Antiques Arts Crafts & Homewares
90 minute drive south west of Sydney takes you to the heart of the picturesque Southern Highlands, home to a number of superb contemporary art and craft galleries, quirky antique shops and excellent eateries. There is also a wide range of accommodations to suit all budgets. It’s certainly easy to justify a weekend escape or day trip here!
Whether you plan a romantic weekend away, or a day trip with friends, you will be sure to enjoy this beautiful part of NSW.
Where: 120km SW of Sydney (90 minutes drive)
Website: Visit NSW Southern Highlands
Allow: Full Day or Weekend
Getting there: Car – Bus – Walk – Train
Also see: Southern Highlands Attractions
What to See & Do in the Southern Highlands
While there is much to see and do in the highlands, this blog focuses on the galleries, antique and homewares stores that I love to visit… and of course a few eating establishments as well! If you also enjoy a country drive or walk, or to explore historic villages, see my blog Country Life Southern Highlands.
The towns and villages that most people associate with the Southern Highlands, Mittagong, Bowral, Berrima, Moss Vale, Robertson, Sutton Forest, Exeter and Bundanoon, all have their own unique character and attractions that are worth exploring.
1. Sturt Gallery Arts & Crafts – Mittagong
The Sturt Gallery is usually our first stop in the highlands, a must see gallery if you appreciate high quality artisan crafts. The gallery was established in 1941, making it Australia’s oldest craft centre! Not only are the artisan works superb, but so too are the displays and surrounding gardens. This is a gallery that inspires creativity… and a little bit of shopping too 🙂
Also housed within the gallery is a small café with tables spilling out onto a leafy courtyard, there’s always time for coffee and cake!
UPDATE 24TH APRIL 2024 – Sadly the Sturt Gallery has been directed to pause operations to consider a new sustainable model for the future! The Sturt Garden Cafe is paused until further notice. The Sturt Gallery/shop hours have been reduced to 10-4pm Wed-Sun until 30th June 2024 when they will close until further notice. Email your feedback, support and ideas for ways forward to:
srcfeedback@sturt.nsw.edu.au
2. The Milk Factory Gallery & Café – Bowral
The gallery has been a long time favourite of mine, with exhibitions displaying high quality art and craft from both local and international artists. At street level is the gallery gift store, offering fine art, sculpture, textiles and jewellery. Downstairs are the exhibition spaces where there’s always new and stimulating works on display.
Located on Station Street, the Milk Factory Gallery is just a few minutes walk from the main shopping precinct. As the name suggests, this was a former milk factory. The large light filled space is the perfect venue for multiple galleries, as well as a lovely café where tables are surrounded by art.
3. Dirty Janes Vintage & Antique Collectables – Bowral
Whenever a friend is heading to the highlands I always encourage them to visit Dirty Janes at Bowral. The ‘antiques market’ is home to some 70+ tiny shops, offering treasures for the house and garden. Antique and vintage furniture, lighting, architectural elements, vintage clothing and jewellery are spread across multiple warehouse spaces. The displays alone are wonderful expressions of creativity… I adore to photograph them, as you may have noticed 🙂
Also, inside the large warehouse is the very cosy ‘Tea Salon’ rooms, serving delicious cakes and other goodies. The Persian Lovers cake is to die for!
4. Green Lane – Bowral
Adjacent to Dirty Janes is the newly developed and delightful Green Lane… a leafy boulevard that opens onto an intimate courtyard, surrounded by gardens, pot plants and stylish homewares and gift stores. The Potting Shed and its sister store ‘The Orangery’, as well as the fabulous Suzie Anderson Home, are all part of this inviting space.
What I was most excited to discover was Harry’s Wine Bar & Bistro, nestled into the lush heart of Green Lane. Walls are crammed with books and vintage artworks, plant life flows seamlessly from bar to garden…. a welcoming and exotic atmosphere. I can’t wait to go back and actually have something to eat and drink 🙂
Another favourite eatery at Green Lane is the elegant Plantation café serving Double Roasters coffee, pastries, cakes and breakfast from 8.30am plus a scrumptious all day menu.
5. Suzie Anderson Home – Moss Vale
I’ve been a regular visitor to the Suzie Anderson Home store at the Dirty Janes complex in Bowral for a number of years. When I heard they’d opened a new and exciting store in Moss Vale, I knew exactly where I was heading on my next trip to the highlands!
So, after a leisurely lunch at Ludo in Bowral, my friend and I headed off to explore the new store… and Moss Vale. We were not disappointed, elegant and rustic pieces of furniture were displayed beautifully with art, decorative objects, jewellery and soft furnishings. So much inspiration for decorating one’s own home… if only I had more space, or a second home!
6. Moss Vale – a new look
With the opening of Suzie Anderson Home, Mossy Store and the Highlands Merchant café, this leafy part of Moss Vale is taking on a refreshing new look. Also, just up the road is the Made by Others art and design store, home to an intimate indoor café surrounded by hand made products. Although I’ve not yet visited, I believe the new The Green House emporium with house and garden is well worth a visit… next time!
I always leave the highlands feeling inspired with new ideas, fueled by exposure to so many wonderful expressions of creativity!
… if you’re wondering about sponsorship, there has been no financial or other incentives to promote businesses or services through my blogs… and that’s just how I like it ?
Wonderfulness in a blog. Thank you for transporting to one of my favourite places. Stunning photos and fantastic information. A must visit on my next trip South. xx
Thank you Jan… I know these are many of the places you would also love :))) x