MOVINGFROMANisolatedsheepandcattlepropertyin
westernQueenslandtothelushSunshineCoastatage10,
artistAmyClarkefindsinspirationinthenaturallandscape.
“Irememberthinkingthescenerywasveryexcitingand
different,”saysAmy,whoseparentsheadedsixhourseast
fromStGeorgewiththeirthreeyoungchildrenafterbuying
a gingerfarminthehinterlandtownofYandina.“Tocome
fromsucha barrensettingtosomewheresotropicalwas
quitea contrast—I lovebothplacesfordifferentreasons.”
Nearlyfourdecadeson,Amynowlivesinthevibrantand
historictownofEumundi,just 10 minutesfromYandina,
withherhusbandRoss,daughterCoco,15,and17-year-old
sonCharlie.“WewerealwaysdrawntoEumundi,”saysAmy,
whoworkedinmarketingandPRrolesinSydneyandabroad
beforemovingtotheacreageinlate2006.“Ilovedgoingto
themarketswhenwe’dvisit,andI justconnectedwiththe
communityandthecreative,laidbacklifestyle.”
The48-year-oldhasalwayshada passionforpaintingand
makingthingswithherhands,attributingthiscreativityto
anartisticupbringing.“Mumhada littleshedwhereshe’d
dopottery,andlatershestartedmakingjewellery,”shesays.
“Mygrandmotherpaintedandmybrotherisanornamental
blacksmith. I think it sunk in through osmosis.”Aftercompletinga communicationsdegreeinBrisbane,
Amytooka jobinmarketingattheABCinSydney.”Iloved
itatthetime,butaftera whilethefreneticpaceofthecity
startedtowearmedown,”shesays.Whenthekidscame
along,thecoupledecidedthetimewasrighttopackup.“We
wereatYandinafortheweekendandwentfora walkthrough
theforest,”saysAmy.“Itwasjustsopeacefulandsuddenly
I thought,‘HowamI goingtobreakittoRossthatI can’tgo
backtoSydney?’Heliterallyturnedaroundatthatmoment
andsaid,‘Ithinkweneedtomovenorthagain.’”
Thecouplerentedonthecoastfora yearwhilethey
searchedfora homeinthehinterland,allowingAmytime
topaintwhileraisingCharlieandCoco.“Thecostofliving
seemedtomakecreatingartdifficultinSydney,”she
says.“Itjustseemedmorepossibleuphere.”Afteralmost
12 months,AmyandRoss,52,foundthesix-bedroom
weatherboardhomeon1.6hectaresandknewimmediately
thatitwasrightfortheirfamily.“I’mnotsureexactly
whatattractedme,itwasjustthefeeloftheplaceandthe
atmosphere,“saysAmy.“Igrewupina bigQueenslanderso
maybeithassomethingtodowiththat.I likephysicalspace.”
Amy’sstudio—a convertedgarageseparatefromthe
main house — provides a light-filled space for her to paint >“We wereatYandinafortheweekendandwentfora walk
through the forest. It was just so peaceful.”
EUMUNDI QUEENSLANDPEOPLE