantle of Melbourne’s next comedy rat pack. Read about Luke’s unlikely rise to fame and his comedic coterie, then check them out live at the festival. ●
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Every bit of construction gets us closer to a better train network. Buses to replace trains from Sat 1st April to Wed 5th April, between Dandenong and Pakenham stations. The Victorian Government is building bigger, better trains here in Melbourne as part of the largest transformation in our train network’s history. The new longer trains will mean more room for passengers and a better ride on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, but to run them we need to extend station platforms and upgrade power and signaling. With this disruption to services, it’s important to remember, every delay gets us closer to the train network our world-class city needs. To find out how your trip may be affected, visit ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007.
BIGGER TRAINS FOR A BETTER MELBOURNE Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne
MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 5
A
s ambassador of high anxiety, comedian Luke McGregor has previously bared his soul – and bottom – in a kind of extreme public therapy that’s tickled Australia’s heart. But now that he’s doing a job he loves, performing to sell-out crowds, seeing a psychologist, has a lovely girlfriend and is, hmm … finally getting a bit, has he “almost fixed it”, as the title of his new Melbourne Comedy Festival show suggests? “It’s a joke really,” the 34-year-old confesses with signature toothy grin. “I never learn from this, but I always think if this thing happens I will feel good or I will feel happy. Like, if I have a girlfriend, I will feel secure and I won’t hate myself so much. Then, as soon as I got a girlfriend, I’m like, there must be something wrong with her because she likes me, or it is only going to be a matter of time before this doesn’t work any more because of me. “Like, I thought if I just don’t have to stand outside a venue and hand out flyers for my show, I will feel secure in comedy. Then, as soon as I was OK for ticket sales, I felt like, this won’t last, everyone will realise I am a fraud. Then I felt if I can just get a TV show I will feel like I have made it, but when that happened it was like, yeah, but what if it doesn’t go well? My brain always kicks in with something negative.” There is nothing funny about suffering acute anxiety. It’s exhausting and excruciating, but being able to hold it
thrown over a cliff by a 15-year-old boy which, even in the live-or-die environment of stand-up comedy, seems a particularly brutal rite of passage. “It wasn’t such a big drop and I landed in some bushes … stink bushes, so I just smelt bad for the rest of the day,” Luke says. Such episodes were a perfect breeding ground for a range of OCD tics and quirks but, he says, also “gave me plenty of material”. They also helped shape his hesitant, nervy style which, along with his breathtaking honesty, has endeared him to legions of fans since he first stepped up to a microphone in 2007 during a regional round of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Raw Comedy competition. By then, Luke had spent seven years at university studying a range of subjects with a view to alternately becoming a lawyer, a teacher and a doctor, before graduating with a combined arts and economics degree – but he finally found his metier when he stood in front of the mike that night. “I went along to support a friend and I got drunk and, when someone didn’t show up to the competition, I asked to do their spot,” he says. “I liked making people laugh and I knew it was something I could do to make people like me, or not bully me as much. I knew if I could make a bully laugh they wouldn’t hit me as hard or, best-case scenario, not at all, and I was curious to see if I could make more than just a small group laugh at once. “I got up on stage and I just loved it. It was like
“Before comedy, I didn’t know what it was like to feel you had something, anything really, to offer the world.” up to the spotlight, making a room full of people laugh, is the silver lining to a condition that has made much of Luke’s life so fraught. Arriving for our interview, Luke is already a little rattled. He’s at a new place, meeting new people and the only parking spot he could find was for an hour. In the 4½-minute walk to the office, he’s calculated that, allowing for traffic-light changes and a small margin for unexpected hindrances, he actually has only 45 minutes for a two-hour chat and shoot. I’m kicking myself for not thinking to tell his management where the elusive longer-term parks could be found. But when he comes back from moving the car, he is the one who’s apologetic. “Some people come out of gigs and say, ‘I love that character you do’, or ‘how do you get in character for a gig?’ says Luke. “I’m like, ‘I don’t, that’s actually me’. They are saying, ‘no seriously, it must be an act’. I’m like, ‘no it’s real, it is just me not hiding it on stage’.” Growing up in Hobart, Luke hid much from his real-estate agent parents, two younger brothers and his teachers. As a slightly built kid with a shock of almost Ronald McDonald-red hair, buck teeth and heavy-framed glasses, he might as well have been wearing a sign that said “kick me”. Tormenting by bullies compounded his anxieties and Luke spent his formative years at the edge of a psychological escarpment. Aged 11, he was actually
luke mCGREGOr
SARAH HARRIS MEETS MELBOURNE’S FUNNIEST BUNDLE OF NERVES
coming home, like in Tetris when you put in the last block and they all disappear. It felt like that, like finally I was in the right spot.” By 2008, Luke had refined his act sufficiently to become Tasmania’s champion in the Raw Comedy finals, and by 2010 he was entrenched in Melbourne and living in a share house with actor, writer and radio host Ed Kavalee; Ed’s then-girlfriend and now wife Tiffiny Hall, of The Biggest Loser fame; a journalist; and a cat called Garry. Here, in Australia’s comedy capital, he started building a cult following through work on RMITV’s variety show Studio A and the popular comedy podcast series The Little Dum Dum Club. He also found himself at the centre of a group of rising comedy stars, including Celia Pacquola and Anne Edmonds, who are emerging as the natural heirs to the Working Dog and Fast Forward gangs before them. Still, it took several years before he felt brave enough to give up his day job as a performance analyst at a superannuation firm. Winning best newcomer for his MICF show My Soul Mate is Out of My League in 2013, the Sydney Comedy Festival equivalent in 2014 with I Worry That I Worry Too Much and turning 30 were major catalysts. “Quitting my job was really hard for me because I always valued safety over anything else, “ Luke says. “I don’t know exactly when it happened, but I started
fixing
6 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ MARCH 29, 2017
valuing time and all of a sudden being in a job I didn’t like felt like the worst thing, whereas before that it just felt secure, safe and comforting. “Before comedy, I didn’t know what it was like to really enjoy your work, or even life, I suppose. I didn’t know what it was like to feel like you had something, anything really, to offer the world.” He’s now a familiar face on television with credits including the role of Hugh in the award-winning series Utopia (2014-15), playing himself in the unforgettable six-part comedy-documentary Luke Warm Sex (2016) and most recently co-writing and starring in the sweet buddy comedy Rosehaven (2016) with his real-life buddy Celia Pacquola. He and Celia are hopeful the ABC will commit to a second series and are mapping out ideas for new episodes. “I love writing,” Luke says. “With Rosehaven, I remember opening up a final draft document and putting that first word down, and now we have a DVD with our faces on it.”
