City Series: Shopping mindfully in Hobart, Tasmania
Sunbear owner Brooke Holtz (centre) with her team in their sunny little cafe in Hobart. A former teddy bear repair shop, the space was set up using secondhand finds, “everything has a story and I love that so much,” says Brooke. Image via @sunbearhobart.
The City Series is back! And where better to relaunch this mindful guide than the lovely little city of Hobart in Tasmania, Australia.
I feel like Tassie has been the talk of the ‘mainland’ this year - I often find myself chatting to someone who has just holidayed there, is planning to move there, or has already made the leap across Bass Strait!
I admit - I haven’t visited yet! But you’re in the best of hands with this guide as I asked the wonderful Brooke Holtz, owner of Sunbear, the cutest little cafe you ever did see in the centre of Hobart, to share her fave sustainable spots. A former teddy bear repair shop, Sunbear opened in July this year after Brooke relocated to Tassie in search of her next adventure.
Brooke is passionate about sourcing local for Sunbear’s eats, including produce from Sulyn’s Garden in South Hobart, dry goods from Eumurrah, and baked goods from locals Pigeon Whole Bakers.
I asked Brooke to send me her picks for where to shop mindfully in Hobart and Tassie more broadly, including:
Local labels/ brands - clothing, shoes, homewares etc
Handmade/ made in Australia (within Tassie even better!)
Locally sourced - thinking furniture, florists, etc
Secondhand/ vintage
Places that offer services like repair, upcycling, DIY, if there's a tool library or anything similar
Places to get bulk foods or products to support a plastic-free, low-waste life.
And I couldn’t love Brooke’s response more!
“There is this really beautiful wave of thrifting down here - such a lovely circular movement of passing things on when you no longer need them. I've barely needed to buy 'new' items down here!
“And this is what made building Sunbear so beautiful! I spent three months building it out of things I found around town, everything has a story and I love that so much.”
Here are Brooke’s top Tassie picks for the next time you find yourself in Australia’s island state.
Re-loved Market
26 dewitt st, Battery Point
“Held on the first Sunday afternoon of each month, it’s a collective of Hobartians selling their pre-loved goods! It’s a fun community afternoon where you’ll never leave empty handed.”
The next two markets are on December 1 and January 5!
The Re-Loved Market pops up once a month in Hobart. Image via @heavenvintagehonart
Recycled Recreation
96 Elizabeth Street, Hobart
“This was my go-to over winter! My partner and I were so excited to stumble across this gem of a store, full of used and pre-loved good quality, outdoor and practical wear. We both found great down jackets and knits that we lived in during our first Tassie winter.”
Recycled Recreation specialise in second-hand, near-new equipment for bushwalking, camping, climbing and generally getting outdoors!
A selection of secondhand jackets at Recycled Recreation. Image via Facebook.
Recycled Boutique
11 Argyle Street, Hobart
“A large, curated thrifted clothing store. You’ll always find some treasure in here!”
www.facebook.com/recycleboutiquehobart/
Eumarrah
39 Barrack Street, Hobart
“A beautiful local wholefoods shop. This is where Sunbear sources all our dry goods including grains, legumes, nuts and spices. Full of local products and produce and has a tasty cabinet full of homemade snacks and small lunches.”
Produce on display at Eumurrah, Hobart. Image via Eumurrah Facebook.
Any thrift store you spot in and around Hobart!
Various locations
“I can hardly drive past a Vinnies or Salvos without pulling in. There is so much second-hand treasure in this city and state. You barely need to purchase anything new, it’s amazing and super embraced by the community.”
South Hobart Tip Shop
McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre, south hobart
“The place every local pops into when they’re in the area. An incredible treasure chest of cheap-as-chips furniture, clothing, books, crockery and everything else you could imagine.”
www.facebook.com/resourcetipshop
Sustomi
“A great local brand promoting and producing a healthy, plastic-free lifestyle.”
Sustomi offer well-designed reusables like wax wraps, stainless steel lunch boxes, washable lunch bags, and even deodorant in metal tins.
Washable lunch bags, designed by Tasmanian business, Sustomi. Image via Instagram @sustomi
Blundstone BOOTS
“The classic 'Made in Tas' Blundstone! Everyone proudly owns a pair, including myself and I love them to bits - perfect for working in the garden or going out to breaky.”
The classic Blundstone boots, designed and made in Tasmania since 1870! Image @nikoleramsay via @blundstoneau.
Special mention: SUSH
3 spots around Hobart
“I’ve always avoided sushi (as much as I love it!) because it’s so hard to enjoy it without the guilt of all the single-use packaging that comes with it. The team at Sush do everything in their power to encourage a waste-free experience by rewarding you with various specials if you BYO cup for miso soup or container to pop your sushi into. They have a wasabi ‘gun’ that they can squirt on your plate and you can add soya sauce straight from the bottle.
“In addition, they are committed to sourcing ingredients locally as much as possible including locally caught tuna and locally grown avos. I’m a big fan!”