Following a public café expression of interest process and renovation, Footscray Community Arts is excited to announce a new addition to its creative hub in Footscray – Myrtle Wine Café, set to open on 6^th November 2020.

Myrtle Wine Café is the next venture by local Ellen Turner, owner of popular Kingsville favourite, Willow Wine Café. Myrtle will be a licensed café providing healthy, affordable, quality food and beverages with a focus on local producers, seasonality, low-waste and ethical sourcing. Excellent service, openness and inclusivity and meaningful engagement with local residents, suppliers and our communities and audiences will underpin all aspects of its operations. Myrtle’s menu will pivot around high-quality ingredients, with brunch, take-away, picnic kits, high-quality coffee by Five Senses, and as the name suggests, a curated selection of Victorian and international wines.

The iconic bluestone Henderson House building has overlooked the Maribyrnong River since 1872, and through its many lives, been home to a piggery, trading merchant and bank, before becoming home to Footscray Community Arts in 1979. Many locals and Footscray Community Arts audience members have missed Happy River Café – a much-loved meeting place for community members, families, artists and neighbours over a number of years. The café space functioned as a festival hub for Due West Arts Festival in 2019 following the end of Andy’s Remedy’s lease, and has since been renovated during the pandemic closure period.

Myrtle Wine Café will open 6^th November 2020 and will follow Victorian Government COVID-19 trading restrictions.

According to Robyn Gawenda, Executive Director and Co-CEO of Footscray Community Arts:

“We’re thrilled to be working with Ellen to bring Myrtle Wine Café to life. Myrtle’s focus on environmental sustainability and local community engagement resonates deeply with our values at Footscray Community Arts, and we are looking forward to welcoming the community back to this important meeting place.”

Ellen Turner says:

“This is a rare and exciting opportunity for me to work with such an incredible institution and in vibrant Footscray. With Myrtle Wine Café, I hope to add value to the area and provide a beautiful environment for people to meet and work. I look forward to working alongside Footscray Community Arts and the surrounding community, and no doubt learning a lot from both!”

More details to come.

Footscray Community Arts is an independent community-contemporary arts precinct – a place for artistic vibrancy, new work, big ideas and important conversations. Stay up-to-date with our program and reactivation dates on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

You can also follow Myrtle Wine Café on Instagram and Facebook.

Image by Gianna Rizzo, featuring Robyn Gawenda (Footscray Community Arts Executive Director and Co-CEO), Daniel Santangeli (Footscray Community Arts Artistic Director and Co-CEO) and Ellen Turner (Proprietor of Myrtle Wine Café).