“CityNews” takes a trip to the Southern Highlands to speak with some of the stunning region’s proud businesses.

JUST over 90 minutes from Canberra, the Southern Highlands is home to stunning countryside, great wineries, fascinating heritage sites and more.

From Mittagong to Moss Vale, Bundanoon and Burrawang, the region spans iconic Australian towns and landmarks and features a rich history.

Many people know that Bowral was the home of legendary cricketer Don Bradman, but it is also widely considered to be the “birthplace” of Mary Poppins.

Famous author PL Travers first came up with the idea for the iconic character as a young girl while living there.

That’s just the start. The Southern Highlands is packed with stunning natural scenery to explore, museums where visitors can discover the region’s history and on top of it all, many businesses that are proud to be at the heart of the community.

This week “CityNews” took a trip to the Southern Highlands to speak with some of them.

Fashionable, merino garments

BERRIMA’s Natural Australia promotes the Australian fine merino industry by showcasing the highest quality merino knitwear in fashionable garments, says owner Angela Rodgers.

“Berrima’s Natural Australia was opened in 1995 by my parents,” she says.

“Apart from Surveyor General Hotel, it’s the longest running business in Berrima.

“My parents were retired sheep graziers from south-west Queensland. In those days all garments in the shop were produced from Australian grown merino, and designed and made in Australia.”

Angela joined the business in 1996, excited by the qualities of Merino fibre and garments it created.

“As time has gone on, much of the Australian-made labels are no longer able to survive due to a move to cheaper labour provided from Asia,” she says.

“With that in mind, I now add to my fine merino knitwear – either made in Australia, NZ or Europe – merino/possum/silk garments and accessories (NZ), cashmere from Italy and the UK, and Australian cotton in summer.

“It is a very exciting experience to discover beautiful knitwear made with a passion for perfection and detail. My customers often comment that it is a pleasure to walk into the shop and see such beautiful quality garments, made totally with natural fibres.

“Berrima is the perfect location, as it’s a chilly climate inspiring warmer clothing, an easy drive from Sydney or Canberra, and a lovely respite from the Hume expressway.”

Berrima’s Natural Australia, 11 Old Hume Highway, Berrima. Call 4877 1598, or visit berrimawool.com

Home of classics and new favourites

THE big news at Lolly Swagman is Fantales are in stock, but they’re not sure how long for, says owner Ian Richardson.

“People are coming in and buying a 1kg bag, or just half a dozen, there’s no in between,” he says.

“It’s another example of big companies retreating, not investing in Australia, so we’re choosing to support locals wherever we can, giving opportunities to little businesses.

“We’re getting rocky road in from Just Sweets in Altona, working with Lagoon Lollies in Williamstown, and Blackebys Sweets in Adelaide.”

Ian says Lolly Swagman is home of the favourites you’ve always had, and the new ones you are yet to discover.

“Tastes evolve, your palate may change, so while it’s good to revisit your old favourites, it’s good to experience new flavours as well,” he says.

“We have also tried new chocolate and traditional lollies from Scandinavia. We tried a Kexchoklad wafer bar, it’s vegan and not overly strong or rich in chocolate, but I’m the only one who liked it.

“My lolly knowledge goes back to my grandparents. All our staff are filled with extensive knowledge too. We know a lot and we’ve been through the shortages and stories; we’re prepared to share that knowledge which gives us the advantage. It’s the story, the connection and the memories that make it more than just buying a lolly.”

Lolly Swagman, 11 Old Hume Highway, Berrima. Call 4877 1137, or visit lollyswagman.com.au

Making the highlands feel like home

CAMPBELL Jones Property is a boutique, independent real estate agency covering all aspects of real estate in the Southern Highlands, says director Angus Campbell-Jones.

“The agency opened nearly two decades ago, making it one of Bowral’s longest established agencies,” he says.

“The business evolved when a group of long-term locals decided to build an agency based on their ethics and energy, wanting to create a ‘user friendly’ business for buyers/sellers, landlords and tenants that had transparency in its processes.

“The team have longevity with over 100 years’ experience collectively. We have seen everything from property booms to the GFC crisis and have been there to offer integrity and a steady hand with our clients’ property needs.”

Angus says his work would have to be one of the most interesting careers in the Southern Highlands.

