The very first shop built at Lawson has been restored to its former glory and has just reopened, selling organic food in one half and hand-made artisan wares in the other.
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And the two sisters behind the venture plan to introduce a third element – offering classes in food (pickling, preserving, jam making) and crafts, such as wreath making, flower arranging, weaving and jewellery.
Jacinta and Adelina Carmichael-Parissi are Lawson born and bred. The restoration of the 1884 building – which was most recently Badgerys Attic – has been a labour of love for the twenty-somethings, their parents and brother.
Lyttleton Stores was originally built by John Geggie, who named it after his wife, Charlotte Lyttle, the granddaughter of a convict who had been transported to Australia in 1814.
It was the first store in the town, also operating as the post office and then a grocery store before becoming an antique shop under various owners from the 1970s.
It is now Pantree Produce, the organic grocery store, and Atelier, the hand-made goods shop.
Jacinta Carmichael-Parissi is the woman behind the organics, which are sourced from local producers, including Epicurean Harvest in Blackheath and First Farm Organics in Hartley.
There are also the “backyard organics”, sourced from friends and neighbours and grown in their backyards – anything from lemons to rhubarb and kale. And the big bunches of fresh herbs are grown in the Lyttleton’s own backyard.
As well as fresh food, she is stocking organic cheeses, butter, flour, pasta, broth, oils, tea, coffee, even frozen meat.
Jacinta has just returned to Lawson after spending nine years in Tasmania’s Huon Valley. She did a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in furniture making and supported herself by growing and sourcing organic produce to turn into family recipes that she sold at the local farmers markets.
Adelina supported her way through a degree majoring in jewellery design by working at Sydney’s organic markets.
They bought the building in August and spent four months doing it up, keeping to heritage principles.
“It’s been a really massive job and our whole family has been involved.” Adelina said. She is now excited to be selling a range of jewellery, ceramics, glassware and furniture.
“Everything is Australian made, with quite a lot of Blue Mountains makers. I went to uni with some of them, I’ve met some of them at markets. And there’s some of my own work.”
Pantree Produce Store is open 8.30am-6.30pm daily; Atelier is open 10am-5pm Thursday to Monday.
