![](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/RoseyRavelston-coffee.jpg)
Cath and Zac of RoseyRavelston (photo supplied)
Story and photos by Belle Butler
Second-hand bookstore and social enterprise RoseyRavelston has moved to Lawson-town. While the core of their business remains the same – donating 50% of their profits to refugee support and advocacy – the move has prompted adaptation and diversification, which has opened up new collaborations and opportunities for the business and the community. (Read our first article on RoseyRavelston here)
Key Points:
- Social enterprise RoseyRavelston has moved into historic premises, ‘Lyttleton’, in Lawson.
- They have embraced their new location, diversifying, collaborating and continuing to grow.
- New events such as Locals Night and the Mini Markets provide opportunities for the social enterprise and community alike.
On the north side of the tracks in Lawson, where local horses used to snort and neigh and take their nightly rest, people now gather. In a cosy nook on a velveteen chair one woman admires her cake and says to another: “This is becoming a real community hub.” Behind them, there is an attractive display of orange and blue spined books. Next to them, the recent works of a local artist.
They rest their feet upon the ‘herringbone’ bricks of the original stable, but no longer can the clip clop of hoof be heard. No longer can the earthy scent of hay and horse be smelt, but rather, the curiously moreish mix of coffee and gnocchi.
This little scene represents yet another iteration in the story of these historical premises, known as ‘Lyttleton’, as well as the next iteration in the story of the (mostly) second-hand bookstore and social enterprise RoseyRavelston.
![Roseyravelston In the old stables of Lyttleton](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rosey-ravelston-lyttleton-rotated.jpg)
In the old stables of Lyttleton
The premises at 1 Badgerys Crescent were originally built in 1884 by John Geggie and named ‘Lyttleton’ after his wife’s maiden name, Lyttle. Functioning as a house, garden and business, it was the first store in Lawson as well as the original post office.
In the 1970s it was renamed ‘Badgerys Attic’ and became an antique shop, which it remained under various owners until it was bought and lovingly restored by the Carmichael-Parissi family in 2015. They turned the premises into an organic food and retail shop and atelier, ‘Lyttleton Stores Co-Operative’, thus reviving the original name “to link with its history and create a local alternative to corporate big business with space for connecting community,” said Erst Carmichael. In addition it included an Atelier that sold the work of local artisans and artists. It also ran workshops where people could learn skills for resilience and sustainability.
As for RoseyRavelston, the bookstore was established as an online venture in 2020 by owners Cath and Zac in an effort to combine their love of books with their determination to advocate for refugees.
Having previously worked as a social worker and coffee school trainer respectively in detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, they had witnessed “appalling” conditions and decided to run their business as a social enterprise, giving 50% of their profits to refugee support.
![mushrooms at rosey ravelston lawson](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240523_1623513.jpg)
Fresh produce, coffee and chats.
As the business grew, they moved their books into the co-working space at Nauti Studios, Hazelbrook, where they valued the co-working community and ease of collaboration. Then, when an opportunity arose for RoseyRavelston to share the current premises in Lawson with Lyttleton Stores Co-Operative, they excitedly jumped. “Coming here we were collaborating with Lyttleton, which was great because they had similar values,” said Cath. “It was such a good partnership.”
Unfortunately, Lyttleton Stores Co-Operative closed their retail space earlier this year, and RoseyRavelston was faced with the daunting and exciting prospect of expanding. Ultimately, the extra rent and extra space has resulted in extra opportunities for collaboration and community engagement. “Building on what Lyttleton had done here with the community was so important to us,” said Cath.
![at rosey ravelston](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240530_165403-1024x768.jpg)
Bori enjoying a hot beverage while Cath stokes the fire.
In a nod to that commitment, RoseyRavelston have opened up half of their premises as a community space, with ethically sourced coffee/tea and locally made goodies available, comfy spots to sit, books to read and artworks to admire. The difference to your average coffee or food space is, you don’t actually have to buy anything. “There is a lack of community spaces in the world in general,” Zac said. “We wanted to create a space people can go and hang and not feel like they have to buy something.”
Cath added: “This is a place you can come to meet people, but we also want to make sure to have nooks for introverts or those wanting to sit alone. That’s really important to us, being inclusive. The garden space is dogs-on-leash friendly, and we really want to make it a safe space for LGBTQi+ and neuro-diverse communities.”
![live music at roseyravelston in lawson](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rosey-ravelston-music-1024x768.jpg)
Andy and Antony Mann playing some tunes in the bookshop.
The success of the space is also a result of a collaboration between RoseyRavelston and gnocchi-maker Fi Kennedy of ‘Gnocked Up!,’ who moved the business from Newcastle this year. “It’s a simple one plus one equals three concept,” said Zac. “Working together helps to grow both businesses.”
Fi is equally positive about the new partnership. “There’s a lot of mental support in collaborating with people who share the same values as well as benefits to both businesses,” she said, then added, “It’s a bit weird but we like it – coffee, books and gnocchi!”
