When Wendy Woodhouse was a little girl in Montreal, Canada, she enjoyed making and sewing items with her grandmother. She couldn’t have imagined then where her early love of craft would take her. Wendy, with husband Peter, has just purchased Barraba’s historic retail premises, Treloar Corner, with a crafty purpose.
Wendy and Peter and their children have become well known in Barraba after they became proprietors and residents of the Barraba Motel in 2019. As well as renovating and operating the motel they are involved with their children’s school, Barraba Central, and the local Anglican church community at St Laurence’s.
Now the enterprising couple have plans for a business on Barraba’s main street. Wendy has designs for the cornermost shop premises to become a craft supplies shop. She also will offer craft classes and affordable giftware.
Wendy plans on starting with craft classes with a Christmas focus. Homemade Christmas crackers and tree ornaments might be the first offerings. She and Peter hope to be ready to open in November.
The premises are on the corner of Queen and Alice Streets.The ornate late Victorian era buildings have been an important part of Barraba’s streetscape since 1906. They were extensively renovated by David and Julia York who had a furniture business there. They most recently housed the Salvation Army opportunity shop. The Akice Street wall hosts the town’s popular mural art by Jenny McCracken.
By Jane Harris