Built in 1908, 55 Buckenbah Street, Geurie, was initially the Sarquins General Store.
In 1909 Madam Montague moved her café, fruit and confectionary business into the shop. She operated as a café and refreshment rooms until 1914.
From 1914 the premises were taken over by M Cornwall, who also acquired the agency for Bennett and Wood bicycles.
Subsequent operators of the café were the Rougalls, and Miss Ethel Darling.
In 1924 Alf Noldt, blacksmith, moved to a building at the rear of the café.
In the late 1920s the café was taken over by Mr and Mrs Campbell.
In 1938 it was bought by George Kaloutsis and operated by his family until 1962.
From 1962, it was Costello’s Café, and then the Geurie Nursery, operated by George Freeman and Jim Dimond.
In the 1990s while trading as Alladin's Cave the premises were restored whilst the building was owned by William & Jennifer Gordon.
The verandah was replaced under the supervision of Wellington Council Heritage Advisor, with a grant from the Wellington Council Community Heritage Grants Program.
On 20 October 2000, the Gordon’s sold the property to Adam and Catherine Foley.
From 2000 until 2011, the Geurie Heritage Garden Cafe and Antique Store operated.
From late 2013 heralded a new chapter, with artist and solicitor, Matilda Julian painting the exterior and opening a coffee shop called ‘Bliss and Friends’.
Pictured here with Mads Allen and Beau Beggs - Matilda Julian is often acknowledged as instigating the revitalisation of modern Geurie.
Words from the Little River Guide >
“Matilda is a celebrated artist who takes pride in not celebrating herself (Luckily we do it for her). Local folk law in her hometown of Geurie tells of a commitment to community, her infectious laugh and an ability to manifest ideas in her sleep! There is nothing Matilda and her trusty sidekick, Banjo the rescue dog, won’t try - at least once. Her Geurie farmhouse [was] famous for long philosophising afternoons of tea drinking, and provides the backdrop to many of her landscape paintings.”
2017 saw the arrival of Alice Mary Designs.
Whilst Matilda lit the fire in the belly of Geurie, it was Alice Mitchell (nee McLeish), who was a constant source of inspiration and retail therapy for local Geurie-ites. In the early start-up stage, Alice was supported by many locals, amongst those being Cate Whiteley.
Alice operated her recycled / pre-loved home designs retail shop from 2017 and relocated to Wellington in November 2023.
2018 saw another entrepreneurial Whiteley open the cafe doors - this time Boo!
Boo & Crew provided locally sourced and lovingly prepared drinks and bites. We knew Geurie was changing when fresh Komucha hit the menu in late 2018…!
Another local lawyer Amy French (nee Mawbey), launched French Press Cafe in 2021.
Black & white tablecloths, great coffee and the best sourdough toasted sandwiches, Amy French launched the French Press Cafe in late 2021.
By August 2022, French relocated out of the district, and sold her cafe business to her employee Britt Denniss, a local Geurie Gal.
In June 2022 the Foley family sold 55 Buckenbah Street, Geurie to Buckenbah Collective Pty Ltd. Buckenbah Collective was jointly founded by Eliza Whitely and Claire Booth (nee Osborn).
Eliza is an Optometrist, and lives by the motto: "build it, and they will come", having inherited an entrepreneurial spirit from her parents Craig and Cate Whiteley.
Claire is a Lawyer and Farmer, with two young kids. Claire and her husband Brendan moved to Geurie in 2011 and established the primary production business, BoothAg. Claire’s law firm C.O Booth Law & Advisory has an office in Dubbo.
After 12 months of renovating, Eliza got married, and new adventures awaited her. https://www.whiteleyoptometry.com.au/
Eliza’s seed investment was bought out by Claire, and Eliza and husband Jack Courts, took over reins of Jack’s family stud cattle business “Glenalbyn”, which is renowned for producing soft, sound, and easy-doing cattle. Eliza and Claire remain good mates & enjoy catching up, without a paint brush!
Shortly after Eliza stepped out in June 2023, educational training consultant, Libby Wilson stepped into Buckenbah Collective. By April 2024, Libby joined Claire as a director of Buckenbah Collective Pty Ltd.
