Revealed: O’Donnell’s Bakehouse crowned Toowoomba’s best bakery

The owners of one of Toowoomba’s most popular bakeries. almost gave up on life as bakers more than a decade ago. Now they have been crowned the title of best bakery in the region.

O’Donnell’s Bakehouse owners Robyn O’Donnell and her husband Brenden almost gave up life as bakers about a decade ago.

But sheer perseverance and a love of their craft has kept them in the industry for more than 20 years, and has led them to own one of Toowoomba’s most popular bakeries.

O’Donnell’s Bakehouse was voted as the Best Bakery in Toowoomba by readers of The Chronicle during an online campaign run over two weeks.

They’ve travelled throughout the southwest running businesses, sparked by Mr O’Donnell’s love of bread and a history of baking back when was just 15 years old.

But it’s their little shopfront on the corner of Hogg Street and Tor Street that has led them to roaring success.

Brenden and Robyn O'Donnell of O'Donnell’s Bakehouse are thrilled to be named the best bakery in The Chronicle's 2021 Best of Toowoomba series. Picture: Kevin Farmer

When the O’Donnell’s arrived in Toowoomba they bought a bakery on the corner on Spring and Ramsay Streets, before taking a hiatus from baking.

Shortly after, they moved into a tiny corner store but their true calling remained.

“He (Mr O’Donnell) was always looking for a spot to put and over and I thought, ‘what are we doing in a corner store’?,” Mrs O’Donnell said.

“He just loves making bread, he’s not fussed on making cakes, he just loves making bread.

“It’s something that never leaves you – when you love it you love it.”

Brenden and Robyn O'Donnell of O'Donnell’s Bakehouse are thrilled to be named the best bakery in The Chronicle's 2021 Best of Toowoomba series. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mrs O’Donnell said she also tried working in aged care, but she and her husband were drawn to their current occupation, and now they say they wouldn’t change a thing.

They’ve been at their current shop for a decade now, and have since opened a factory for production and a second shop at the Wilsonton Shopping Centre.

On winning the Best Bakery competition, Mrs O’Donnell said she was amazed at the loyalty of her customers, who went out of their way to vote for their favourite bakery.

“You don’t expect it at the end of the day,” she said.

“When you get busy in the trenches you don’t think about what people are thinking about the business.

“At the end of the day you just strive to make a good product.

“It’s just something you love to do.”

With a team of 55 people on board, including bakers, pastry chefs, and van drivers, it’s the amazing customer service and their second-to-none bread that keeps their loyal client base coming back again and again.

Mrs O’Donnell said customer loyalty was the “backbone” of their business, along with the efforts of her staff and colleagues.

“It’s about listening to your customers, it’s being consistent with your products, and the customer service behind the till – that’s one thing I stipulate to my staff,” she said.

“If you give bad service they’ll tell their friends and they won’t come back.

“Your customers are number one at the end of the day.”