Oyster Cove Cocktail Bar, Batemans Bay: Owner Tramayne Chatfield reveals inspiration

A young indigenous entrepreneur is set to bring night-life to a “rapidly growing” south coast town, opening a waterfront cocktail and oyster bar.

At just 23-years-old, a young indigenous entrepreneur has set his sights on bringing night-life to a “rapidly growing” south coast town, opening a brand new cocktail and oyster bar.

Tremayne Chatfield set his sights on opening the ‘Oyster Cove Cocktail Bar’ years ago, but said he felt too young to start the business. Now, he is turning the idea into a reality.

“I moved away to play footy in Queensland but I got homesick and came back to the bay with ideas on starting some businesses,” he said.

Mr Chatfield – who grew up in Batemans Bay – said when he returned to his hometown he had no idea what businesses he wanted to start.

However, it wasn’t long before he became a part owner of the ‘Jim’s Mowing’ franchise in the town.

Construction on the inside of the bar is nearing completion. Picture: Tom McGann.

The indigenous mural tells the story of the Clyde River. Picture: Supplied.

“The mowing business business is going along nicely and so I turned my sights to starting a bar I’ve really always wanted to open,” Mr Chatfield said.

Opening at 5 Orient St, Batemans Bay, the bar will be run out of the old ‘Coyote Mexican Restaurant’ waterside storefront which has been vacant for six years.

The bar is opening out of the old 'Coyote Mexican Restaurant' shopfront which has been vacant for six years. Picture: Tom McGann.

“It’s just the perfect spot to operate a cocktail bar,” Mr Chatfield said. “I mean just look at those views – who is going to get sick of drinking a cocktail or wine looking at that?”

Along with the scenic views, the bar will also feature an indigenous mural wall – a move by Mr Chatfield to express his Aboriginal culture.

“It’s something I really wanted to do so people could look at it and know we’re on indigenous land,” he said.

“The mural tells the story of the Clyde River which we’re sitting next to and the story of the oysters which customers will be enjoying.”

'Oyster Cove Cocktail Bar' owner Tremayne Chatfield is set to open the bar to the public in the coming weeks. Picture: Tom McGann.

Oysters will play as big a part in the bar as will the cocktails, with ‘The Oyster Shed’ across the Clyde River supplying fresh and locally caught oysters.

“The oysters will be as fresh as they come and while customers are eating them, they can look out at the river where they came from,” Mr Chatfield said.

Along with oysters, the bar will also serve finger food like hot chips and wedges.

The move to open the bar comes only months after ‘Mami’s Bar’ – a previous cocktail bar in Batemans Bay – closed down.

Tremayne Chatfield said the bar would have the best views. Picture: Tom McGann.

However, knowing Mami’s Bar closed has not phased Mr Chatfield, who said his bar was something “very special”.

“We have had so much interest from the community and we’re going to provide a lot more than previous bars in the area,” he said.

“We want to encourage live music and so will attempt to have live music in the venue regularly.

“It’s going to be very bright and colourful in here and we want people to come in not just late at night, but also at lunch time during the day.”

‘Oyster Cove Cocktail Bar’ is expected to open to the public in the coming weeks and will be open Monday to Thursday 12pm to 11pm, Friday to Saturday 12pm to 12am and Sunday 12pm to 10pm.

“We’re so excited to be bringing night-life to a town which needs it with its rapid growth,” Mr Chatfield said.