The general store is an enduring relic of yesteryear, still stocked with everything from fuel to homemade jams. Here are 13 of the best in Australia.
The humble general store wears many hats. A post office. A fuel stop. A cafe. A deli. A watering hole. A time capsule that steers you tenderly into the past. But above all, it’s a neighbourhood hub that brings people together.
These charming general stores in Australia are the beating heart of their communities, representing all the things we love about small regional towns. At the same time, they’re evolving – offering new reasons to stop in from community art spaces to wine dens championing local makers.
And we think it’s about time someone made a hit list.
Wollombi General Store, NSW
Take a trip down memory lane at Wollombin General Store.
Part of Hunter Valley village since the 1850s, Wollombi General Store has long been a place to swing by for a chat, drop off post and trawl antiques. Now, the much-loved bolthole is doubling down on its creative heritage by opening the Artisans Collective – a working space in the old barn behind the store where visitors can converse with local artists while they work. Mosey on in for coffee on the verandah or a scoop of gelato, or to scan shelves filled with local goods.
Address: 2886 Wollombi Rd, Wollombi NSW 2325
Wollombin General Store has goods aplenty.
The Artisan Collective is a space for local artists and visitors to connect.
Enjoy the cosy ambience of Wollombin General Store.
Yum Yum Angourie Cafe & General Store, NSW
Add Yum Yum Angourie Cafe & General Store to your bucket list. (Credit: Destination NSW/Ben Savage)
The Yum Yum Angourie Cafe & General Store was, as the name suggests, originally in Angourie. But owners Chris Todd and Morgan Bramwell-Baker have since moved five clicks away to their new premises, an original Art Deco home in the centre of Yamba. Today, the general store stocks more than staples, with everything from beautifully designed camping gear to candles, books and backpacks. Patrons are a mix of holidaymakers and locals who, thanks to the recent addition of a liquor license, also stop by for a bottle of plonk or a six-pack of local ales. Find them on Instagram at @yumyumangouriecafegeneralstore.
Address: 29 Coldstream St, Yamba NSW 2464
Glenlyon General Store, Vic
Glenlyon General Store near Daylesford. (Credit: Visit Victoria/Safari Global)
While the exterior of the historic 1870s Glenlyon General Store is all timber and tin, the interior is full of treasured photographs that pay homage to Australia’s colonial past – making it one of the top general stores in Australia. Although it’s ostensibly a cafe, the historic store is still a purveyor of everyday items such as bread, fruit and vegetables, honey, pasta and panettone, as well as little luxuries like wine and chocolate. Do clock the community noticeboard, which constitutes a form of sightseeing, as locals promote their colourful side hustles.
Address: 63 Barkly St, Glenlyon VIC 3461
Harcourt Produce & General Store, Vic
Harcourt General Store stocks wines and gourmet produce. (Credit: Visit Victoria/Griffin Simm)
Harcourt Produce & General Store is one of the most beloved general stores in Victoria, and you’d be silly to think otherwise. The community institution, cafe and wine bar not only sells gourmet goods (think preserves from the kitchen garden) to take home but plates up seriously good Danish pastries and pies, making it an obligatory coffee-run destination. For those looking to quench their lunchtime thirst, there’s also craft beer and cider on tap. Follow @harcourtproduce on Instagram for updates.
Address: 115 Harmony Way, Harcourt VIC 3453
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
Merricks General Wine Store, Vic
Cosy up by the fire. (Credit: Peter Foster)
Enjoy fine wine and seafood. (Credit: Peter Foster)
Merricks General Wine Store is filled with trinkets and wares. (Credit: Peter Foster)
A heartfelt seasonal menu and cellar door stocking nearby Elgee Park and Baillieu wines are the beginning of what you’ll find at Merricks General Store, tucked away on the Mornington Peninsula. While wine is their bread and butter, make sure to check out Traders Retail Store for local wares and lifestyle pieces. And Merricks House – where you’re sure to leave with a stash of tea towels, fig nut paste, spiced nuts, cuvées bruts and full-bodied olive oils.
This true-as-they-come general store in South Australia’s Clare Valley wine region makes your everyday post run a delight. Find fresh bread, books, tasty tucker and juices, along with eclectic goods and biodynamic produce from Penobscot Farm at the Providore.
