On a visit to Tasmania in December 2013 we stumbled across a very special property. It presented itself as being in an excellent location and with the right management and development could becoming a great stop over for people traveling the Tasman Highway on the East Coast of Tasmania.
Prior to coming to Tasmania, Lester owned and operated a large tourist facility in Young NSW. JD’s Jam Factory was well known throughout Australia. Lester built the business up from a shed on the side of the road to a 140 seat restaurant, retail outlet and manufacturing facility supplying products to Coles and Woolworths nationwide under his own label. He also had a large cherry orchard and supplied SPC with canned black sweet cherries for the catering industry.
Collette is the frog lady. She has been collecting frogs for many years and has some interesting figurines. Her pride and joy is The Pondering Frog. This frog was the inspiration for the name of the property.
One the way down to Tasmania in 2014 Lester’s daughter gave Collette the large ceramic pondering frog as a house/business warming present. We couldn’t decide on a name for the business.
One day a customer came and asked ” What is that frog thinking about?” Collette replied “He is pondering on what we will call the place” Hence the name was born!
We have a lovely collection of native frogs in the area and can provide information on these.
The Pondering Frog is being developed under the same plan as JD’s but on a much smaller scale. We have now completed stage one of the development – the Cafe Ice Creamery and RV stop Over Area. There is ample seating both inside and outside either on the deck looking out to the river, in the garden over looking the playground or in the covered verandah out the front.
The next project is getting the large “Pondering Frog” made and installed in the water feature.
Lester and Collette are very hospitable people and will make you feel welcome when you come to visit.
