The Purcell family are in the throes of moving into Batlow’s newest tourist attraction, Apple Thief Cider House, which has been fitted out with reclaimed indigenous alpine ash. Photo: Apple Thief Cider.
The talk of the town in Batlow right now is the new Apple Thief Cider House and as construction nears completion it’s clear the past has not been forgotten.
The Apple Thief proprietor David Purcell is determined the new building, and business, will not only become a major tourism attraction for the town, but also act as a symbol of resilience and hope for a community which five years ago emerged from the devastating Black Summer bushfires.
His hometown of Batlow was one of the worst-hit communities, experiencing significant damage to its orchards, homes and infrastructure, with many properties destroyed, livestock lost, and a devastating impact on the local economy due to the widespread destruction of apple crops.
In late 2020, the new development was among 26 projects worth a total of more than $56 million approved in the Eden-Monaro electorate by the Federal and NSW governments under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, to boost local economies as communities recover from the 2019-20 bushfires.
Just over $3.5 million has been awarded to The Apple Thief for a multifaceted business development involving a new cider manufacturing and distribution centre and immersive tourism experience.
Dave and his family would soon relocate to the town from the Southern Highlands, setting up a temporary shop and at the former Wilgro Orchards, where they built on their established stable of ciders while finessing the grand plan for the permanent cider house.
Since construction began in May 2024, Dave says there has been a strong sense of positivity among the local tradesmen charged with the job, which includes a huge nod to what was lost in the fires.
The main structure is up, the floor is down, the glass is in, and over the past two weeks, layers of beautiful alpine ash timber have been carefully brought into the building, he said.
Known for its durability and resistance to weathering, alpine ash is a hardwood native to the Snowy Mountains of NSW.
The stunning pale wood now lining the walls and ceiling of the new building has been reclaimed from trees affected by the bushfires and milled by local craftsman Joe Burgess.
According to Dave, a great deal of care, dedication and skillful expertise went into the hand milling process.
“By carefully crafting each piece, Joe was able to preserve its unique characteristics while ensuring the highest quality, resulting in a striking and uplifting finish,” he said.
The new venue with its high ceilings and windows overlooking orchards features an indoor bar and restaurant linked to an outdoor seating and cider garden area, complete with deck, also finished in alpine ash.
“The emotional impact of the fires will stay with us forever, and we wanted to acknowledge this tragic piece of history by giving the reclaimed timber new life,” Dave said.
Set for completion in coming weeks, The Apple Thief Cider House will provide an immersive experience.
Visitors will approach the cider house through the orchard itself, enjoying the seasonal sights and aromas of the various apples and other fruits grown for the award-winning range of The Apple Thief Ciders.
“The Batlow community has been gradually finding its feet, bringing new hope and purpose for the Snowy Valleys township,” Dave said, “and the purpose of the project is to help us all move forward”.
“Not only as a tourism attraction to draw more visitors, we hope the Cider House will also show there is much to be positive about while highlighting what our region and community have to offer to those visiting from near and far,” he said.
The Apple Thief Cider House is located at 4066 Batlow Road, Batlow. Keep up to date with them via their website, Facebook and Instagram.
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