Doors close at cemetery cafe

FOR several years, a small cafe and florist just beyond the Lydiard Street North entrance of the Ballarat New Cemetery has, until recently, served as a welcoming respite for many visiting their deceased loved ones.

Now due to necessary building maintenance through Ballarat Cemeteries, The Botanical House has closed its doors for good following the venue’s final day of trade just before Christmas.

Owner and manager Shelley Tasker said it was an overwhelming experience to see so many saying goodbye.

“It was a very busy day which was wonderful and we had the previous owner Annmarie [Sloane] here as well,” she said.

“There were a lot of people to support me and help me through. There’s been so much love and support from the regulars, even the new people who just found us.”

Ms Tasker said the extensive maintenance required on the building means the cafe can no longer operate there.

“I was informed nothing’s been done externally for almost 30 years, and internally nothing’s been changed other than general maintenance since it became a cafe,” she said.

“The building’s 122 years old this year so it’ll be nice to see her restored and repaired so she can last another 100 years.

“It could take them quite some time. It’s not like a six-month job. It could be a lot longer and they’re not sure they’ll have it as a cafe again.”

Ms Tasker took over the business two years ago from Ms Sloane, who operated the space since 2019 under the name The Gatehouse Cafe.

Ms Sloane drew on Gothic, vintage, rock ‘n’ roll aesthetics as well as her Maltese background in shaping the business.

The venue had operated as a cafe space through Ballarat Cemeteries since 2011, and prior to that it was used as a meeting room.

Ms Tasker said she looks forward to the beginning of a new hospitality venture.

“That’s definitely the plan, to find a new space and it has to be the right kind of space,” she said.

“Any space isn’t necessarily the vibe with what I’m going for with my regulars. The biggest thing will be accessibility because a lot of my regulars are older people that have limited access.

“This has just become one of those things where I love what I do so much, it never feels like work, and everybody keeps telling me I’m good at what I do.”