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“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.”<\/p>\n
Ms Tasker took over the business two years ago from Ms Sloane, who operated the space since 2019 under the name The Gatehouse Cafe.<\/p>\n
Ms Sloane drew on Gothic, vintage, rock ‘n’ roll aesthetics as well as her Maltese background in shaping the business.<\/p>\n
The venue had operated as a cafe space through Ballarat Cemeteries since 2011, and prior to that it was used as a meeting room.<\/p>\n
Ms Tasker said she looks forward to the beginning of a new hospitality venture.<\/p>\n
“That’s definitely the plan, to find a new space and it has to be the right kind of space,” she said.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n