By Romy Stephens
It’s a case of new beginnings for Grants On Sherbrooke cafe.
The Kallista-based business was dealt with numerous blows in 2020. Early in the year, lingering smoke from the Black Summer bushfires drove away customers before the cafe’s bird feeding attraction was banned.
And this was all before Grants was forced to close its doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But wind the clock forward and Grants on Sherbrooke is now gearing up for a big summer ahead.
“We have lots of plans going forward and we are excited about a new beginning,” cafe owner Cheryl Campbell said.
“We have a new chef, we have a new menu, we have a marquee now that we can use for various purposes, including private functions.
“We’ve been getting more and more locals coming through every day, and the feedback and support we’re getting from everyone is fantastic.”
The cafe is located at Grants Picnic Ground, along the picturesque Monbulk Road, which winds through Sherbrooke Forest.
It’s a perfect spot for travellers passing through the Dandenong Ranges, or for those who want to spend some time exploring the spectacular surrounding mountain ash forests.
“There are numerous tracks within the park itself, open picnic areas, a shelter, free barbecues, lots of lovely walks, and disabled-friendly walks,” Ms Campbell said.
“There is also a trail rider available from Grants, which is a motorised wheelchair for people with a disability to negotiate the tracks.
“An up to two and half hour walk along the eastern Sherbrooke loop or there are walks as short as 20 minutes. You can also walk to the Lyrebird Falls which are lovely as well.
“Apart from the park, it’s a good starting point for lots of places. We’re within five minutes of Puffing Billy, we’re also on the road through Silvan which goes out to Lilydale, once you hit there you’re almost in the Yarra Valley.”
This summer, Grants will be offering picnic hampers filled with goodies, such as wine and cheese, and a returnable basket and rug.
The cafe’s souvenir shop will also continue to feature its iconic Australian gifts, as well as more localised gifts such as incense and oils.
“We’re looking at, in the gift shop, catering for the local market as well. Having said that most of our locals shop at Grants for their overseas gifts,” Ms Campbell said.
“We’re keeping all of that even though we don’t have internationals coming at the moment.”
Also in the pipeline for this summer is the creation of a new outdoor entertainment area, which will see a beer garden feature on the grassed area below the cafe’s deck.
It will provide the ideal spot to sit back and relax on a summer’s day with a fabulous forest backdrop.
Ms Campbell said she thinks of Grants as having the “whole package.”
“We’re nestled amongst the most magnificent mountain ash, we’ve got areas for picnics, we have a lovely cafe and restaurant, we’ve got takeaway food, we’ve got a gift shop and we’ve got prepared picnic hampers.”
And some visitors might even be fortunate enough to sport some unique Australian wildlife during their visit.
“There’s a chance to see our wombat, we also have an echidna that lives very close to the building and there’s a wealth of lyrebirds and plenty of wild birds flying around,” Ms Campbell said.
“You still have the cockatoos and the rosellas but you’re just not legally allowed to feed them.
“We’re probably seeing more kookaburras, king parrots and other varieties of birds now that the feeding has stopped.”
Grants on Sherbrooke is located in Grants Picnic Ground at 70 Monbulk Road, Kallista. To find out more, contact 9755 2888.