T
here’s been talk of doing another Luke Warm-style show, but no one has yet come up with a subject that might work as well as the exploration of sex. Luke is also toying with the idea of writing a movie. “I have always loved films that were funny and scary,” he says. “My favourite movie of all time is Ghostbusters. I would love to write a comedy-horror. I love the idea of people in extreme situations being funny as well, because we all use humour as a valve to release the tension.” On the personal front, things have never looked better. He and his girlfriend, cardiac nurse Marie, (whom he met at a friend’s wedding – awkwardly just before Luke Warm Sex exposed his sexual ineptitude on national TV) are living together. “It is just nice having someone that I look forward to coming home to, and that I look forward to coming home. I have been trying not to overthink it, like everything else in my life. So I have been trying to focus it down to the question of ‘do I enjoy hanging out with her, do I enjoy being with her?’ and as long as the answer is yes, that’s enough. The only thing I am really worried about is camping; she likes camping.” He feels settled enough that some of his OCD behaviours, like the little hop from foot to foot he had to do every night before getting into bed, are starting to lessen. “I don’t need to do a murderer check, walking through the house checking for murderers, any more, like I did when I was living alone. But if I am going to a meeting or seeing someone new or someone I haven’t seen for a while I will still have to walk up an even number of stairs. Like if there are three steps to a restaurant I will have to go back one so there are four.” For the first time in his life he feels hopeful. “I feel like my default mood is improving. I still feel anxious and even now I can see myself shaking a little, but I feel like I am taking good steps in the right direction and I hope that by sharing this stuff I am making people feel a little bit less alone. “I was reading the other day about NASA and astronauts who go to the moon and come back and it’s like, ‘what’s next, what else is there after the moon?’ and how they now have programs about that specific idea. “I will always be anxious about what’s next, but I am trying to work on feeling grateful for what I have done, so that way if it does all dry up I have at least enjoyed it for a little while.” ● sharris@theweeklyreview.com.au
PICTURE \ MICHAEL RAYNER
SIX DEGREES OF LUKE From The Naked Vicar gang to the Working Dog crew, every generation seems to spawn a coterie of funny friends whose collaborations help define the comedy of their era. At the epicentre of Melbourne’s latest comedy clan is none other than one Luke McGregor.
CELIA PACQUOLA \
A nominee for the prestigious Barry Award and winner of multiple acting awards, Celia worked with Luke on Utopia. The pair went on to write and star in Rosehaven, which also featured David Quirk.
GERALDINE HICKEY \
The Triple R breakfast presenter appeared on The Little Dum Dum Club with Luke and in Fresh Blood alongside her best buddy Celia Pacquola, with whom she shares a house in real life. ● See her MICF show Smithereens Smithereens, at the Imperial Hotel, March 29-April 22
ANNE EDMONDS \
The banjo-playing comic won the peer-selected MICF Piece of Wood award in 2015. She produces the AFL podcast The Downlow with Kate McLennan and Geraldine Hickey. ● See her MICF show, No Offence, None Taken, at the Victoria Hotel, March 30-April 23
DAVID QUIRK \
Another MICF Piece of Wood-winner, David appeared in Sam Simmons’ Problems, along with Geraldine. David, Anne and Geraldine all featured in Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane. ● See his MICF show, Cowboy Mouth, March 30-April 23, Melbourne Town Hall
SAMMY J
(Sam McMillan) \ A Barry Award co-recipient, Sammy wrote and featured in ABC’s Wednesday Night Fever with Anne. He also appeared in Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney’s Bleak with David. ● See his MICF show, Hero Complex Complex, March 30-April 23 at the Victoria Hotel
» Luke McGregor – Almost Fixed It is at the Comedy Theatre, March 29-April 9. comedyfestival.com.au MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 7
A COFFEE WITH … ALISON WHYTE
P
hone calls are like lotteries for working actors, who rarely let them ring out. It’s often telemarketers. Sometimes it’s someone special, like legendary actor-director Judy Davis, who dialled Alison Whyte last year while casting the renowned Irish play Faith Healer Healer. Was she interested? Available? “I was in the car,” Alison says, wrapped in the memory. “Thank god my husband was driving. Otherwise I’d have crashed it.” We’re in Broad Bean Organic Grocer, a stone’s throw from Melbourne Theatre Company’s Southbank Theatre, where Alison is treading the boards with Judy’s husband, Colin Friels, until April 8. Her flowing autumnal locks are set against a simple grey T-shirt and linen trousers. Over grating top-40 hits, we discuss her recent roles, home life and her unpredictable craft. “Friends have likened acting to a bad boyfriend,” says Alison, who is happily married to actor-turned-publican-turnedteacher Fred Whitlock. “Sometimes you go, ‘That’s it, I’m done, time to, I don’t know, make bread’. Then you land these roles that drag you back.” Roles such as Faith Healer’s haggard, lovelorn Grace, or Mary Mother of Jesus, the sole character in The Testament of Mary Mary, another “almost symphonic” Irish piece
HUGE SHOWROOM OPEN
8 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ MARCH 29, 2017
that Alison wrapped in February. “I’ve been carrying these two huge monologues in my head for months,” she says over a foamy latte. “Then, come April [she throws her arms wide], I’ll be totally unemployed.” Alison has worked with giants of her industry for three decades, growing in stature with Logies for her roles in Frontline and Satisfaction, and a Helpmann Award-winning stint as Queen Elizabeth in Richard III III. The phone’s bound to ring. But if it doesn’t, you won’t find her in the South African jungle scoffing entrails on I’m a Celebrity … Get me out of Here!. “Seriously, darling,” she tuts, “what have we come to?” We chat about our respective slices of Melbourne’s outer north-east – Alison’s with farm animals, bush trails, vegie patches and three “energetic” kids aged 15, 14 and 11. Rehearsal beckons. I ask quickly about her years running Abbotsford pub The Terminus and Yarra Glen’s The Grand. “Fred ran them, I just tested the wines.” She laughs aloud before skipping back to her beloved craft, “the best bloody fun you can have”. ● Words & pictures by STEVE MCKENZIE smckenzie@theweeklyreview.com.au » Faith Healer is on at the MTC Southbank Theatre until April 8. mtc.com.au
➾ BREW HA HA Broad Bean Organic Grocer ● Shop 3, 26 Fanning Street, Southbank THE VIBE \ Organic food specialist with cakes and wraps in the cafe and an array of gluten-free, vegan-friendly groceries and household items on the shelves.
