Michelin star chef Paul Martini’s new mission to restore Geelong’s shopfronts

The career path of a Geelong-born Michelin star chef has taken a completely unexpected turn – and one will beautify the city.

Paul Martini has returned to Geelong. Picture: Mike Dugdale.

A Geelong-born Michelin star chef has returned home as part of an unexpected career change, with Paul Martini transforming himself into a “Copper Doctor” responsible for restoring vintage shopfronts.

Newtown-based Paul Martini left Geelong at 17 to work in the world’s best kitchens, starting at a Michelin star restaurant on the Faroe Islands, moving on to similar rated kitchens in Norway, Belgium, Lithuania and Sweden.

After returning home to Australia in his early 20s, he worked at popular Melbourne restaurant Ezard under head chef Jarrod Di Blasi, who he then followed to Japanese restaurant Izakaya Den.

It was after that move that Mr Martini began floating the idea of returning to Geelong.

“When I left Geelong I wanted to get out of here, but now I am older, I’ve come back and seen how much Geelong has developed and it’s changed my mindset,” he said.

“The food scene has really developed.”

The now 30-year-old said he was considering opening a panini bar, but then a simple walk changed his reason for returning suddenly.

“I was walking to work and saw this gentleman polishing what seemed to be copper,” he said.

“I was intrigued, so I approached him and we got talking.”

That man was Brian James, founder of The Copper Doctor, a business that restores and preserves original copper and brass window frames on classic shopfronts.

Soon after, Mr Martini commenced training and joined Mr James with a new-found love for the trade.

“Its very tedious, hard work physically, but you get a lot of satisfaction,” Mr Martini said.

“Coming from the restaurant industry, I also get something out of it working on a different side of hospitality.”

Paul Martini and Brian James hard at work this week. Picture: Mike Dugdale.

Mr Martini immediately thought about potential restorations of Geelong storefronts, and brought Mr James to town for an “excursion”.

“Little Malop St is such a busy area, with a lot of beautiful Victorian-style shop fronts,” Mr Martini said.

The pair this week finished their first Geelong project, restoring the original shine to the metal window frames at the Geelong Cellar Door Wine Bar.

Geelong Cellar Door Wine Bar and Store before the Copper Doctor began restoring the shine.

Geelong Cellar Door’s Jon Helmer said he tried to polish the shopfront when he launched in 2016.

“Obviously over those eight years it had lost its lustre,” he said.

“But it was always in the back of my mind because I know how good it can look, and why wouldn’t you want to make your business look the best it can?”

Originally published as Michelin star chef Paul Martini’s new mission to restore Geelong’s shopfronts