The Hill End General Store now goes by the name of 24 Carrot Cafe, a new identity for a new era. The interior has a few minor rearrangements but other than that, it’s still the General Store from way back. As I’ve mentioned in a former post a few years ago when the cafe served scones (for a minute), the former gold mining village of Hill End is the ideal location to take a break with scones and tea. It’s just, well, fitting; a traditional snack in a heritage setting in the country. Sit in, or out in the front courtyard lined by lavender bushes and shaded by large umbrellas in the summer. ‘Mum’s scones’ (as listed on the blackboard) have the potential to be creamy. To me, they don’t taste fresh today, although they have been microwaved to ‘freshen’ them up. The average strawberry jam is acceptable, but the kicker in this spread is the whipped cream, which is super duper thick – lovely. Enjoy the village; visit the Heritage Centre next door and wander past original restored houses from the 1870s Gold Rush.

Scones: 

Jam:

Cream:

Tea: A small selection of Lipton teabags served in a funky ‘tea for one’ stackable teapot/cup combo.

Price: $$

Overall: A pleasant place to regroup before more exploring.

Location: 3 Beyers Ave, Hill End NSW 2850 Ph: 02 6337 8111 hillendgeneralstoreandcafe.com.au

Reviewed June 2019