The Shillinglaw Cottage re-opened in January 2016 under new management and is now a family owned and operated cafe focusing on locally sourced produce, great coffee, chef-made food and friendly service. It offers a dining room and a coffee area as well as an alfresco garden with large children’s sandpit, all shaded by a significant old oak tree. Head Chef Bruno Lima and his team have developed an eclectic and diverse menu, offering fresh, local, free range and organic ingredients where possible. All-day breakfast, lunches, coffee and cakes with gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo options are served, as well as a ‘Little Shillings’ menu for the kids. Open on both week days and weekends. Shillinglaw is also fully licensed and the historical cottage can be hired for private functions.

Shillinglaw is next door to the Eltham Library and close to Alistair Knox park. They are just a short walk from the Eltham town centre and the train station, plus the 902 bus will drop you off at their door.

A little about the history of Shillinglaw cottage, built by pioneers, saved by locals. The cottage was built in 1859 and is constructed from handmade bricks in a Flemish bond pattern. In the 1960s, it was marked for demolition to make way for new council buildings, but a group was formed by the locals to save the cottage. One of the fundraising efforts was the publication of a cookery book “Flavour of Eltham”, which was re-printed four times. Brick by brick, the cottage was dismantled and re-built in its original form in its current location.

Open during school terms only. The coffee shop is open Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm. In terms 1 to 3, The restaurant is open on Monday to Thursday, 6.30-9pm, during Terms 1-3. In Term 4, the restaurant is open on Monday and Tuesday, 6.30-9pm. Bookings essential.

ELTHAM College owns and operates a Hospitality Training Centre and fully-functional winery, cafe and restaurant called Swipers Gully. Young people in Years 8 and 9 operate the college coffee shop within the restaurant, with particular focus on Year 9 students exploring employment and work experience opportunities. The Centre also allows young people in Years 10, 11 and 12 to participate in a number of VET and VCE options as well as vocational certificates – with most of our young people participating in at least one. The Swipers Gully restaurant is open to the public, so come join us for a delicious meal and you will also be helping our students gain nationally accredited training qualifications in Hospitality. Guest Chef evenings are usually held twice a year, with a 5 course dinner matched to wines; they have previously featured renowned local chefs Stephen Mercer (Mercers, Eltham) and Gordon Brown (Brownkortes).