“Meeting a wide and diverse range of people, helping them to navigate their real estate needs, not to mention the properties we as agents get to see on a daily basis!” he says.

“It’s home, where our heart is! But more than that it’s a spectacular part of the world, and offers everything you could need from fantastic education options with numerous schools to great medical facilities, shopping and sporting options throughout the district, wrapped into four distinct seasons, located between Sydney and Canberra with easy access to the coast.”

Campbell Jones Property, 350 Bong Bong Street, Bowral. Call 4861 2550, or visit cjpbowral.com.au

Vineyard of pride and passion

IN a very small but magical operation, Siobhan Maloy says she acts as owner, director, host, marketing and cellar door manager of Joadja Estate.

“Joadja Estate is the oldest vineyard and winery in the Southern Highlands,” she says.

“It was established in 1983. My parents Maureen and Paul, and my partner Matthew and I bought the business in 2016, looking for a new adventure.

“We pride ourselves on providing our customers with a relaxed wine-tasting experience. We offer tastings of our cool-climate wines in our rustic cellar door, and it’s also family-friendly, with a cubby house and giant chess board to keep the kids amused.”

Siobhan says before the winery, Matthew and her had experience in the retail liquor industry.

“Matthew has always had a passion for wine and wanted to share his knowledge with others,” she says.

“I enjoy talking with visitors to our cellar door and sharing our unique products with them.

“The Southern Highlands is a hidden gem! It has the community spirit and feel of the country without being too far away from the big cities.

“The Southern Highlands is the perfect place to experience all four seasons of the year, with roaring fires in winter, stunning colours of the trees in autumn, refreshing waterholes for summer and spectacular flora in spring – it truly is a magical place to live and work.”

Joadja Estate, 110 Joadja Road, Berrima. Call 0493 536053, or visit joadjaestate.com.au

Rural gallery with international draw

WHITEWALL Art Projects opened as COVID-19 restrictions started in 2020. “Great timing” says creative director Thomas Bucich.

“We saw the opportunity for the amazing, purpose-built gallery,” he says.

Thomas says he and wife Kylie have been creating pop-up galleries since 2012.

“We offer a unique curation of contemporary art from local, national and international artists including painting, drawing, sculpture and photography,” he says.

“We saw a need in the market to bring international, quality work to a rural/regional gallery, although we attract clients primarily from Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, and international collectors.

“We’ve been told our gallery and curation has an ‘international sensibility’. Along with our stockroom of local artists, we like to surprise our clients with a Henry Moore etching or a Robert Rauschenberg collage.”

Thomas says the world and business of art is a labour of love.

“I’m driven to create an environment that meets my standards and needs for quality and original ideas.

“My motto is if I couldn’t hang a work in my home, it won’t hang in the gallery.

“The Southern Highlands offers me space and natural inspiration, but there’s always a quality cup of coffee within 20 minutes. It has a high level of quality, and it’s a great mix to have some urban luxuries, and be able to go for a hike under a waterfall, all in one afternoon.”

Whitewall Art Projects, 10 Jellore Street, Berrima. Call 0420 718775, or visit whitewallartprojects.com.au

Beer making and so much more

SOUTHERN Highlands Home Brew is not your average home brew shop, it’s so much more, says owner Robyn Denis.

“We are dedicated to supplying and educating customers in all the products we have, which allows you to do it yourself at home,” she says.

“Our main passion is home brew with a huge range of variants from simple wort kits through to brewing your own beer from grain.

“That, however, is not only what we are about. We also offer a wide range of wine, cider, kombucha, mead making kits and supplies, cheese and yoghurt kits, sourdough starters, meat smoking chips, pellets and chunks, jerky and sausage making kits, local raw honey, CO2 gas refills, kegerators so you can pour your beer at home just like at the pub, and hydroponics to grow your own food at home, just like a farmer.”

Robyn says they also stock a huge range of replacement parts of kits and equipment.

“We thrive on sharing our knowledge with everyone that visits us and holding our demonstrations to teach you how to brew at home or how to make any of the products mentioned above,” she says.

“We love homemade, and teaching or starting others on this path as well.”

Southern Highlands Home Brew, 3/224 Old Hume Highway, Mittagong. Call 9052 9674, or visit southernhighlandshomebrew.com