Smiths Ln Dairy delivers local produce to Wongawilli

What was initially conceived of as a 'soft launch' on the weekend of March 19-20 saw an overwhelming demand at new cafe and general store Smiths Ln Dairy.

Read more: 'We're so far behind': Wollongong vs Canberra skate parks in numbers

While the inclement weather on Saturday kept things quiet, owner Terence Watson said that Sunday was a different story.

"We had every table full and a line of 20 to 30 people wanting tables," he said.

"It was so fantastic to see just how much the local community just desperately wanted somewhere to go for breakfast."

Mr Watson, who lives in Vista Park, points out that a community hub for the new developments has been a long time coming.

"It's the fastest growing region in all of the Illawarra and yet it's taken more than half a decade for a cafe to go in," he said.

"People love to support their local and they want to go somewhere that's beautiful, easy to get to, with great service, lovely views, and just good food."

Listening to these desires, Mr Watson has opened a community-focused cafe and general store that showcases local producers.

The cafe menu includes coffee roasted in North Wollongong, bread from Coniston and milk from Picton and Jamberoo. In the general store, 90 per cent of products are from the Illawarra, Southern Highlands and the South Coast.

The products are whipped up into cafe classics which showcase the local ingredients while remaining accessible. Dishes are named with a nod towards not only the former use of the site as a working dairy, but the area's other historic industries, with the big breakfast named the Miners Breakfast.

Mr Watson, who also runs The Throsby wine bar in Wollongong, said that the design and execution of the cafe came directly from the neighbours.

"We reached out to the community on a local Facebook page with a Survey Monkey and asked 'what do you want out of a local cafe?'," he said.

Naturally, the top responses were good food and good coffee, but a strong sentiment came through that locals wanted a place to connect and relax.

"That's where the third arm of the business - not just the eatery and the general store - the kids' garden came from," Mr Watson said. "It's somewhere that parents and kids can go and enjoy some time not behind iPads or screens and let their imagination run wild."

As the team settles in during the coming weeks expect a few specials to appear alongside the main menu and further in the future the space will be used for pop-up stalls and workshops.

"Watch this space," said Mr Watson.

The Illawarra Mercury newsroom is funded by our readers. You can subscribe to support our journalism here.