AFL grand final week usually takes centre stage in the tiny Girgarre community, but that will change this year as Gargarro Gardens becomes the headline act of the week starting September 19.
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The gardens will be officially opened during grand final week and open to the public for a springtime inspection.
Athol “Doc’’ McDonald, who — as project convenor — has seen the project from its submission stage to almost full completion, said two important dates had been settled for the next few months.
“Not only will we be opening the gardens in that week (starting September 19), but the cafe will be officially opened on November 15,” he said.
Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek has been invited to officially open the cafe.
Mr McDonald said the project committee had settled on Kyabram-based hospitality experts Joel Raglus and Leon McAsey as the inaugural operators of the Gargarro Gardens Green Thumbs Cafe.
Mr Raglus said the pair had been in hospitality for years and after a stint in Melbourne were “coming home’’.
“We’ve always had a dream of having our own cafe, coffee shop or wine bar,” Mr Raglus said.
The cafe will be operational in late October, or early November, open six days a week, from 7am until 4pm (closed on Tuesday).
“The council has also allowed us 15 nights a year to do evening functions,” he said.
Mr Raglus said that could lead to “on the green’’-style entertainment being featured at the gardens site.
Mr McAsey said they were excited by the business plan ever since hearing about Gargarro Gardens funding on the ABC 18 months ago.
“It will be fantastic for the area and, as the gardens grow, it will only get better,” he said.
Mr McAsey said the double-storey cafe would allow for 30 to 40 people downstairs and 60 to 70 upstairs, while also featuring an outdoor dining and entertainment area.
“We are really open to anything, including weddings,” he said.
“We will be employing an executive chef to work at the cafe.”
Mr Raglus said they would really like a chef who could work with natural ingredients, in keeping with the garden feel, and include that as a component of the menu.
Mr Raglus is well known to the Campaspe region in his capacity as operator of a popular mobile coffee van.
He and Mr McAsey have signed a four-year lease to operate the cafe.
Mr McDonald said the cafe lease had two local applicants and the committee was really happy with both.
Quarrell Constructions, the contractor responsible for the project build, is expected to complete levelling work, along with lawn seeding and sprinkler installation during late August.
“It is just too wet for them to do those works at the moment,” Mr McDonald said.
A feature of the gardens will be a dead grey box tree, which stands alongside the galvanised lookout tower.
“There were only thee trees on the land when we took possession. The lookout tower will be a popular feature and it will have artwork added in coming weeks,” he said.
“The contractors are pretty close to finished. They are working on the last of the garden beds now and will then start on the open parkland.
“But the cafe won’t be operational until October.”
Mr McDonald said the original cafe design had been tweaked, mostly for financial reasons, but it had retained its industrial style.
“The building itself is close to finish, but landscaping and other exterior works need to be completed,” he said.
“It will be a brilliant, once finished. We are very happy with the work of Brandrick Architects of Echuca.”
Mr McDonald said when it came to planning and construction the European shipping container style had been more expensive than the a conventional build.
Gargarro Gardens has been funded a series of government injections after the land was gifted to the committee by Kraft Heinz.
The 12-hectare property has been developed on the back of a $1.48 million Regional Investment Fund, $814 from the Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Program and $300,000 from the Building Better Regions fund.
Kyabram Free Press and Campaspe Valley News editor