Black Rock Cafe - Black Rock

Some people will travel miles for a decent cafe latte or cappuccino in fact as far as the Black Rock Art and Coffee Palace. It sounds rather grand and itís amazing what a lick of paint, some imagination and fresh scones can do for the ambience of an old Southern Flinders Pub. ìScones, scones and a piece of carrot cake. Weíll make it easy for you.î This was once the old Black Rock Hotel on the Ghan line between Peterborough and Quorn. At the turn of the century this was a bustling railway town with over one hundred children in the local school, a chaff mill, two general stores and a local footy team. But until recently these windows were boarded up and the for sale sign was creaking in the breeze. Then two jazz disciples from Woollongong stepped through the door. Bud and Lana Stephenson were on holidays..... with their money spent this was the end of the line. ìWe both looked at each other and said ëWhereís Black Rock?í. Black Rock never even heard of it but when we saw the place we sort of thought yeh time for a change, working as a signwriter Iíd mucked up my back and it was time for a change so we both looked at each other and said yes. So we went back to Woollongong sold up and said hello to the kids and the grandkids and bolted over here.î Itís a hell of a long way from the Pacific Ocean but Bud, a qualified sign writer had suffered a severe back injury after falling off a ladder. This place offered much needed peace and quiet and the perfect location to indulge his other passion...painting. Even from the counter the inspiration of the Southern Flinders is never too far away. And if it ever gets too quiet out here, the stillness of the afternoon is sometimes broken when these two veterans of the New South Wales South Coast Jazz scene take to the ivories. ìIím gonna sit right down and write myself a letter, join in if you like. One, two you know what to do.î Itís enough to click the old back into shape but Bud isnít taking his musical career that seriously these days. ìWeíre officially known as the crowd disperses.î ìEspecially around closing time?î ìExactly sing a number Bud and get em out.î

And when Lanaís away from the cappuccino machine sheís out here enjoying the view. ìAt the end of the day when you look you know the scene over there of the old ruins, you can actually see the seasons change and thatís another thing that we love about here. Youíre aware of the different colours and that of each season. And to sit with a beer and have a look over there, itís heaven...itís heaven...itís paradise so donít tell anyone.î The Black Rock Art and Coffee Place is open weekends and public holidays and is located about twelve kilometre Southeast of Orroroo in the Southern Flinders Ranges.

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