The project started late last year when Jennifer Chiswell approached the hall committee with a proposal to run a coffee shop on Sunday mornings in the supper room of the 63 year old building.

Initial trials were met with great enthusiasm from the community who started coming along in numbers to enjoy Sunday mornings with their fellow residents.

Following a short break over Christmas, the plans were ramped up with Jennifer’s son Oliver, taking over the running of the cafe and a move to open on both Saturday and Sunday.  

Oliver named the project “Some Cafe” and with a little help from “some” friends he has transformed the Hall into a vibrant little cafe on weekends with its own unique character and style.  

While fresh brewed coffee is the mainstay of the business, scones are being baked in the kitchen stove and a range of cakes and slices are also available.  

Meanwhile, locals have taken to playing board games like backgammon and chess while a range of weekend papers are always on the side table.

President of the Collector Memorial Hall committee, Ms Kathleen Webster said that the weekend venture has breathed new life into the building.  

“It has been wonderful to see so many people calling in at the Hall on the weekends to meet up with friends for a chat and catch up with what’s going on around the village”, she said.

“The feedback has been very positive and everyone says it has a great atmosphere that you could only find in a small rural community like Collector”, Ms Webster said.

The Collector Memorial Hall committee is already discussing plans for a monthly market to compliment “Some Cafe” and maybe some exhibitions of art and craft at some further point into the future.

“Some Cafe”: open weekends, 8am to 2pm at the Collector Memorial Hall on Bourke Street.