It takes something pretty special (as well as a lot of bloody hard work) to turn a voluminous historic building with towering ceilings into an atmospheric, cosy, contemporary cafe (Duck Duck Goose) not to mention create a stand out, one-stop produce store (Larder). On any given day, Duck Duck Goose & Larder opens its big barn doors to warmly welcome loyal locals and eager visitors. Whether you’re taken by the aroma of freshly baked house-made bread and outstanding coffee or a homely selection of house-made cakes, pastries, pies and sausage rolls, the Collinson family are a talented trio and naturals at good old fashioned country service with a smile. What an amazing family! Enjoy! {d} x
Tell us a little bit about your background/s – what were you doing prior to re-opening Duck Duck Goose & Larder?
A+J: After eight years running an IGA supermarket in Alice Springs we took a four-year break caravanning and working odd jobs around Australia including Tasmania, WA and the NT.
Thinking it was time to maybe settle down again, and be closer to our daughters who both lived in Melbourne with their partners, we took a day trip to the Macedon area and checking out house prices at a Gisborne Real Estate, we spotted the business for sale, forgot about the houses and drove to Kyneton. After a bit of procrastinating (because there was no way we were ever going to go into business again) we returned with Hannah and Bill (her partner) for a second look. With Hannah’s vision on what she could do with the cafe and the opportunities the great space provided there was no turning back.
H: I have been working in hospitality for around 10 years with taking a short 8-month break to find myself, which ended up returning into hospitality to buy my own business in North Melbourne to build up into a successful cafe, Elceed, for over two years, which still involves myself working and running it 6 days a week, so at the moment I’m only at Duck Duck Goose one day a fortnight and on public holidays when my Cafe is closed. I am currently looking at selling my North Melbourne Cafe to move to Kyneton and run Duck Duck Goose full time.
Duck Duck Goose & Larder is housed in a fabulous historic building in Kyneton’s Piper Street. How did you come to choose this delightful location?
A+J: Although we had visited the Macedon area a few times in the past, I don’t remember ever visiting Kyneton, until we came to inspect the business. From that first day we loved the feel of the town, we are country people at heart, and it was only a hours drive to both the daughters in Melbourne, and a hour to our home town of Ballarat. Kyneton also has some great eateries, and lots of interesting shops to browse through.
H: We came across the historical building on Piper Street on separate occasions. I stumbled across the old business with boyfriend on a cold rainy day trip from Melbourne over two years ago. The only reason I knew what building Mum was talking about when she said it was up for sale was the fact of its ‘old brick charm’. We also had the same perspective that it has a massive space with need of some potential to fill that void.
Duck Duck Goose is the name of the café while the Larder sells fruit, veg, and a substantial array of pantry provisions. What makes you so passionate about the products you source and running a café and grocery store in a country town?
A+J: Having nearly always worked for ourselves we love not having any restrictions on what we source and sell, although in the end it is the customer who decides what we sell. We try to give our customers as many choices as possible and if it doesn’t sell, naturally, we stop stocking it. At this stage, a lot of things are still trial and error but we enjoy the challenge to get things right. We do try and source as many of our products locally as possible, sometimes this can be a challenge as some produce is seasonal, so we are unable to stock them all year round.
What sort of reactions do you get from visitors to your WONDERFUL store?
A+J: The last 15 months have been very hard work, but the wonderful feedback we getting from our customers about our range of great products and the quality of food and coffee food served in the cafe, the many customers from out of town coming to our cafe/store because they have been referred to us by their family/friends. Plus, the encouragement and support we get from the locals makes it so worthwhile.
H: Most visitors to our store appreciate what we have done with the space, and the great produce we strive to keep on top off. The only negative vibes we get are from having no spare tables on the weekend in the cafe. But, keeping in mind we have not finished what we have started – watch this space! Good…or even great things come to those who wait. 🙂
Kyneton is in the middle of an historic food bowl area. Do you try to source local products and produce?
H: We do our best to source locally, we have tried to hit this market knowing a little of what Kyneton is after, needing and wanting desperately. The menu in the Cafe offers a wide range of dishes that I have made up; everything on that menu is something that reflects where I have travelled, places I have worked, dishes I have enjoyed designing and making for customers to eat.
What does a typical day in the life of Hannah, Andrew + Jeanette the ‘Duck Duck Goose & Larder Store Owners’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?
A+J: A typical day for us has been get up, go to work come home, eat, sleep and back to work. Fortunately, this is slowly changing, most weeks we now are able to manage one day off each a week. We are really looking forward to Hannah joining us full-time, hopefully in the near future, as she will take over the running of the cafe (Duck Duck Goose) and we can concentrate on the Larder.
What are the ups and downs of a family-owned business?
A+J: Firstly, the downs: long hours, not being able to have a day away from work together, and you tend to take work home with you. The ups: we all have the same drive and work ethics and all want the same results so that makes it a lot easier. Being able to achieve what we have so far and also plan and work on growing and expanding the business with our daughter is something special and it brings us closer together.
Do you consider yourselves to be ‘Countryphiles’? Do you love country life? Why?
A+J: We are definitely Countryphiles, and have just purchased a 4-acre property on the outskirts of Kyneton. Can’t wait to get some chickens, maybe some ducks, and get busy in the garden. Love the idea of plenty of room for our future grand kids to run around in and we will probably end up with a Pony for them to ride.
What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life? What are the ups and downs of running a store in a small country town?
H: Running a cafe in a country town is very hard; being the new kids on the block and only having regular foot traffic on the weekends, breaking into the niche of the locals was a hard thing to do but we believe the message is slowly getting around that we can make a mean coffee.
Where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?
H: My latest great meal, was from familiar local MRS SMITHS Hotel Restaurant/Bar just down the road; I was greatly surprised at what they do down there, we went as a family of six and were seated quickly on a Saturday night, was a little quiet.
YOUR country town’s best kept secret?
A+J: Kyneton’s best kept secret and great meal – we would have to agree with Hannah on Mrs Smiths.
Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?
A+J: We would definitely encourage anyone thinking of making a tree change to Kyneton to stop thinking and JUST DO IT! The people are friendly, there are lots of great cafes and shops, it’s a very pretty area. It only takes 5 minutes to get to anywhere in town, no parking meters. And, Melbourne is just an easy hour away.
What can we expect NEXT from you/Duck Duck Goose & Larder in the future?
A+J: In the near future, we hope to obtain a liquor licence to enable us to sell local wines; we have just recently started selling readymade take-home meals and would like to expand this range. Increase our homewares section, and more changes in the cafe. And, we are always on the lookout for more local products.
What would be your DREAM project?
A+J: Our dream project is to see Duck Duck Goose & Larder reach its full potential and become ‘The Place’ to visit on Piper Street for a meal and produce.
H: My Dream project is to work full time in my Cafe in Kyneton and become a cafe consultant; to be hired by new cafe owners who are looking for advice, on menu, decor, and how to run a Cafe from the ground up. This idea come to my attention when I was approached by another business owner for advice and a business proposal. After forming two non-existence cafes into fully functional cafes I believe I have found my calling and doing what I enjoy most.
Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?
A+J: A dose of city life –usually head straight to daughter and son-in-laws place in Seddon (they have just recently given us our first grandchild). From there, we visit local ethnic cafes, do a bit of shopping, have coffee at Elceed (Hannah’s cafe in North Melbourne) and check out the Markets in the area.
Andrew + Jeanette & Hannah Collinson
Duck Duck Goose & Larder
The Countryphiles 