HerCanberra’s Local Christmas Gift Guide 2023: Part Three
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Tis the season to go shopping, and there’s a whole lot of Christmas gifts to be found in our own backyard.
Spoil your loved ones with a beautiful, locally-shopped gift that supports our community. As per our own HerCanberra tradition, we’ve brought back our annual Christmas Local Lust List to make it easy for you. This year we have so much local goodness that we’re bringing FOUR gift guides your way—one each week in the lead-up to Christmas!
ATKM Leather Mesh Tote from The Curatoreum
The Leather Mesh Tote from Melbourne label ATKM ($95) is meticulously handcrafted in Ballarat. Constructed from a single piece of Full Grain Cowhide, these bags showcase a high level of dedication to craftsmanship and design.
A perfect summer bag that transitions from the farmers’ market to the river with ease!
The Leather Mesh Tote is available in Brown, Chestnut, and Black.
Shop online at thecuratoreum.com (order by 14 December to be sure you make Christmas cut-off) or pop instore at National Portrait Gallery or the National Arboretum.
Books, puzzles and more at pulp bookcafe
pulp bookcafe in Gold Creek has your Christmas list covered! They stock an eclectic selection of books, jigsaw puzzles and literary-themed gifts – there is something for everyone.
Can’t decide what to get? Why not consider a gift card? They can be used at the cafe or the bookshop!
Pop into pulp bookcafe at 6/18 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls or check out pulpbookcafe.com.au.
Parliament House Christmas Ornament
Parliament House Christmas Ornament by KOITOYA. Photo: 5 Foot Photography
Stamped with ‘2023’ and made from re-purposed jarrah and silver ash previously used in Australian Parliament House, this unique handmade Christmas ornament ($29) can be your exclusive piece of democratic history, to celebrate Christmas.
Handcrafted in Canberra (ACT) by KOITOYA designs, makers of wooden craft and furniture using traditional Japanese skills and ideas.
Limited edition. Available from parliamentshop.com.au or instore.
Hot Chocolate Bomb from POP Canberra
Kate’s Hot Chocolate Bombs. What a smashing gift!
Available as singles, doubles, or in multi-gift packs, they’re a playful gift for workmates or best friends. Sweet and delicious – a major win!
Pop into POP at 27 Lonsdale St in Braddon—they’re open from 7 am to 10 pm right up until Christmas – or download the POP app to shop local from your phone!
The Body Breakout Set from Will & Zo
Will & Zo is a brand for body breakouts and bumps. Will & Zo was founded in Canberra and is female owned, Australian owned and made, cruelty-free and vegan. Our purpose is skin positivity, confidence, and empowering people through high quality body acne skincare.
The Body Breakout Set ($74.99) features a two-step routine to manage body breakouts in the morning and night with The Here Body Breakout Cleanser in the shower, and then The Now Body Breakout Spray to use when dry (the spray can be used as a top-up during the day too!).
Shop online at willandzo.com.
Clover Cheeseboard & Knives from Thor’s Hammer
Designed to complement a set of three cheese knives by local metalsmiths Ferro Forma, the three leaves of the Clover Cheeseboard can be separated to easily pass around the table, or kept together for a stunning centrepiece. The sculpted curves mirror the playfully folded metal of the Ferro Forma knives.
Part of the new ‘Thinking Small’ collection by Thor’s Hammer, showcasing a range of everyday items made from short lengths of 100% recycled timber, and other recycled materials.
Visit the showroom, workshop and gallery at 10 Mildura St, Griffith or shop online at thors.com.au.
Sustainable stylish Fressko from The Museum Shop
Fressko’s stylish and sustainable cups, bottles and flasks elevate your on-the-go refreshments.
Their lightweight, insulated stainless steel reusable coffee cup is the new and improved version of the classic takeaway cafe cup, while their Core 1L Flask merges versatility with style for those always on the move.
Fressko Camino 340ml Cup $40; Grande 475ml Cup $45; Tea Infuser 500ml $50; Core 1L Flask $65
Shop online at shop.nma.gov.au or pop into Museum Shop at the National Museum of Australia.
Conversion Tableware from Canberra Glassworks
Designed by Katie-Ann Houghton, the Conversion Tableware series (from $75) is the newest addition to Canberra Glassworks Signature collection.
Meticulously crafted in the Glassworks Hotshop, each decanter and tumbler are the result of an upcycled wine or spirit bottle. Choose from a palette of upcycled bottle colours including Moscato clear, Champagne green, and Riesling amber, all of which are unique to the previous life of the bottle.
