Ingrid is the driving artistic force behind the famous Tasmanian hideaway, Whale Song Shack.
It’s rise in popularity is testament to Ingrid’s design work, storytelling and her ability to forever see the world through the ‘Whale Song Shack’ binoculars.
As you have probably worked out by now, these Journal interviews that we bring you each month, aren’t your typical interviews.
I know how much you love and appreciate the cogs behind the watch, the treasures in the chest, and the beauty within the person. This is where the truly honest magic happens.
And just as this beautiful woman inspires me, I hope she inspires you to discover your own sense of style and place.
So without further ado, I am thrilled to introduce the glorious Ingrid to you….
[Amanda]: “Ingrid, we all deeply admire ‘the dreamer’s escape on the edge of the ocean’ – Whale Song Shack. Can you tell us what made you fall in love with this part of Tasmania or more broadly, this part of the world? What was it here that you thought others must experience for themselves?”
[Ingrid]: “Thank you for the beautiful introduction Amanda, it is so special to share my love for Whale Song and the magic of the stunning East Coast and of course the jewel, Tasmania with you. Clif and I fell in love with Tasmania back in 2003 when we took our first family road trip three months after our twin boys, Flynn and Archer were born. Despite our sleep deprived adventures we were in awe of the light and space, the pristine beaches, the simplicity and honesty of the communities we spent time in, the fresh seafood, the abundance of wilderness… we fell in love.
I remember a night we spent in Beaumaris, just down the road from Falmouth (a blink and you’ll miss it surf town where we built our first holiday shack) – a storm was rolling in, I went down to the beach and my jaw dropped at the majesty of the big sky. I lay down on the sand, in complete awe and soaked in the wild drama unfolding. I knew then that a piece of my heart belonged here. I feel like here, on the East Coast of Tasmania, the sky, the sunrise, moonrise and ever present Tasman Sea are a pull that draws you into their embrace, the elements here are close, intimate, calling… I never lose that sense of being on the edge of the world.”
[A:] “Taking you back a little bit, to the beginning of the journey. What were the design elements of this shack by the ocean that were the non-negotiables?”
[I:] “Well, the beginning would be to share that we have always loved Falmouth. It’s a tiny quiet hamlet of original beach shacks and an eclectic mix of bespoke beach houses; it is three streets deep and five streets long, no shops (although there was at one time a general store), with a beautiful tidal lagoon that is crystal clear blue at high tide, running deep into the Henderson lagoon wetlands and out into the vast stretch of surf beach; it is protected by the rocky headland and shell drifts that wrap around to the south… follow the headland path to our shack.
It really was love at first sight, the location on the edge of the ocean was jaw dropingly, very, very special. The secret tea tree lined path down the the shell coverd reef and beach took my breath away; it was as if i were a living in a childhood dream… the shack itself was in need of some TLC however we loved the raw timber cladding and the simplicity – once we looked inside we discovered a bright and welcoming space. The sunken living room, which faces east to the sunrise and moonrise; with a front row seat to the drama of the ocean was calling for a big open window to soak in the magnificent view. We love to surround ourselves with nature, by creating spaces that invite you to participate in the environment, creating an outdoor shower and hidden sunken bath you are immediately immersed and connected to nauture. The outdoor fire pit calls you to experience the ocean in an intimate way, watching the gulls glide overhead… fire is such a healing connector, the warmth and the opportunity to enjoy food and wine with your love, your friends and family, its incredibly special.”
[A:] “I would absolutely call this ‘timeless’. How would you also best describe the style of Whale Song Shack?”
[I:] “I am an artist and a bowerbird, I love history, handmade pieces, and contemporary art; I love a space that allows time worn pieces and contemporary art to sit in harmony. I love to feel Whale Song is timeless as well, it really is our home base – perhaps an eclectic curiosity, a space to give you space to exhale and yet one to wrap you up and draw you into the wonder each room, wall or corner holds.”