THE FOOD D \ Alison opts for a delicate little cake that she makes last while my turkey toasty is a decent tummy filler. ● THE BEANS \ Browns Mill certified organic blend, roasted by Allpress in Collingwood. Lovely, but a third for the day was excessive. I should have ordered a smoothie instead. ●
life in bloom CHARLIE’S TIPS
JANE CANAWAY MEETS RELUCTANT CELEBRITY GARDENER CHARLIE ALBONE “It’s a different skill building a garden on TV than in real life, but I wouldn’t say I’m a celebrity,” he says. “But I’m happy to pose for a photo if people ask.” Ironically, his two displays at the Chelsea Flower show have boosted his business more than nine seasons of television. “TV is good, but you get a lot of tyre kickers,” Charlie says. “At Chelsea, people see what you can do with a bit more space, so I’m more likely to get larger-scale work, which I prefer. “Our Sydney garden is coastal and quite formal, but we have two hectares on the NSW Central Coast and that’s where I really indulge in my passion, with different garden rooms. “I don’t get there as often as I’d like, maybe every three or four weeks. But I could quite easily garden all the time. “It’s one of the most relaxing and rewarding things in life.” ● editorial@theweeklyreview.com.au
● Start with strong key elements and a bold theme, to create good bones around which plants and smaller elements can be refreshed. ● Large, chunky paving and substantial fixtures such as pergolas and decking can provide structure to work around. ● Plants can also form the garden’s bones – clipped box hedges or pleached trees take years to establish but are long-lived. Their formality can be offset by soft beds of colourful perennials or annuals that can vary by season and be changed every few years.
» inspiredexteriors.com.au
● Indoor plants are enjoying a comeback. I’m seeing a lot of Zamioculcas “Zanzibar Gem”, also Tillandsias and other air plants, as well as epiphytic plants, which are all easy-care. Ficus lyrica (fiddle-leaf fig) is still popular, as are peace lillies.
» Melbourne International Flower & Garden show is on at Carlton Gardens, March 29-April 2 melbflowershow.com.au
● If you have space, consider different garden rooms for variety, or small, hidden delights such as an enclosed seating area or artwork.
» Season 10 of Selling Homes Australia airs on Wednesdays at 8.30pm on Foxtel’s Lifestyle channel.
(LEEANN CHAPMAN)
W
itnessing a car crash had a also deliver some talks. It’s his first project life-changing impact on Selling at MIFGS. Houses Australia co-host Charlie “I’m doing an urban retreat,” he says. “As Albone: it led to his first job as a life gets busier, I get a lot from just sitting in gardener. “I was about 18, living in England my garden; that’s the sort of serene space I’m and working two jobs to get money to return trying to create.” to Australia, where I’d been on a holiday and Still, it’s unlikely there will be anything loved. I saw a car hit the gates of a nearby serene about the gravity-defying build. manor house and reported its number to “I’m planning a sandstone and granite the owners. They asked if I knew anyone ceiling to be suspended above the seating who wanted gardening work, so I thought, area. And all without putting a single peg ‘Why not?’.” in the ground [to preserve the heritage Gardening soon became a passion Carlton Gardens].” and, by the time he reached At Chelsea, his first garden was a “I get a lot Australia a year later, it had become deeply personal, highly symbolic from just his career. He set up his design tribute to his father, who died when sitting in my Charlie was 17, and to his wife, company Inspired Exteriors in 2005, while still studying interior designer Juliet Love. garden” horticulture at TAFE. The couple have two boys – Leo, 4, When Charlie returned to Britain and Hartford, 2 – and the boys might to create gardens for the prestigious Chelsea have inherited their parents’ design flair. Flower Show in 2015 and 2016 (winning two “The two-year-old loves to draw on every awards), he says he felt like an Australian bit of furniture he can get his hands on while going to Britain rather than an Englishman the four-year-old loves being outdoors and returning home. making things. I think one will be the design Now, 10 years after starting on Selling guy and the other will be the labourer that Houses Australia, he is busier than ever. gets everything done,” Charlie quips. When we spoke Charlie was in Queensland, “When we’re doing a makeover I spend two having just finished a project in Hong Kong, to three days [at home] in Sydney but that’s and was returning home to Sydney the next the longest I spend anywhere, so the family day before flying to Singapore. usually travel with me,” Charlie says. That left him with just a week to organise Juliet has also worked on TV and now his garden at the Melbourne International blogs. So how does the family cope with their Flower and Garden Show, where he will celebrity status?
● Stick to more formal ideas and update that with pots and so on.
● Most of all, enjoy your garden and don’t let anyone tell you it’s right or wrong. MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 9
Ask the wine guy
THE VINE
I’ve been enjoying aperitifs Q at restaurants lately; can you recommend some for home?
W H AT T O D R I N K W I T H B E N T H O M A S
There’s a whole world of aperitifs A to try. Customarily drunk before a meal to stimulate the appetite, they range
Salers Gentiane (Massif Centrale) $60.90; 16%
from bitter to sweet, are generally lower in alcohol than spirits and there’s a lot of regionality. Sit in a bar in Alsace, France, and you’ll see people asking for an amer biere, a beer with a shot of orange bitters. In Normandy, it’s pommeau, a blend of cider and calvados that’s matured in oak barrels, served on ice before a meal. Here’s a range of aperitifs you’ll find being served across France. ● GOT A QUESTION EMAIL \
bthomas@theweeklyreview.com.au
Bertrand Amer Biere (Alsace) $45.90; 15%
Gentiane is made from the root of the gentiana lutea plant (it has little yellow flowers and huge roots) that grows in France’s Massif Central. It’s DayGlo yellow and smells of candied lemon peel, used coffee grounds and a hint of dust. It is subtly bitter, balanced by a moreish sweet lemon cordial flavour. Serve this \ neat over ice.
Amer is added to beer in a 1:6 ratio in France’s Alsace. Botanicals, including gentiane and quinine, are macerated with citrus (orange in this case), sugar and caramel and matured before release. Neat, it has complex orange rind and spice aromas and a gentle bitterness on the palate. In a beer, it adds a lengthy, subtle orange finish. Serve this \ with a neutral lager, tonic water or neat over ice.
BARGAIN BUY
Le Pere Jules Pommeau five-year-old (Normandy) $53.90; 17% Freshly pressed apple cider is blended with young calvados (apple brandy) before being aged in oak barrels for several years. At five years old, this is one of the younger ones you’ll find. It’s filled with woody, spicy apple aromas and a flavour that’s reminiscent of a tarte tatin – apples, caramel and doughy pastry. Serve this \ neat over ice.
Le Birlou (Burgundy) $54; 18% Made from chestnuts and apples, this liqueur is incredibly versatile. Made to be added to beer, it’s delicious on the rocks or as part of a meal; I’ve poured over crepes and ice-cream. It tastes of sweet stewed apples and chestnut puree and adds sweet richness to a beer without losing any refreshment. Serve this \ with a neutral lager or neat over ice.
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THE SCORE
● 100-95 OUTSTA OUTST NDING
● 94-92 MUST BUY ● 91-90 MUST TRY R RY
WE S AY
Aperitifs make a great talking point at a dinner party.
