A star is born: How the small WA town of Dunsborough is becoming a cool coastal enclave

The locals were understandably sad when the landmark Dunsborough General Store closed its doors in 2014 after 90 years of trade: competition from big name supermarkets had left customers thin on the ground and the burgeoning coastal town had outgrown the store’s usefulness.

Thankfully, it wasn’t long however, before the store was given a new lease of life, reopening in 2015 as Merchant & Maker. Initially serving coffee and stocking locally produced food and gifts beside everyday conveniences, the store has morphed again under new owners Anna and Steve Momsen, who moved to Dunsborough last year after 12 years in Copenhagen.

“My brother lives here and we wanted our kids to spend some time with family,” says Steve, who is originally from Perth. “We didn’t have any jobs lined up but I’d been to Dunsborough many times for holidays, and I knew it was the type of lifestyle we wanted.”

The Momsens wanted a good work-life balance with access to nature and the beach. A qualified chef, who has run his own restaurants and worked at the Australian Embassy in Denmark, Steve was excited by the opportunity to take the Merchant & Maker concept one step further.

He installed a commercial kitchen and the store now makes all of its own breads, dressings, soups and a variety of take-home meals. An open kitchen means customers can watch while food is prepared, or enjoy a Margaret River Roasting Company coffee at the communal tables. There are also gourmet deli items to buy and homewares to browse.

“We’re coming up to one year in business and we’re very happy with the move. The community has been very warm and welcoming,” says Steve.

“We love what we do and we’re really proud of the transparency of our quality.

“There’s a lot of history in this place, which is quite special and adds to the atmosphere.”

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Childhood memories

Acton South West Dunsborough agent Gavin Howlett is another seachanger who has fond memories of the town from childhood holidays. He moved to the area with his young family in 1997 and quickly fell in love with the “down south” lifestyle.

“There are calm beaches, surfing beaches, it’s great for fishing,” Howlett says. “It’s changed so much since I was a kid, when it only had the general store, a bakery, fish and chips and a service station.

“Now we’ve got supermarkets, clothes shops, surf shops and a pub. It’s still a holiday location but with lots of new homes being built because people want the great lifestyle on offer.”

Top home in the area

9 Peppermint Drive, Dunsborough. Photo: Supplied

​This eight-year-old Steve Creek-designed home at 9 Peppermint Drive presents as new and is only one block from the beach, plus a short stroll from village shops.

The open-plan living spaces are a highlight, with a feature fireplace separating the living and dining zones. A well-established garden includes a pond and outdoor kitchen.

Acton South West Dunsborough agent Gavin Howlett advises on a $1.55 million price guide.