The following business proprietors were the 10-plus years recipients of the Lord Mayor's Commendations in 2017.
Stefano Baggio – The Artisan’s Bottega
Equipment to feed our city’s passion for more than 40 years
The Artisan’s Bottega provides specialist equipment and expert advice to the city’s passionate food and beverage artisans. A bottega is, by definition, a small shop that offers high quality products and valuable knowledge; and The Artisan’s Bottega more than lives up to its name.
From professional beer brewers, tomato sauce connoisseurs and experienced preservers, to home cooks on their first salami-making adventure, the Baggio family are on hand to help with equipment, advice and a range of masterclasses and cooking events. The store began more than 40 years ago, known as Cellar Plus, next to the Queen Victoria Markets. and has since moved to West Melbourne location where it is now directed by son, Stefano.
Gregory Broadbent – Healing Pathways
Guiding clients towards healing since 1998
In 1998, Gregory Broadbent opened The Golden Lamp Bookstore in the heart of the City, at Royal Arcade. Ten years later, in 2008, the business was relocated to North Melbourne and renamed as Healing Pathways.
With a combination of books, accessories and services on offer, the store offers a welcoming space for customers to choose their own pathway towards healing. Gregory’s services include both traditional and alternative counselling, tarot readings, reiki and massage, as well as more specialised couples counselling, and individual conflict and trauma counselling.
Heartland Records – Paul Cook
Taking his vinyl obsession from hobby to retail for 25 years
Back in 1990, Paul Cook started Heartland Records as a weekend hobby, sharing his vinyl obsession and growing his collection through local markets and record fairs. A sudden redundancy from his job as a chef was just the push he needed to turn his hobby into a full-time business – despite it being the ‘death of vinyl’ era.
In 1993, he opened Heartland Records shop on Peel Street, West Melbourne. He traded from here for 20 years before relocating to his current location in Victoria Street, North Melbourne, just in time for the vinyl resurgence.
Nicholas Downie – All the Kings Men
Bringing the art back to old-fashioned grooming
In the decade since opening All The Kings Men, Nicholas Downie has evolved his business from a one-chair barbershop on Errol Street, to a renowned seven-chair mainstay on North Melbourne’s Queensberry Street.
Bringing art back to the tradition of proper male grooming, Nicholas and his team offer top-notch haircuts, buzzcuts and beard maintenance to gentleman of all ages. The barbershop prides itself on their reputation for quality and consistency, all offered in a relaxed environment where good music is always playing, and the conversation is always interesting.
Jeff Gordon – The Lady Cutler Melbourne Showboat
Bringing vibrant entertainment to Melbourne’s waterways for 10 years
From blues to burlesque, The Lady Cutler Melbourne Showboat has been cruising the beautiful Melbourne waterways for 10 years, delivering a vibrant array for live entertainment, boutique events and festivals.
Jeff Gordon rescued the old Sydney harbour ferry from near-death in 2007 and helped return her to her former glory. In the decade since, he and his family have brought hours of enjoyment to more than 250,000 people since on cruises such as The Melbourne Regatta (2010 to 2016), Burlesque Showboat (2011 to 2017), Melbourne Blues (2015 to 2017), Fireworks and NYE (2007 to 2017), Champagne and Seafood Brunch (2014 to 2017).
James Mapleston – James D. Mapleston, Barrister & Solicitor
Delivering the best outcomes for clients, for 30 years
With a career in law spanning more than 30 years, James Mapleston has worked on wide array of complex cases, a number of which have been landmarks.
From his King Street office, James is focused on offering clients the highest level of service and the best outcomes in every matter. His experience covers all areas of commercial and property law, as well as family and criminal law.
The business has recently expanded with James’ son, John, joining the firm, bringing extensive experience in insolvency and general commercial litigation to the business.
Alan Maxwell – Tours on Trike
A decade showing visitors the best of Melbourne
When total strangers started asking for a ride on the Big Blue Trike, Alan and Johanna Maxwell knew it was time to start a business. In 2007, they started their tour business part-time, and in 2010 opened Australia’s first-ever commercial Trike Tour business, in a retail shopfront in Docklands.
