Australian Gourmet Traveller - (08)August 2020 (1)

TheSouthCoastishometo 47 separatevillages,eachwith

a distinctpersonality.JOANNAHUNKINvisitsShoalhavenHeads,

where a new property is celebrating the town’s individual charm.

Village people

S

tylish,sophisticatedanddiscreet.Thatwasthebrief

whenit cametodesigningBangalayLuxuryVillasin

ShoalhavenHeads,ona sitenestledbetweenSevenMile

BeachandthenativeBangalaySandForest,fromwhich

it takesitsname.

Thecoastalforest,whichbordersthewhitesandbeach,is

teemingwithnativeflora,includingbanksia,lillypillyand,of

course,bangalaytrees– a typeofeucalypt.It’sa protectedhabitat

thatis uniquetotheSouthCoastandjustoneofthethingsthat

makesthelocationsospecial,saysowneranddeveloperMichelle

Bishop,whofirsteyedthesitein 2005 beforeeventuallyopening

theluxuryaccommodationin2018.

Originallya holidaycampfortheAustralianPostalWorkers’

Union,theseasidecottageshadbeenabandonedfordecadesand

lefttorot.“Itwascompletelyderelictanda realeyesore,”recalls

Bishop,whodevelopedtheprojectalongsideherbuilder

husbandTom,winninga MasterBuilderawardintheprocess.

Eachofthe 16 privatevillasfeaturefullyequippedkitchens,

includinganovenanddishwasher,alongwithopen-planliving

and dining areas, separate from the bedrooms. They are sleek,

spaciousandunderstated,invitingyoutorelaxina waythat

moreformalhotelsandresortsrarelydo.

KeepingthingsinformalwasessentialforBishop,whogrew

upintheareaandwantedtostaytruetoShoalhavenHeads’

laid-backspirit.“Wewantedtocelebratewhatthiscommunity

hastooffer,”sheexplains.“It’sverydowntoearth.Growing

uphere,that’ssomethingI reallyappreciate.”

Thechallengewastocreatea spacethatlivedupto

internationalstandardsofbeach-sideluxury,whilstalso

welcominglocalsintothefold.

“Alotofplacesthatyougoareoffthebeatentrack.Wineries

andresortsareusuallyquiteremote.We’rerightinthevillageso

gettinga senseofthelocalwayoflifeis somethingspecial.We

wantthelocalstoenjoyBangalayasmuchastheguestsdo,”says

Bishop,whoworkedasaninteriordesignerinSydneyforseveral

yearsbeforereturningtotheSouthCoast.

“Whenyou’redesigninga guestexperienceyouhavetotake

thatintoconsideration.We’vegotpeoplecominghereevery

singledayforcoffee,alongsideguestswhoarehereforreally

special occasions. We don’t want to exclude anyone.”

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PHOTOGRAPHY KONRAD KASISKE & DEANNA GERLACH (BANGALAY).