Elizabeth Burnett is the co-owner and founder of Burnetts on Barney, a Garden Center and hub for all things outdoorsy in the historic blue metal quarry site on Barnet Street.

She originally trained as a journalist and after completing her studies took her first job as a journalist with the Kiama Independent. This was in the era of the great Peter Attwater who allowed her as a young journo to cover the Kim Corrigan Murder, a real opportunity to get inside the culture of the local community. 

She took a role in Sydney as a communications manager before moving to Jamberoo in 2001 with her husband Andrew Burnett, an arborist.

They established Burnett Trees, a business which still offers tree care, removal and pruning throughout the Illawarra.

When they moved Burnett Trees to Kiama in 2012, there was no intention of opening a landscape hub or garden centre. “We were only selling firewood and mulch in the early days,” but Elizabeth quickly realised they needed to “respond to the community need” for landscape supplies. 

Burnett's aspirations quickly grew and in 2014, the couple opened a plant nursery, adding hardware supplies when Mitre 10 closed and late last year opened a cafe on site.

The Quarry Cafe, which celebrates the site’s history as well as seasonal foods and homestyle cooking, as well as serving their own Quarry Blend locally-ground coffee. Within the nursery setting and with a towering rock wall backdrop, it’s a fantastic spot to meet with friends, and sit in the sun amidst an array of blooms and greenery, whilst enjoying live music performed by local artists. 

During COVID, Burnetts was one of the few local businesses allowed to stay open. Elizabeth recalls people loved coming to visit the quarry for community, connection and a sense of normality at a difficult time. The concept of ‘Community in The Quarry’ was born in those strange times. 

Elizabeth explains the business is not just about selling nursery and landscaping supplies, “it’s a community hub; a living-working business and hopefully part of the fabric of the local community”. 

“It is evolving into a place where people can connect with Kiama’s natural beauty and rich quarrying history, while meeting with others in the community,” she said.

Burnetts also hosts Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival each year and local musicians play every Saturday morning. Interactive workshops are held onsite, particularly in school holidays for children to learn about plant care and even bee keeping! There are currently four ‘flow hives’ onsite and Rachael from “Bee Inspired” guides the workshops. 

The business supports Kiama Business Chamber’s initiative: “Think, Shop and Buy Local.” Elizabeth says, “Small towns rely on circular economies and to survive and thrive businesses need to lead the shop local concept by cross promoting and supporting each other.”

“In business, as in life, we thrive best when we support and lift each other up rather than existing in isolation”.