Lodge is spot for cravings
A HOSPITALITY business with a big following is set to open at historic Tumbetin Lodge in The Palmetum gardens in Annandale.
The Townsville City Council has announced Absolute Cravings will be the new tenant in the lodge after the previous tenant, the Good Shepherd Home, decided to close its tearooms in July. Absolute Cravings has operated for eight years, most recently in North Ward as a cafe then providing ready-made meals. It has more than 10,000 followers on Facebook.
Owner Giina Lashmar said she was excited to reopen in Tumbetin Lodge.
“This has been under wraps for the past few months, and I am so excited to share that our new home is Tumbetin Lodge,” Ms Lashmar said.
“We’ve been working with council to get the space ready for our customers and I can’t wait until the doors can open to the community. We put so much love and effort into our nutritious food and now we can do it in such a beautiful space overlooking the Palmetum.”
The lodge has been refurbished with a new kitchen, new furniture and fresh coat of paint.
Built in 1934 in Railway Estate for the Roman Catholic Church, the lodge was the St Francis Xavier School until 1975, before being relocated to the Palmetum in 1993.
It is constructed mostly of silky oak timber.
Mayor Jenny Hill said it was fantastic to see the lodge transformed and a local business moving in. “Absolute Cravings is a welcome tenant for the space, and I know the visitors to Palmetum, and the residents of Good Shepherd next door will love what has been done in the building,” Ms Hill said.
“It is such a great outcome that the staff were able to work with Giina to transform the building and turn it into a full hospitality experience.”
Absolute Cravings is expected to open next Wednesday.