Shop instore at Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue Kingston. Extended trading Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm until 2 pm Saturday 23 December.
Political Pack from Parliament Shop
Parliament Shop’s Political Pack is a gift collection designed for passionate political enthusiasts. It includes socks inspired by the House of Representatives, a postcard and a prime minister mug.
Options include, Tony Abbott, Anthony Albanese, Julia Gillard, Bob Hawke, John Howard or Robert Menzies.
Parlimint tea is a fitting addition, with a roll of Parlimints and a Christmas card featuring a gold foil geometric tree design rounding out the pack.
Limited edition. Available while stocks last. RRP $50 from parliamentshop.com.au or instore.
Single Malt Peach Tea from POP Canberra
Cheers Mate’s Single Malt Peach Tea is the ultimate gift for any spirit lover. Sweet, enticing and uplifting peach gives way to notes of dark brown sugar and caramel.
Deliciously simple, just add lemonade or enjoy over ice! The perfect drink for a warm summer evening.
Pop into POP at 27 Lonsdale St in Braddon—they’re open from 7 am to 10 pm right up until Christmas – or download the POP app to shop local from your phone!
Canberra Thinks You’re Boring Too insulated drink bottle
Are you sick of hearing how boring someone’s year 6 camp to Canberra was? So are we. Bite back with North/South Print Shop’s Canberra Thinks You’re Boring Too insulated drink bottle.
The bottle is matte black, holds 550ml, and is double walled vacuum sealed to keep your drinks hot or cold. Its unique split bottle design allows you to easily add ice on those hot summer days as well as making cleaning a cinch.
Shop online at northdotsouth.com.
Canberra Distillery Christmas Gin Cube
Choosing Christmas gifts is hard. But the Canberra Distillery has made things at least four times easier by creating a special Christmas Gin Cube ($120).
Combining 200ml bottles of their four most popular gins (the HerCanberra French Earl Grey, Blood Orange, Dryand Sloe Gin) this is a gift that will appeal to all tastes.
Also, have you noticed how much easier it is to wrap a cube rather than a bottle? They’ve thought of everything.
Order from thecanberradistillery.com.au or pick up from the Distillery headquarters at 70 Dacre Street, Mitchell.
Timeless Gold Hoops from Arnold & Co Jewellers
Gold hoops are a staple piece that belong in every jewellery box! Available in a wide range of sizes from huggies to statements, thin or bold, gold hoops make for a classic gift that anyone will be grateful to receive.
Gold hoops tend to suit everyone and every occasion thanks to their versatility – this pair (RRP $165) is a small to medium size, made from 9k Yellow Gold and has a unique twisting style that gives them that little bit extra. Available instore only.
Pop instore to explore Arnold & Co’s range of gold hoops, available in different golds, styles and sizes.
Shop online at arnoldcojewellers.com.au or instore at Shop DF 12 /13, Canberra Centre, Bunda St, Canberra City.
Treat someone special to the joy of music with Canberra Symphony Orchestra concert tickets
When it comes to experiencing the essence of Canberra, it doesn’t get more special than a Canberra Symphony Orchestra concert.
For a unique Christmas gift, treat someone you love to tickets to one of the CSO’s highly anticipated 2024 Season: Earth and Sky concerts (from $49).
Ranging from the sheer power of the full orchestra on the Lllewellyn Hall mainstage and cosy, hour-long chamber music matinees to the innovative and thought-provoking Australian Series, there’s something to suit everyone.
For the gift that will stand out under the Christmas tree purchase tickets to individual performances here or organise a gift voucher so your favourite person can choose their own musical experience.
Harriet Schwarzrock from The Curatoreum
We love local legend Harry Schwarzrock – her tumbled bowls and vases are a Curatoreum staple.
There’s a colour for everyone in her incredible pieces (ranging in price from $130-$185) – you’ll find it hard to choose from her bud vases, bowls, and vases. Or you could just take them all!
Shop online at thecuratoreum.com (order by 14 December to be sure you make Christmas cut-off) or pop instore at National Portrait Gallery or the National Arboretum.
Poncho Fox Xmas Spirit
Xmas Spirit is the perfect Xmas Drink – a thick spiced rum that tastes like Xmas pudding in a glass! Heavy on the spice, thick and golden sweet, it’s the perfect way to get festive with friends and family.
Buy online from ponchofox.com.au, pick it up from POP Canberra or find it at the Old Bus Depot Market in Kingston.
