fremantle

South Tce- Aussie style

Arriving in Perth in November, you know you are at the edge of the desert when it is 39 degrees outside and the airport is full of sunburnt musclebound men wearing shorts and thongs in transit from booming mining towns up north. My flight took 5 1/2 hours by air from Brisbane, and I made a beeline for my favourite neighbourhood of Fremantle, or Freo as it is affectionately known to locals. Locals and tourists alike descend on the cafes, hotels and restaurants that abound in this lively seaside port. Historic sandstone buildings and shops line the streets and waterside. Check out 'Diamond Aps' on Wray Avenue where I snapped up a preloved mens Armani navy blazer and floral Guy Laroche shirt for Xmas pressies, making sure to have a coffee at Wild Poppy next door. Then take a step back in time to 'Bousfields' on High Street, a mens store that dates back to 1902 where they stock a great range of Akubra hats- I picked up a classic black felt 'Stylemaster' for moi.

bondi

 

One place everyone must visit once is the iconic Bondi Beach- even on an overcast day, it has appeal. Yes there are cooler beaches around - Clovelly, Bronte- but Bondi is the quintessential Aussie beach and I don't mind sharing it with everyone and their dog. Plenty of Australian films and television series have used Bondi as a backdrop. The home of the famous Bondi lifesavers, and the Art Deco 'Bathers Pavilion'. Take the #382 Dover Heights bus from the city, and see scenic winding backstreets of Darlinghurst, Paddington and Woollahra with all their historic terrace houses and bijoux boutiques. I made time to visit Axel Mano, a bespoke hat shop on cosmopolitan Queen Street in Woollahra, to get measured for a Milanese straw by milliner Susie Meekin. While I was there I spotted an irresistable 'garage sale' sign on a house a couple of doors down, where I snapped up a Persian rug hanging outside for a bargain $35. The only problem was lugging it back on the bus....

newtown

Sydneysiders have a unique freedom of self expression and sense of individuality evident in their sense of style and cultural identity. I love that on a walk around the back streets of an inner city suburb on a Sunday morning, I spotted these two gentlemen in earnest discussion, (hat wearers always appeal to me) and then only a street away, came across this colorful pair. Stayed in Newtown for the weekend at a bed and breakfast (best breakfast ever!) - Tara Guest House, a fabulous renovated ex doctors residence and a funky base to explore a truly multicultural and fascinating suburb of Sydney. An impromptu guest arrived for breakfast- photographer William Yang who opened a children's project at the Sherman Gallery the night before. Newtown is only a 10 minute walk to the railway station from (bus stop only 1 minute away)- there would have to be restaurants of nearly every country at every 2nd shop on Enmore Road. I saw Peruvian, Scandinavian, African and several Thai and Turkish. Spoilt for choice. The weekend happened to be Halloween and the Goths were out and proud, there was even a goth market outside the town hall. Black fishnet stockings and mohawks in abundance.