The Boatshed at Woronora, an Institution in Sydney’s South, Has New Owners and a Fresh Look (But the Lolly Shelves and Three-Tiered Brekkie Platters Remain)

For five decades, the Boatshed at Woronora in Sydney’s south has been a cornerstone of the tiny river community, but for the most part it’s remained a local secret. But in the 12 months since new owners Nicola Gilfillan and Ian Forsyth have taken over, the cafe and canoe-hire outlet has evolved into a pretty waterfront destination – and word is starting to get out.

Stacked with canoes for rent and tables overlooking the water, the bright blue boatshed is picturesquely positioned on the Woronora River, a little under 30 kilometres south of the CBD in the Sutherland Shire. Pelicans pass by and flocks of cockatoos patrol the skies. (An elusive lone koala is said to live adjacent at Prince Edward Park.)

The Boatshed is known for its heaving breakfast platter, which was around long before Gilfillan and Forsyth took over, and is one of the most popular items on the all-day breakfast menu. Served on a three-tier stand, it’s sort of like a high tea for those who can’t decide what they’d like to eat. There’s an enormous amount of food to share between two or three people: waffles, blueberry pancakes, scrambled and poached eggs, avocado, tomatoes, hash browns, bacon, haloumi, mushrooms and thick slices of sourdough toast. Many of those items also come separately on the menu, and there are also breakfast burgers, egg and bacon rolls and breakfast bruschetta. Most dishes can be ordered takeaway.

It’s easy to work off breakfast by heading out for a paddle on the river. Along with single and double kayaks, the boatshed rents four-person canoes perfect for a social paddle.

The cafe attracts a diverse crowd, from locals and ladies who lunch to bushwalkers and motorcyclists brunching before hitting up the Royal National Park nearby.

“It’s a great variety of ages and stages,” Gilfillan tells Broadsheet. “It’s become a destination.”

And that’s the real reason to visit the Boatshed: despite being just a five-minute drive from Sutherland station, Woronora is one of the few places in Sydney that’s managed to slip under the radar.

“It’s little bit of a secret valley,” says Gilfillan. “There’s not a lot down here, but you find yourself on the most beautiful river, full of rocky outcrops, tiny beaches and mangroves; there’s a park opposite; and the drive in makes you feel like you’ve driven an hour out of Sydney.”

Gilfillan, an artist, and Forsyth, an electrician, had no experience in the hospitality industry before purchasing the Boatshed. The cafe is growing in popularity, and the support from locals has been a highlight as they settle into their new life.

“What I didn’t anticipate was the sense of community we were going to feel,” says Forsyth.

But the new business hasn’t been without its challenges: there was the unprecedented bushfire season (which saw the Royal National Park close temporarily); flooding; Covid-19; and the stress of extensive renovations (a new bathroom, wheelchair-accessible ramps, a new floor and ceiling, and a refit of the kitchen).

The interior of the cafe has also been elegantly redesigned: the kayaks that once took up half the shed have been replaced with a communal kitchen table and paintings by Gilfillan, and a full-sized sailboat has been attached to the side of a wall. Forsyth lined the opposite wall with timber from the old deck.

“The history of the boatshed is right there – every line and weathered mark and nail,” she says.

Despite the changes, the two shelves of sweets by the front counter – which have been there for decades – remain.

“We have people who come in and say, ‘My nan used to live [near] here, and we’d come here and buy lollies’,” says Gilfillan. “Everyone has a story about their life on the river.”

Bookings are essential for both paddling and dining in. Check the tide times if you’re planning to head out on the water.

The Boatshed at Woronora
131 Prince Edward Park Road, Woronora

(02) 9545 2584

Hours
Tue to Sun 8am–5pm

theboatshedatworonora.com.au