![Gnocked up gnocchi making at Lyttleton](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/gnocked-up-lawson.jpg)
Left: Fi making her ‘even-nonnas-love-it’ gnocchi. Right: Cath at the coffee machine.
The partnership is just one way in which RoseyRavelston has adapted to new circumstances. On Thursdays from 3:30-6:30 they host ‘Locals Night’, teaming up with Farm it Forward and Earthrising Mushrooms to supply the community with local produce, while community members are invited to hang out, chat, listen to or play music.
“Bring a musical instrument to jam, or just sit and chat. Let’s all hang out and make use of this wonderful space,” said Cath. Similarly, on Sundays they hold ‘Mini Markets’ and invite local stallholders to sell their goods.
![‘Locals Night’ at RoseyRavelston.](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/rosey-ravelston-locals-night.jpg)
‘Locals Night’ at RoseyRavelston.
They have also turned part of the front cottage into a co-working space, in which a desk can be used for $19 a day. Social enterprises are invited to use this space to meet and host workshops at subsidised rates.
While diversifying has been part of the excitement of inhabiting the new premises, it has also been a response to the community. Zac and Cath are happy to be approached by various community groups wishing to hold their events there. “It’s great,” said Zac. “These events are often about issues we care deeply about but can’t always dedicate as much time to, so for them to utilise our space feels really good.”
![outside rosey ravelston](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/roseyravelston-outside.jpg)
Locals Night
The challenges of running a social enterprise have been met by RoseyRavelston’s enthusiasm and willingness to diversify, collaborate and grow. Alongside the changes, Zac assuredly declares that one thing will never change: “We will never do anything that’s not a social enterprise,” he said. “It’s the only way to run a business. One day we’d like to see a world where every business, small, medium, large is a social enterprise.”
Back at the cosy scene with the velveteen chair, the women are eating cake. They sit by a slow-combustion fire, which is occasionally stoked by Cath. Across from them, someone orders a coffee and Zac starts up the machine.
From the kitchen, servings of melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi emerge, and empty bowls are returned. It’s Thursday: ‘Locals Night.’ A hot pink ‘open’ sign above the old stable doors beckons in the regulars and newcomers alike. They buy fresh produce and gourmet mushrooms to the songs of Lawson musicians Antony and Andy Mann.
Drop in to RoseyRavelston on Local’s Night in this short video
Some stop and stay, placing their chairs among corridors of books, taking in the crystal tones of Andy’s voice folding layers upon his dad’s guitar work. There is an applause, the low hum of close conversations and the whirring of the milk steamer. A passerby remarks: “RoseyRavelston’s lit up like Christmas and doing a roaring trade.”
Indeed. You never know, a local horse might even pop by the old stables for a bit of the action.
![Lawson pony Peggy Sue checking out the old Lyttleton stables.](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_52312.jpeg)
Local pony Peggy Sue checking out the old stables. (Photo supplied)
Share this article:
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
![](https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Logos-1.jpg)
More from around the region
Are you keen to find a new career path that can fill you with joy and contribute to restoring the health of our planet at the same time? There`s a growing need for skills to support circular and regenerative economies! Join us on Skillshare Saturday 7 Sep with our free Upcycling Fashion program from 9am to 3pm and Bushcare from 1.30-4.30pm. Bookings essential for Fashion Upcycling (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3XddWJs Contact Karen Hising to come along to Bushcare at khising@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or call the Bushcare Office on 4780 5623
#bushcare #fashionupcycling #circulareconomy #regenerative #generationrestoration #skillshare #patternmaking #repairs #togetherwecan #socialenterprises #joy #repair #reuse #recycle
Have you seen the video of the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative`s 18 month grant program? It`s been a massive collaboration from the Lower Mountains to Lithgow. Check out the 150,000 litre underground water storage we`ve built with StormBrixx, the bushfire sprinkler demonstration wall we`ve installed at the Planetary Health Centre, the Hydraloop greywater recycling system being trialled by Sydney Water that`s on display at the Centre, and more, as we work together to restore the health of our planet and reduce the risk of future extreme weather events becoming disasters. View full video (and lots more) at our Planetary Health YouTube channel. (link in profile)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vBUnhvgTYc&t=74s
#planetaryhealth #disasterriskreduction #robinwallkimmerer #braidingsweetgrass #bushcare #watermanagement #watercycle #wearenature #community #bushfire #flood #heatwave #watertanks #stormbrixx #sprinklers #solutionsmedia #beprepared #togetherwecan @hydraloop_systems
We need your help! Would you fill in this 4-min survey to help the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative report back to the funding body and enable us to seek more funding (link in profile): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9XC9TG8
Over the last 18 mths we`ve delivered a massive program to help the community prepare for future fires, extreme wet weather events and heatwaves. We`ve built a Circular Water Demonstration site to showcase how we could increase water storage around our city as well as the latest research in building bushfire sprinklers and new technology for recycling grey water; we`ve organised over 60 presentations/workshops/events; we`ve built 6 neighbourhood news sites with links to emergency services, What`s On Calendars, Community Directories, Real Time Air Quality Monitoring and hundreds of stories written by local people about local solutions. Thank you to everyone who has helped and participated. Now we need your feedback to guide future programming and apply for more funding and sponsorship. Please take 4 mins to do the survey or email planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au to give us your feedback.
