Toowoomba butchery and retailer The Paddock ramps up plans for restaurant featuring all local produce

Having been established just over six months ago, this Toowoomba butchery and fresh produce retailer is planning to open a full restaurant showcasing Darling Downs produce within months.

The Paddock: L-R. Gayle, Ted and Roger Ellison. Moving to the Darling Downs over 10 years ago, the Ellison Family have a long history in grazing cattle and dairy farming, both here on the Downs and in Western Queensland.

A newly-founded butchery and fresh produce store in Toowoomba is ramping up its plans to open a full restaurant in 2021, thanks to overwhelming demand from consumers.

The Paddock, based out of the old Delacy’s Hotel on Ruthven St, was opened in June last year as shop for meat, eggs, fruit, vegetables and other deli products that were all produced in the wider Darling Downs region.

The business also has drive-through collection facilities and a smokehouse that operates three days a week.

Co-owner Ted Ellison, whose family has been farming in the region for three generations, said it was planning to expand its original plans for a restaurant due to the success of the project.

The old Delacy's Hotel is now known as the Paddock.

The company has taken up even more space inside DeLacy’s for office space after leasing it from Queensland Hot Property, and will increase the size of its commercial kitchen.

“We need more office space but we’re putting in a larger kitchen and doing a restaurant — it was in the plans but it wasn’t to this scale before,” Mr Ellison said.

“The great response we’ve had from the public to the butchery (is behind this) — we’re happy with the response based on what local farmers are saying.

“We support the farming community and then the community itself are supporting us and them.

“It’s put a load of confidence in us moving forward and to keep expanding with the demand.”

Mr Ellison was tight-lipped on the name of the new restaurant, but said he was hoping to have it opened by Easter.

“(The restaurant) is something else, just to showcase the Darling Downs on a plate,” he said.

Once the restaurant was opened, Mr Ellison said he expected the full operation to employ about 30 people in a variety of roles.

To stay updated and learn more about its products, head to The Paddock’s website and Facebook page.