Shannon Hawkes Artisan Florals to open new shop, cafe at 211 Upper Dawson Road, Allenstown

A prolific Central Queensland business is looking to open a new shop and cafe in a property in Rockhampton. See the plans here.

A popular Central Queensland florist has lodged plans with council to transform a house on Upper Dawson Road in Allenstown into a florist and cafe.

Shannon Hawkes Artisan Florals first opened with a Yeppoon store more than six years ago and rapidly became one of the most sought-after florists for weddings and events in the region.

Blooms and Alchemy barista Sophie White. Picture: Darryn Nufer

The business’ Normanby Street Yeppoon store also has a travelling bar, Blooms and Alchemy, that opened in May this year, selling coffee, cold-pressed juice, sweet slices, savoury muffins, bliss balls and other raw treats.

Ms Hawkes opened a second florist shop in Rockhampton’s William Street last year and is now looking to solidify a Rockhampton location after buying a property at 211 Upper Dawson Road, Allenstown, in July this year.

The shop at 211 Upper Dawson Road in 2010.

The home, believed to have been built in 1930, is about 450 metres south of the St Peter’s Catholic Primary School.

211 Upper Dawson Road, Allenstown.

A development application was submitted to Rockhampton Regional Council by Gideon Town Planning for a material change of use for a shop and food and drink outlet for the property.

Floral arrangements and cakes by Shannon Hawkes Artisan Florals.

The plans are only for minor internal changes to meet operational requirements and amenities.

The cafe kitchen and florist/shop area will be at the front, with storage in the rear bedrooms.

The overall built form of the property will not be significantly changed and the character will be kept.

It is proposed the shop will generally operate from 6.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm on Saturdays and be closed on Sundays.

Shannon Hawkes in 2021 at the opening of the William Street store.

The William St store will be closed as of this weekend and the florist will have a pop up shop at Allenstown Square from Monday, November 7.

It is hoped the Upper Dawson Road shop will be operational from February 2023, pending council approvals.

A couple of cafes have popped up in residential areas on the city’s south side in recent years, with Kinsfolk on Meter Street near Rockhampton Grammar School opening in December 2021.

Earlybirds cafe, part of the Mercy Health Aged Care centre on Spencer Street, opened in July.