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m i c h a e l s a p p l i a n ce ce n t re . co m . a u
$500 VIA REDEMPTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF AN ELIGIBLE LIEBHERR SIDE BY SIDE FRIDGE
10 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ MARCH 29, 2017
Double Cheese Chilli Scrambled Egg
● @ White Mojo ● 182-184 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn ● 9817 7859
The Peking duck here is no secret; local families gather to gobble it on weekends while others trek across town for it. They come for the crispy-skinned duck with fat expertly rendered to maximise flavour, and minimise heft. It’s served with tender, lacy pancakes with thick plum sauce, followed by duck soup and duck meat mixed with your choice of fried bean sprouts or hand-made noodles (rice noodles, egg noodles or hor fun). ●
(MICHAEL RAYNER)
Seafood Laksa
Meat Fruit
At 7.30 on a Monday night, the queue was snaking out the door. Never mind, I was seated in 10 minutes. The seafood curry laksa here is creamy and rich, with just the right amount of oil. Swimming in the golden, lava-like broth are king prawns, calamari, fishcake, scallops and mussels – along with the standard inclusion of two kinds of noodles, tofu cubes, eggplant and bean shoots. The takeaway is great and there’s another branch in Glen Waverley. ●
You’ve almost definitely seen this dish before, regardless of whether you’ve tried it. If you haven’t, it lives up to the hype every time – a rich chicken liver parfait with the texture of gluttony, cleverly disguised as a mandarin. The parfait is coated in a mandarin gel, dimpled to look like a fruit – apparently it came about as a happy accident after the gel reacted to the oils in the parfait. It’s served with a chunk of charred sourdough. ●
● @ Laksa King ● 6-12 Pin Oak Crescent, Flemington ● 9372 6383
Is this the breakfast bun to rule them all? A brioche bun, coloured dramatically black with squid ink and charcoal coconut powder, is stuffed with scrambled egg spiked with corn kernels and some kicking chilli oil. The spice level is spot on, with smoky chipotle mayonnaise, and finely grated parmesan and cheddar melted over thick bacon. Also at White Mojo’s CBD address. Hangover, be gone! ●
are you hungry yet? Sofia Levin samples the contenders for TWR’s 2017 Must Eat Awards
(SEVIM DOGAN)
(MICHAEL RAYNER)
(MICHAEL RAYNER)
readers’ feast
● @ Dinner by Heston ● Crown Towers, 130/8 Whiteman Street, Southbank ● 8582 2061
(CARMEN ZAMMIT)
● @ Simon’s Peking Duck ● 197b Middleborough Road, Box Hill South ● 9898 5944
(MICHAEL RAYNER)
(SEVIM DOGAN)
(CARMEN ZAMMIT)
Peking Duck Pancakes
Caserta Pizza
Turkish Delight Souffle
Yia Yia’s Tapsi
Hotcakes
This is pizza just the way it should be: Napoletana-style with a thin base and bubbly crust. It takes a wood-fired oven, Italian staff and top-quality ingredients to create the Caserta. The base is spread with Ciao brand San Marzano peeled tomatoes (approved by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana), scattered with torn buffalo mozzarella, rocket and 18-month aged prosciutto. I can polish off a whole pizza because they’re nice and light – or maybe I’m just a pig. ●
Critics are raving about chef Pierre Khodja’s souffle at his Algerian restaurant, which has been open less than two months. This is Pierre’s first restaurant after training in Michelin-starred establishments in London and Paris, before cooking at Canvas and the Flinders Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula. The delicate, pale pink Turkish delight souffle smells like roses and tastes like a giddy first love. It comes with velvety halva ice-cream and kataifi pastry pistachio baklava. ●
This kind of generous mid-week lunch makes you want to go home and nap afterwards, Yia Yia’s Tapsi features seven tastes from the Hellenic Republic menu. It is available only at the Kew branch. The dishes change, but you can always expect a protein (such as roast lamb or chicken from the spit), a salad (perhaps a classic Greek or the ever-popular Cypriot grain), dolmades, dip, olives, char-grilled pita and a dessert – my favourite is the rice pudding with salted caramel and crushed pistachios. ●
Do hotcakes really deserve to be in the running for Melbourne’s best dish? The answer is a resounding yes when it comes to District Brewer’s version. Three thick hotcakes arrive in a stack, layered with smoked, free-range bacon from Mount Mercer, drenched in proper Canadian maple syrup and topped with a quenelle of whipped butter, which melts into a delicious mess. We hear they’re now topping their hotcakes with a seasonal variation – mascarpone and stone fruit crumble. ●
● @ 90 Secondi ● 284a Bay Street, Brighton ● 9596 6996
● @ Camus ● 61 High Street, Northcote ● 9486 3063
● @ Hellenic Republic ● 26 Cotham Road, Kew ● 9207 7477
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE DISH Which of these dishes do you think is Melbourne’s best?
● @ District Brewer ● 36 Brewer Road, Bentleigh ● 9972 3812
IN PA R T N E R S H I P WITH
Go to theweeklyreview/musteat to cast your vote for the TWR 2017 Must Eat Award MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 11
STAYING IN
WIN MOANA DVDS
WIN!
BEST OF THE NEW RELEASES
Thanks to Disney, we have three Blu-Rays of hit animation Moana to be won. Go to theweeklyreview.com.au/competitions and leave a comment identifying the book reviewed in this week’s mag. Closes midnight Sunday, April 2.
BOOK
FILM
13 Reasons Why \ Netflix from March 31 netflix.com.au
The Fabulous Flying Mrs Miller By Carol Baxter » $32.99 (Allen & Unwin) allenandunwin.com.au
Coming home from school, American teen Clay finds a box of cassettes (yes, actual cassette tapes) on his doorstep. This collection amounts to the last testament of his crush Hannah, who committed suicide a fortnight earlier. These tapes promise to explain what drove her to it. Based on a popular young adult novel, this new Netflix series is teenage television at its darkest, tackling uncomfortable issues around bullying, abuse and culpability. Haunting – and possibly very important – drama. ●
While holidaying alone in London, Melbourne housewife Jessie “Chubbie” Miller talks her way into being co-pilot on a daring attempt to be first to fly a light plane from Britain to Darwin. This hair-raising flight (with a married man, no less) would make a gripping tale on its own, but this biography tells how Chubbie went on to race Amelia Earhart and survive a downed plane over the Florida Straits before finding herself on trial for murder. Incredible stories of a remarkable woman. ●
TV
Sing (PG) \ 108 mins \ DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital from March 29 (Universal Sony Home Entertainment), singmovie.com.au Buster Moon is a suave showbiz koala, fallen on hard times. In a last-ditch attempt to raise money for his theatre, he hosts a singing competition, but his secretary adds a couple of zeros to the prize money. Entries flood in, though financial doom seems imminent. With a voice cast that includes Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson, this is an excuse to see cute animals sing your favourite songs. Which is fine. ● WIN \ We also have 10 Sing DVDs to give away, thanks to Universal Sony Home Entertainment. Visit our competitions page online to enter.
