BOOK EXTRACT: THE RETREAT

NESTLED IN A PICTURESQUE HAMLET, NORTH-WEST OF MELBOURNE, THIS CHARMING 1890s COTTAGE IS TRULY WHERE THE HEART IS FOR TALENTED CURATOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER MARNIE HAWSON

- ALI HEATH

“WE WANTED AN OLD COUNTRY PROPERTY, FULL OF CHARACTER, QUIRKS AND A SENSE OF HISTORY” - MARNIE

EXTERIOR From the traditional front veranda (opposite), views are enjoyed across to an open paddock and lake, and from the back, up to the Macedon Ranges.

LIVING ROOM “My ethos is always to buy pieces that will stand the test of time,” says homeowner Marnie, who shares the cottage with her husband Ryan and Dexter, pictured, enjoying the sunshine. One such example is the collection of vintage horse sketches and oils (below), which remind her of her teenage years, when she competed as a national three-day eventer.

Within the home of photographer Marnie Hawson, a series of intimate, calming spaces unfold, which embody her desire to nurture a more sustainable existence, both in the way she lives and chooses to work. Having enjoyed a previous career as an environmental scientist, Marnie switched to a more creative role, working as an interior, travel and lifestyle photographer, specialising in work for clients who are both environmentally and ethically aware. This was a dramatic shift, but one firmly wrapped up in the idea that mindful decisions equate to a better quality of life and, in turn, personal contentment.