Yungaburra, strange name, charming village

Some places seem to be a magnet for artistic and creative people. What is it that attracts them? I’m sure you have found these charming havens of beauty. The craft shops are over-flowing with creative nick-nacks, paintings, sculptures, pottery and hand-crafts all made by local artists. Delightful cafes and restaurants use local produce and interesting menus to lure you inside. The streets are lined with large pots of flowers and old trees grace the landscape. Stumbling across them in your travels is what makes memories.

Yungaburra is one such place.

I have very fond memories of previous visits, especially a hair cut I had there 2 years ago at a small hairdressers salon called “Joolz”. Finding a hairdresser when travelling can be a drama, either too expensive or they leave you looking like you have had a pudding basin cut. Jane was a magician with my hair 2 years ago, so feeling shaggy and daggy in the hair department I was so relieved to find her still in business.

Our new home is only a short drive from Yungaburra and I looked forward to rediscovering its unique village atmosphere. I was not disappointed. Coming out after the haircut I felt like a renewed woman and went looking for Jack who had gone walk-about.

I found him at the Red Shed…

The Red Shed

Stained glass window in the Red Shed

Ian Reece has recently taken over the running of this outlet for the art of local people. Though he needs the aid of a motorised wheelchair to get around and is battling Parkinson’s disease he is an inspirational person, passing on his knowledge. The present display is the work of local school children and he plans to have a new exhibition each month. He told us part of his life story, from being a facilitator for children’s art around the country, to working in the circus as the bottom strong man in a pyramid of 4 acrobats. We will be calling in regularly to check out the displays.

Ummm… drawing of an elderly person, now I wonder, I have 4 weeks before the submission date…

Across from the Red Shed is another artistic outlet “The Art Garage”. Partners Debbie Doidge and Jo-Ellen Bouttell are working on a mural along the side of the building.

Very talented artist Debbie Doidge with an art work in progress

Jo-Ellen Bouttell working on the mural, a work in progress

It is a work in progress and we will be calling back to see how it comes along. What talented people these two women are. They run art classes and have a range of quality art material for sale.

The Art Garage

Now this is an idea I am going to copy when I get back home

 

Debbie and partner Jo run the Art Garage, an inspirational place full of art work

Did you notice the beautiful roses and carnations in the vase? There is a rose farm just outside Yungaburra and it is a place I will be calling in to see on another day.

These come from the rose farm just down the road. That I must see another day

It must be lunch time I’m feeling hungry. We remember a small café we visited 2 years ago it left a happy memory of the delicious meal we ate there. So we walk past the pub to the Whistle Stop Cafe and find it is still open. We order zucchini slice and salad with a side dish of devilled duck eggs followed by scones and cream and coffee. Yummy…

All the meals and cakes are baked, with love, on the premises and the produce is all local. 5 minutes after we were served the power went off, how lucky we had our lunch, but how frustrating for the owners who had to turn away a number of customers.

It was another memorable meal.

The pub

I remember this place we came here 2 years ago for a memorable meal

Yummy

Charming cafe

Courtyard area

Beautiful trees

OK!!!!

refueled and refreshed we explore more of the interesting shops.

Miss Meg’s place  (Meg has more photos on her Facebook page) draws us in with its bright red façade. Many of the items have been created by Meg, local artists and craft people. The clothes are recycled and carefully sourced by Meg. The shop is an Aladdin’s Cave of delight. I peeped into the changing rooms, not your usual stark bare square with a mirror these were spacious, decorated with lace and chandeliers and painted luscious pinks, lavender and purples with a small comfy chair and pictures on the walls.

“I wonder how much longer Mistress will be?”

Meg and Mum. Meg designed and made many of the things
and most of the quality clothing is recycled

Further along the street we find the “Book Burra” second-hand book utopia. Aisles of books crammed to the ceiling, interesting artefacts dotted around, lots to look at. We browse around for a while and Jack finds some interesting books about cats and other things he is interested in, $18 for 5 books, what a bargain.

The Book Burra quality second hand books

I like this quote outside the book shop

Hundreds of second hand books and interesting artefacts to browse around

Most of the buildings are heritage listed and though it is only a population of approx. 1000 people this charming village is a mecca for tourists. We wander on past the butcher shop and pharmacy.

Old style butcher

This sounds so good

The Pharmacy

Even the trees have a skirt of flowers

There is still more to see of this lovely little village but it will have to wait for another day. I have to do grocery shopping at Atherton, 20 kilometre along the road, and a few other things on my to-do list for today. Before going home to see if the cats have missed us.

This is the beauty of house sitting you do not have to cram every thing in to a short time. Instead you can savour the experience and take time to talk to local people.

The local market is on the 4th Saturday of the month and we will definitely pencil this date on the calendar.

What a great life, I don’t think they missed us…