“I HAVEN’T SAT at this table yet…” Alan McMahon, the man responsible for the interiors of Osborn House says, pulling up a chair at the biggest table in Dinah’s – the intimate formal dining room of the new design-focused country hotel. You wouldn’t expect an interior architect to sit at every single table in the space they’ve created, but then again, not every project is quite as special as Osborn House. The project was a two-yearlong labour of love, where McMahon, along with former Soho House design director Linda Boronkay, were tasked with creating “a slice of Europe in the Southern Highlands”, while honouring the building’s history, the picture-perfect established gardens and panoramic views of Morton National Park.
While the brief called for Europe, the Australian roots of Osborn House remain strong. “One of our values at Osborn House is putting the local community first,” says founding director Adam Abrams. You see it everywhere, from the produce in the kitchen to the artworks and intricate bespoke fittings that make this space one of a kind. Around the table at lunch today sit artists and producers who have all made a mark on this space – Jai Vasicek, who painted the murals and portraits that adorn the walls throughout; Lucy Montgomery, who designed and created the one-of-a-kind light fittings; and Caroline Pena and Marcelo Garrao from Rockaway Farm, one of the local producers that supplies the kitchen.
“We have an incredible opportunity to positively and directly impact
