A white wooden signpost points you in different directions: turn left to visit Lizzie the Highland Cow, go right to see the chook barn and herb garden, and this way for the bar and restaurant. Whether you are here for a chef-crafted Farmhouse brunch, a glass of wine or beer from one of the local wineries and distilleries of the South West region, or for a dear friend’s intimate wedding reception, you have arrived at Meelup Farmhouse, the coastal hobby farm and restaurant of We Wabi’s Mark and Liz.
Meelup Farmhouse is best described as the perfect balance of fine-dining winery and casual brewery. It is where you ought to come if you want to feel taken care of, relaxed, comfortable and connected to the serene bushlands of Meelup National Park as you enjoy artisanal food and in-season market produce in an authentic, picture-perfect setting. Mark and Liz achieve this through their beautiful handmade furniture pieces and their directional interior styling.
Opening in January 2020, Meelup Farmhouse is the couple’s third hospitality venue. Since opening ‘little h’, their first café in the Perth suburb of Duncraig, they have worked hard, refining their approach, aesthetic and talent for transforming ordinary venues into something special. Over the years, a signature style has evolved, and strengthened, and their newest hospitality venue perfectly showcases what Mark and Liz are all about: reflecting that raw beauty of our natural surrounds through warmth, texture, wood on wood, unique fixtures and handcrafted furniture pieces that embrace each materials natural flaws and imperfections.
The venue’s overall feel is a little bit country; light and bright and quietly inviting. The colour palette is consistent throughout, gentle on the eyes and senses. Everything appears tanned, even a touch sunburnt. Mark and Liz’s expertise in layering materials and textures is at the forefront here, especially with their use of teakwood to achieve that charming farmhouse style. Exposed wooden beams frame a stunning whitewashed stone wall, fibrous sisal rugs add to the worn-in softness of the venue’s decor, and a large outdoor dining veranda is wrapped in sturdy timber decking which has been so unexpectantly juxtaposed with delicate, light-as-air Ratana lanterns that shroud the entire ceiling. The response to the venue has been overwhelming. Mark and Liz are often asked who did their interiors, and where can they purchase the pieces from?
And on top of it all, the food is good. Really good. Quality produce, thoughtful menu design, wonderful staff. Since opening its barn doors, Meelup Farmhouse has become a go-to for tourists and locals alike, an iconic food and wine destination in Western Australia’s stunning South West.