Address: 29 Main N Rd, Watervale SA 5452
Bowhill General Store, SA
You could arrive by horse and cart if that’s your jam. But Bowhill General Store on Chucka Bend Road also offers easy access by road or river (the mighty Murray no less). Those enjoying a houseboating holiday can pop in for fuel or emergency cans of baked beans and bottles of booze. Road-trippers can also refuel on coffee and cake while sitting in the sun-drenched courtyard. The general store is old school in its offerings – fuel, gas, ice, beer, spirits and fishing gear – but also up to the minute with its sleek, modern design. Find them on Instagram at @bowhillgeneral.
Address: 28 Chucka Bend Rd, Bowhill SA 5238
The Hearth of Chudleigh, Tas
The Hearth of Chudleigh is a local institution. (Credit: Tourism Tasmania/Adrian Cook)
With its original floorboards, exposed beams and fireplace, the Hearth of Chudleigh doffs its cap to its storied past. The store has been quietly chugging along in Chudleigh since 1886 and, 139 years on, remains a community mainstay as an emporium selling everything from books to antiques. At the centre of the Hearth of Chudleigh is a theatrette space that doubles as a stage fostering local talent and live performances. While you may no longer be able to pick up pantry items for a penny, the mixed business in the ‘Village of Roses’ sells specialty goods such as jam made using locally sourced rosehip.
Address: 60 Sorell St, Chudleigh TAS 7304
Morris Store, Tas
Swing by Morris General Store. (Credit: Tourism Tasmania/Nick Osborne)
Should you find yourself in Tasmania’s coastal town of Swansea, do make sure to drop into Morris Store. This self-proclaimed ‘IGA store with a whole lot more’ has been open since 1838, when John Alexander Graham – the man who wrote the good part of the Tasmanian Local Government Act – established a trade site for his wares. Nowadays, visitors can pick up daily essentials and view relics of the past in the store’s display room.
Address: 13/15 Franklin St, Swansea TAS 7190
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
Kandanga Farm Store, Qld
Kandanga Farm Store brings people together.
Pick up gourmet goods. (Credit: Visit Sunshine Coast)
A visit to the Kandanga Farm Store in the Sunshine Coast hinterland is quintessential when on a road trip around Queensland. The farm store doubles as a roadside attraction serving customers from all walks of life, from local farmers to interstate visitors in search of vitamin D. While there are some wares you might expect on the shelves – such as eggs, honey and bread – you will also find specialty goods like locally roasted coffee and organic beef. Van life never looked so good.
Address: 93 Main St, Kandanga QLD 4570
Myalup Beach General Store, WA
Myalup Beach General Store oozes coastal charm. (Credit: Bianca Turri)
Hit the waves, then head to Myalup Beach General Store, the ideal post-surf pit-stop. Located on Myalup Beach Road opposite the Myalup Beach Caravan Park in WA’s Harvey Region, this is where local grommets and weekender families come for trusty takeaway bites, creamy milkshakes and coffee. While you’re at it, stock up on fruit and veg, and bait – the guys at the till dish out some great fishing advice, too, if you ask ’em.
Address: 15-17 Myalup Beach Rd, Myalup WA 6220
General Store Melville, WA
General Store Melville has all your daily essentials and more.
At the crack of dawn, the good people at the General Store Melville are up and ready to open shop at 6am so early-rising locals can get their fix of barista coffee and the freshest farm produce delivered that morning. The shop is best known for its stacked rolls and refreshing açai, with premium fruit and veggies available too.
Address: 6/446 Marmion St, Myaree WA 6154
Tharwa Country Store, ACT
After being owned by the Jeffery family for a century, Tharwa Country Store is soon to welcome an era of new ownership with the family ready to pass on the baton. The weatherboard building along the Murrumbidgee River at the base of Mt Tennent, around 30 minutes out of Canberra, has serviced the local community for generations, along with being a popular stop for road-trippers, day-trippers and motorcyclists. Help keep this village landmark alive by stopping in for an ice cream or old-fashioned lolly bag.
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and...
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship...
From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.
I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.
For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland, and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.
Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.
The best coastal hikes in Gippsland
Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)
Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.
Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)
The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit, which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.
Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)
You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk, even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.
George Bass Coastal Walk trails for seven kilometres along clifftops. (Image: Visit Victoria/Time Out Australia)
Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk, usually done over seven days.
Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)
The best bush hikes in Gippsland
The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)
Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.
Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.
Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.
Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.
The best cultural hikes in Gippsland
Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)
Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.
As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park, along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.
Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)
The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail, a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.
The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)
Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park, known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.
A traveller’s checklist
Staying there
Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)
Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.
Eating there
Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)
Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.
Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.
The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.
