The quaint seaside village of Shellharbour still offers remnants of its historical past. But don’t be put off by the by plush housing estates that engulf the once acres and acres of lush green pastures that surround the historical heart. There’s actually quite a lot of the old left, however some properties have been revamped beyond recognition. Windradene House, now The White House Cafe, was built in 1871 and leased out as holiday accommodation for tourists by the owners who lived next door. Apart from the necessary modifications to create a cafe, the house retains some sort of resemblance to its former self. Although there are a few dining rooms inside the house, the draw card here is the garden setting. It’s Monday morning and the cafe isn’t long open and staff are still setting up outdoor furniture. The scones are light and fluffy but something tells me they are yesterday’s, as they don’t taste as fresh as they could be, which is a bummer, as it’s easy to tell that they could get top marks. The average strawberry jam is paired with fresh but lightly whipped cream – good enough. It’s a nice place for morning tea, and although you can’t see the sea, you can still watch the relaxed Shellharbour world go by.

Scones: 

Jam: 

Cream:

Tea: A selection of loose-leaf teas in a teapot.

Price: $$

Overall: A slice of local history in a pretty garden setting.

Location: 1/29 Addison St, Shellharbour NSW 2529
Ph: 02 4295 5655 facebook.com/whitehousecafeshellharbour/

Reviewed in February, 2017