Bluebird Cafe Lockhart NSW

Pam · Guru

Bluebird Cafe Lockhart NSW

Gerty Dancer · Guru

I'm sad about that... for many years through my childhood and on until 4 years ago I stopped there on my way to visit rels. Oh well, nothing lasts forever I spose.

Thanks for the post Pam...

kandagal · Guru

Is Lockhart 'the verandah town' & has that nice litle caravan park at the end of town on the creek?

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Thats the one Kandagal, there used to be big peppercorn trees in the main street for nice shady parking. Most of those are gone now, apparently susceptible to bugs of many kinds. But the verandas remain.

Bluebird · Member

Hi Folks,

We are the new owners of the Blue Bird Cafe in Lockhart and I wanted to let you know what is happening with the much loved cafe. We bought the place in July at which point it had already been closed for a year. It was suffering from the effects of two floods and an extended period of being closed up (no to mention general age related sagging), and so we decided that this was the best opportunity it would to have for a complete physical renaissance.

We are currently working hard to restore the lovely 109 year-old building which, was originally an oyster bar before it underwent a Hollywood makeover in the 1930s to become the iconic milk bar cafe it is today. We intend to take the cafe back to the look and feel of its heyday (between the 1930s and 1960s), retaining the booths and the art deco features. The booths needed much restoration and re-engineering to ensure that they will last another 100 years. We are also going to get the milk bar up and running again as a refrigerated ice cream fridge and soda fountain. That particular project is still a few months away but we have been working hard since August to bring the cafe up to scratch again so that we can re-open.

Fingers crossed we will be ready by Christmas so hopefully we will see people on their travels in 2013.

Check out our blog http://bluebirdlockhart.blogspot.com.au to follow the restoration project.

Regards,

Louise and Roger

Blue Bird Cafe publicity.jpg

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Good on you Louise and Roger!!! Long may the Blue Bird serve yummy ginger-beer spiders!

Welcome to our forum, and thanks for your news.

We hope we'll see you next year.

BarbandDaz · Senior Member

Thank you Louise and Roger.

Good luck with the renovations and we look forward to coming in and saying HI to you both next year when we travel to Lockhart.

Barb

Pam · Guru

Great to know such a unique place is being restored.

sandsmere · Guru

Good stuff Bluebirds .

We are in Victoria at the moment , and will be heading to Tamworth in January for the Country Music festival .

Hope you are open by then . Will call in and check it out anyway . smile

Cheers , Brian

Bluebird · Member

If anyone is going through town the front door might be 'open' and
we have the drinks fridge full of classics such as Portello, Double Sarsparilla, Ginger Beer and lots of others.

We are also stocking Lemon and Paeroa!
And as of late yesterday we have icecreams smile

-- Edited by Bluebird on Friday 30th of November 2012 12:55:33 PM

neilnruth · Guru

Thanks for joining our forum to let us know. A great move. Hope we can visit one day too. Broken Hill has a similar art deco milk bar.

Bluebird · Member

Hi Nomads,

I am delighted to let you know that the Blue Bird Cafe in Lockhart is open for limited trading while we renovate. So if you are in our town your purchase of refreshments from The Blue Bird...ice creams, cold drinks and snacks will help fund the restoration project and for free, we will throw in a lively discussion of the process and a viewing of the historic artifacts found under the floor and behind shelves.

Regards,
Louise and Roger

Cruising Cruze · Guru

Just one questian Roger

are you the one that used to ride a Gold-Wing Gl 1500 in Lockhart many years ago ( 1991 or so )

-- Edited by Cruising Cruze on Sunday 20th of January 2013 01:49:21 PM

Bluebird · Member

Well folks,

You might be interested to know that you can now come to the Blue Bird Cafe in Lockhart for coffee or tea and to go with it, a muffin or a traditional toastie just like the old days. We are still working on the renos but we are definitely making headway and every week we have new refreshments to offer...and a little bit more of the cafe opened up for service with some of the old tables and chairs now restored and back in action. So stop in when you are in Lockhart for a cuppa and a chat and we will happily share with you stories of the journey so far.

Regards,
Louise and Roger

neilnruth · Guru

Wow! That's a random question. I'll watch for the answer. Good to hear you are making progress on the Bluebird. All the best. We'll call in if ever down that way.

