The Little
Morgue Winery is one of the most unique cellar doors in
Australia.
It started as a dream for Hannah and Michael Van der Merwe who
over a fifteen year period planned and prepared to open a cellar
door on the Sunshine Coast. The fast growing wine industry in
Queensland and particularly the Sunshine Coast attracted the
family and they moved to
the region in 2001.
While looking
for an interesting location for a new winery they stumbled upon
a much neglected old Morgue. Driving past the property one day
they saw a sign up “For Sale-Funeral Parlour” and immediately
realised the potential for the building and purchased the
property.
Over the
space of a year, the Van der Merwes transformed the morgue into
the unique cellar door and opened its doors on 6th
December 2003.
The building
is a landmark in the area. Originally built as a textile factory
it was then converted to a morgue, and now into winery and
cellar door. The building style is Gothic with wrought iron
through out. The new interior aims to bring the new and the old
aspects of the building together. Hannah designed the stained
glass windows in the chapel area that is now a cellar door,
utilising her background as an artist.
The cellar
door is on the upper level that was originally the chapel.
With high vaulted ceilings, there is a viewing platform into
the winery operations below. The viewing platform is the
glassed in section where the coffins used to be hoisted
during services. At the cellar door guests can taste a wide
variety of wines, quirkily named such as Dead Smooth,
Supreme After Life and Rest in Peace.
The lower level is dug into the ground making it the perfect
environment for a cellar with a constant temperature of 18
degrees. This is where the bodies were stored prior to the
funeral services, complete with toe tags.f
18 degrees. This is where the bodies were stored prior to
the funeral services, complete with toe tags.
The Little Morgue is now open five
days a week (closed Mondays and Tuesdays),10am to 4pm for
Morgue Munchies and wine tasting. There is an attractive out
door dining area with fountain and gardens.
Special functions for small groups during the day or
evenings are also very popular. Contact Hannah for more
information.
Special events such as Halloween and Black Friday Dinner on
Friday 13th are held regularly.
Call (07) 5441 5951
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