Where many only see disaster, Amorelle Dempster finds opportunity.
Four years ago, as a founding member of Slow Food Hunter Valley, she was horrified to learn that tonnes of storm damaged pumpkins would be ploughed into the ground, as they … Read the rest
There are only seven painted silos in New South Wales and Portland is home to one of them. Less than half an hour from Lithgow, where we are staying, a drive to see the towering Portland Silo Artwork is high … Read the rest
Every week visitors tell Sharon Howard, curator of Lithgow’s Gang Gang Gallery that they came to Lithgow “because the mountains are just too busy”.
Nestled in a valley on the western edge of the Blue … Read the rest
“Are you looking for food?” asks Avam as we walk past his bar at Hill End’s Royal Hotel to the bistro. “My cook hasn’t turned up and there are no meals tonight” he adds.
Besides a bag … Read the rest
“I’m from Mudgee not Mosman” explains the bumper sticker on a dirty ute. The driver sees me chuckling and smiles. Mudgee is in farming country. Wine country to be exact, but there’s more to the town than great wine and … Read the rest
“Sofala was dead. Everything was closed” says a friend. “I couldn’t even get a cup of tea” she adds.
With her comments front of mind, my expectations are low as we drive into Sofala. Perhaps that’s why I’m pleasantly surprised.… Read the rest
Needing a break from COVID imposed time at home, I recently spent a few days exploring Maitland and historic Morpeth, a less than two-hour drive north of Sydney. Not having spent time in Maitland, I was interested to discover more … Read the rest
Two young men walk into a pub. They wear new royal blue work shirts with khaki pants. It’s early autumn evening and the Oriental Hotel in Tumut is filling up with dinner guests. (This story takes place before COVID and … Read the rest
A small sign propped against a fence in the main street of the little village of Bemboka points to the Australian Pottery Gallery. After following more signs through Bemboka’s back streets, we arrive at the gallery but no one seems … Read the rest
Driving to The Big Red Bash, a huge music festival, set in outback Queensland is also an excuse for a road trip from Sydney to Birdsville. After our first real road trip from Sydney to Broken Hill a year or … Read the rest