The staccato clippity-clop of horse hooves rang out across the yard. Wagons creaked under their heavy loads. Sloshing cream cans were scraped across the concrete floor. Machines whirred as they prepared to process the day's milking. Farmers hollered greetings at their neighbours, intermingled with murmurs of local news. Once, the Manawaru Dairy factory, number 77, hummed with the vibrant activity of a farming community. People connected with their neighbours and forged essential relationships, all while going about their daily business.
For the last 40 years it has waited, slowly deteriorating and longing to be the place which draws in greater community participation once again. The wait is nearly over. The long wait is now over, the cafe is open. Locals and visitors are warmly welcome to come and relax, read or yarn over a great coffee and some delicious food, or hook onto Wi-Fi to catch up on all the latest news.
Cafe 77 is in an idyllic rural setting with spectacular mountain views; it combines character features of yesterday with modern comfort and style. Children can enjoy a contained play area, or ride the balance bikes in the connecting event arena. Here we seek to recreate a place where the Manawaru community can connect and belong, and where visitors can enjoy local hospitality.
Cafe 77 is part of Community View. If you head over to their website you'll be able to see a few before and afters of how we transformed the buildings.