3 Inspiring Women Share the Place They Call Home

In celebration of the many places we call home, we asked three inspiring women to share their corner of the world with us.

From the blue skies and moody rainclouds of Darwin, to the paperbark forests and crystal clear waters of Stradbroke Island, discover the sights and sounds that make each spot special.

Nina Fitzgerald
A creative living in Darwin
Larrakia Country

Photography by Helen Orr

Can you tell us about the spot you've chosen today?

“East Point is a coastal reserve on Darwin Harbour, five minutes away from my home. I grew up out here, so my memories in this spot run deep. So much of the outdoor lifestyle I love about Darwin I have lived right here—swimming in the ocean, picnics with friends, outdoor exercise, watching the sunset—it’s a location ingrained in my psyche of Darwin, and a place I miss whenever I am away.”

Where do you feel most at home?

“I have never had the feeling of home anywhere other than Darwin, it’s an incredibly special place for me. Whenever I fly home into Darwin the sense of calm I get when landing is like nothing else. It’s the ultimate feeling of belonging I think, and of safety and contentment.”

Can you describe it for us?

“The smell and sound of rain bring me back here whenever I am away. Petrichor is the distinct heady smell of rain in the air, which takes over the senses even as the first few raindrops hit the earth. This smell is especially intoxicating here in the wet season, and I’m brought here again whenever rain falls in any other place, the world over. Also the sound of rain hitting the roof, or tinkering through a garden, transports me home.”

What do you love most about where you live?

“Darwin is a place of great contrast, with so much more than meets the eye—clear blue skies or dark moody rainclouds alongside every shade of green imaginable, and a melting pot of diverse cultures, lived experiences and creativity. It can also be outrageously random, I think because of the carefree nature of the lifestyle and our remoteness from other big cities in Australia. Life has a slower, more relaxed pace, which although at times frustrating, is a major draw for so many of us that call this place home.”

Kara Rosenlund
A photographer living on North Stradbroke Island
Quandamooka Country

Photography by Kara Rosenlund
Portraits of Kara Rosenlund by Clare Lancaster
Assistant - Mollie Buckley

Can you tell us about the spot you’ve chosen today?

“The spot I have chosen is an ancient mangrove corridor on Quandamooka Country. It's here the saltwater of the bay meets the crystal clear freshwater of the spring. I come here once a week. I find it connects me to the landscape and calms my mind through sound, touch and scent.

When you arrive at the start of the rainforest, the temperature drops and cools your skin from the heat of the sun. Then when you start to walk through the mangrove corridor, the freshwater is always so cold from the spring that it jolts you into being present and in the moment as you walk barefoot through the silty mud. The scene changes with the daily rise and fall of the tides and the mangroves act as a nursery for fish, so as you walk baby fish are darting in and out of the mangrove pegs under your feet. For thousands of years, Quandamooka People have camped here to fish, hunt and gather food. The atmosphere here feels very soothing and calm.”

Where do you feel most at home?

“I feel most at home here on the island. The landscape changes from classic beach scenes to paperbark forests, rainforests and to this mangrove corridor, it’s so diverse and very precious. When I travel from the mainland over on the ferry all of life’s pressures seem to disappear by the time I reach the shores of the island and hear the curlews call out near where the ferry comes in. That's when I know I’m home.”

Can you describe it for us?

“Walking through a shaded cool bush track to the beach and hearing the fizz of the waves in the distance, then coming through the shaded trees and having to run to the water’s edge as the scorching Australian heat burns your bare feet.

Hearing the high-pitched whistle of kites and eagles soaring above reminds me of home, and hearing mopokes and curlews call out from the bushes. When it's whale season you can hear mother whales singing to their new calves guiding them south, as they come in very close to the coastline. I can actually hear one right now as I type this. Their calls echo on the rocks and the sound travels, it's one of the most emotional sounds, you can’t help but cry.

The smell of flowering bottlebrush and frangipani on the air as the sun hits it is such a favourite scent. And the texture of many layers of paperbark.”

What do you love most about where you live?

“I love the connection to the landscape and that everything I need is here on the island. I don't want for anything else when I’m here. This island has a wildness to it and time here is dictated by nature and the seasons. I love the connection to Country and the richness of the Quandamooka culture. It's a haven for wildlife and those seeking a stronger connection to nature."

Marianne Roussety
An artist living in Byron Bay
Arakwal Country in the Bundjalung Nation

Photography by Ben Rayner

Where do you feel most at home?

“I am actually from Canada, so that is my first home, but since moving to Australia, I think the Byron area is really special and feels like home. I love how abundant nature is around here and how I have the opportunity to live from my art.”

Can you tell us about the spot you’ve chosen today?

“Since moving to Byron Bay, I've always loved Wategos Beach so much. The sunsets here are so magic to witness.”

What sights, sounds and smells remind you most of home?

“The bird songs first thing in the morning, the clover flowers growing at the start of spring and the crisp cool air at the start of autumn.”

What do you love most about where you live?

“Life near the ocean is amazing. Growing up in Canada, I didn't have access to ocean swims so it feels amazing to live close by to the beach. I also love how grounded Bangalow is.”