Classic Australian vintage treasures for your home
Have you paid a visit to Nutcote House? Located on Sydney Harbour, and just a short walk from Neutral Bay Wharf, Nutcote is the house designed for renowned Australian children’s artist May Gibbs and her husband back in 1924 by Sydney architect BJ Waterhouse. The house was built by 1925, and today, after what is really an amazing history, Nutcote is home to a museum and tea room.
Inspired by its vintage Australian feel, as well as by May Gibbs classic Australian characters, we’ve rounded up some classic Australian pieces to add to your home or give to others.
Let’s go shopping
Starting with some of the amazing pieces available at the Nutcote House shop online, we’ve got a couple of favourites including the Silver Pewter Salad Servers with four Australian wildflower design options. Designed and made by Australian metalsmith Wolfgang Schulze, these pieces are finished by hand. If you’re a big May Gibbs fan, you can’t go past the classic tea towels – from Snugglepot and Cuddlepie to the Bush Meeting, these are a gorgeous addition to your home.
Blue Lawn Designs is a Western Australian screen printing company making some wonderful Australian designed pieces, including hand printed table linen. For a beachy feel, we are loving the Coast banksia table runner, designed based on a photograph of a Coast banksia that you’ll find growing all along the east coast, from Victoria to Southern QLD.
If you’re after some great prints to hang in your living room or office, the Botanical Art Society of Australia has some fantastic pieces from some of their most well-known and experienced members. Based in the Southern Highlands, colour your space with the NSW Waratah from Melinda Edstein or Margaret Muffet’s protea prints.
Are you a book lover? Berkelouw Books has a great range of rare Australian books, including Demolished Houses of Sydney from the Historic Houses Trust of NSW, Down the Bay, the Changing Foreshores of North Sydney from the North Sydney Council and Australia’s Greatest Rock Art from Grahame Walsh. Berkelouw has stores in Cronulla, Balgowlah, Leichhardt, Paddington, Rose Bay and online.
The Royal Botanic Gardens are an iconic part of Sydney, and if you love the gardens, you’ll love this addition to your home – The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, The First 200 Years. The book celebrates the history of the country’s oldest botanical garden and scientific institution, telling stories and showing images of the gardens, from the arrival of Governor Phillip to the lands of the Cadigal people, through to the gardens in 2016. It’s a great excuse to visit the Gardens – if you even need one.
Selling out of WA, Retro Respection is your go to for all things vintage. This one is particularly for those who love vintage motor accessories with magazines, mugs and signage. If you have a craving for some of those sweets you had as a kid, Retro Respection even has a retro lolly section with a big selection of those rock candy favourites.
Coastal vintage is always in, and if you grew up on the coast, will certainly take you back to those days of cruising the coastline looking for the best surf break. Made in Tasmania from Tasmanian Oak Veneer, these coasters from Bits of Australia are printed with images of Binalong Bay, on Tasmania’s east coast. The Balmain store also has a range of First Nations art pieces.
If you’re an online shopper, one of the great things social media has given us is vintage homewares sellers sharing their pieces. Here are some great Australian sellers to follow:
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Are you looking to sell or buy in Neutral Bay? The team at Home Property Agents know their Sydney real estate and can help you find your new home, or sell your family home. Get in touch today.
