Linton’s latest café a hub for community

A CHEF by trade, Carl Oberhauser has been on a professional cooking hiatus for ten years, but he never lost his passion for food, culinary expertise or creativity.

Moving to Golden Plains from Melbourne 15 months ago, he and his wife, Rachael Gauci felt their tree change was an ideal opportunity to share their mutual love of food with their neighbours, and developed their own enterprise.

Launching Linton Larder a month ago, the pair have gutted, cleaned and furnished what was previously an old speakeasy wine bar on Sussex Street.

“We want to serve old fashioned, good hearty food that isn’t overpriced. We asked for suggestions from our local clientele, and that’s one thing they wanted; affordable prices,” Mr Oberhauser said.

At home in the kitchen, he loves local produce and is passionate about supporting businesses and experiences close by.

Stocking bread, pastries and pies from Buninyong Bakery, coffee from Ballarat’s Hellbilly Roasting, muesli homemade in Linton, honey from Pittong, lollies from Castlemaine, and local fudge, the pair source supplies from SPC Cannery, Wendouree.

They value “micro businesspeople.”

“In the last five to six years, the paddock-to-plate concept has been a boom, and that’s partly because Australians watch a lot of cooking shows,” Mr Oberhauser said.

“People like that. If you say you’ve got grass-fed beef from a local butcher, people are more interested in that than a Safeway steak.”

The Linton Larder promotes the nearby tourist experiences the Ballarat region and Golden Plains Shire has to offer, including the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail.

The café is dog friendly, and welcomes horse riders around the back to safely enjoy a coffee stop with their animals.

Currently working a corporate job, Ms Gauci dreams of soon focusing on the café full time. The pair are keen to continue supporting the other small business owners down the street, and for their venue to become a buzzing community hub.

“We have a book club already coming in. In Linton we have a horse community, push bikers, gardening, car and walking groups, and adventure motorcycle riders too, coming in and out,” Mr Oberhauser said.

“When we were open on the weekend, I said to Rachael, can you hear that? It was soft tunes in the background and just talk.

“No phones were out, everyone was chatting and laughing, talking politics, old cars and pushbikes.”

Under COVID-19 restrictions, the Linton Larder can accommodate 12 people inside. For bigger groups, booking is preferred.

Outdoor dining under the veranda “Queensland style,” and in the alley next door, is planned. Sunday acoustic sessions are on the cards.

Mr Oberhauser has applied for a liquor licence, hoping to stock the basics; some light beers, one red and one white house wine.

In their “humble beginnings so far,” he wants to thank the community for their support and patience.

“The Linton and District Progress Association are proactive and sharing the love, and a big thank you to my surrogate mother and manager, Dawn, who has rolled up her sleeves,” Mr Oberhauser said.