Woodside Heritage Village poised for $2.5m expansion in recovery after Cudlee Creek fires

A $2.5m foodie hub at Woodside is to rise from the ashes of the Cudlee Creek bushfires. Check out the exciting vision for the Adelaide Hills here.

From chocolate making classes to whisky and wine tastings, Woodside Heritage Village is poised for a major makeover in the wake of the Cudlee Creek bushfires.

The 132-year-old premises – home to Woodside Cheese Wrights and Melba’s Chocolate and Confectionery – has had a $2.5m expansion approved after a number of buildings were destroyed by the 2019 bushfires.

To be known as Henry Street, taking the name of the adjaent road, the village will include a new whisky distillery, a chocolate-making school, a wine bar and room for a dozen other food-related businesses.

Owner Christopher Roberts said he hoped the concept would turn the heritage village into the Adelaide Hills’ most exciting food destination.

Woodside Heritage Village is set for a $2.5 million expansion part of the facility burned during the Cuddle Creek fire.,

The development will have room for more than a dozen traders and a distillery.

“It’s quite a hike for people who come up from town to visit Melba’s but the reality is that they are only here for about 15 minutes and then they move on,” he said.

“So we hope to have that extra presence there so that people can spend the afternoon, or at least an hour or two, eating and drinking and looking through all the different tenancies.”

Mr Roberts said excavation work had started on the site, with construction of a distillery – and new home to Iniquity whisky – to begin within weeks.

Works are due for completion in February and will include a tasting room for about 50 people.

Construction on stage 2 – a new food hub and wine bar – will begin next year.

The site will offer room for 11 new tenants, with each business site including its own alfresco space.

It will also retain aspects of the burned building as a tribute.

Christopher Roberts standing in part of the multi-million Henry St and Co. development in Woodside. Picture: Matt Loxton

The redevelopment will try to incorporate aspects of the old village.

“The buildings that were burned down were heritage listed, but Heritage SA has allowed us to pull them down and rebuild,” he said.

“So we’re hoping to incorporate some of the structures, including one of the walls still standing. They are a bit charred but look pretty cool so we’re encapsulating over the top of those (walls) with stage 2.”

Mr Roberts said a number of businesses had already expressed interest in joining Henry Street.

“We’ve already had some strong interest but we haven’t actually gone to market yet … so we definitely want to hear from anyone who is interested,” he said.

“We’re looking for a further 11 or 12 tenants, so that’s quite a bit to fill but we want to get the right combination.

“Melba’s will be part of that group and will open up a chocolate making school in the centre which should be fun, not only for visitors but schools and corporate events.”

Woodside Heritage Village was established in 1889, housing the former SA Farmers Union Cheese Factory.