Blumes Historic Bakery

Date: 16 February 2025

We talked with owner Jodie Pillinger to find out more about the restoration of Blumes Historic Bakery in Harcourt.

What will Blumes Bakery be offering, and what makes it special?

 Blumes Historic Bakery is more than just a bakery - it’s a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship and community. We’re bringing a 100-year-old scotch oven back to life, baking handmade artisan bread, pastries and cakes using time-honoured techniques.

Our menu highlights quality ingredients, slow fermentation, and traditional baking methods that honour the past while serving the present. More than just food, we want to create a warm and welcoming space where locals and visitors can connect over great bread and shared history.

What have been the biggest challenges in getting the business up and running?

 Restoring a historic bakery is no small feat - balancing heritage preservation with modern functionality has been one of the biggest challenges.

Sourcing the right equipment, navigating compliance and approvals, and ensuring our space retains its authenticity while meeting today’s standards has taken time and patience. Another challenge has been the uncertainty of timelines, but having a strong vision (and a lot of determination!) has helped us keep moving forward.

What’s your personal favourite bakery item - and what do you think will be the crowd favourite?

 Tough question! I have a soft spot for our classic fruit loaf. Full of flavour, this recipe is unique to Blumes. When we ran a market stall and home-based bakery shop, this was hands down one of our most popular items. But I think our croissants and crusty sourdough will be the crowd favourites, they take days to make but are worth every minute.