News & Media – Camp Hill Antique Centre

Best Breakout Brunch Cafés in Australia

Sarah Jane Walsh — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 02:35:55 +0000

Best Breakout Brunch Cafés in Australia – Coastal Views, Retro Charm & Local Favourites Tuesday, 7 October 2025

Brunch in Australia has become more than just a meal – it’s a ritual, a way to savour good food, great coffee and the unique character of each destination. From coastal gems where ocean breezes drift through open windows to retro hideaways buzzing with vintage charm, each café tells its own story.

Menus showcase everything from hearty classics to creative twists, always paired with perfectly brewed coffee and a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re seeking seaside serenity, urban quirk or a touch of country comfort, these standout spots prove that brunch is best enjoyed at a pace as relaxed as the setting.

Camp Hill Antique Centre & Tart Café – Camp Hill, Qld

Morning sun filters through vintage shop windows as brunch begins at Camp Hill Antique Centre & Tart Café, tucked into the former Planet Theatre on Old Cleveland Road. Amid stalls of curios and retro ephemera, diners settle into cosy booths or petite round tables. The scent of sourdough toast mingles with freshly brewed Campos coffee.

Menu highlights include smashed avocado crowned with beetroot relish, eggs Benedict and a Spanish omelette with chorizo and spinach. Intriguing rivals like roast pumpkin gnocchi emerge alongside classics. Here, brunch is as much about atmosphere as appetite – nostalgic, quirky and utterly Brisbane.

Secure your slice of retro brunch by making a reservation today.

Camp Hill Cinema’s Second Act: Where Antiques, Coffee and Community Meet

Sarah Jane Walsh — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:30:34 +0000

Camp Hill Cinema’s Second Act: Where Antiques, Coffee and Community Meet

Photo Credit: Camp Hill Antique Centre/Facebook

On the main street of Camp Hill, an old cinema has been given a second chance. Once the Planet Cinema of the 1950s, the building now houses Brisbane’s largest hub for vintage treasures. The Camp Hill Antique Centre is a place where the past is not only remembered but lived in every day. Step through the front doors and it feels less like a shop and more like a journey through time, with each corner offering a glimpse into another era.

History Restored in the Heart of Camp Hill

The Camp Hill Antique Centre & Tart Café is the creation of partners Sarah Jane Walsh and Paul Butler, who previously ran the much-loved Woolloongabba Antique Centre. When that chapter closed in 2017, they began searching for a new home. The former cinema in Camp Hill became their answer — a building they spent two years carefully reworking to balance preservation with modern comfort. Their vision was to give Brisbane a place where history could be experienced, not just observed. What was once a sloped cinema floor with possums in the ceiling was transformed into a polished antique centre, saving the landmark from demolition.

Photo Credit: Len Gall/Pinterest

Today, more than 70 dealers showcase their collections inside the 1,000-square-metre centre. Estate jewellery sits alongside mid-century leather chairs, shelves of uranium glass glow under UV light, and racks of vintage clothing tempt those looking for something one-of-a-kind. Many of the items have travelled from Europe and the United States, while others carry the quiet stories of Australian homes.

On 15 August 2025, the team marked the anniversary of that transformation, inviting the community to celebrate how far the space has come.

The Centre’s Social Side

What sets Camp Hill apart is how it blends antiques with community. At the centre of it all is the Tart Café, built around the cinema’s original candy bar. The café serves breakfasts, lunches and tapas, and even features cakes named after Hollywood icons like Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield. A mural of cinema patron saints looks over the space, reminding visitors of the building’s original purpose.

Beyond the café, there’s a flower shop, a retro-style barbershop open on Saturdays, and regular workshops. Classes range from macramé to 1950s pin-up styling, drawing in locals who come as much for the social interaction as for the antiques. The effect is less like visiting a store and more like spending a day inside a living museum.

A Place to Slow Down

The centre’s design encourages people to linger. Wide aisles, cool air-conditioning and the comfort of off-street parking make it easy to take time wandering from stall to stall. Each dealer adds a distinct character, so the experience feels like stepping through dozens of small, personal histories. For many visitors, it’s not only about buying — it’s about reliving memories, sharing stories and enjoying a slower pace in the middle of the city.

A Legacy Carried Forward

Walsh and Butler’s decision to relocate their vision to Camp Hill has ensured Brisbane did not lose a beloved cultural hub when Woolloongabba closed. The Camp Hill Antique Centre has quickly found its own identity, rooted in the suburb’s sense of community. By saving the cinema from redevelopment, they have created a space that holds both memory and promise.

For locals, the centre is more than a shopping destination. It is a reminder that history is best appreciated when it can be touched, tasted and shared — whether through a vintage leather armchair, a slice of cake named after a silver-screen star or a workshop that teaches an old craft in a new way.

