Skip to content

Your Cart

Your cart is empty

COUNTRY TO COAST

Summer with Madeline Curr


Australian summer stretches from the red dirt of cattle stations to the wide horizons of the coast. For Madeline Curr, her strongest memories are grounded in the land.


Long, sun-soaked days mustering cattle, creek swims after summer storms, and the rhythms of life on a Queensland station. Even as her work takes her to beaches and coastal shoots, it’s her connection to the bush that shapes how she moves through summer.


In this bush-to-beach Q&A, Madeline reflects on the elements that link the country and the coast, the role of her Akubra in every setting, and how she brings her signature style wherever she goes.

Q&A


Tell us about your childhood on cattle stations in Queensland. What are your strongest memories of summer on the land?

Growing up on a large cattle station in Cape York, QLD, my summers were filled with creek swimming, summer storms, riding horses bareback in the mud when it did eventually rain, or trying to stay cool under sprinklers if it didn’t.


The smell of rain creeps in as mum runs to get the washing off the line. I would sit with my ‘working’ cattle dog on the lawn and watch the storm roll in, arm over dog.

Dad’s on the phone talking to neighbours asking how much they got. Bogging the old Landcruiser Ute as we try to check what parts of the property got the most rain. All memories I cherish from the summertime.


How did growing up in the country shape your sense of style?

Bush life shaped my style to be practical, effortless, and true to me, clothes that work as hard as I do and feel like me, a stylish cowgirl.


Growing up surrounded by open spaces, early mornings, and hard work taught me to value pieces that last, move with me, and fit seamlessly into everyday life. My style reflects that balance of practicality and personality!


Your hat is a signature part of your look. What does sun protection and hat-wearing mean to you in both paddocks and at the beach?

My hat is part of my style and my sun safety. In the paddocks or at the beach, it keeps me protected while still making a statement, it’s practical and iconic all in one.


Do you find your fashion choices change between rural work days and summer beach days? How do you style your Akubra for each?

My fashion changes between work and beach days, but my Akubra doesn't, it's the one constant. Whether I'm in the paddocks or on the sand, it's part of my signature look.


What's in your summer wardrobe beyond your Akubra? Are there staples that travel with you from country to coast?

My sunglasses! I never go anywhere without them, whether that’s on a horse or on the beach.

Can you share a specific memory where your hat became more than an accessory?

One summer morning mustering from dawn to dusk, with the sun high and the wind and flies everywhere, my Akubra wasn’t just a hat, it was part of who I am as a cowgirl.


It protected me, stayed with me through the elements, and felt like a symbol of my connection to the land and life outdoors. Reminded me who I was!


What are the elements of Australian summer life that you feel connect the bush and the beach?

Sun, wide-open spaces, and a strong sense of community connect the bush and the beach. In the cattle yards or by the water, summer’s about enjoying the outdoors, looking out for each other, and embracing that Aussie lifestyle.


You work across family business, photography, and fashion. How do you balance these while still embracing outdoor summer moments?

I wake up every morning at 5AM, ride horses with my boyfriend for a few hours in the morning, then I allow myself the rest of the day to work on office jobs. The in the late afternoons we hang outside on the farm. Getting up early is the key!


Finally, what advice would you give others about living their best bush to beach summer? Whether they're in the outback or near the ocean.

Work hard, play hard, and always take your Akubra! Whether it’s outback or ocean, the best summers happen when you’re outside, sun-safe, and enjoying the people and places around you.