Southern Sky Cheese: Rod Wyker reveals new Perth facility, shop

He was one of the key figures behind the development of The Heritage Burnie, the southern hemisphere’s largest specialty cheese factory – and he is still dreaming big.

The boss of a northern Tasmanian cheese company has unveiled a new shop and facility, which he plans to grow to become a key stop on the state’s foodie trail.

Rod Wyker, owner of Southern Sky Cheese Company, founded in the early 2010s after Mr Wyker’s 30-year career with one of Australia’s biggest cheese companies, soft launched his new Perth location on Saturday.

The 80 Main Rd site, formerly a service station built in the 1950s, is not much to look at now – but by next spring, Mr Wyker hopes it will be a cheese mecca.

Currently housing a small cheese fridge in the front room, Mr Wyker has already converted a significant portion of the station’s rear into a large cool room and purpose-built clean room, while he ultimately plans to cover part of building’s front to expand the shop.

Mr Wyker also has hopes of obtaining a liquor licence to sell bottled wine on-site and eventually wants to be a one-stop shop for all things cheese – knives, boards, books.

“We want to make it a destination spot,” Mr Wyker said.

Southern Sky Cheese company boss Rod Wyker at his new Perth shop. Picture: Alex Treacy

“We’re never going to be an Ashgrove Cheese but nor do we want to be.

“We want to be standing here with our customers, talking about cheese.”

Mr Wyker said he wants to work closely with neighbouring Sweet Wheat bakery and cafe Feast Tasmania to create a “nice little food hub” in the heart of town.

“There’s lots of opportunities, I could see us doing a Sunday afternoon gig here with jazz out the front,” Mr Wyker said.

The development is just the next chapter in Ridgley-born Mr Wyker’s storied dairy career.

He commenced working with Lactos in 1979–80, where he would stay throughout the National Foods takeover and merger with Lion Nathan.

The new Southern Sky Cheese Company shop and facility at 80 Main Rd, Perth, a work in progress. Picture: Alex Treacy

Mr Wyker played a key role in the development of Milan Vyhnalek’s The Heritage hub at 145 Old Surrey Rd, Burnie into the southern hemisphere’s largest specialty cheese manufacturing facility.

He spent his last 10 years at National Foods/Lion in a corporate role and he said the decision to start his own business was driven in part by his missing getting up to his elbows in whey.

“I lost my mojo after not making cheese for 10 years,” he said.

“You always go back to what you’re good at.

Southern Sky cheeses. Picture: Alex Treacy

“I love the flavours, the textures, and working with Tasmanian ingredients.

“I’m very passionate about working with customers, vineyards, breweries, delis – it’s a pretty cool industry to work in.”

Southern Sky will maintain its Invermay facility and keep up its regular stall at Harvest Launceston, in addition to its booming wholesale business.