NOW ON SALE FROM $2,299 *
CD
Ali Barter \ A Suitable Girl (Inertia) alibartermusic.com Ali Barter’s frustrated feminist anthem Girlie Bits has been all over the radio these past six months – and rightly so. It’s a delicious three-minute package of indie pop hooks and lyrical savagery, delivered with ironic sweetness. Happily, the rest of the album lives up to it. The Melburnian’s honest reflections on life, love and womanhood are delivered with a fuzzy ’90s grrl-rock energy, finding middle-ground between The Breeders and Kylie Minogue. This year’s most thrilling Australian debut. ●
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12 THE WEEKLY L REVIEW LY W \ MARCH 29, 2017
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going out
R
uby Wax has a new show – and it’s made especially for us. The American-born, British-based comedian is bringing Frazzled to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Inspired by her bestselling book of last year, A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, it’s an irreverent lesson in how to deal with the stress of modern life. “It’s about you,” Ruby says. “It’s about everybody you meet. There are probably people who live in the country who have community, who live a way of life from back when people felt they were supported. They shouldn’t come to my show. If they don’t have inner thoughts that are giving them bad reviews, they’re really wasting their time.” Frazzled builds on Ruby’s studies at Oxford to explain how the evolution of our brain has left us vulnerable to the pressures of the 21st century. “We have to learn how to navigate technology and use it for our benefit,” she says. “We’re creatures of addiction. We can never do just one thing. It’s good for us, it’s what’s made us achieve miracles, but we don’t have a braking system.” While most comedians are happy if their
festival gigs get a serve of belly laughs, Ruby is aiming higher. A good show for her is one where the audience leaves better informed. “I think people love it that I give them something to go home with,” she says. “And I didn’t make it up on the weekend, I did a course at Oxford. All I’m doing is relaying the information, but making it funny.” Ruby is but one of many top international comedians performing at this year’s festival, alongside local stalwarts incuding Hannah Gadsby, Denise Scott and Judith Lucy. Festival director Susan Provan says Melbourne is an irresistible destination for global comic talent, partly because it gives them a chance to try new material away from home crowds. Ruby says she’s always glad to be invited down under. “I love Melbourne. I’d go there if there was no festival. Fitzroy? That’s where I want to live. That’s the ultimate.” ● mbartlett@theweeklyreview.com.au
READ \ SUSAN PROVAN’S GUIDE TO THE BEST OF THIS YEAR’S FEST
RUBY WAX
(STEVE ULLATHORNE)
MY K E B A RT L E T T @ R U BY WA X
B O O K A T I C K E T » Ruby Wax: Frazzled: A Guide to Mindfulness, Arts Centre Melbourne, March 30-April 2, $35-$42. Melbourne International Comedy Festival, March 29 -April 23, comedyfestival.com.au
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Yes, it’s another superhero movie, but at least this one is aimed at the right audience Y – kids. Spinning off from the delightful Lego Movie, this frenetic parody is the funniest Bat-film since Adam West donned tights in 1966 (Adam actually makes a brief appearance here). There’s a furious mash up of Bats past and present, with a surfeit of in-jokes sure to please fans, and a fabulously overblown showdown involving King Kong, Daleks (“British robots”) and Lord Voldemort. ■ Opens March 30, Rated PG, 104 minutes, legobatman.com
● BLONDIE AND CYNDI LAUPER From $109.85 April 6, Rod Laver rodlaverarena.com.au ● ALADDIN: THE MUSICAL
From $50, April 15-Aug 19, Her Majesty’s Theatre liveshows.disney.com.au ● RICHARD 3
$40-$92, April 20-May 7, Arts Centre Melbourne bellshakespeare.com.au
MR STINK Chloe feels like the loneliest girl PLAY in the world. The only person who has ever been nice to her is a tramp. When he needs a place to stay, Chloe hides him in her garden shed, even though he pongs a bit. But there’s more to Mr Stink than meets the eye – or the nose. Based on the bestselling book by British comedian David Walliams, this Australian production promises wicked school holiday fun. ■ Arts Centre Melbourne, April 1-9, $26-$45, artscentremelbourne.com.au
(SCREENPRINT AND SYNTHETIC POLYMER P PAINT ON COTTON, NICKEL \ SACRÉ CŒUR, GLEN IRIS)
● LORD OF THE FLIES $30-$99, April 5-9, Arts Centre artscentremelbourne.com.au
FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL Marking its quarter-century, this FESTIVAL delicious program celebrates the best cuisine our state has to offer. As well as 13 crawls that take in Melbourne’s best bars and restaurants, you’ll find a Mediterranean feast in Heathcote, an outdoor lunch in Gippsland, cycle tours of wineries and a culture-mash of Italian food and Aboriginal art in King Valley. Even Sydney gets a look in, as the fest is importing the legendary Italo Dining & Disco Club for one night only. ■ March 31-April 9, various venues melbournefoodandwine.com.au
OLIVIA FAGAN \ FOLDS INTO ETERNITY 2016
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE
HOT TIX
(SUPPLIED)
FILM
TOP ARTS 2017 FESTIVAL The concerns and anxieties of youth lie at the heart of this annual showcase of the best work from VCE art students. Working with materials old and ultra-modern, 47 emerging artists tackle themes of gender, ageing, race and the environment. It’s a great opportunity to see the world through the eyes of today’s teens, while catching up on some of the state’s hottest new talent. ■ The Ian Potter Centre, until July 16, free. ngv.vic.gov.au
IN THE ’HOOD OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL Celebrate the beauty and wonder of the ocean through this collection of short films – two hours of breathtaking footage with unique perspectives on divers, surfers swimmers and marine life . ■ March 29, 7.15-10.30pm. The Astor Theatre, corner Chapel Street and Dandenong Road, St Kilda. Tickets: $30.50 adult; $22.50 child. oceanfilmfestivalaustralia.com.au GROSSI LUNCH Guy Grossi is again putting on a three-course lunch to raise money for St Kilda charity HEAT. Delivered by Guy himself, the HEAT Homeless Longest Lunch is part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. ■ March 31, noon-3pm. Luna Park, 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda. melbournfoodandwine.com.au FUN FOR KIDS Drop the kids off for a “survivor” day, as Glen Eira and Bayside councils go head-to-head in challenges. A barbecue lunch is provided. ■ April 6, 9am-3pm. East Caulfield Reserve Social Room, Dudley Street, Caulfield East. Cost: $5, or free with healthcare card. gleneira.vic.gov.au ●
MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 13
RETAIL THERAPY MELBOURNESTYLE \ SOUTH MELBOURNE
F I N D U S AT
SALES PITCH
155 Clarendon Street. 9696 8445, melbournestyle.com.au
“We are a publisher, gallery, store and design studio specialising in Melburniana.” – Maree Coote
Melbournestyle is a gift shop with a difference – an eclectic Melbourne-centric product showroom combined with a trio of gallery spaces showcasing local graphic, photographic and typographic works. Who’s behind the counter? Maree Coote and Lex Ridgeway, partners in retail and in life, opened the shop in 2006 but have been creating books and “Melburniana” since 1994. The couple added the galleries shortly after opening, and continue to evolve the enterprise. “I’m in the ideas engine room, and Lex is in the gallery and store, dealing with guests and customers. We make a good team,” Maree says. What’s in store? A plethora of products related to Melbourne. “We have everything from inexpensive suitcase stuffers like journals, fridge magnets, pop-up trams, coasters and tea towels that I design and we make ourselves, right through to premium items like silk scarves, as well as the books we publish about Melbourne for adults and children,” Maree says. Who’s buying? Melburnians and local businesses wanting Melbourne-themed gifts for visitors, and
14 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ MARCH 29, 2017
City centric: Maree Coote and Lex Ridgeway at Melbournestyle. (MICHAEL RAYNER)
tourists after something special to take home as a souvenir or a gift. “A lot of people from Japan come here to visit the store,” Maree says. “When they
arrive in Melbourne, they come to South Melbourne to see us.” ● BRENDAN BALE bbale@theweeklyreview.com.au
Our pick The Melbourne Book, by Maree Coote, is the city bible; a handy resource for locals and visitors to discover more about our colourful town and its history. $55.
