Duck, Duck, Goose and Larder

Located in the Australian town of Kyneton, Victoria, just over 50 miles (86 kilometres) NW of Melbourne on the M79, the Calder freeway, there is a business called Duck, Duck, Goose and Larder, a café, grocery store and homewares shop.

Duck, Duck, Goose and Larder is a quaint establishment located on a rejuvenated Piper Street, one of the oldest streets in the town. It’s a relatively young business started by Andrew and Jeanette Collinson and their daughter Hannah, in 2013. Starting as just a café, it has grown in the last couple of years to include food and nifty gadgets and such. The building, dating back to 1878, started as a market. In 1995, an accidental fire destroyed part of the building. With the help of the Collinson’s the building has transformed into a market, a thriving market, once again.

I was introduced to the café by my friend Victoria’s exuberant mother Bev, who had recently bought a home in the small town. Bev had a cappuccino, and I had a muffin which was delicious. The leaf design the server made with milk on the top of the coffee was made with tender loving care. It’s the sort of detail you see throughout the store. At the counter, there is an assortment of muffins and other treats to choose from.

We sat at picnic tables under an umbrella on the grass at the front of the building. The temperature was already close to 80 degrees. (about 25 degrees Celcius) There is some indoor seating too, which I’m sure is useful at some time during the year.

It’s a relaxing atmosphere where you can get yourself a beverage, soak up a bit of the sunshine and get organized before you start the day.

A glass wall of windows separates the café and the supermarket area. On the glass, they have written the menu and their specials.

The supermarket area is a large, open area with an assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables (something that Australians are very, very keen on), gourmet hampers (one of the specialities of the shop), meat and, what I thought was cool, a ton of kitchen and household gadgets. Some of the things I had never seen before. It’s a great place to just wander around and see what’s on offer. There’s quite an array of unique items.

I bought a small white tin laundry soap box which I then had to lug around the country in my backpack.

Although Bev and I didn’t stay long, it is certainly a place you could spend more than a little bit of time.

Duck, Duck, Goose and Larder is open for breakfast, lunch and snacks. It’s open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm and Sunday’s 10:00am to 5:00pm.

As for Kyneton itself, it’s a thriving country town in the Macedon ranges. In the last few years, it’s become a culinary hotspot of sorts in rural Victoria. Restaurants and cafes are scattered throughout the town. Many of the buildings along Piper Street have been renovated to their former selves or they have been turned into trendy shops, bars and restaurants.

Kyneton became a major hub during the gold rush era in the 1850’s and has been growing little by very little ever since. Its population is about 6600. While Kyneton is a sleepy town during the week, it’s all hustle and bustle on the weekends and holidays as people make the drive up from Melbourne. Spending the day in Kyneton was delightful. And getting to spend it with my friend’s mum was even more delightful.