Boutique and unique: Rei Minohara-Starke’s unique jewellery designs

Above: Vase neck piece. Right: Coral brooch.

Rei Minohara-Starke Story by Brittany Pfeiffer.

When Rei Minohara-Starke was working in the IT industry in Japan, she never dreamed she could have a viable career in the arts. Ten years – and an international relocation later – and Rei is doing exactly that in her adopted home of Victor Harbor.

Wanting to break free from the daily work grind, Rei began her visual arts career after arriving in Australia almost a decade ago. ‘I wanted a more sustainable job that wasn’t as fast paced in comparison to back home,’ says Rei. She wanted to explore using her hands to craft works reflecting organic forms and the beauty of nature, and so jewellery seemed like a natural choice. Her creative process is intuitive, freeform and organic. ‘I tend to let my hands do the thinking, sometimes not knowing what my outcome will be,’ says Rei.

Rei primarily works with silver clay – otherwise known as precious metal clay – to create handmade jewellery from her home studio in Victor Harbor. Silver clay is a recycled, sustainable silver that, as the name suggests, is easy to manipulate to create effective textures through hammering and etching. The elegant forms and textures that characterise her pieces are inspired by her local surrounds, from the broad coastal views to the minutiae of the Fleurieu’s native flora she encounters on her daily walks. ‘[The] Australian surroundings are very different to Japan and is one of my greatest sources of inspiration,’ she says. This approach is reflected in her latest collection which features a number of pieces inspired by golden wattles. These pieces used the distinctive spherical flowers to create a mould for the silver, before the raw material was then manipulated and fired in a kiln at a high temperature to create the final outcome.

Reflecting her Japanese heritage, Rei often uses a metal alloy called shibuichi – meaning ‘one-fourth’ in Japanese – which refers to the typical formulation of one part silver to three parts copper. Depending on the formulation used, a wide range of colours can be achieved, from shades of grey through to a bronze lustre. Rei has crafted several pieces using this technique, reflecting the juxtaposition of Japanese and Australian culture by coaxing this traditional Japanese material into the different shapes and textures of Australia’s indigenous flora.

Another strong source of inspiration for Rei is the feedback she receives from locals and customers. ‘Jewellery is such a personal choice, so it fills me with warmth when someone buys one of my pieces – there is nothing more uplifting and it is the reason why I continue to craft jewellery,’ Rei says.

While Rei mostly specialises in jewellery making, she’s no stranger to visual art. She’s been working on mixed media that mirrors her jewellery through her choice of colours and textures used, creating a unified approach. When viewed together, the pieces complement one another.

Each item Rei creates is entirely unique – from dainty rings to textured brooches. The evident craftsmanship in each work is breathtaking. Rei mentions, ‘I’m so lucky to be able to have a career out of something I love. This wouldn’t be possible at home in Japan.’

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From the ashes Story by Brittany Pfeiffer and Kate Le Gallez. Photography by Angela Giles.

Page left and above: The historic Mill Cottage is a testament to what vision and hard work can achieve, both interiors and exteriors have been restored and refurbished keeping the home’s historical charm at top of mind.

When Don Bailey of Bailey Homes saw Goolwa’s historic Mill Cottage up for sale, he knew it was the perfect opportunity to renovate and refurbish this piece of local heritage. Once a prestigious local residence, the c1853 cottage had been left to ruin in recent years. Now, the cottage has been given a new life, offering luxe accommodation in the heart of Goolwa while preserving the dwelling’s rich character.

Mill Cottage was originally built as the residence for the now demolished Goolwa flour mill by one of Adelaide’s most successful architects of the time, E. W. Wright, and lays claim to being Goolwa’s first private residence connected to water. In the early years, the cottage boasted prominent professionals and affluent families among its many residents and owners. But in 2007, its fortunes took a turn when the then owners – who had occupied the house since 1950 – decided to put it up for sale. The house fell vacant and, before long, squatters moved in. In 2010 a fire broke out causing extensive damage to the entire building.