Have you seen the video of the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative`s 18 month grant program? It`s been a massive collaboration from the Lower Mountains to Lithgow. Check out the 150,000 litre underground water storage we`ve built with StormBrixx, the bushfire sprinkler demonstration wall we`ve installed at the Planetary Health Centre, the Hydraloop greywater recycling system being trialled by Sydney Water that`s on display at the Centre, and more, as we work together to restore the health of our planet and reduce the risk of future extreme weather events becoming disasters. View full video (and lots more) at our Planetary Health YouTube channel. (link in profile)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vBUnhvgTYc&t=74s
#planetaryhealth #disasterriskreduction #robinwallkimmerer #braidingsweetgrass #bushcare #watermanagement #watercycle #wearenature #community #bushfire #flood #heatwave #watertanks #stormbrixx #sprinklers #solutionsmedia #beprepared #togetherwecan @hydraloop_systems
For the past 18 months the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative`s grant-funded program has created local news sites and shared solutions from every neighbourhood! Which have been your favourite stories? Check out the 6 most popular stories and give us your feedback in our Planetary Health newsletter (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3Mm5Xov
#solutions #localaction #inspiration #hope #solutionsmedia #planetaryhealth #disasterriskreduction #stories #localnews
The recent MAGNIFY event at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre was designed to help locals, young and old, think about the wonderful contributions insects make to our lives and show how we can support them, and their vital role in our environment. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/insects-and-ecology-take-centre-stage/
#insects #magnify #biodiversity #artforachange #interactive #inspiration #ecosystems @amelie_ecology
Life is made up of complex systems in which everything is inter-connected. Over his decades-long teaching career, Stuart Hill, a retired Emeritus Professor, and Linden resident, has helped hundreds of students understand the critical links between human actions and the health of our planet. His research on bat caves and soil ecology highlights the intricate relationships between organisms and their environment. Read more in Mid Mountains Local News (link in profile)
https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/learning-about-systems-thinking-from-a-bat-cave/
#socialecology #ecology #planetaryhealth #systemsthinking #batcave
The Planetary Health Precinct was buzzing on Friday. We attended the Inaugural Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA) Conference organised by the @bluemountainswhi during the day, and in the evening were inspired and uplifted by Andrew Skeoch from https://www.facebook.com/listeningearth at our Deep Listening to Nature event.
#planetaryhealth #biodiversity #biodiversitysensitiveurbandesign #deeplistening #wearenature
Springwood resident Dr Kate Umbers, Senior Lecturer in Zoology at Western Sydney University, is someone who sees the magic and beauty in our invertebrates, dedicating her life to studying and helping to conserve them. Read more in Springwood Area Local News (link in profile): https://springwoodlocalnews.com/magical-creatures-in-the-garden/
#insects #invertebrates #zoology #protectbiodiversity #planetaryhealth
We are SO looking forward to this: 6pm at the Planetary Health Centre tonight! We`ll hear from the inspiring acoustic ecologist, Andrew Skeoch, who will guide us into hearing the languages of nature. Andrew is a professional wildlife sound recordist and author of ‘Deep Listening to Nature’. His recordings have been heard in documentaries, installations and feature films such as Peter Gabriel`s soundtrack to `Rabbit Proof Fence’. The event is free but bookings essential (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4c6e6rP
Over the last thirty years, he has been documenting the sounds of environments around the planet, and through his label `Listening Earth`, published over one hundred recordings allowing listeners to immerse themselves in wild soundscapes from around the world.
Learn how we can develop our auditory awareness, identify species by ear, recognise behaviours and repertoire, and find empathy with the voices of other beings. Deeper listening allows us to hear the integrity of entire ecosystems, and reveals what the communications of the biosphere tell us about how nature functions to achieve sustainability. Andrew’s presentations are an immersive weaving of evocative recordings, fascinating spectrogram analysis and original ideas. You’ll hear the natural environment around you in a whole new way.
#deeplistening #wearenature #acousticecology #wildliferecording #dadirri #planetaryhealth
Julie Nance invited her 82-year-old mum to join her on outings in Lower Mountains parks, after months of being confined to home due to sickness. With fond memories of family picnics growing up, their quality time together in nature gave them both a much-needed lift. Read the full story in Lower Mountains Local News (link in profile): https://lowermtnslocalnews.com/enjoying-the-great-outdoors/
#localparks #bluemountains #lowermountains #natureconnection #greatoutdoors #freshair #planetaryhealth #family
It`s less than 8 weeks until the official start of fire season. The villages of Bell, Clarence and Dargan found themselves in the path of two converging fires at the end of 2019. Afterwards, the communities engaged fire consultant Tony Hawkins and produced three videos on how to make your property more resilient in the face of fire. Read more in Blackheath Area Local News (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3AnfHvV #bushfires #beprepared #fireseason #disasterriskreduction #smallchangescanmakeabigdifference #beingproactive #actnow