Creative collective

At Inside Out, we’ve been noticing a creative movement gaining momentum, and it’s not coming out of London, Milan or Copenhagen. Where, you ask? Would you believe the NSW Southern Highlands – a quaint place of rolling hills and the homeplace of Babe, the singing pig!

Not content to have more than its fair share of talent in one location, a small group has joined forces to produce a magazine – SoHi – to make sure the rest of the country knows about it, too! I was lucky to be sent a copy by Rebecca Wolkenstein (wife of photographer Julian Wolkenstein) who, along with Inside Out regular Sara Silm and Sarah King, has created this little slice of magazine heaven. I asked her how the idea came about …



What got you thinking about SoHi?
I was new to the area and wanted to get involved in country life, and I thought it might be a stylish and fun way to link all my creative friends down here.

But then I saw Zing. I was spending a month in Shanghai and came across this incredible international-looking publication drawing on creativity from all over the world. Inspired by Zing, we thought we might launch SoHi online with a limited print edition of 2000 hand-numbered copies. But now it seems the print [version] has completely seduced us and none of us can give it up. And I think our designer (Hampus Jageland at Maud) might cry if we abandoned the print.

Were you all friends beforehand?
Well, I am going to assume you know the fabulous Megan Morton? She is our social secretary and platonic match-maker. She used to live in Burrawang and knew me, Sara and Sarah separately.



I moved to the Highlands about a year ago and Sarah moved a few months later from Hobart. Sara has lived down here for many years. We've involved others down here, too, like Maree Treddinnick who is a mag editor and kindly subs all of our mistakes, Tamara Maynes, who I believe has also contributed to Inside Out; and now we have attracted contributors like the incredible Monique Germon, textile artist, and we're fielding enquiries from friends of other Highlanders – all incredible creatives, of course.

When did the Southern Highlands become such a creative hot spot?
I think there is a lot of creativity here. In fact, we have a pretty long list of future feature ideas. I think it has been here all along, but my first impressions of the place, and definitely the focus of the existing local media, is kind of centred on money, so I think a lot of the more creative, less flashy aspects of Highlands life haven't really been recognised.

I should mention too that we do have a secret agenda – we want every cool creative in Sydney to move down here and keep us company and contribute to SoHi!



Will each issue have a theme?
Maybe later we will look at themes. I think the mag itself has a theme: creative, inclusive, SLOW and self-sufficient. The important thing for us is not to be in fashion but to speak about the beauty in real life and communities.

Where can the mag be found?
Our favourite depots are Orson & Blake cafe, Surry Hills; Funkis at The Strand, Sydney; Burrawang Pub; Burrawang General Store café; Elephant Boy café, Bowral; Wild Food, Bowral; Robertson Cheese Shop, Robertson; Berkelouw Book Barn Café, Berrima; Peppergreen, Berrima; Exeter General Store Cafe, Exeter.

If you don’t live in the area but would like to see a copy for yourself, email Rebecca at Rebecca@sohimagazine.com.au.

Bianca, deputy editor