Tolga loses arty icon
Gallery’s owners call time
LOCALS loved it and thousands of day trippers and tourists have stopped by for a cuppa and a browse at some amazing local craft, but now the Tolga Woodworks Gallery and Cafe is no longer.
Trevor and Annette Allwood decided after 40 years to sell the business and enjoy some hard-earned retirement.
The gallery opened on December 16 for the last time.
“In 1978 our friend Don transported us in his cattle truck to Tolga. In 1988 we built an additional gallery,” Mr Allwood reminisced.
“Almost 40 years to the day, we decided it was time to retire. We put the land and the buildings on the market and thought we could still continue the business later on if we wanted.
“But we sold it to the Salvation Army which is really out of left field. They said they had been looking for a site in Atherton for 12 to 14 years be- fore they came across this place.”
The Salvation Army is now renovating the building and will continue running a cafe on the site.
An opening date is yet to be confirmed.
For the Allwoods, their love for Tolga will keep the pair in the town even though their business has closed.
“We’re staying local, we love Tolga and the Tablelands, and maybe I’ll do some woodwork at home,” Mr Allwood said.
“I’ve still kept some of my machinery and I intend to operate as a hobbyist, maybe go to the markets.
“The staff we had in the cafe were a variety of ages, they were really good. The local people weren’t too happy to hear about us closing.”
The self-taught wood-tur- ner praised wife Annette describing her as the “driving force in the business”.
“She was the organised one behind the scenes. I was the little artist out the back,” he said.
“I went a little bit more for the art side than the standard stuff, it is a bit more enjoyable.”