Bluebird · Member

Cruising Cruze wrote:
Just one questian Roger
are you the one that used to ride a Gold-Wing Gl 1500 in Lockhart many years ago ( 1991 or so )

-- Edited by Cruising Cruze on Sunday 20th of January 2013 01:49:21 PM

Err, no. I have ridden a Lead-Wing, once. Just up to the shops... And not here.

I'm actually a Triumph man and have a Cafe Racer waiting for some TLC,

if I neded a two wheeled road train I'd have a Rocket Tourer in a flash

(Apologies to any GL owners or fans, they are pretty amazing)

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Lockhart would have been pretty hot lately, I remember a 48day there in the 1980's, hope you are all ok and everybody's coming in to buy ice-creams and Spider drinks....

Bucko · Senior Member

Hi Bluebird,

I would love to come and see you guys, I haven't had a good toasted sandwich for a long time, is there a camp spot near town to stay overnight?

-- Edited by Bucko on Sunday 14th of April 2013 11:11:10 AM

Bluebird · Member

Latest updates?
Our menu is getting a bit bigger each week. We are making our own sausage rolls and cakes daily.
The cafe' side is getting a bit busier, plenty of nomads are calling in (thanks, especially to those that help by buying things).
We've even had a couple of reviews.

Spiders are back!
And the espresso machine is getting a workout...

See you when we are looking at you.

Bluebird · Member

Hi Bucko,

Thank you and I am pleased to report that Lockhart has a newly refurbished caravan park with cabins available as well as caravan site. You can contact the park via http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/wagga-wagga-area/lockhart/accommodation/lockhart-caravan-park-9033669

It features a stunning dragon made out of farm implements...a past winner of the National Farm Art Award Competition which forms part of the Spirit of the Land Festival in October each year. It is well worth a look, as is the local Greens Gunyah Museum and the Doris Golder Gallery. Doris is one of our regular customers and the creator of some gorgeous work of wool art. She creates portraits of famous Australians using wool on canvas. They are quite impressive.

We look forward to welcoming you to Lockhart and the Blue Bird.

Regards,
Louise and Roger

Bucko · Senior Member

Hi Bluebird,

I was interested in spending some money with you not the caravan park, I'm on a limited budget, pensioner, the caravan parks are too expensive for constant use on a pension, if there isn't a free camp somewhere close, than I can't stop, sorry, good luck with the cafe.

Bluebird · Member

Fair enough, I'll try to find out what the options are...

Bucko · Senior Member

Thanks Gerty, I'm at Wilk's park at the moment, I was hoping that there was a free camp closer to Lockhart, I don't like going back and forwards, prefer to keep going in whatever direction I'm heading and lay over where ever I can to see the sights, unfortunately I had a phone call and have to go to Sydney for a family funeral, where abouts do you live on the south coast?, I live just ouside of Bombala, were neighbours, sort of..

-- Edited by Bucko on Monday 15th of April 2013 03:49:23 PM

Bucko · Senior Member

Thanks for checking it out anyway.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Bucko, Lockhart is within easy distance of Wagga. Theres a number of camp spots there, one of them is Wilks Park.. #801 in Camps 7

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Ok then head on down to Urana. Theres a spot close to the river somewhere, its years since I was there, but I remember stopping there for a picnic cuppa. Maybe if you cant find it you could ask at one of the shops like the newsagent.
You could keep on to Jerilderie or even Finley or Tocumwal. Nice camp spots along the river there, but they'll be busy as its school hols.
Lets know how you get on and where?
And do stop at the Bluebird... we always stopped there... give it my love.

Bluebird · Member

Blue Bird Sign.JPG We have a new sign out the front, we think it looks great

neilnruth · Guru

Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Bluebird · Member

Now everyone can find us

Also, we hope to see plenty of nomads at The Spirit of The Land Festival on the 12th and 13th of October.

Bluebird · Member

Bucko wrote:
Hi Bluebird,
I was interested in spending some money with you not the caravan park, I'm on a limited budget, pensioner, the caravan parks are too expensive for constant use on a pension, if there isn't a free camp somewhere close, than I can't stop, sorry, good luck with the cafe.

I know it's a while ago, but FYI Bucko I have heard the Lockhart Showgrounds ARE a free camping spot, don't think the council mentions it...