Collector probably isn’t the first place you’d think about opening a cafe. The town of just 376 people lies on the Federal Highway in New South Wales which runs between Sydney and Canberra. But this quiet country town—home of the Collector Village Pumpkin Festival since 2003—is home to Some Cafe, a cafe that not only attracts those travelling between the nation’s capital and Australia’s largest city, but also those that are heading to Collector purely to visit Some Cafe.
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We caught up with Some Cafe’s owner Lucy to find out what it’s all about.
How long has Some Cafe been around?
We started making coffee and cake in the town hall on a Sunday and it was really just a local crowd. Then the old general store became available in town and we decided to give it a real go. We have been here for 7 years now in this lovely old building, there’s a lot of upkeep but it’s worth it.
Do you know the history of the building?
The building is dated 1829, which we are told could be one of the oldest in rural NSW. It’s had a full life… it has been an Inn, blacksmith’s, post office, general store, cafe, petrol station. In the back garden, there’s the old blacksmith’s cottage which we are currently living in and renovating. We always try to reuse materials from the building wherever possible.
How did you end up in Collector?
Ollie is from the area and grew up between Canberra, Bungendore and Collector. He has family here and a real connection to the area and country life. Myself, on the other hand, grew up in a big city in the UK so this is worlds apart. It’s an area that I’ve really grown to love and the journey of starting and growing our business here has been a wonderful experience, albeit with its challenges along the way. The people and community are what keep us here for sure.
What do people usually get stuck into at Some Cafe?
Our toasties! We’ve had our smoked free-range ham, cheddar & mustard toastie on the menu since we opened and it’s become a bit of a classic.
What are some other local businesses you can recommend?
There are so many great local businesses in the area! Our neighbour Collector Fresh sells local produce and lots of lovely gifts, Lerida and Lake George wineries are just up the road and both have delicious wines and beautiful views.
In town, there’s also the Bushranger Hotel Pub where you can have a beer and a game of pool, and then The Olive View cafe and restaurant has just recently opened and has great food and an abundance of local olive products. There’s also a whole range of cosy Airbnbs in town, and Collector Cottage is also a florist—Rachel’s dahlias are the best.
