A family that has worked for four years to create a community hub in a growing outlying Ballarat town are selling their business and moving from the region.
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Belinda Brooksby and Anthony Penhall, with their son Hugo, 8, are looking for new people to take on the legacy they have created at Cafe Sidra in Learmonth.
The family has moved back to their previous home in Kyneton with Mr Penhall returning to work as a teacher and Ms Brooksby planning to run new airstream bar Little Sid at festivals and events.
It is a sad but happy ending for us that we are leaving.
- Belinda Brooksby, Cafe Sidra
Ms Brooksby said they loved what they had created at Learmonth and would miss seeing customers who had become friends every day, but they were ready for a change of pace to spend more time with their son.
"It is a sad but happy ending for us that we are leaving," she said.
"We have loved it. We always had that four or five year plan.
"We have changed a lot and had to reinvent so many times, but we feel like we have left it in a great position for someone else to step in and enjoy the beautiful village of Learmonth."
Ms Brooksby and Mr Penhall first met in Berrigan New South Wales when Ms Brooksby returned to Australia after working as a cook in New York.
They started a cafe together in the town that had never had a coffee shop before and the business became a thriving community hub.
The couple sold the business seven-years-later when son Hugo was born and moved to Kyneton, looking to take on a restaurant or cafe.
Friends rang and told them about a beautiful place in Learmonth. Ms Brooksby and Mr Penhall loved the building and decided it would be their next business venture.
They renovated the historic building, adding on the back deck and the pizza oven.
"Anthony is from Ballarat, but I had never heard of Learmonth or been anywhere near there," Ms Brooksby said.
"We leased the building and started Cafe Sidra from scratch. We loved the space and loved the idea of a hub for locals that we didn't know and could get to meet.
"We loved it was on the Sunraysia Highway on the way to the Pyrenees and the wineries. We also loved the space out the back. Anthony loves gardening. He loved growing all the veggies and setting up the space.
"I always loved doing weddings and events. The plan was to run it as community hub cafe and open it up for weddings and events as well."
The family moved lived on the 321 Cider apple farm and the cafe became its cellar door.
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Ms Brooksby said there was no community hub in Learmonth when they first moved to town.
Learmonth had changed over time, with the closure of the primary in 2012 due to a dwindling attendance rate, the closure of a church, pub and general store and the lake dried up.
There has been change and growth since, with the creation of a community foundation and cider education facility at the old school site, the reopening of the pub and a subdivision set to bring in new families.
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"There are a lot of new families with babies moving to Learmonth," Ms Brooksby said.
"A lot of the land is being subdivided to nice big blocks, people are renovating and gardening - it is becoming a gorgeous hub."
Throughout the town's change, Cafe Sidra has played a key role in bringing together community and offering a meeting place.
"Sidra is just flat out," Ms Brooksby said,
"We were doing lots of weddings. We had 200 people on Friday, a massive wedding last weekend and the weekend before.
"What did set it apart was the pandemic. When COVID came we became the post office, the general store, the cider bar, it really did become the local hub for the community.
"It became this amazing space, because no one could travel."
Ms Brooksby said customers were 'so loyal' during the pandemic.
They went from feeling worried when COVID-19 caused the cancellation of all events to 'flat out' during the pandemic.
She said they had always loved feeling a buzz from making customers happy and working with staff that felt like family.
"During COVID when people didn't see anyone, we didn't stop seeing people. It really kept us going mentally and emotionally, not just financially," she said.
Another highlight from the year was a visit from television show Postcards which triggered flocks of Melburnians to visit the cafe before lockdowns hit again.
Ms Brooksby said she had always loved cooking and described herself as 'food obsessed'.
She said they loved serving simple but good food.
"A lot of people say our food is homely, relaxed with a little bit of style. We cook everything from scratch," she said.
"Learmonth being in rural area, we had so much appreciation of the produce we could get locally. People were always dropping in produce like pumpkins, spinach and kale."
Little Sid, Ms Brooksby's next hospitality venture, is a 1970s original airstream caravan from America, fitted out with a deluxe bar.
It has already been on the road doing events from race meets to farm weddings and Ms Brooksby plans to take it to big events and festivals next year.
Ms Brooksby said their family would miss Cafe Sidra when the time comes to hand over to new owners, but they would definitely stay in touch with Learmonth.
"So many customers have become great friends. It will be nice to sit there and have a drink with them on the other side," she said.
In the meantime, 'perfect nights' will solidify fond memories of their Cafe Sidra journey.
"Friday night was the perfect night. We had 110 for dinner. It was beautiful, everyone had the best night," Ms Brooksby said.
"We had a wedding last weekend, with 150 from Melbourne. They danced all night.
"Everyone loves the venue because it is so relaxed and has that sophisticated country charm. It is a special building and town."
Cafe Sidra will shut for a few weeks over Christmas and Ms Brooksby will commute to Learmonth to continue to run the business until it sells, with Mr Penhall joining on weekends.
Ms Brooksby plans to return to Ballarat with Little Sid once their Cafe Sidra journey ends.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