The cottage was left a burnt-out ruin after the fire. Strewn with broken glass, walls stripped, ceilings collapsed and the floors largely destroyed, the house was fenced off and the garden left to run wild. Given its state, it’s perhaps no surprise the building continued to sit vacant, until Don and his business partner Wayne purchased the land the cottage was sitting on in 2013.

The extent of the damage meant they had complete flexibility on how to restore and renovate this beauty. Rather than completely modernising the cottage, Don decided to keep the historic aspects of the dwelling, complementing these features with new resources where necessary. ‘I believe the attention to detail we put into the project was the best we could to reflect the original condition of the building,’ says Don. It certainly shows, not only in the thought put into the rebuilding process, but in the beautifully refined final result. >

Top: The external walls were sandblasted to expose the historic stonework from beneath layers of ivory paint and then repointed to reflect the cottage’s original facade. Bottom: The rear of the building features a new modern, elegant and stylish kitchen, with stone benchtops and polished concrete floor.

From the outside in, the three-bedroom cottage has been sensitively, but completely, restored. It’s been reroofed, repainted, replastered – using lime-based breathable plaster – rewired and replumbed. The busy schedule at Bailey Homes meant the cottage started as a passion project, occupying many weekends until completion in 2018. ‘The Mill Cottage was an ongoing project for us, all in all taking a year to complete,’ says Don.

Today, the stunning exterior of the cottage is almost unrecognisable compared to how it appeared post-fire. The external walls were sandblasted to expose the historic stonework from beneath layers of ivory paint and then repointed to reflect the cottage’s original facade. Inside, the restoration reflects the cottage’s complete history, not simply its origins. In one of the bedrooms, some of the original flooring remains along with the char marks from the 2010 fire. New elements have been modelled on the old, with Don salvaging the original door and window frames and replicating their style from new resources. Other features could fortunately be restored, including the open fireplace in the dining room.

At the same time as paying heed to the past, the cottage has also leapt into the future with new functional wet areas designed in total contrast to the old. The rear of the building features a new modern, elegant and stylish kitchen, with stone benchtops and polished concrete floor. A new bathroom finishes the rear of the cottage and is fitted with a suspended custom-made timber vanity lit from above by monochrome pendant lighting.

Above: The neutral palette is enhanced by unique décor, handcrafted goods, and modern-farmhouse style furniture. Every detail has been thoughtfully selected with luxury and comfort in mind. Bottom left and right: The restoration can be fully appreciated when you can see what a state it was in when they began the process.

The colour palette of the cottage was chosen in consultation with the Alexandrina Council’s local heritage architect. The colours are natural and minimalistic, not only reflecting the era of the original building, but emphasising the classic and luxurious styling of the final project. The neutral palette is enhanced by unique décor, handcrafted goods, and modern-farmhouse style furniture. Every detail has been thoughtfully selected with luxury and comfort in mind.

With the restoration of Mill Cottage now complete, the latest chapter in its 160-year history is now beginning. Now offering accommodation for groups and families, the cottage’s central location offers visitors easy access to Goolwa’s charms, with the Main Street and wharf precinct within easy walking distance and the beach and river just a short drive away. Don’s dedication and attention to detail in restoring Mill Cottage hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2018, the restoration won both the Major Award for Alexandrina Council Heritage Awards and the Building Restoration/ Conservation Practice Category. These accolades were followed by a Commendation for the HIA-CSR Housing Awards – Renovation/ Addition Project category. The industry recognition is matched by support from the community: the feedback from the locals and guests has been incredible. ‘They absolutely love it,’ Don says. ‘I’m so happy the project was so well received, and the community can appreciate the extent we have gone to with the restoration.’ And so, having risen quite literally from the ashes, Mill Cottage can now resume its rightful place within the Goolwa community.