Captured by Natasha Mulhall
[A:] “What is your favourite nook of Whale Song Shack and why? How does it make you or your guests feel? And why is this important in the world we currently live in – to have a nook such as this?”
[I:] “My absolute favorite nook of Whale Song is the couch or the cushions in front of the ocean view window in the sunken living room. I have spent many moments here, all of them in awe, in silence, in the dark watching the waves glisten with bioluminescence, watching the moon rise, watching the sunrise, watching a calm ocean under sunshine, watching a wild ocean in a storm, watching the skies turn to pink at dusk and wild peach & tangerine dawn skies. I have spent time here sending healing love to those close to me who are sick or dying, and myself time to heal. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to experience time here and so grateful to share this space with our guests; it is a gift of space and peace, time to be close to nature, to reconnect with yourself and yet held in comfort.
Time is such a luxury we often don’t afford ourselves; disconnecting and detoxing from the chaos and over saturation of information is so important in this current world we live in.”
[A:] “When I was creating the signature scent for Whale Song Shack I remember quite vividly pulling together all the elements to the story. The pastel colours covering the sky at dawn, which formed a large part of how the scent sat. Pulling in elements of a whale’s song, which gifted the scent a longevity in the way it lingered without too much contrast. And finally the signature scent had to sit quite high in it’s experience, reflecting the height at which the building itself was perched. The signature scent fills the space for each guest. How important was it to you, to have a signature scent for Whale Song Shack?”
[I:] “Oh Amanda you have such a beautiful creative process, what you create with your perfume is literally like magic; the secret ingredient to an incredible experience. I can still remember the smell of my grandmothers glory box, it is a layer of the most precious and beautiful memories I have of my childhood and our times together. Knowing that Whale Song would live on in our treasured families memories and our guests special memories, sparked by the smell of our signature perfume made the layers of love and history created here live on, deepen and linger over time once the moments have past.”
[A:] “For all of our audience, I can quite confidently say that we all know how powerful the smaller details are in a home. Can you tell us what smaller details in Whale Song Shack contribute to the overall feeling the most?”
I love the precious art works around too, my favourites a piece by local artist Zoe Grey and some by Dane Chisholm also a the beautiful piece that sits above our couch down stairs by friend and artist Mickey Egan.
The collection of recycled / upcycled woolen rugs by Seljak and Waverly Mills to wrap you into the warmth no matter the weather inside or outside, make the experience all the more special.”
[A:] “If you could put together a style-book of this place by the Tassie ocean, what pieces would it include?”
[I:] “Definitely Blundstones or Birkenstocks! Ceramic mugs Mid-century pieces, sideboards, tessa leather couch Chunky sisal rug White diagonal liner boards Art works by Zoe Grey Vintage ship and ocean paintings Linen bedding Cactus silk cushions Woollen blankets.”
[A:] “I read that you wrote, and let me quote you here, ‘The journey to Whale Song is always part of the adventure; gather fresh local seafood, award winning wines and fresh local produce…’ Can you share with us all, your best-of-all-time campfire meal and some brief notes on how we can make it?”
[I:] “I think one of the most memorable, best all time camp fire meals we have had was with our own fresh caught crayfish and gathered abalone. After a morning out in the boat we pull up two crayfish from a secret little reef close by, and during an afternoon snorkling around the reef out the front we collected enough abalone… after a crash course in preparing the crayfish and filleting the abalone we had the most divine simple cook up shared with our dear friends.
Clify halved the crayfish and we lathered them with garlic, parsley butter cooking them on the hot plate, shell down. The abalone was sliced finely and again quickly cooked in a cast iron pan over the coals in garlic butter.
A simple salad of fresh rocket from the East Coast Village Providor in St Helens, parmesan, pear with a light dressing of olive oil, balsamic, a teaspoon of Greek yoghurt, a teaspoon of dijon mustard (again local brand from East Coast Village Providor), all whisked together.
