A cafe in Ebor is demonstrating that a small hospitality business can survive and thrive in a small, remote village. Several months ago, the Fusspots Café was taken over by Shirley Heffernan and Matt Ward, with Shirley’s daughter, Veronica Ward managing the business, which has been going from strength to strength.
Fusspots is tapping into tourist and highway traffic along the Waterfall Way. “We’ve been very well supported by our local community,” Mrs Heffernan said. “So, we’ve worked hard to cater for local needs. We are open seven days to meet demand. We are even looking at our capacity to cater for functions. With Armidale being about 80km to the west, there is a need for that in the area.
“Refining and building upon what we offer is a constant, ongoing process – like making sure we are serving really good coffee.”
The success of a business like Fusspots has numerous flow-on benefits for a community like Ebor. There are staff employed from the district. The cafe is also serving as a retail outlet for cottage industries in the area, such as woodwork, handcrafted by Ebor resident, Matthew Prowse. A wide range of genuinely unique souvenirs and giftware is on display.
“It is great that we are able to help locals to sell their handicrafts,” Mrs Heffernan said.
“We’ve got locally made stools, made with horse shoes, through to boutique chocolates from Byron Bay. They’re selling well because people appreciate country hospitality and the opportunity to buy something special that is a little different,” she said.
“The Waterfall Way is listed as one of the top three tourist drives in NSW. Our strong visitor trade can only grow. Plus, we see a lot of people from nearby towns such as Armidale and Dorrigo coming to Ebor, for a coffee and a meal as a short, hassle-free getaway.”
Ebor is more than a rest stop on a scenic highway. Local tourist attractions include the constantly spectacular Ebor Falls, national parks and the LP Dutton Trout Hatchery. The trout fishing season, which runs between the long weekends in October and June also attracts anglers from inter-State and abroad.
Story: Gary Fry
