Blumes Historic Bakery in Harcourt was officially reopened to the public last Saturday after years of restoration work.
About 60 people attended the event, including locals, city-folk who travelled for the opening, MP Maree Edwards and Blume family members.
Karen Blume, the granddaughter of Ernest and Pearl Blume, said the bakery was a great reflection of what it was like 100 years ago and noted the floorboards, tin roof and wooden arches were all in their original form.
“It means lots seeing the bakery function again. Our grandfather would be proud,” Ms Blume said, joking that the difference was, “there’s no flour dust on the floor”.
Her grandparents originally settled in Harcourt in 1922 as a business decision because the town’s apple trade was booming during the Great War and sending all its fruit to England.
Jodie and David Pillinger, new owners of the bakery, brought its 143-year-old scotch oven back to life as part of the restoration – large enough for 300 loaves of bread – and it is operating for the first time since 1967 when the bakery was last open.
MP Maree Edwards began the opening ceremony and noted the importance the building held for Harcourt and the region. Her government provided funding of $184,300 to help the renovation of the bakery as part of Victorian Timber Innovation Fund.
“I’ve been driving past this house since 2016 watching the house get developed. I look forward to being able to buy my two apple pies and hot cross buns again,” she said.
Lena Cirillo drove from Brunswick to attend the opening and was happy to wait in the long line to try out the artisan-baked goods.
“I was curious about the historical significance with the Blume family. If you’re from Melbourne, it’s worth the drive,” she said.