Meanwhile, I cheated and roasted local grown potatoes (bought at the local St Helens farmers market, weekly Saturday 8am – 12noon) – boiled to mid-soft, then tossed in the colander to rough up, topped with lashings of olive oil, Tasmanian sea salt, ground Tasmanian pepperberries, chopped rosemary (picked from Whale Song kitchen garden) and a sprinkle of chilli flakes (oil, sea salt, pepperberries, balsamic vinegar all from the Whale Song pantry).
Homemade seafood sauce is always a winner – kewpie mayonnaise, sriracha, homemade tomatoe sauce, minced capers, salt, pepperberries and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. All paired with our favorite sparkling rose by Gala Estate!
You can gather all of the above (not the abalone though) along your travels to Whale Song. Gala Estate is our favorite cellar door to stop off, the oldest vineyard in Tasmania. They make the most delicious, rich wines and sparkling. Located in Cradoc just after Swansea on your way up the Great Eastern Drive to Whale Song
The Lobster Shack in Bicheno is the perfect place to gather the fresh local caught crayfish, oysters and fish – just a note that our favorite fish is Trevalla, a Tasmanian local fish… when it’s fresh and available it is heaven!!!”
[A:] “What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?”
[I:] “Honestly, I think the best piece of advice was to engage with you dear Amanda, if it were not for the advice of Sarah Andrews though The Hosting Masterclass I would not have thought to create a signature scent for Whale Song. The whole process helped me connect to our property and the place on a deeper level, although I felt so connected to this special place; once we started developing the perfume together it made me realise Whale Song was so much more than a short stay, it was an experience that would stay with you for a lifetime. The signature scent you have created for Whale Song embodies everything about this place, time here, memories created.”
[A:] “What is your hope for those that visit this special corner of the Earth, those that find themselves here at Whale Song Shack?”
[I:] “I hope guests take time for themselves here, that they can stop, exhale and shake the everyday from their mind. I hope they slip into the slow, experience and savor the awe of life at Whale Song; on the edge of the Tasman Sea.”
You can follow the adventures of Ingrid’s place @whalesongshack and her own beautiful art here. The signature scent filled with key notes of Rose, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, and Linden Blossom can be experienced in-house at Whale Song Shack or purchased here.
A World of Interiors – The Wild Shores of Whale Song Shack
[Amanda]: “Ingrid, we all deeply admire ‘the dreamer’s escape on the edge of the ocean’ – Whale Song Shack. Can you tell us what made you fall in love with this part of Tasmania or more broadly, this part of the world? What was it here that you thought others must experience for themselves?”
[Ingrid]: “Thank you for the beautiful introduction Amanda, it is so special to share my love for Whale Song and the magic of the stunning East Coast and of course the jewel, Tasmania with you. Clif and I fell in love with Tasmania back in 2003 when we took our first family road trip three months after our twin boys, Flynn and Archer were born. Despite our sleep deprived adventures we were in awe of the light and space, the pristine beaches, the simplicity and honesty of the communities we spent time in, the fresh seafood, the abundance of wilderness… we fell in love.Captured by Lucy Champion
[A:] “Taking you back a little bit, to the beginning of the journey. What were the design elements of this shack by the ocean that were the non-negotiables?”
[I:] “Well, the beginning would be to share that we have always loved Falmouth. It’s a tiny quiet hamlet of original beach shacks and an eclectic mix of bespoke beach houses; it is three streets deep and five streets long, no shops (although there was at one time a general store), with a beautiful tidal lagoon that is crystal clear blue at high tide, running deep into the Henderson lagoon wetlands and out into the vast stretch of surf beach; it is protected by the rocky headland and shell drifts that wrap around to the south… follow the headland path to our shack.[A:] “I would absolutely call this ‘timeless’. How would you also best describe the style of Whale Song Shack?”
[I:] “I am an artist and a bowerbird, I love history, handmade pieces, and contemporary art; I love a space that allows time worn pieces and contemporary art to sit in harmony. I love to feel Whale Song is timeless as well, it really is our home base – perhaps an eclectic curiosity, a space to give you space to exhale and yet one to wrap you up and draw you into the wonder each room, wall or corner holds.”[A:] “What is your favourite nook of Whale Song Shack and why? How does it make you or your guests feel? And why is this important in the world we currently live in – to have a nook such as this?”
