Country information
Lowdown
Who knew! The land down under has a national dress. Check it out in this article giving the history of beachwear and bushwear on the Aussie government’s website. Essentially, this is the country that, over the years, has introduced the world to sheepskin booties, work boots that are the cockroaches of the footwear world being resistent to chemical warfare, jolly swagman cork hats, surfgear from the likes of Queenslanders, Billabong, and those nasty/tasty (depending on your point of view) tight red Bondi lifeguard Speedos.
It a vast place with a variety of styles. My first arrival in Oz – in Darwin – threw up a few additional shockers: grown men in little green stubbies (tight boy scoutish shorts), barely-there singlets and t-shirts with Aboriginal Dreamtime dot pics all over them. Melbourne introduced bogan style of t-shirts, flannel shirts and trackie dax (that’s tracksuit bottoms to poms). It also had the cafe frequenter, lots of urban chic and allover black. In Sydney, there was jogging gear, office outfits and trendywear a-plenty - check out the SMH’s fashion blog for latest looks. Queensland – hot weather wear and surfgear, and in the Red Centre, well, many an Akubra hat though not too many Drizabone or oilskin coats, as is stockman style. As for Perth, well, it’s on my to-go list… Personal observations and sweeping generalisations, admittedly.
Climatewise, Oz so big that it has a different weather systems depending on where you’re spending your time. As a quick guide, it’s the opposite season to whatever is going on in Europe/US/northern hemisphere… which is why I found myself unexpectedly getting sunburn in Melbourne at 6pm on a long summer evening in January. But at the same time, it’s monsoon season from Dec-Feb in the Far North and silly-hot in the central deserts by day but with chilly nights. In summer, it’s perfectly lovely down south (New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and parts of WA). Then again in winter (June-August), it rains almost constantly in Sydney – thank you Blue Mountains! – while Melbourne and Adelaide get the occasional blast of icy wind blowing in from the Antarctic, plus there’s a ski season going on, too. (There’s too much to round up so check out your destination’s weather on the government’s meteorological site.) All of which means… take everything you’ve got if you’re aiming to travel around.
Alternatively…
Having been everywhere but WA in a 12-month period, I found local charity (op) shops the way to go: from picking up pair of cut-offs for the beach, to a ski jacket for Melbourne and the slopes in winter, to a camp outfit for Mardi Gras in Sydney in spring. Melbourne is particularly well endowed in the op shop department. Don’t forget to donate it back when you’re done and moving on.
No-nos
Australia is the world’s skin cancer capital so lobster look skin is a no-no. Sun protection is a must so follow the famous Aussie health code: Slip – Slop – Slap – and now Wrap. Which translates as ’slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap round some sunglasses’. Otherwise, it’s laidback – though you may want to rethink the thongs if going walkabout – snakes love ankles. Long trousers might be a good idea too if you can hack the heat.
Local buys
Akubra hats, Blundstone or Rossi work boots, RM Williams for traditional bush clothing. For surfwear, labels Billabong, Rip Curl and Quicksilver. You can buy sheepskin boots in the markets for a steal. And it’s a brave man who’d buy Stubbies short shorts. There’s some lovely fabrics, including silks from Asia, in Cabramatta, Sydney, too – it’s the Asian food capital of Sydney too, for those missing their spicy Asian fare.
