Six Seasons: Lemon Myrtle Coconut Cake
- Words by Peppermint
The calendar of the South West’s Nyoongar people includes six annual seasons – Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba and Kambarang – which all reflect the changes in the natural world that come with the passing of time. Each is traditionally used as a guide to what to harvest and where to move across the land.
We’ve teamed up with our friends at Fremantle’s Lighthouse Baking to bring you six recipes that each fit with a Nyoongar season – helping you observe all six seasons with something delicious and truly timely. The penultimate recipe reflects the Bunuru season of February and March – the hottest part of the year, when lots of white flowering trees are in full bloom. Known at the time of adolescence, it’s a period of hot winds and a shortage of fresh water. Traditionally a sweet drink was concocted from the blossoms of flowering gums, and annually in late summer and autumn, families and friends would come together around freshwater sources along the coast. What better way to celebrate a coming together than with this delicious, seasonal lemon myrtle cake!
Ingredients
½ cup (125g) unsalted butter
1 cup (250g) caster sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups (185g) desiccated coconut
1 cup (125g) Lighthouse Cake, Sponge & Steamed Bun Self Raising Flour
2 tsp ground lemon myrtle
Method
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well after adding each one.
Stir in coconut, flour and ground lemon myrtle gently until combined.
Put mixture into a greased and base lined 20 cm (8”) round cake tin and bake at 160º celsius for 1 hour or until cooked.
Syrup
Ingredients
1 cup (250g) sugar
½ cup of water
1 tsp ground lemon myrtle
Juice of 1 lemon
Method
Bring all ingredients to the boil stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Strain lemon myrtle from syrup and pour the syrup over cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Leave cake to cool in tin before turning out.
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As issue 64’s gorgeous cover artwork by artist @LisaCongdon proudly proclaims: you belong here. Yet for trans and non-binary people, acceptance still remains hard won – and increasingly under threat.
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Photos: @NickCog, @KateLukePhotography for @DangerousFemales, Kim Leutwyler, @RissVisualStudio
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Who’s going to the sold out Liberty Fabrics Showcase in Brisbane or Melbourne? 🙋♀️
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Keep an eye on our socials this weekend for BTS! 🌸🌼🌺
Brisbane 7/2/26
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From @Laura_The_Maker:
If you know me irl then you probably know that I only do one take for my reels so enjoy this vid of me saying thousands of words about an exciting collaboration I’m participating in for 2026!
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Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
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Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
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Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
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Photos: @Samsette
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Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
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