How to Be a Proud Aussie at Home
Celebrate all the wonderful things about our sunburnt country this Australia Day, and in the days that follow
Don’t be shy, display a little national pride this Australia Day, even if it’s just in the comfort of your own home. We may not be as forthcoming in how we feel about our fair nation as some of our flag-waving cousins in other countries, but that doesn’t mean we’re any less proud. Use these ideas for inspiration to honour everything that’s great about Australia. We live in the Lucky Country after all, and that’s worth celebrating!
Rethink Aboriginal art
Dot paintings are what most people typically imagine when they think of Aboriginal art, but traditional motifs are now finding their way into lighting, textiles, furniture and ceramics. These Gaawaa Miyay hand-printed cushions are by Indigenous textile designer Lucy Simpson.
Meet the Aboriginal women forging a new design identity
Dot paintings are what most people typically imagine when they think of Aboriginal art, but traditional motifs are now finding their way into lighting, textiles, furniture and ceramics. These Gaawaa Miyay hand-printed cushions are by Indigenous textile designer Lucy Simpson.
Meet the Aboriginal women forging a new design identity
Embrace shearing-shed chic
From early European settlement until the 1950s, Australia was said to ride on the sheep’s back as the wool industry boomed. Although Australian merino wool continues to be in demand for high-end textiles and luxury fashion across the globe, the heady days of wool ruling the economy are behind us.
Nonetheless, shearers and shearing sheds remain an iconic part of the Australian cultural image. As well as shearing sheds being converted to homes and guest accommodation, new homes are also being designed with the venerable shearing shed in mind.
Tip: If you’re not planning to build a new house anytime soon, consider bringing in some shed chic in the form of corrugated iron. Used inside, ‘corrie’ can bring an instant rustic or industrial edge.
6 houses inspired by the Australian vernacular shed
From early European settlement until the 1950s, Australia was said to ride on the sheep’s back as the wool industry boomed. Although Australian merino wool continues to be in demand for high-end textiles and luxury fashion across the globe, the heady days of wool ruling the economy are behind us.
Nonetheless, shearers and shearing sheds remain an iconic part of the Australian cultural image. As well as shearing sheds being converted to homes and guest accommodation, new homes are also being designed with the venerable shearing shed in mind.
Tip: If you’re not planning to build a new house anytime soon, consider bringing in some shed chic in the form of corrugated iron. Used inside, ‘corrie’ can bring an instant rustic or industrial edge.
6 houses inspired by the Australian vernacular shed
Go a little bit country
Urban dwellings can usually benefit from some of the texture, colour and patina from rural and outback Australia. Additions like these can make a house feel more like a home … and definitely more Australian. These hessian curtains in the home of interior stylist Sibella Court deliver rustic charm in spades.
How to bring rural Australia to the city
Urban dwellings can usually benefit from some of the texture, colour and patina from rural and outback Australia. Additions like these can make a house feel more like a home … and definitely more Australian. These hessian curtains in the home of interior stylist Sibella Court deliver rustic charm in spades.
How to bring rural Australia to the city
Put it in the pool room
No one could be more house proud than Darryl (Michael Caton) in the 1997 movie The Castle. In it, dad of the house Darryl sends prized possessions “straight to the pool room” for safe keeping. You can keep what you like in your own pool room, but just having a pool room at all pays homage to this Aussie classic. If you haven’t seen it, or haven’t watched it in a while, sit back and enjoy the serenity.
No one could be more house proud than Darryl (Michael Caton) in the 1997 movie The Castle. In it, dad of the house Darryl sends prized possessions “straight to the pool room” for safe keeping. You can keep what you like in your own pool room, but just having a pool room at all pays homage to this Aussie classic. If you haven’t seen it, or haven’t watched it in a while, sit back and enjoy the serenity.
Put your pride on show
Australians don’t tend to be big on flag waving outside of Australia Day, Anzac Day, or a visit from William and Kate. But if you secretly want to show off the flag, go ahead and do it. If rigging up a flagpole out the front of your house is going a bit far for your tastes, a cushion could be just the thing.
Photo: Etsy
Australians don’t tend to be big on flag waving outside of Australia Day, Anzac Day, or a visit from William and Kate. But if you secretly want to show off the flag, go ahead and do it. If rigging up a flagpole out the front of your house is going a bit far for your tastes, a cushion could be just the thing.
Photo: Etsy
Buy Australian made
This country is full of talented people. Foregoing mass-produced homewares in favour of those locally made will give your home a unique look, and each piece you buy will have a story to go with it. Australian photographer/stylist Kara Rosenlund captured this image of wild brumbies in regional Victoria. The cushions, meanwhile, are from Aussie designer Lazybones; Aussie textile designers Bonnie and Neil; Aussie interior designer and maker Petrina Turner; and local homewares store Pony Rider.
