Professionals Tamborine Mountain 
Windswept and Interesting has been one of Tamborine Mountain’s most, well, interesting boutiques for 22 years now, making it one of the original occupants of the mountain’s famed Gallery Walk. Tanya Bregnsdal tells all in this interview, revealing what it’s like to have been a part of such a hotspot of fascinating activity since the beginning and what trade secrets she’s learned along the way.
by Kyle Hitchmough
How did you get started here?
I’ve always been in fashion since I was a pipsqueak in the 80s. I started off in Denmark modelling, and then when you do that you end up in fashion. Then we moved to Australia and I started up a beautiful shop down on the Gold Coast. From there we thought Mt Tamborine was beautiful. There was no-one up here. We were one of the first boutiques on the mountain. We’ve collected so many customers, I think 50% of our customers are local. We give them discounts; we look after them. People actually rent cars from New South Wales just to come see us. It’s not just a shop, it’s a very personal experience. It’s very intimate. People will come in and tell us about what’s happening in their lives… it’s just beautiful. It’s a huge compliment when people treat you like that. We appreciate it a lot, and I think that’s why we’re still here.
How would you describe Windswept and Interesting?
It’s a fashion boutique, it’s also antiques. In England, where I grew up, we were into antiques and auction houses and galleries… so a lot of the antiques and art are very European/ Australian… It’s just a bit of an eclectic mix. While their wives are busy down the back, the husbands can be playing with swords in the front room! There’s something for everyone.
Do you specialise in any particular style of clothing?
We’re a little bit out there. I import from Europe so we do have a very vast selection of choices for people. We go from Scandinavia to England to Italy to France to Turkey… We’ll get in boots, caps and hats from America. It’s not just a particular age group, either it’s from 20 up to 100. I had one woman who was in her hundreds and she said, “I’m after a Queen Anne dressing table, but you’d better be quick!” We do have a giggle. All age groups, all types, not judgemental or posh. We’re really friendly. I just appreciate people walking through my front door.
Do you have any particular bestselling items?
It’s across the board. We do shoes, jewellery, all of it. Everyone’s different and you can never tell who’s going to want what. We’ve got a bit of everything. It’s almost like a department store. And the music is very important to us. We can go from the Beatles to Pink Floyd to classical. We look at who’s in the shop and suit the music to that group of people. That’s a bit of a secret of the trade!
What goes into an average workday for you?
I’m usually sourcing. I don’t come into the shop that much anymore, but I have beautiful, fabulous girls working in the shop who’ve been with me for ages. They tell me what people are looking for. I keep a finger on the pulse for what’s new in colours, that kind of thing. I don’t go wholesale like your average place, I’m always looking. That’s what makes us different.
Are you a local? What’s your opinion on the area and the community?
Yes, for 30 odd years and I’m still here! On the whole, it’s a beautiful place to live. I’m known on the mountain as the mad tree woman because I’m the kind that ties herself to trees. I’ve battled to get some trees saved and have been successful. I’m very much an environmentalist. If you move up here, don’t chop the trees down, for goodness’ sake. Living in harmony with nature is such a huge part of being here. I do hope anyone who’s new on the mountain appreciates what brought them here.
What do you think Windswept and Interesting brings to the mountain?
I think it’s an international kind of vibe. It’s not just another shop on the mountain where everyone says they’re different. People come up here and say “My goodness, what’s this shop doing on Mt Tamborine? Why aren’t you on the Gold Coast?” Because we get such a cosmopolitan group of people, it’s nice that they have a reason to come up here and find something that’s not the norm. We bring a bit of glamour to the mountain.
What do you enjoy most about doing this?
The people. Also, the hunt for that new thing, the fabulous new thing that you’ll find, and it arrives, and you unpack it and pull out this fabulous sequined dress and it’s exciting! Watching people’s faces when they walk into the room and their jaws. You can see them walk into a very nondescript front door and they see this huge shop full of glitz and glamour, and it’s just amazing watching their reaction.
What’s your most memorable moment from your time here?
I’ve had a man propose down on one knee in the middle of the shop and then go over and buy a diamond ring, which was really lovely for us too! I’ve had people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer come into the shop and we’ve nurtured them through it, and they’ve had good news for us, and that’s a huge thing. I’ve had peacocks, chickens, bush turkeys, all just walking in and wandering around… That’s the lovely thing about the mountain, you don’t just get customers! Try and get a peacock out of your shop.
Is there anything else you’d like to go on the record?
I appreciate everyone’s support, and even through COVID it’s just amazing how people will shop local and feel proud that we’re on their mountain and that they’re part of it. They’ll come and tell me how they feel about the shop and I really appreciate that.
We are always looking for new topics for our blog. If there’s something you like to see more of, email your suggestions to: social@professionalsserendipity.com.au, or email the writer at kyle.hitchmough@hotmail.com.
