Candle Shack - makers of hand-poured, scented candles

This business, known now as The Candle Shack, was formerly known as The Waxhouse. The Waxhouse operated from a garage in Sydney for over 15 years. The previous owners had a stall at Paddy’s Market, their daughter eventually acquiring a shop front in Newtown as well. They both worked full-time, operated Paddy’s on Saturdays and made candles every evening and Sundays to fill orders for themselves and their wholesale customers. They must have worked every waking moment!

These owners, over time, bought out the other candle stalls at Paddy’s, until they became the only candle supplier at this venue. From both Paddy’s and the Asra store in Newtown, the business developed a successful and enduring wholesale and retail base. It expanded to the importation of incense, incense holders, oil-burners, clothes and the bottling of essential, fragrant and massage oils.

In 1996, the owners retired and moved to the south coast of New South Wales, bringing the candle manufacturing business with them. We, Paul and Debbie Barling, were their neighbours in the south and we got to know them through mowing their lawns while they were away. When they retired, they needed some part-time help in the candle workshop, so Debbie began to work for them on a small part-time basis whilst she was on maternity leave with our first daughter, Pamela.

The work continued, with Debbie so enamoured of the candles that she and her mother began to attend the small markets around Nowra and Ulladulla. This met with varying success until we got a site at the Berry Markets. We were a popular and regular attendee of the Berry markets for 11 years until 2005.

Due to the success of The Waxhouse efforts to move into the importation and wholesale business, candle making became too time-consuming relative to the rewards, and so we were offered the business. For a year we continued to operate from the premises of The Waxhouse, until we bought a larger property ourselves.

Our aim was to increase our retail income without having to attend more markets where we were so reliant on good weather and good crowds. Also, by placing our home and business in the same space, we could both help each other more, and we could both take advantage of more time with our growing children – Pamela, Rachel and John.

We have been at our current premises since 2000, and have been operating our candle making demonstrations ever since.

The property consists of 2.2 acres (1 hectare) fronting a local main road and only 2 km from the Princes Highway (the main highway on the East Coast of Australia). Originally part of a much larger parcel of land, around 30 years ago it was squatted by hippies who apparently planted a major hemp crop! Their tin shed and sunken toilet are still at the back of the property – no sign of hemp though!

Hazel and Kevin Hennessy bought the land to use as a wholesale and propagation nursery. They stocked their retail nursery from this property, and this permission extended to our acquisition of the property. The gardens are lovely as a result, with many strange and wonderful flowers and trees, including almost a dozen fruit trees. Because Kevin and Hazel were in their 80’s when they left for their family in Queensland, the gardens were neglected. We are slowly restoring them back to their former glory and they will one day be an absolute treat to see. We have applied to Council for retail nursery permission, as a fitting complement to the candles.

With a good location, we hoped to attract just a few of the hundreds of thousands of tourists that flock to this region each weekend and on public holidays during school holidays. We commenced advertising, ultimately settling with a popular holiday guide and by placing flyers at caravan parks, motels, tourist information centres and the like. This method gradually paid off, culminating in our first Christmas exceeding our expectations and provoking much more thought.

For the first three years, our candle manufacturing occurred in the garage and granny flat, much the same as it had for nearly 20 years!

We show individual visitors and groups how we make the candles. We receive many wonderful comments and have developed a loyal following amongst both locals and tourists.

This web site represents one of our long term goals. The goal to give The Candle Shack the home it deserved was achieved in 2003. Next on the agenda will be a brand new workshop with a flash showroom, allowing no rats or possums! An easy access toilet for visitors! A beautiful picnic shed from which all can enjoy the lovely trees, shrubs and birds! Paradise!!!