TRY THIS SEA LIFE SHARK DIVE XTREME
The reality Before the underwater fun begins, shark dive guide Kathryn McKenna’s training session ensures my two sharkbait buddies and I are dive ready. After squeezing into my wetsuit and donning the rest of the gear, I’m ready to meet my new finned friend Mitchell – a three-metre-long grey nurse shark. He’s one of about 2000 animals living in the tank. We’re led to various underwater vantage points; watching Mitchell and his mates swim past my face, and looking up to see a huge stingray hovering overhead, are experiences I will never forget. Kathryn says she loves sharing moments like these with guests. “I don’t know anywhere else you can get so close to all these different kinds of animals,” she says. “You’re guaranteed to see something awesome.”
➾ NEED TO KNOW Sea Life Melbourne ● Corner of King Street and Flinders Street, Melbourne ● 9923 5925 ● melbourneaquarium.com.au YOU’LL NEED \ Bathers to wear under your wetsuit and some fun poses for your underwater photo shoot. THE COST\ $299 WE RECOMMEND \ Checking the online medical declaration form before booking. ●
(SUPPLIED) UPPLIED)
The promise Come face to face with creatures of the deep in a two-million-litre saltwater tank, which is home to 11 species of shark, six species of stingray and 26 species of fish. The 90-minute experience includes a pre-dive briefing, in-water training and half an hour below the surface. BRENDAN & A GREY NURSE SHARK
The pain factor The bulkiness of the scuba gear takes a bit of getting used to, as is tank-assisted breathing. But once we venture into the water I am too mesmerised by my new underwater pals to notice – I have found my happy place.
children looking out from the underwater viewing tunnel.
The pay-off In addition to being a memorable, up-closeand-personal animal adventure, it’s also a great introduction to scuba diving for first-timers like myself. You will also feel like a rock star when you see the excited faces of
Would I do it again? This is a bucket list experience, so I feel like one time is enough for me. But now I would love to try scuba diving in the open water. ● BRENDAN BALE bbale@theweeklyreview.com.au
Who should try it? Marine life lovers and people who want to face their fear of sharks.
Book in March for a
NO GAP physiotherapy assessment*
Get your life back. *C Con ondi dititionns appplly diti
A bad back can get in the way of life. But it doesn’t have to be that way. At Kieser, our physiotherapists assess you and design a tailored plan to relieve pain and reduce the risk of recurrence. With the help of our Swiss engineered equipment, you’ll be back to doing what you love in no time. So say goodbye to back pain and make an appointment at one of our centres.
Enjoy life more. Visit kieser.com.au to book your no gap assessment. Kieser centres located at: Brighton • Camberwell • Caulfield • Essendon • Geelong • Malvern • Mont Albert • Pymble, NSW • South Melbourne
MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY LLY REVIEW 15
DRIVE
\ FUELLED BY DRIVE.COM.AU
2017 BMW 5-SERIES BY THE NUMBERS PRICE \ $93,900-$136,900 (plus on-road costs)
B
MW has struck back. Mercedes-Benz raised the bar in the large luxury car segment with its techno-laden E-Class in 2016. Now the brand from Bavaria has returned fire with its own high-tech, luxury executive sedan, the new generation 5-Series. It takes many cues from its larger counterpart, the 7-Series, stylistically as well as in technology, including remote parking via the key fob, head-up display, wireless phone charging, surround-view camera, and the Driving Assistant Plus suite, Comfort Access. The chassis and body are also all new, with a greater use of lightweight materials including aluminium, magnesium and high-strength steel bringing the final weight down by 95kg. The interior has an angular look and new high-quality finishes, including aluminium and timber trims. Standard inclusions encompass dual-zone climate control, leather seats, artificial leather on dash and door uppers, infotainment with touch and iDrive controls, satellite navigation, and a larger head-up display. Interior finishes are spot-on, with tightly fitted panel gaps, consistent button feel, and a fine balance of timber and metal decor, and a range of handsome colour combinations available.
ENGINE \ 2-litre 4cyl turbo diesel (520d); 2-litre 4cyl turbo petrol (530i); 3-litre 6cyl turbo diesel (530d); 3-litre 6cyl turbo petrol (540i) POWER \ 140kW/185kW/195kW/250kW TORQUE \ 400Nm/350Nm/620Nm/450Nm TRANSMISSION \ 8-speed auto, RWD FUEL USE \ 4.3L/100km (520d)/5.8 (530i)/4.7 (530d)/6.7 (540i) TO TEST DRIVE \ BMW Melbourne 209 Kings Way, South Melbourne. 8699 2888 bmwmelbourne.com.au
The wheelbase has grown slightly, which equates to extra rear legroom. There is also plenty of head clearance to ease getting in and out. Boot space grows slightly to 530 litres, and in-cabin storage is well served with wide door pockets, covered front cupholders and the wireless charge-pad’s storage tray. In this latest generation, BMW hasn’t backed down from its dynamic roots, and the range still delivers an engaging experience for drivers.
