This multi-purpose heritage venue in Witchcliffe is a must-visit on your next south west road trip
WA’s south west is home to many beautiful, historic towns and while Margaret River is often on the receiving end of plenty of love, neighbouring Witchcliffe is steadily growing to become one of the region’s must-visit spots.
Article by Jono Outred.
One venue leading the charge in putting Witchcliffe on the map is The Witch and Windmill, a multi-purpose, heritage venue with a diverse range of businesses housed within spanning food, wine, coffee, books, crafts and more.
Get the lowdown on your latest south west obsession below:
Coffee at Witchy Brews Espresso Bar
Tucked away but certainly not hidden thanks to the unmistakable aroma of freshly ground coffee, Witchy Brews Espresso Bar has all the trappings of any good coffee shop, but with a beautiful and bespoke outdoor dining alfresco area built from recycled timber and steel. Vintage furnishings and wallpaper and a small ranging of cakes and donuts complete the picture at this pint sized, charming coffee corner.
Reading, Writing and Art at The Marritree
Enter The Marritree and delight your senses with beautiful local art, new and old books, and music. While day to day you can immerse yourself in everything displayed in store, The Marritree also hosts feature poets, live music and writing workshops on the regular, allowing local artists, musicians and poets to connect and engage with those seeking their work. It’s a vibrant, enlightening space that supports local art and literature.
Herbs & Spices at The Shed
Whether it’s cooking, tea, medicine or purely for aromatic joy, The Shed has a huge ranging of dried herbs and spices for a multitude of purposes, along with local goods like coffee, chocolate, honey, trinkets, and art. The small but well stocked space has a little bit of everything, including its own range of house-made balms, oils, syrups and tonics, and even hosts workshops and a weekly ‘Herb Club’ where you can learn about the many uses of all of your favourite herbs, including how to grow and store them.
Wholesome Pottery at Rae Collected
Rae Collected is a small but inspired pottery studio for the works of Ella Rae Stubbs, set in an old, repurposed railway carriage. Within the unassuming space is dozens of custom and entirely unique pieces, available for sale or for admiring. Stoneware plates and soap holders sit alongside incense burners shaped like locally foraged banksia leaves and mugs with pressed prints of shells from neighbouring beaches. All the pieces in this bright and dreamy studio are inspired by and connected
to WA’s vibrant Southwest, truly impressive in their unique, hand-shaped designs.
Wine Tasting at Amato Vino
Amato Vino has been producing lo-fi wines since 2003 but have found a home at The Witch and Windmill to peddle their wines and offer insightful wine tasting experiences. While other wineries in the region like to stick to the classics, owner and winemaker Brad Wehr likes to lean a little more eclectic. Regional Stalwarts like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon go toe-to-toe with neighbouring winemakers but it’s the intriguing and not so regular varietals that takes Amato Vino’s tasting experience to another level. The tasting list features wines like Savagnin, Trousseau and Tereldego for you to explore, and if you’re feeling peckish, there’s cheeseboards featuring local Cambray cheese and condiments, too.
Lunch at Dear Darnell’s
Dear Darnell’s is one of the freshest faces to the Witchcliffe drinking and dining scene, but you mightn’t think so given its housed within a heritage building with an interior cleverly fabricated from recycled timber, steel and artifacts. Despite its vintage aesthetic, Dear Darnell’s offers up contemporary food and cocktails in a relaxed bistro setting. Dishes like charred octopus with smoked garlic, macaroni cheese triangles or pizza topped with lamb and caramelised fennel are perfect to share while mixed drinks are neatly presented and err on the side of classic. Think a Tommy’s Margarita or Dark and Stormy, while local wines and a small ranging of craft beer round out the experience.
Header Image Credit: Dear Darnell’s