After its only cafe closed, the regional town that once hosted Eric Bana and The Dry is desperate for food options
After its only cafe closed, the regional town that once hosted Eric Bana and The Dry is desperate for food options
Can you imagine having nowhere to buy lunch? Almost a year after opening its doors, the local cafe in the Mallee town of Beulah has closed its doors, and farmers and tourists have to look elsewhere for a bite to eat.
It's been a funny little dream of mine for years to run a store/eatery in a small country town. Don't know how I'd go in real life (closest I got was running a pub bistro in a country town about 15 years ago) but I can still dream.
I know a dude who really wants to open a cafe in an old train station building, like the ones they've sold/leased off along the Bendigo line. Personally I reckon that's a pretty good idea. Although since trains don't really do refreshment stops anymore, you'd probably be fairly limited in clientele.
Bannockburn station near Geelong has a restaurant in the old station building (which is a beautiful 1800s bluestone style), but they've been "closed for renovations" since COVID and I don't know whether they're ever actually planning on reopening . But I imagine opening one at a station actively in use would probably be more profitable
Pop-up cafes would also be a great idea in old station buildings along Rail Trails.
The problem is that most stations on Rail Trail routes have been demolished or (if they are lucky) relocated.
Last year I went on a ride from Nyora. It would have been a much nice ride if I had a nice coffee and breakfast at the start of the ride, Lunch at Bena (or if I was fitter, Korumburra) and then ride back for a nice afternoon tea back at Nyora.
Defunct station buildings are the perfect size for a proper cafe or restaurant, and already have a large paved alfresco area for diners; especially on rail-trails or heritage railways.
Beulah is an interesting little place. 300ish people. Has a relatively large train station that used to be served by trains heading up to Hopetoun, and for a while, Patchewollock