Our names are Murrie Harris and Ivy Ireland and we have an amazing new idea.

We want to bring Newcastle's only independently run and operated combined cafe and second-hand book house to Hunter Street. We would love for you to help us make this happen.

There is a lot of work involved in first starting up a cafe bookstore. It takes a rather sizeable budget, the right location, time (and possibly thyme), and the right ideas. 

Our budget and start up costs will include the general fitting out of the premises, the installation of beautiful timber bookshelves, warm comfy couches and quirky Parisian tables, a glorious traditional Italian lever coffee machine, stock, and other general start-up costs.

As you can no doubt imagine, it works out at a whopping great figure for us to start this thing - at our last estimate, at least $18,000.

The good news is that you guys can all help. Any contribution of funds that you donate will potentially see us through into successfully opening the shop. We aim to create a hub like space that can support local artists and book lovers with events like: book launches, exhibitions, cafe poets in residence, book clubs, writers workshops and chess clubs. We are just full to bursting with amazing potential ideas for this space and will welcome submissions for all your exhibition ideas too.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and we really hope you will see this new venture as a worthwhile idea for the community of Newcastle.

This is our super hot lever machine we just ordered.