Renowned cooking school The Agrarian Kitchen expands to Willow Court

RENOWNED Derwent Valley cooking school The Agrarian Kitchen is set to expand into New Norfolk’s Willow Court.

Rodney Dunn, of Tasmania's Agrarian Kitchen Pic supplied for Weekend A Plus

RENOWNED Derwent Valley cooking school The Agrarian Kitchen is set to expand into New Norfolk’s Willow Court.

Rodney Dunn, of the Agrarian Kitchen.

The Lachlan-based business submitted an application to the Derwent Valley Council to open a shop and eatery in the recently renovated Bronte Building in the council-owned section of the historic site.

The proposal was passed unanimously at last night’s council meeting with a three-month negotiation period now taking place to finalise arrangements.

Agrarian Kitchen co-founder Rodney Dunn said the idea came after attending a community breakfast held at the site by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in October.

“Actually seeing the building and realising how fantastic it was and what a great opportunity it was for somebody to actually utilise it started our thinking process,” he said.

“We’re very focused on what had to be done here [at Lachlan] to start with and I think we were always open to opportunities as they arose so it was just a matter of the right thing coming along and we feel this is the right thing for us.”

The proposal also includes provision for functions and a brasserie as well as for a separate company to bring in a boutique brewery in the future.

“In terms of the functions, that’s definitely something we see a lot of potential for given the size of the space but just also the surrounds,” Mr Dunn said.

“To utilise the surrounds as well, the lawn areas, there’s really nothing like it up this way and if we’ve got a kitchen and we’re serving food then it’s much easier to be able to incorporate functions as well."

Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans welcomed the addition of the business to Willow Court.

“The add-ons that come with it — that’s what people are talking about. It takes the Agrarian Kitchen’s business to the next level and takes the confidence of this site and for New Norfolk to the next level and it adds to another great thing to see in the Derwent Valley.”

The council will continue to seek expressions of interest for other buildings it owns on the site, including the 1827 barrack square.

Pick up a copy of the Derwent Valley Gazette - out tomorrow.