Brisbane Portrait Prize 2025-Ross Leondiou

Sarah Jane Walsh — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:42:24 +0000

Painting & Words by Ross Leondiou

Sarah Jane Walsh is the owner of Camp Hill Antique Centre and Tart Café—an eclectic Brisbane landmark full of vintage treasures, retro charm, and community spirit. A well-known and somewhat iconic local figure, Sarah is admired for her creative style, warmth, and quiet strength. Beyond this, she has worked for decades behind the camera as an Assistant Director on major feature films and acclaimed natural history documentaries for the BBC and Netflix. I approached this portrait with loose, spontaneous brushstrokes to reflect the layered energy she brings to all she does—whether curating antiques or leading film crews in the wild. I wanted to capture her calm presence, striking beauty, and enduring spark. This is more than a portrait of a film professional—it’s a tribute to a Queenslander whose life blends creativity, enterprise, and influence in a way that enriches Brisbane’s cultural landscape.

Australian Good Food Guide

Sarah Jane Walsh — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:46:20 +0000

Camp Hill Antique Centre & Tart Cafe – Camp Hill, Qld

Australian Good Food Guide

Eclectic, whimsical and utterly original, Tart Café inside the Camp Hill Antique Centre is where vintage vibes collide with standout brunch fare. Nestled among retro treasures and colourful collectibles, this café is like dining inside a time capsule – albeit one where the coffee is hot and the food refreshingly modern. With a bustling atmosphere and ever-changing displays, it’s a feast for the eyes before your plate even hits the table.

Don’t miss the crisp gnocchi – a surprising brunch dish that delivers comfort with flair. Served with roasted butternut pumpkin, fresh peas and tomato, all wrapped in a silky tomato fondue, this one’s finished with peppery rocket and creamy bocconcini. It’s an unexpected hero on a menu full of morning staples, making it perfect for those who want something a little different.

Craving nostalgia with your gnocchi? Reserve your spot at Tart Café now.

ABC NEWS

Sarah Jane Walsh — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:01:40 +0000

Treasures from the past as seen on ABC News..
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Cut and paste the link
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-20/young-people-repurposing-antique-jewellery-diamonds/104830272

Harts Flowers

Sarah Jane Walsh — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 00:33:20 +0000

Hart’s Flowers is a florist and retail destination that offers locally sourced and sustainably crafted fresh flower bouquets and custom arrangements. A range of indoor plants, garden accessories, vintage homewares and beautiful gifts are also available to order in store or online. We offer same day fresh flower delivery services to the Brisbane area and aim to be a unique florist experience in Australia, known for our inspired product ranges, vintage inspired branding, sustainable keepsake packaging and friendly customer service. To order simply: Phone 0466 581 999 Email hello@hartsflowers.com Full delivery T&Cs on the website Walk in orders also welcome from our beautiful retail space housed on the ground floor of the iconic Camp Hill Antique Centre – Shop 24/545 Old Cleveland Rd, Camp Hill Opening Hours Monday to Friday: 9am – 4pm Saturday & Sunday: 8am-4pm (Subject to change) Please check our Instagram page for updates @hartsofbrisbane

www.hartsflowers.com.au

The Weekender

Sarah Jane Walsh — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 04:29:10 +0000

Keep your Eyes Peeled on Sunday 29th September for our special visitors ‘The Weekender’ and the Lindy Charm School for Girls Vintage Styling Workshop.

@theweekender

@lindycharmschoolforgirls

Dream Home

Sarah Jane Walsh — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 03:37:21 +0000

We were privileged to be featured on the Chanel 7 TV Series Dream Home

Brisbane Portrait Prize 2019

Sarah Jane Walsh — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 22:39:40 +0000

Brings on a whole new meaning of talking to myself!! Big shout out to Ross Leondiou for his entry into the Brisbane Portrait Prize. I’m chuffed you chose me as your muse.

Solar makeover for Old Planet Theatre out of this world

Sarah Jane Walsh — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 04:06:12 +0000

Camp Hill Antique Centre co-owner Sarah Jane Walsh is proud of the steps the business has taken to reduce carbon emissions.

SOUTHEAST – Courier Mail

Solar makeover for Old Planet Theatre out of this world

Brian Bennion, South-East Advertiser

February 9, 2020 7:00am

THEIR business is all about recycling and repurposing, but Camp Hill Antique Centre has taken things a step further and installed 230 solar panels across the rooftop of their base, the old Planet Theatre, to reduce their carbon footprint.

Owner Sarah Jane Walsh said the mammoth undertaking cost the business $80,000, but was worth every cent.

“Our 1000sqm site is now half filled with panels and is offsetting up to 80 per cent of our considerable electricity needs,” she said.

LANDMARK THEATRE BACK IN THE PICTURE

“Despite its lovely appearance, Camp Hill Antique Centre is actually an effective recycling centre. We have saved over 750,000 items from landfill over the years.

The massive roof of the old Planet Theatre is covered in solar panels.

“In this spirit we have moved to ensure this dividend is delivered with as little cost to the environment as possible, so we rolled out large scale solar. If there was ever a time our business was considered the way of the future, it is now. We are creating a better future, one chair or teacup or frock and now one ray of sunshine at a time.”