The 5-Series range offers the diesel 520d and 530d, and petrol 530i and 540i. The four-cylinder petrol 530i is tipped to be the most popular, and after time behind the wheel it isn’t hard to see why. The engine is whisper quiet and BMW’s eight-speed auto is calibrated seamlessly. The 2-litre four-cylinder 520d also performs more harmoniously than might be expected of an entry-level engine. Six airbags (dual front, front seat side, full-length curtain), ABS brakes, traction and
stability control, pre-collision preparation, and autonomous emergency braking are fitted as standard. At its core, the 5-Series still does luxury well. It is quiet and comfortable, capable of travelling big distances with ease and in the 540i is powerful enough to assert genuine authority. All in all, the range maintains a focus on dynamic capabilities and balances plushness and contemporary luxe well. ● editorial@theweeklyreview.com.au
Location matters Search by map on Australia’s best property app
16 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ MARCH 29, 2017
PERSONAL SPACE AT H O M E W I T H G E O R G E K A P I N I A R I S
E
lastic-faced comedy king George Kapiniaris is best known for playing Memo on groundbreaking television show Acropolis Now Now, but it’s his more recent role of father that continues to bring him joy. George’s hectic life as a stand-up comedian, actor and rock star in ’70s-inspired band The Flares keeps him on the road for long stretches at a time, so he loves nothing more than coming back to his wife Fotini and their two sons in their Doncaster East home. “The house is a breath of fresh air. It’s the perfect place to breathe and relax with my family,” George says. The 1970s house, at the end of a cul-de-sac, was completely remodelled before the Kapiniaris family moved in five years ago, and has a chic monochromatic interior with vaulted ceilings. “The wooden beams have been painted and the original brick fireplace was modernised,” George says. “It was furnished when we moved in, but we’ve added our own touches over the years. Being a large home, we always seem to be updating things – there’s always a new project popping up.” ● BRENDAN BALE bbale@theweeklyreview.com.au
SWIMMING POOL
(MICHAEL RAYNER)
The pool was here when we bought the house, and it was a big selling point for us. My boys, Peter and John, are eight and five now, but I can see them at 21 and 18 going straight from playing pool to being in the pool. John is already a pool shark.
» George will perform in Straight Outta Compo at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, March 28-April 9, Athenaeum Theatre. » comedyfestival.com.au
WEDDING PHOTO & CAKE TOPPERS This photo was taken on our wedding day by John Tsiavis, who has gone on to become a famous Hollywood photographer. When this shot was taken, I had decided to dye my hair blond to make it look like I had more than I did. The toppers sat on top of our wedding cake, but these days my head keeps coming loose. I think it’s like a voodoo doll – every time my wife yells at me, my head falls off.
P E A C O C K PA I N T I N G We had a mum at preschool who is an artist and graphic designer, and she asked our son Peter to be involved in creating this piece. All the kids from the class used their handprints as peacock feathers. My wife loved it so much that we bought it at a school auction.
F I L M P ROJ E C TO R & SUPER 8 CAMER A My dad grew up in Greece during the war, but he loved anything to do with film and filmmaking. From a young age, we would project home movies against a sheet hung up on the Hills Hoist in our backyard. It was a natural progression for me to become an entertainer because I was always hamming it up on camera.
G I B S O N L E S PA U L G U I TA R I’ve built a bit of a shrine around my Les Paul. I’ve only used it once, but it is my pride and joy. I bought it in 2007, and it’s just a classic 1960s-style rock’n’roll guitar. Carlovers want a Mustang and I wanted a Les Paul. I have about 10 guitars now, so I’m trying to make sure my boys know how to play them.
MORE INSPIRATION? SEE MORE OF GEORGE’S COLLECTION MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 17
SIT BACK & RELAX 32 DOWNSHIRE ROAD, ELSTERNWICK, 3185
S
tress is said to be the main scourge of modern-day health, and you don’t need a PhD to know one’s home should be a sanctuary, free from outside cares and designed for the enjoyment of downtime with loved ones. On this property, all is in place to encourage one’s inner lazy-bones. With built-in seating in the front garden and the entertainers’ backyard (reinforced by a hammock slung off the rear terrace), the property veritably insists on a sedentary approach. The vendor is responsible for the impressive state of the Edwardian house today. Most people will be dumbstruck by the presentation, but functionality and flexibility should also be given dues. The mission statement for the overhaul was to create a comfortable, relaxing and workable family home. The house sits back on a big allotment in a wide, leafy street, preceded by a parking area for two cars, and magnolia trees around buffalo-grass lawn. Enter across a tiled verandah and through a front door painted to flatter its bottle-leadlight surrounds, to an interior where this aged dame displays a powerhouse blend of old and new styles. Regarding bespoke features: the designer wallpaper
MELBOURNE’S BEST
PROPERTIES
in the en suite is repeated in the main bathroom; the kitchen’s copper benchtops were fashioned by a local artisan; and darkened floorboards in most spaces are custom-stained. Industrial rubber flooring in the en suite adds a postmodernist element. Though you’d swear the floor of the magnificent main bathroom is timber parquetry, it’s tiled, and even has under-floor heating. The open-plan area blends a divine kitchen with roomy dining and living areas. Behind the kitchen, the combined butler’s pantry and laundry has a marble-mosaic splashback. The owner describes the backyard studio as the best garden shed in Melbourne. Let’s up the ante by calling this “shed” what it is: an amazing addendum that packs a major punch, with kitchenette, bathroom, office with concealed bed, and bedroom with mezzanine chamber opening to the beautiful backyard. It’s also a windfall for sociable teens, and people who like to give houseguests the VIP B&B treatment. ● KAY AY KEIGHERY property@domain.com.au
CAULFIELD SOUTH \ 16 GOE STREET
AG E NT’S CH O ICE POSTCODE
3186
AGENT Gary Peer 9563 1666 EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS PROPERTY PRODUCER \ ALEAH ESPANTA NT NTA aleah.espanta@domain.com.au M \ 0435 822 047 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES SALES DIRECTOR \ MATT A HEW ATT W MAASDIJK matthew.maasdijk@domain.com.au M \ 0417 307 710 The real estate cover story (right) has been visited by a TWR journalist. Agents’ Choices and Out of Town are promotions provided by the selling agent.
DOWNLOAD MELBOURNE’S BEST PROPERTY APP FIND YOUR NEXT HOME, ANYWHERE, ANY DEVICE 18 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ MARCH 29, 2017
33 Brickwood Street, Brighton 3
2
2
Agent: Jason Collie 0403 191 453 ................................................................. Price: $2.2 million + ................................................................. Auction: Saturday April 8 at 11.30am ................................................................. OFI: Thu noon-12.30pm; Sat 10-10.30am .................................................................
