THE CHEERFUL yellow Flaxton Barn, outlet for antiques, curios and collectibles, is having a 40th birthday and cutting 40 per cent of selected items for 40 days to let us all help them celebrate.
Drivers passing this distinctive Range retail landmark often have to look twice when they see the realistic barnyard animals sitting on the roof or around the Barn. To celebrate 40 years of continuous retail trading, owners Leah and Anthony Sanders (below) invite everyone to drop in and take advantage of their great daily specials with 40% off selected items lasting until December 10.
The barn was built in the 1920s and has a chequered history. Originally it was used as a pineapple packing shed, with pineapples a key crop in the Flaxton district during the early 1920s. It has also housed everything from animals to a miniature model railway, and a silversmith making jewellery in the late 60s. Devonshire Teas were introduced in the early 1970s, something the Barn is still famous for today.
Leah and Anthony moved to the Blackall Range in the late 90s to run a bed and breakfast in the lovely old Queenslander – Tanderra House literally across the road from Flaxton Barn. Tanderra House was built by the pioneering Dixon family, the first settlers to the area in the 1900s and grew pineapples. “While we enjoyed our work at Tanderra House”, says Leah, “ we often took a break across the road at Flaxton Barn where the family enjoyed the model railway and a spot of lunch.” We simply fell in love with the barn and used to dream of owning it. As luck would have it, just as we were deciding it was time to move on from the B&B life, the barn came on the market.”
Flaxton Barn has provided the couple with the perfect partnership, allowing Anthony to indulge his passion for foraging around for antiques and collectibles, and Leah her passion for country-style home baking and kitchen ware. “Time has flown by in the six (short) years we have owned the barn”, says Leah,” and we have no intention of going anywhere else we love it so much.”
Flaxton Barn has become an increasingly popular destination with locals, visitors and small tour groups taking refreshments on the enclosed verandah, followed by a leisurely browse through the Barn’s amazing memorabilia and homeware.
The model railway is no more but the Barn’s reputation continues to grow – well known now for its fabulous coffee, Leah’s homemade scones and grandma’s apple pie.
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