The Spirit of the Outback blasts its horn and the ‘whoosh’ of carriages flying past our position on the Platform 1 back deck at The Shed suspends the conversation momentarily.
The familiar ‘rail symphony’ is not simply signalling the passenger service between Brisbane and Longreach is closing in on Roma Street Station.
In a way, it sounds the rebirth of our region’s railway towns, which include Palmwoods.
Part of that renewal is a fresh crop of businesses and restaurants — with multi-faceted business, The Shed among them.
Interior designer Dianna Ryan and husband Geoff, with a background in real estate and property development, had a vision to take their successful antiques and furniture business with small café at Forest Glen to a new level.
The then Buderim residents scoured the region for a suitable site and could see Palmwoods was ‘going places’. What caught their eye was a massive resurrection of a bank of heritage-listed railway sheds being restored by local antiquarian Marilyn Stokes.
Many naysayers had thought the 105-year-old structures beyond salvaging. But through the new collaboration, the sustainable restoration project reimagined the space and created the Ryans’ unique destination business.
Full of character and history, The Shed opened its doors in August 2021 and has since become an intrinsic part of Palmwoods’ modern renaissance.
Geoff says the new site solved their desire for more customer parking and expanded their concept to include a commercial kitchen.
The emporium side of The Shed sells an eclectic mix of chic vintage and antique pieces in immaculate condition, new homewares, art, jewellery, collectibles and curiosities.
Adjoining the retail store, Chew Chew licensed bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, morning and afternoon teas, functions and special events in a variety of ambient dining areas.
With a backdrop of stylised graffiti art to go with our trainspotting, Geoff outlines how the business has evolved over the past four years.
“It’s exponentially grown,” he says. “We attribute this to our dedicated team of chefs, front of house and retail staff who consistently offer our customers a wonderful food and shopping experience. Both businesses work symbiotically together.”
Hubby and I arrive early for our noon lunch booking to browse the thousands of emporium items that have been handpicked by Dianna and Geoff and are impressively displayed.
The more you look, the more you see.
Lamps, towels, soaps, fragrances and candles are among the many quality new items — boutique brands savvy shoppers won’t find in the large department stores or other specialty retail outlets.
“A lot of homewares Dianna sources from boutique importers and agencies that only deal with [interior] designers and not the ‘big guns’. It’s probably fifty-fifty now — vintage and homewares, and constantly evolving as trends change,” Geoff says.
But today, I’m more interested in taking a stroll down memory lane — to a bygone era of Nana’s good dinner sets and cutlery boxes, embellished mirrors over grand timber sideboards, cosy Chesterfield armchairs and glory boxes.
Geoff says the stock comes from as far north as Rockhampton, south to the Tweed and west to Toowoomba. “We’re well known for taking on stock that’s rare, unusual, unique, interesting, one-of-a-kind, quirky,” he says. “We’ve stocked everything from handmade, custom-made teapots to luxury designer leather goods, and rare paintings from artists such as Arthur Boyd and JP Russell. We’ve just had a lovely range of nautical gear — 1800s ship wheels, a mid-to-late 1800s engine room telegraph. They’re rare.”
Four years on from taking their leap of faith, the Ryans — now Palmwoods residents — enjoy a strong local following and repeat custom. Many visitors choose to make a day of it, catching the train from other parts of the region, Brisbane and further afield.
Four-legged and feathered friends (including a regular macaw) often accompany their owners on Platform 1 and the front patio, adding to the convivial atmosphere.
Meandering around vintage plate settings on a lacquered circular dining table, stopping to admire beautiful white linens and LV buckle-embellished high heels, and taking a closer look at chandeliers and sculptures, Venetian masks and silver butter dishes can work up an appetite — or, at the very least, a thirst.
Time to take a seat at the bar for perhaps a cocktail, a glass of the Hedonist Sangiovese from South Australia’s McLaren Vale or maybe a Heads Of Noosa Japanese-Style Lager from the curated selection of imported and local brews.
“All our wines are cellar door only,” Geoff says. “From Margaret River through to the Mornington Peninsular and everything in between.”
It may be time for lunch but it’s hard to walk past the aroma of freshly brewed teas and barista-made coffee, or the tempting array of locally made cakes, pastries, muffins and scones served with jam and cream. But the real treat is to sit in the spacious main dining room or intimate private space (seating 18 around a stunningly lit, mid-century table), take in the view out to the tracks and savour the flavour of modern Australian cuisine as the bistro champions local, seasonal produce.
“The Sunshine Coast region has some wonderful cheesemakers, we’ve got wineries, we’ve got beef producers, we’ve got so much fruit and veg being grown locally. There’s no reason to be buying avocados from New South Wales or bananas from north Queensland,” Geoff says.
Guests will find the breakfast menu has all the usual classics done well, but with a tasty twist.
Selections include pancakes (light, fluffy pancakes stacked and topped with a mixed berry compote, ice cream and drizzled with Maple syrup), loaded smashed avocado (on grilled sourdough with grilled haloumi, cherry tomato salsa and balsamic reduction) and smoked salmon scrambled eggs with toasted sourdough and dill labna.
The seasonal stars of the lunchtime ‘winter comfort food’ menu will be hearty, wholesome soups, hotpots and slow-cooked casseroles, and four different risottos on rotation, Geoff says.
And the on-site smoker is set to get a workout.
The hickory slow-smoked beef brisket sandwich (with housemade smoky barbecue sauce, bacon, Swiss cheese and coleslaw on Turkish bread, served with hand-cut chips) is a popular staple at lunch — one for which hubby gives the two thumbs up.
I choose to tuck in to an Asian-inspired bowl of jasmine rice, capsicum, carrot, edamame and watercress — a tangy explosion of flavours on the palate, nicely balanced by my addition of grilled prawns.
Chew Chew Bistro also has made a name for itself in the functions space. From book launches and corporate events to birthday celebrations, weddings and wakes, it caters for 76 seated guests, or cocktail-style with finger food and the popular grazing platters.
Geoff’s tip is to keep an eye on the website for details on special events, including a French night, cheese appreciation, and masterclass with champagne aficionado Rebecca Grisman.