From Temora to Estella: Lynda’s Bakery and High Tea set to take over the Riverina

A delicious new chapter is rising in Wagga Wagga as a popular Riverina bakery prepares to serve the town its freshly baked signature pies and decadent desserts.

Temora’s Lynda Sheridan is expanding her renowned Lynda’s Bakery and High Tea, bringing her much-loved creations to Estella.

With more than 20 years’ experience as a pastry cook, Ms Sheridan has made a name for herself at local markets around the region, where her baked goods are often sold out in record time.

“I’m pretty excited because now I get to be really busy,” Ms Sheridan told Region. “I’m looking forward to coming over to Estella.

“I already do markets in Wagga, and I did one on Sunday — we sold out in an hour and a half. It’s getting ridiculous.”

Given the high demand for her treats and the lack of cafes in Estella, opening a second location in Wagga was a natural decision.

“There’s a lot of coffee shops in Temora, but nothing in Estella,” Ms Sheridan said. “Wagga is the next step, and I can’t wait to go to Estella.”

Ms Sheridan is excited to introduce her award-winning pies to new customers at her bakery.

She won three pie awards last year at the Baking Australia Association — a silver for a sauteed chicken pie, a bronze for a vegetable pie, and a bronze for a steak and kidney pie.

“I’ll go again this year,” she said. “I only took three pies down to Melbourne last year, so this year I’ll take them all, and hopefully, I can get a clean sweep and win a few more awards. It’ll be great for people to come over and try my pies.

“I have lots of different pies, like cheese and bacon. I’ve just started doing what we call a ‘brekkie pie’, which is egg, bacon, and beef. It’s really popular at the moment.”

The savoury menu also includes sandwiches, salads, toasted Turkish bread, pulled pork and coleslaw on Turkish bread, and Portuguese chicken with garlic aioli and red onion.

The menu at the Estella location will change with the seasons based on customer preferences.

For those with a sweet tooth, the new bakery will offer a variety of sugary treats.

“We have a wide range of sweet options, including different baked cheesecakes like vanilla, Biscoff caramel, and raspberry white chocolate,” Ms Sheridan said. “The baked cheesecake is very popular. We also make a selection of brownies, like triple chocolate peppermint and Mars bar brownies. Our vanilla slice is a big hit with customers.

“I sell a lot of cookies, including a giant, sugary sweet cookie that’s very popular. This year, we’ve also started making ‘Crookies’, a mix of croissants and cookie dough.”

Ms Sheridan will also offer a range of cakes, including birthday cakes, red velvet cakes, chocolate caramel cakes, and chiffon sponges.

Before opening her bakery in Temora two and a half years ago, owning a bakery had always been Ms Sheridan’s long-time passion project.

Though the Estella bakery was initially set to open in February, the date has been moved to March.

Ms Sheridan will take the reins at the new bakery, while her daughter will manage the store in Temora.

“I have a problem where I can only be in one place at a time,” Ms Sheridan said. “A lot of customers have said, ‘We’ll come if you’re going to Estella.'”

The foster carer emphasised the importance of small businesses thriving in the current financial climate of high living costs.

“When I went down to Melbourne last year – I don’t do pub crawls, I do bakery crawls – I noticed how many small bakeries are closing down. Everyone’s turning into cafes instead of staying as bakeries, but I suppose you have to move with the times.

“You still need to cater to the older customers who enjoy traditional treats like apple turnovers and vanilla slices. Even though you want to evolve, it’s important to keep those classic items for them.

“Times are hard, but I’ve decided to keep going. Others can close up, and I’ll keep hanging in there.”

Ms Sheridan aims to broaden her horizons beyond Estella, with plans to establish Linda’s Bakery as a well-known brand across the Riverina.

“I always tell my son, if I have 12 shops, that’ll be enough,” she said. “I’d like to go to Coolamon next and then Junee.

“It’s quite interesting how many people come from other towns just to get some food, and they often beg me to open in their town. At some point, I will get there.”

Lynda’s Bakery will soon be opening at 2 Rainbow Drive, Estella. Stay up to date with them via their Facebook page.