See more of Petrina Turner’s home
This country is full of talented people. Foregoing mass-produced homewares in favour of those locally made will give your home a unique look, and each piece you buy will have a story to go with it. Australian photographer/stylist Kara Rosenlund captured this image of wild brumbies in regional Victoria. The cushions, meanwhile, are from Aussie designer Lazybones; Aussie textile designers Bonnie and Neil; Aussie interior designer and maker Petrina Turner; and local homewares store Pony Rider.
See more of Petrina Turner’s home
Upgrade your barbecue
If your barbecue cover is falling apart, and your hot plate rusty and old, cooking on the barbie is a less enticing proposition. Give it a good clean or invest in a new one, and invite your mates over to celebrate.
If your barbecue cover is falling apart, and your hot plate rusty and old, cooking on the barbie is a less enticing proposition. Give it a good clean or invest in a new one, and invite your mates over to celebrate.
Play a game of backyard cricket
Watching the cricket is one thing, but playing this great Aussie sport is twice as fun. Sure, you can arrange a permanent set-up like this one, or just break out the bat and ball with the kids or when friends are over. Any excuse will do.
Watching the cricket is one thing, but playing this great Aussie sport is twice as fun. Sure, you can arrange a permanent set-up like this one, or just break out the bat and ball with the kids or when friends are over. Any excuse will do.
Take the living outdoors
Scorching hot days can have us retreating into the air-conditioning but, as Aussies living up in our tropical north will tell you, acclimatising yourself is often the best way to withstand the heat. Overhead fans on your covered deck can usually cool you down enough to feel comfortable, and they’re economical (and earth-friendly) to run. Aussie battlers can withstand a balmy summer, no worries.
Browse more Australian outdoor living rooms
Scorching hot days can have us retreating into the air-conditioning but, as Aussies living up in our tropical north will tell you, acclimatising yourself is often the best way to withstand the heat. Overhead fans on your covered deck can usually cool you down enough to feel comfortable, and they’re economical (and earth-friendly) to run. Aussie battlers can withstand a balmy summer, no worries.
Browse more Australian outdoor living rooms
Go native
It may not be practical to have a sheep or two and a kangaroo, but having lots of gum trees is definitely possible. If you’re building or extending and have eucalypts on your land, keep as many of them in place as you can or plant more, even if it means picking up dead leaves and fallen branches now and then. Why? Because they’re beautiful to look at, undeniably Australian, and take us back to our roots.
It may not be practical to have a sheep or two and a kangaroo, but having lots of gum trees is definitely possible. If you’re building or extending and have eucalypts on your land, keep as many of them in place as you can or plant more, even if it means picking up dead leaves and fallen branches now and then. Why? Because they’re beautiful to look at, undeniably Australian, and take us back to our roots.
If space is an issue, smaller native plantings will create a low-maintenance and lovely garden that will make local critters happy.
True-blue native plants that do us proud
True-blue native plants that do us proud
Go for green and gold
Australians are nothing if not adaptable, and what better way to adapt to a changing climate than by doing our bit? Installing a water tank or two isn’t hard …
Australians are nothing if not adaptable, and what better way to adapt to a changing climate than by doing our bit? Installing a water tank or two isn’t hard …
… neither is growing some of your own food.
Hanging out the washing used to be something everyone did, before clothes dryers tempted us to do otherwise. Make use of the sun and wind to dry your sheets and clothing – your energy bills will diminish and your clothes will last longer. Going green will grow your gold, in other words.
YOUR SAY
What are your favourite ways to embrace living in Australia? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Browse more beautiful Australian homes
YOUR SAY
What are your favourite ways to embrace living in Australia? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more beautiful Australian homes
Australian artist Carla Fletcher captures our unique wildlife in states of sleep, scratching an itch, or kicking back and taking it easy, just as nature intended. One of her koala, kangaroo or landscape limited-edition prints on the wall makes a home instantly more Australian. If birds are more your thing, take a look at the work of Aussie artist Pete Cromer. Artists specialising in Australian flora and fauna are many and varied, and that’s good news for our homes.
Tip: If there’s no room on your walls for new artwork, upholstering an armchair, sofa or ottoman in fabric inspired by Australia could be the next best thing. Cloth Fabric’s Julie Paterson hand-makes furnishing fabric by hand, locally and sustainably, with designs inspired by the Australian landscape (the bushland around her weekender in the Blue Mountains, in particular).