Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Megan Doherty

Braidwood Bakery could be moving after 90 years

Canberrans' famous stop-off the Braidwood Bakery could be on the move. Picture: Facebook

Plans for the famous Braidwood Bakery to move out of the main street after 90 years appear to have been put on hold - for now.

A development application has been approved for a new $1.2 million bakery around the corner on the road to the coast, in Lascelles Street.

The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council approved the development, on vacant blocks of land, last September.

The bakery has been in the main street, Wallace Street, since 1932.

The Braidwood Bakery is slated to move around the corner here, to Lascelles Street, the road to the coast, with a new $1.2 million bakery to be built on the vacant block. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

However, the current co-owner John Woodman said this week he was unsure of when to progress with the new bakery.

That was because the bakery relied on the custom of the travelling public and he was still concerned there could be more COVID lockdowns over winter.

"I can say with 100 per cent honesty, we do not know what we are going to do yet," Mr Woodman said.

DOJO Bakery owner Mark Barrington with his daughter Tilly. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

Mr Woodman said the main reason they wanted to move the bakery was to provide designated parking.

The new development includes parking for 24 vehicles, with the parking lot to be accessed off the side street, Elrington Street.

The Boiled Lolly shut in January after 17 years of trading on Wallace Street, but may yet re-open in another location. DOJO Bread will move to The Boiled Lolly building. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

It's just part of a lot of movement along Braidwood's historic main street.

The local chemist has already moved out of Wallace Street, also to Lascelles Street.

The local Braidwood chemist has already moved out of the main street. Picture: elesa Kurtz

The Boiled Lolly shop closed its doors in January after 17 years trading on Wallace Street.

But its owner Brenda Vardanega is understood to be considering moving into the old chemist shop further north along Wallace Street and opening another lolly shop.

And artisan bakery DOJO Bread is planning to move out of a laneway off Wallace Street into The Boiled Lolly building across the road.

DOJO owner Mark Barrington said he had bought the building which housed The Boiled Lolly.

"I'm doing works to it in my spare time because I'm still having to work 70-odd hours a week baking here," he said.

"I've finally found someone I can train to bake and this person was right under my nose all the time, because it's my daughter, my eldest child, which is fantastic. That means I can theoretically take a couple of days off a week to go and do what I need to do there."

Daughter Tilly will be trained up as a baker.

DOJO Bread has been operating for 16 years in Braidwood.

If the Braidwood Bakery doesn't move and DOJO shifts into Wallace Street proper, the two bakeries will be almost facing each other on the main street.

"We have different markets, we co-exist very well," Mr Barrington said.

"Frankly, I'm very glad they're there. If they run out of something, I'll give it to them and if I run out of something, they'll give it to me. That's always the way it's been."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.