Thelma's Cottage review, Temora, NSW: A real country treat

THE PLACE

When I arrive at this charming, though fortunately twee-free, cottage, conveniently tucked away around the corner from Temora's main street, I'm greeted not by Thelma herself, or, for that matter, even Louise, but Mavis and Madge. Obviously, while I'm travelling solo, I'm going to have company. Those M&Ms, you see, are the resident chooks at Thelma's Cottage. They come to greet me, loitering around the locked glass backdoor, leading me to ask myself whether I should let them in for a proper introduction? Best not, less I incur a cleaning fee, but it's lovely to be blessed with such unexpected company.

THE LOCATION

Temora, with a population of 6200 or so and part of NSW's vast Riverina region, is a four-and-a-half hour or so drive southwest of Sydney. Best known for its superb aviation museum at the local airport, where spectacular air shows are oft staged, Temora is also the home of Paleface Adios, the horse dubbed the Phar Lap of harness racing for its remarkable winning exploits in the 1970s. The town, while not the most obvious NSW holiday destination, makes for an excellent stop on a road-trip around NSW or even a suitable place to base yourself for forays to surrounding towns and inland cities. Griffith, home to a proud and thriving Italian-Australian community, is one and three-quarters hour drive away to the north-west while Wagga Wagga (spot of clay-shooting, anyone?) is under an easy hour by road to the south.

THE COTTAGE

Named not after the Hollywood film title (or at least one half of it), Thelma's Cottage derives its name from the owner's beloved late grandmother, Thelma Hartwig, with the cottage redolent of the "simple joys of life [of] this wonderful woman". While it probably won't make the interior design excellence cut for a full spread in Country Style or quite appeal to the flaky Instagram generation, this snug two bedroom, fully-renovated (but not excessively so) and nicely-decorated cottage is an affordable delight. Sleeping up to six guests, with two queen beds and two single beds, the kitchen includes an always welcome coffee machine while there's a washing machine and dryer if your clothes are due for a launder after some time on the road. The sizeable, secured backyard is perfect for children with a thoughtfully-provided trampoline, basketball hoop, sandpit, toy car track, outdoor blackboard, grassed area and even a dress up box.

THE FOOD

Culinary pickings are slim, though not slimming, in these immediate parts but Thelma's Cottage has a fully-catered "gourmet-style" kitchen with fresh eggs courtesy of our feathered friends and a supermarket only a stroll away. The Royal Hotel on Hoskins Street, the nearby main street, offers a decent enough pub dinner while for brunch or lunch Diamonds & Dust, a non-fusty bric-a-brac emporium with a fine cafe, is a fabulous find with tables and chairs scattered in between the wares. Further along the main street, the White Rose Cafe, with its intact 1950s decor, is a local treasure, as is the Paragon Cafe at nearby West Wyalong (see below) which, while dating as far back as the 19th century, has a wonderfully retro 60s Formica-style vibe.