In what he calls the ‘greatest job in the world,’ Alan has spent the past decade showing visitors from all over the world the best of Melbourne and Victoria, in a unique and exhilarating experience aboard his Boom Trikes. In that time, Alan and Johanna have also both played a valuable role in helping to shape the blossoming Docklands Community.
Johanna Maxwell – Tours on Trike
Shaping the Docklands community since 2007
Alan and Johanna started their tourism business, Tours on Trike, after having complete strangers request rides on their Big Blue Trike. They moved into Docklands in 2007, and started what has not only been one of Melbourne’s most popular tourism attractions, but also an active involvement with the Docklands Precinct.
Johanna is currently completing her fourth term as President of the Docklands Chamber of Commerce, is an active member of the Docklands Community Representative Group, and a recent member of the Lord Mayor's Commendation Committee.
This year, Johanna has been instrumental in bringing together all of Docklands' major stakeholders to further enhance the progress of the precinct, while maintaining a fulltime corporate role in the CBD.
Kelly McBain – EVAC Environmental Pty Ltd
Keeping cafes and restaurants safe and odour free since 2002
Evac Environment have come a long way in fifteen years.
Starting out in 2002 installing water recycling systems for car wash bays, Kelly and Mike quickly moved into waste removal, repairs and installation of grease traps and pumps – but they didn’t stop there. Recognising the potential safety issues of working in commercial kitchens, Evac developed a line of remote monitoring systems and odour control products.
Over the years, they have helped hundreds of cafes/restaurants stay safe and odour-free, with a commitment to helping reduce the hazards that can occur from often-overlooked kitchen systems.
James Murphy – KereKere
Enriching communities through coffee since 2007
Community-focused coffee vendor KereKere started life as a coffee cart at Melbourne University in 2007.
Initially a student project of owner James Murphy, who was studying social work at the time, the coffee cart evolved quickly into a purpose-built kiosk.
By 2010, KereKere was serving over 1000 customers a day, and was donating more than $1000 a month to local community groups. Since then, the KereKere family has continued to grow and enrich communities around Melbourne, with KereKere South opening at Boyd Community Hub in Southbank in 2012 and KereKere Green opening in the Fitzroy Gardens in 2014.
Cory Parkhill – Parkhill Cellars in North Melbourne
Providing wine expertise and friendly service to North Melbourne for 17 years
Opened by Cory and Steve Parkhill in January 2000, and now solely owned by Cory, Parkhill Cellars has gone from strength to strength in its 17-year history. A favourite with its local North Melbourne customers, Parkhill’s is an intimate and cosy space, with staff who are knowledgeable and friendly.
The store hosts weekly tastings on Friday’s from 4-7pm, and specialises in in back vintage wines with an extensive range including super premium wines and harder to find offerings from boutique wineries.
Barbara Pesel – Pesel & Carr Pty Ltd
Helping clients communicate effectively for 20 years, with a strategic approach
Independent, outcome-focused and award-winning – three terms that describe the work of strategic communications agency, Pesel & Carr.
Since 1997, Barbara Pesel and her team have been enabling clients large and small to communicate more effectively, whether that’s making a splash in the media or online, resolving reputational risks, articulating what makes them special, setting a communications strategy or handling a crisis.
While the agency works across a broad range of industries, it specialises in the education, innovation, property and sports sectors – with an emphasis on results that are both meaningful and measurable.
Rebecca Sampson – Tallulah
A decade of creative, exquisite jewellery design
When Rebecca Sampson opened Tallulah in the heart of the city some 11 years ago, it was the realisation of a long-held vision. The designer jeweller has since established a growing following for her boutique studio in Block Place, with both loyal regulars and new clients drawn by her passion for coloured gems and creative individuality.
Rebecca’s skill is in combining her knowledge as a qualified gemmologist and diamond grader with imagination and design expertise, creating exquisite pieces that her clients love to own.
