Surrounded by pristine water and bushland, and protected from the Pacific Ocean by Belowla Island is Kioloa - a quiet coastal town, situated south of Ulladulla on the South Coast of NSW.
The history of Saltwood Café and Lifestyle
Originally known as the Kioloa Beach General Store, the local landmark had been serving locals and tourists since the early 1960s. Once a thriving business selling fuel, general supplies, fishing tackle and takeaway food - by 2017, it had sadly fallen into disrepair, closed and remained on the market for a number of years.
Susan Clelland and her partner Ean Beard have lived in the Kioloa area for over 30 years. Spotting a gap in the market for a café with space that had the potential to become a meeting place for all - they purchased what would soon become, Saltwood Café & Lifestyle in 2018. With two years of planning and building, as well as working long hours, the couple set out to create a space that would “bring the old girl back to life and once again be of service to our growing community.”
Luckily, Ean had been a builder with a great passion for architecture, while Susan had a background in retail. Together, they opened Saltwood Café & Lifestyle, a mixed business, but with a modern twist – offering a beautifully appointed licenced café and takeaway with a home and giftware section attached.