Historic Hall Café at Wellington East is up for sale

Monteith couple Heidi and Laurie Graham are selling a café which they transformed from an abandoned building into a stylish eatery.

This post was contributed by Glenn Power.

Heidi Graham and her husband Laurie are the number one owners of the Hall Café. But who will be owner number two? Photo: Glenn and Barb Power.

Monteith couple Heidi and Laurie Graham are selling the café at Wellington East that they transformed from an abandoned building into a stylish eatery.

Ms Graham said the hall had been built as a chapel in 1901 by Ngarrindjeri man William McHughes.

“We understand that Pastor McHughes was a stonemason from Raukkan who worked the land in Wellington East as a farmer and built the Wellington East chapel as a dedication to his late wife, Sarah,” she said.

“Eventually, the chapel became a community hall before it laid derelict for many years.

“We’ve heard lots of reminiscing about dances held in the hall in bygone years.”

The Grahams bought the run-down building in 2010 to save it and live there, but due to zoning restrictions, they made the hall a café instead.

“As a café, we are grateful for the amazing support of the locals,” Ms Graham said.

“We’ve met an array of overseas and homegrown travellers and are glad that the Wellington East Chapel has been a part of our lives and has its origins as Ngarrindjeri story.”

Now comes an opportunity for someone new to shape the next stage of the Hall Café.

The Grahams bought this abandoned building before transforming it into the Hall Café. Photo: Glenn and Barb Power.

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