Pots of character at Stroud

In fact, the teapots themselves have prompted much talk in the café since Leonie Bowden took it over a decade ago with the help of her daughter, Karen Wilmen.

Shortly after moving in, mother and daughter decided they couldn’t bear the sight of an empty shelf, so they placed four one-cup teapots upon it.

Within weeks, the teapot family just grew as visitors and customers donated pieces, and the collection now attracts people from across the State.

"Maybe they saw it as a place for their teapot should be," Leonie said of the dozens of willing donors.

One older gentlemen brought in a Humpty Dumpty teapot, telling her it would be seen in the cafe, but not in his cupboard.

Others brought in family heirloom pieces they wanted to share, some even brought back teapots from overseas adventures.

Leonie said while the collection was extensive - about 220 teapots now grace the collection - it was strictly for decoration, with the pots never used.

"They’ve all got character, they’re all special," she said.

"It blew me away that people gave them to me. I was speechless."

Now spread through much of the café, the collection is nothing if not diverse, portraying characters, a range of patterns and even a Noah’s Ark.

"The most unusual one would be one given to me by an 85-year-old woman that belonged to her parents," Leonie said. "It’s old enamel."

Another "gem" was found on the side of a road by the Murray River.

"There’s so many of them with different stories."

Leonie said she can remember who gave her what, and if they ever want a teapot back, that’s okay too.

The café itself is a mixture of old and new, she said.

Built in 1906, it burned down in 1919 to be rebuilt in 1922.

"It hasn’t changed character since then aside from the paintwork."

While the kitchen has been renovated, the old jukebox remains, along with some original chairs and tables.