[I:] “My absolute favorite nook of Whale Song is the couch or the cushions in front of the ocean view window in the sunken living room. I have spent many moments here, all of them in awe, in silence, in the dark watching the waves glisten with bioluminescence, watching the moon rise, watching the sunrise, watching a calm ocean under sunshine, watching a wild ocean in a storm, watching the skies turn to pink at dusk and wild peach & tangerine dawn skies. I have spent time here sending healing love to those close to me who are sick or dying, and myself time to heal. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to experience time here and so grateful to share this space with our guests; it is a gift of space and peace, time to be close to nature, to reconnect with yourself and yet held in comfort.The Whale Song Shack window, by Jessie McCall
[A:] “When I was creating the signature scent for Whale Song Shack I remember quite vividly pulling together all the elements to the story. The pastel colours covering the sky at dawn, which formed a large part of how the scent sat. Pulling in elements of a whale’s song, which gifted the scent a longevity in the way it lingered without too much contrast. And finally the signature scent had to sit quite high in it’s experience, reflecting the height at which the building itself was perched. The signature scent fills the space for each guest. How important was it to you, to have a signature scent for Whale Song Shack?”
Pastel skies, by Natasha Mulhall
[A:] “For all of our audience, I can quite confidently say that we all know how powerful the smaller details are in a home. Can you tell us what smaller details in Whale Song Shack contribute to the overall feeling the most?”
[I:] “It truly is the sum of all parts however I do love our bespoke ceramic collection, some decorative and our beautiful mugs and crockery, made by some of my favorite ceramic artists – Kirsten Perry, Peta Marie Armstrong, Jennifer Hillhouse, Kim Kerton of Good Side of the Bed (also host of @unemployedandafraid podcast) and Little Charlie Wheeler.[A:] “If you could put together a style-book of this place by the Tassie ocean, what pieces would it include?”
[I:] “Definitely Blundstones or Birkenstocks! Ceramic mugs Mid-century pieces, sideboards, tessa leather couch Chunky sisal rug White diagonal liner boards Art works by Zoe Grey Vintage ship and ocean paintings Linen bedding Cactus silk cushions Woollen blankets.”Details, by Jennifer Hillhouse
[A:] “I read that you wrote, and let me quote you here, ‘The journey to Whale Song is always part of the adventure; gather fresh local seafood, award winning wines and fresh local produce…’ Can you share with us all, your best-of-all-time campfire meal and some brief notes on how we can make it?”
[I:] “I think one of the most memorable, best all time camp fire meals we have had was with our own fresh caught crayfish and gathered abalone. After a morning out in the boat we pull up two crayfish from a secret little reef close by, and during an afternoon snorkling around the reef out the front we collected enough abalone… after a crash course in preparing the crayfish and filleting the abalone we had the most divine simple cook up shared with our dear friends.Oysters, by Rachel Claire
By the fire, Jennifer Hillhouse
[A:] “What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?”
[I:] “Honestly, I think the best piece of advice was to engage with you dear Amanda, if it were not for the advice of Sarah Andrews though The Hosting Masterclass I would not have thought to create a signature scent for Whale Song. The whole process helped me connect to our property and the place on a deeper level, although I felt so connected to this special place; once we started developing the perfume together it made me realise Whale Song was so much more than a short stay, it was an experience that would stay with you for a lifetime. The signature scent you have created for Whale Song embodies everything about this place, time here, memories created.”[A:] “What is your hope for those that visit this special corner of the Earth, those that find themselves here at Whale Song Shack?”
[I:] “I hope guests take time for themselves here, that they can stop, exhale and shake the everyday from their mind. I hope they slip into the slow, experience and savor the awe of life at Whale Song; on the edge of the Tasman Sea.”