Trevor Scott – Barnet Motor Body Repairs
A decade of unwavering commitment to quality repairs and service
In 2007, Trevor Scott bought a 50 per cent share in Barnet Motor Body Repairs. Since then, he and co-owner Gary Belford have shared an unwavering commitment to building a business focused on the highest level of customer service and quality repairs.
Despite pressure from big-insurance companies, they have never once compromised on this commitment and have been rewarded with a loyal, ever-growing customer base – built purely on word of mouth.
Year on year, Barnet’s has continued to grow, with additional shops opening in Kew and Richmond, and another City fringe location in the near future.
Khush Singh – Two Fat Indians
Sharing his passion for Indian food with East Melbourne for a decade
In 2006, Khush Singh opened Two Fat Indians on Wellington Parade with a vision of bringing his passion for Indian food to the masses. From this bustling location opposite the MCG, Khush and his team keeping the weekly influx of match goers well fed, alongside customers from within their loyal, local community, with a delicious selection of traditional Indian dishes.
Now, more than a decade since opening, Two Fat Indians have evolved their offering to also include delivery across the city via UberEats, and two food trucks which appear regularly at city events like Moomba and White Night, as well as festivals and food markets across the region.
Frits Trijbetz – Acumen Gentlemen’s Outfitters
Making menswear shopping enjoyable for 40 years
For the past four decades, Frits Trijbetz has been on a mission to show men that, armed with the right attitude and knowledge, they can actually enjoy shopping for menswear.
From his St Kilda Road store, Frits provides honest, expert advice alongside a superb range of quality men’s clothing, including a selection of exclusive European and New Zealand labels, and accessories such as ties and cufflinks.
From helping men find the right suit for a special occasion, to making everyday a little more convenient with iron-free shirts, Frits approaches each customer with his personal motto: “If it’s worth a smile, it’s worth my while.”
Andrew and Mary White – Caffé Torta
Bringing warm, Italian service to the city for more than 15 years
Set within the beautiful and iconic Royal Arcade, just a stone’s throw from the Collins Street entrance, Caffé e Torta offers city shoppers the perfect place to stop and watch the world go by.
For more than 15 years, Andrew and Mary White have been serving regulars and visitors alike with a selection baguettes, coffee and hot food from their cosy Italian café and bar. With warm, friendly service and an irresistible sweet selection, Caffé e Torta draws customers from across Australia and the world to enjoy the unique Melbourne arcade experience, and the tradition of artisan food and beverages.
Andrew Wilkins and Robert Hamilton-Jones – Business Advantage International Pty Ltd
A decade of exploring business opportunities with our neighbouring countries
In 2004, two publishing entrepreneurs – Andrew Wilkins and Robert Hamilton-Jones – set out to start publishing useful business information about developing Asia/Pacific economies. Now, more than a decade later, Business Advantage International has turned their key focus onto our nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea.
With ten staff based at hip co-working space, The Cluster, the company runs PNG’s leading business media, as well as exporting a range of publishing and communication services to companies there. In 2015, Business Advantage International was featured in the BRW’s Fast 100 list and, later this year, they’ll be sharing their invaluable insight through a major investment conference in Sydney.
Jane Wu and Zhong Qing Wu – Chine on Paramount Restaurant
Bringing award-winning Chinese cuisine to the city
From their prime location right beside Her Majesty’s Theatre, in the heart of Melbourne’s famed Chinatown, Chine on Paramount Restaurant is renowned for its award-winning and contemporary cuisine.
Since opening, Jane and Zhong Qing Wu have been serving a delicious, varied menu from key regions of China and a great selection of wines, in a warm, inviting atmosphere. With classic dishes such as daily Yum Cha and Peking Duck, alongside their signature favourites such as King Prawns with XO Chilli Sauce and Pan-friend Duck Breast Fillet in Orange Liqueur Sauce, Chine on Paramount has established a loyal following of city customers.