Hamilton North lamp factory reborn as Elma's cafe

The renovated dining room is one of the major transformations. A name change has also occurred. The cafe has been rebranded as Elma's, which is a nod to the history of the site that was once home to the Electric Lamp Manufacturers Australia factory. The lamp works was founded in 1923 and became the country's main producer of lightbulbs, employing thousands of people in the region until the company folded in 2002.

It's a topic that Nathan Fleck has become somewhat an expert in since taking over the cafe.

"We have renamed it Elma's because that's what all of the factory workers called it and for us it's about maintaining the heritage," he tells Weekender.

"The factory employed a tonne of people over several generations in Newcastle and it was a real engineering powerhouse. It made something like 75 per cent of all the light globes sold in this part of the world.

"I have customers come in and tell me 'Oh, the lamp works, yeah my uncle worked there'. Everyone seems to have a connection with it in some way."

Fleck, who has run restaurants and bars in South-East Asia, and wife Isla, a project manager, fell in love with the space upon inspection. They recognised its potential to work as a cafe by day and a relaxed eatery and bar by night, a vision which they hope to have up-and-running within the year.

They took advantage of the time during the latest lockdown to renovate the large dining space at the rear of the cafe, knocking out a false ceiling that uncovered the building's original windows which has allowed natural light to spill in.

Isla, who birthed the couple's second child during the middle of renovations, oversaw the beautifully executed project which combines vintage timber bench seating throughout and teal-coloured booths with art deco-style lighting and a communal red gum timber slab table in the centre.

For little ones, there is a kids corner with a teepee, books and toys. Fleck wants the cafe to become a space where all are welcome.

"We like to have a glass of wine and we want to take our kids and our dogs along too when we go out, but there aren't many places to do that so that was a motivating factor in our business model," he says.

"We want to create a safe space for families to come, so here we have got the kids corner and the garden with a playhouse in it.

"We are going to run activities for kids here during the week, like story time, music and craft."

Fleck hopes to eventually host live music and BBQ events in the cafe's spacious fenced garden.

"We are still at phase one with everything but within a year we certainly hope we will be fully licensed and featuring local wines and beers," Fleck says.

"It will be very much a casual place to eat and drink where you order tapas or izakaya-style and order for the table, not yourself."

For now, the cafe offers a brunch menu that concentrates on using home-made ingredients, plus coffee from Tapestry Roasters.

"You have the usual suspects like granola or a bacon and egg roll but they are souped-up versions," Fleck says.

"There is definitely a lot of South-East Asian influence on the menu which stems from my time spent there in hospitality."

Try the Japanese donburi rice bowl, Korean street toastie with kimchi or, for something completely different, the "Jinny's toast symphony" with peanut butter, house chilli relish, pickles and salt.

"Our previous head barista introduced me to it," Fleck explains. "I've made it for several chefs and they've all loved it after initial scepticism. It's such a wonderful demonstration of the pillars of what makes food lovely: salt, sweet, sour and fat."

Elma's is taking bookings to cater for functions in the dining room (BYO).

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