Libby is an experienced community worker, advocate, teacher, facilitator, and an accredited Instructor with Mental Health First Aid Australia.
Over 25 years Libby has taught, supporting, mentoring, counselling, and coaching some of the most vulnerable and resilient community members in rural, regional, and remote NSW.
Libby’s business Croydon Training and Consulting was established to cultivate genuine, authentic connections with community, industry, and individuals to promote mentally healthy and inclusive schools, workplaces, homes, and communities.
Libby & Claire are a great complimentary team, each with different skills sets, but focused on a joint vision of creating modern spaces and community benefits, throughout regional New South Wales.
Previous businesses which operated at 55 Buckenbah Street, Geurie
From July 2022 to December 2023, French Press Café operated in the cafe space.
Britt Denniss established her hair salon Creative Collective. Britt employed many local teenagers, training them to be baristas and learning the art of customer service.
Britt is acknowledged as the ‘brains trust’ behind the children’s playground which now sits in the garden courtyard.
In July 2023, Britt sublet her cafe to REDI.E, who operated the cafe as Wilay Cafe - Geurie until the end of 2023.
Tracy (an employee of RED.I) was well loved by those who dined in the café, and was capably supported by Simone, Ella & Carrigan on weekends.
REDI.E changed their mind about operating a café in Geurie and didn’t proceed with the café purchase from Britt.
Sadly, in June 2024, REDI.E were advised their funding had been terminated and they withdrew from other café ventures they had in the region.
Finishing touches
Renovating a beautiful old building like 55 Buckenbah Street, for us, has meant creating modern, beautiful and functional places to host local, small businesses.
But it has also been about rejuvenating a part of Geurie’s main street. We really want people to stop in Geurie and enjoy being a customer of any of the small businesses on the main street.
With highway frontage, and ample car-parking, there is no shortage of options for locals, visitors or those travelling through with their caravan or bike, to stop and explore.
Signage:
The existing DA (which the former owners obtained), held an existing council approval for signage. We were fortunate to rely upon this DA and work alongside Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) to figure out what the existing DA permitted.
DRC approved the building signs in late September 2024 and a few weeks later, Lachlan Naef of Solid Signs was on site with paint brush, applying traditional signage that compliments the building and the era of the village.
New white planter boxes with Geurie tolerant succulents & red geraniums completed the building restoration.
Wheelchair ramps & handrails:
We were delighted to have an on-site visit from Rushan Hill, Community Development Officer of DRC, in relation to wheelchair access to the gallery and the café. We have installed a ramp into the art-gallery and have a concrete ramp coming to enable accessible access into the side of the Café.
The toilet in the courtyard was purpose-built to be wheelchair accessible, and we have one more public-facing doorway (into the second dining room) to make wheelchair accessible in 2025. We highly recommend any business or organisation in DRC region contact Rushan, as she was a wealth of knowledge, professionally trained as a physiotherapist, Rushan has a common-sense approach and is determined to make access available for everyone, regardless of ability or eyesight levels.
2 November 2024 saw the building host a group of 130 people, including many civic leaders and politicians, as well as many of the 45 tradespeople who transformed the building since mid 2022. Music by Allyn Smith, photography (including this beautiful group photo) by Sally May, catering by Terre Rouge Fine Food & stunning tablecloths & colour by Jacinta Haycock. We were thrilled to learn that The Hon. Stephen Lawrence, MLC, introduced a notice of motion to the Legislative Council of New South Wales to note the community event and acknowledge the very hard work of all the tradespeople and folks that pulled together to restore the heritage building. A copy of the motion is below.
Sincere thanks to:
Federal Member for Calare The Hon. Andrew Gee MP,
Dugald Saunders, the Member for Dubbo, Shadow Minister for Regional NSW, and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Trade and Natural Resources, Leader of The Nationals.
DRC Mayor Josh Black,
DRC Deputy Mayor Phillip Toynton,
DRC Councillors:
Clr Jen Cowley OAM,
Clr Adam Ryan, and
Clr Lukas Butler.
Thanks also to DRC CEO, Murray Wood for joining us, as well as Senior Electorate Officer, Jane Diffey. It has been wonderful to have broad community support from many levels within our community.