PRICE $2.5 million + AUCTION April 2 at 12.30pm OFI March 29, 6pm SCHOOL ZONES + Caulfield South Primary + Glen Eira College + St Aloysius Primary
see more: domain.com.au
PROPERTY ID 2013438443
14km from Bourke Street
An outdoor room opening north to a colourful garden makes this house a prize for families who long for a leisurely life in sunshine. Designed by David Blutman and built in 2010, it packs a lot of comfortable living into a neat envelope and has a lift as well as stairs between its two levels. The living and dining areas have polished American oak floorboards and a Heat & Glo gas log fire. These, plus the adjoining family room, offer a venue ideal for large gatherings, and the immaculate kitchen – with butler’s pantry, island and masses of bench space – allows many hands to work at once. The paved outdoor room has a barbecue and flyscreens and flows to a deck above a lawn with crepe myrtle trees. The study, laundry, powder room and double garage complete the ground floor. All four bedrooms are upstairs, the main a stunning showpiece with a pop-up television and a marble en suite with spa and sauna. ● ALISON BARCLAY
3162
4
3
3
This superbly renovated Edwardian home is single-level, ultra-stylish and ideally located for lifestyle living, near the beach, cafes and transport. Let's eat lunch @ The Little Ox, 452 New Street Let's eat dinner @ 10 Greek Plates, 136/138 Martin Street Let's drink coffee @ Superrandom, 416 New Street
FINAL WORD “THIS STUNNING HOUSE INVITES ENTERTAINING & RELAXED FAMILY PLEASURE.” JAMES PAYNTER – AGENT
AGENT RT Edgar 9592 9299 PRICE $2.4 million + AUCTION April 1 at 11.30am OFI March 30, 7pm SCHOOL ZONES + Caulfield Primary + Elwood College + Shelford Girls’ Grammar FAST FACTS Landscaped garden; open-plan living; bespoke appointments; close to transport and shops. see more: domain.com.au PROPERTY ID 2013445404 ELSTERNWICK 12km from Bourke Street
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BENTLEIGH \ 4A HOBART STREET POSTCODE
3186
81 Carpenter Street, Brighton 4
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Agent: Bert Geraerts 0418 514 090 ................................................................. Price: $2.9 million + ................................................................. Auction: Saturday April 8 at 1pm ................................................................. OFI: Wed 12.30-1pm; Sat 2-2.30pm .................................................................
POSTCODE
3185
70 Gordon Street, Elsternwick 3
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Agent: Gary Peer Caulfield North 9526 1999 ................................................................. Price: $1.6 million - $1.8 million ................................................................. Auction: Sunday April 2 at 2.30pm ................................................................. OFI: As advertised or by appointment .................................................................
AGENT Hocking Stuart 9557 7733 PRICE $1.3 million + AUCTION April 1 at 12.30pm OFI March 29, 5pm
Dynamic, low-maintenance family residence with lift, zoned heating and cooling and multiple living zones.
Let's eat lunch @ Cafe Florentine, 22-24 Church Street Let's eat dinner @ Half Moon, 120 Church Street Let's drink coffee @ Track Three Espresso, 3/1 Railway Walk
Keep calm as you step inside this cool Bogle & Banfield architectural creation from the '50s. The largely untouched split-level home is in mint condition. Let's eat lunch @ Glovers Station, 258 Glen Eira Road Let's eat dinner @ Attica, 74 Glen Eira Road Let's drink coffee @ Hawk and Hunter, 8/10 Glen Eira Avenue
SCHOOL ZONES + Tucker Road Bentleigh Primary + Bentleigh Secondary College + Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College see more: domain.com.au
PROPERTY ID 2013444832
16km from Bourke Street
Townhouse living gets the custom-built treatment here. From the alluring facade of the just-completed residence to a backyard primed for entertaining, the property radiates modern appeal. The only bedroom on ground level has an en suite. Upstairs, a retreat distances the main bedroom – with walk-in wardrobe and en suite – from the principal bathroom and two minor bedrooms with built-in wardrobes. The tastefully tiled bathroom has a shower and freestanding tub. Back on ground level, the open-plan hub promotes all-in interaction. Stone surfaces and Ilve appliances feature in the kitchen. Double-glazed doors in the living area slide away to a deep deck with built-in barbecue. European oak floors, a fullsized laundry and ample storage up the ante, as do video intercom and heating/cooling. Zoning for Bentleigh Secondary College will impress those seeking quality education. ● KAY KAY KEIGHERY
3204
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348 Orrong Road, Caulfield North 9526 1999 55 Inkerman Street, St Kilda 9066 4688 42 Koornang Road, Carnegie 9563 1666 garypeer.com.au
200 Kooyong Road CAULFIELD NORTH
www.123samplestreetcaulfieldnorth.com www.200KooyongRoadCaulfieldNorth.com
Superlative In Stature, Style & Family Sophistication Providing an exceptional environment for endless family pleasure, this sophisticated entertainer combines grand-scale dimensions with superbly zoned multiple living areas. The refinement of the formal lounge & dining room complements the massive family/meals area extending to a sundrenched northeast-oriented terrace, comprehensively equipped gourmet kitchen & two home offices & a powder room offering an enticing workfrom-home/consultancy set-up. The ultimate sanctuary, the downstairs’ main ensuite bedroom accompanies a dream 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom kids’ retreat with rumpus room on the upper level. AUCTION THIS SUNDAY 12:30
16 Goe Street CAULFIELD SOUTH An Architectural Masterpiece Of Light, Luxury & Space Luxuriously styled with a keen eye for detail, this architectural home presents a flawless array of living & entertaining spaces, including formal & informal zones, study, elevator, connoisseur’s kitchen & an expansive indoor-outdoor room facing a deck & north-facing garden. 20 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ MARCH 29, 2017
Auction Sunday 9 April 3:30pm Inspect Sat & Sun 11:45-12:15 Contact Darren Krongold 0438 515 433 Sally Zelman 0412 294 488 Daniel Fisher 0409 797 560
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AUCTION THIS SUNDAY 2:30
www.123samplestreetcaulfieldnorth.com www.16GoeStreetCaulfieldSouth.com
Auction Sunday 2 April 12:30pm Inspect Wed 6:00-6:30, Sat 1:30-2:00 & Sun from 12:00 Contact Daniel Rees 0433 837 502 Arlene Joffe 0473 925 525
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70 Gordon Street ELSTERNWICK Modernist, Mesmerising … Fabulous Fifties! Keep calm as you step inside this cool-blue “Bogle & Banfield” architectural creation from the ‘50s. In mint condition, the largely untouched split-level home, built by “Hopcraft” features a living room, conservatory dining, marble-floored sunroom & terrace, study & a front patio.
www.123samplestreetcaulfieldnorth.com www.70GordonStreetElsternwick.com
Auction Sunday 2 April 2:30pm Inspect Wed 2:30-3:00, Sat 12:15-12:45 & Sun from 2:00 Contact Adam Joske 0414 337 979 Agent in Conjunction
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Naomi Dorevitch 0408 326 747
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Location matters Search by map on Australia’s best property app
Bentleigh 396 Centre Road 9557 5500
woodards.com.au
133 Station Street, Port Melbourne
133stationstreet-portmelbourne.com Auction Saturday 8th April at 2.30pm Inspect Thursday 12-12.30pm & Saturday 2-2.30pm 0411 875 478 0411 669 161
MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 21
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email: info@rubiras.com.au www. rubiras.com.au 192 Station St, Port Melbourne Phone 9646 2746
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