The owners of the building that Gus’ Cafe – the Canberra cultural icon – sits in, is owned by Certrane Pty Ltd. John Grimble, their principal, has reportedly opened the door to allowing potential new owners to change the name. This could forever assign the iconic name Gus’ (Cafe) to the dustbin of history, after a more than 50 year legacy and history behind the name.
The Canberra Times reports Janice Glenn, the former owner of Gus’ Cafe, as saying the following:
The heritage listing her family secured in 2011 may not prevent another business opening on the Bunda Street site under a different name. “I was under the impression it would continue to be Gus’, but I am unsure now,” Ms Glenn said.
The ACT Heritage Council told her it was a grey area. “I thought it was the name that was heritage-listed, [but] that’s not the case. They can only strongly suggest that it be retained. I don’t understand why it is just the plaque. It has something to do with legalities. The owner of the building objected.”
Ms Glenn said Sydney investors may not understand Gus’ cultural significance. “It doesn’t matter who goes in there, so long as it is Gus’, that’s what I would like to focus on,” she said. “There are so many memories there for a lot of people.”
I have started a petition to urge Certrane and Mr Grimble to commit to keeping the iconic name, you can find it here: https://www.change.org/p/certane-pty-ltd-keep-the-name-gus-cafe-before-it-s-lost-forever
If Gus’ Cafe has ever meant anything to you, or a family member, or a friend, or co-worker, or even just an acquaintance, please consider signing this petition. It is one of the few businesses left from that era still operating under the same name, more so in the same location. We cannot allow the iconic name of Gus’ to just disappear.
Any news/gossip on the latest happenings with this space?
pink little birdie said :
It’s obvious from here that some people appear to think that.
I have never heard anything good about the food or coffee here. Gus’ stand against a silly ordnance (that would have been overturned anyway) has given this cafe an odd longevity and place in Canberra folklore. The original plan for Canberra always envisaged an outdoor focus, and French style boulevards. That and Melbourne’s lane-way culture would always have put the tables on the footpath one day.
Ironically for the cafe that forged ahead with outdoor tables, sticking it to the man, they recently enclosed most of their once outside tables in some odd contraption with windows.
pink little birdie said :
Absolutely. But that alone doesn’t make Gus’ worth saving.
dungfungus said :
The inner city hipsters won’t use the tram – where are they going to go, Gungahlin?
Holden Caulfield said :
Canberra doesn’t have a long history, and a lot of the older parts of town end up disappearing either by accident or design. It’s good for our city’s heritage and identity to have a few relics of the past, lest we begin to think the entire city began in the late 1990s.
wildturkeycanoe said :
I’m pretty sure just about anyone called Angus or Augustus would disagree with you there. I personally adore the name – for people, as well as cafes.
No it was outdoors as Thetis Court did not have a roof then.
Charlotte Harper said :
er… so that would be indoor seating, rather than the outdoor sidewalk seating he had in Civic…
Zan is on the money. Gus’ first outdoor cafe seating was in what was then Thetis Court, Manuka (now Manuka Court) – Roughly where the Rendezvous cafe is now. Gus may not be remembered for good food but for pioneering the outdoor cafe seating we prize (except in mid winter). He was also into making the place a hang out for conversation, listening to live music and reading – no rush to get a big turnover. He wanted to create a Viennese style cafe.
dungfungus said :
I like that.
This is the “new” Canberra. It should be knocked down and replaced by high rise apartments for the inner city, latte sipping, tram using hipsters to enjoy.
To give a nod to tradition and history – call it “Gus’s Apartments”.
Its the Canberra way.
Holden Caulfield said :
Obviously my first suggestion “Chez Augustine” did not excite anyone so how about “Petersilka Place”?
(At least the alliteration works).
Maya123 said :
Ah, the influence of American TV, etc… in my life is leaking through. I apologise for the slip of the tongue.
bringontheevidence said :
If we’re honouring Australian history ‘footpath’ please, not ‘sidewalk’?
Holden Caulfield said :
I’m open to ideas like this. It was also suggested the nearby tram stop could be named Gus’ Stop. Something like this would be fitting I think.
I accept that it is likely that the name will be lost. I think that is sad, Gus did pioneer the movement back in his day and many have forgotten that now unfortunately. I have spoken with relatives this week who visit Canberra not very often but all remember Gus’ fondly.
I am normally not one to oppose progress, but I think it is important to acknowledge the links to the past and what influences shaped our great city, like it or not Gus was one of those influences.
The plaque on the sidewalk is nice, but I think we can go a step further to ensure the name Gus’ will always be remembered. To be honest I was expecting more signatures on the petition by now, it seems Gus’ is not as well remembered as I had hoped.
So say farewell to the name, but I am glad I did not let this moment pass without an attempt to honour the heritage and the history of Gus’ Cafe. R.I.P.
bigred said :
Businesses come and businesses go. There are many business names that we hold fond memories for and which are gone.
Gus’s today has nothing to do with Gus’s in the 1970s and 1980s – it then had cultural value – one of the few places you could go and enjoy a hot drink and a snack in a relaxed and pleasant and quite authentic atmosphere. The only place you could go and sip coffee on the sidewalk (assuming the ACT Govt. enforcers hadn’t confiscated the outdoor tables and chairs that morning).
Nowadays every sidewalk in town is cluttered with tables and chairs, and Gus’s has nothing unique going for it.
Maybe the ACT Council could officially gazette that particular Bunda St/Garema Place intersection with the name “Gus’ Corner”, or “Gus’ Place”.
There is already some historical information signage, maybe just make it a bit more prominent and formalised.
Mello said :
I’m aware that Gus fought to have seats outside. But I don’t care. Some people in Canberra hold on to the notion that we would still only have indoor seating if it wasn’t for him. I think that’s nonsense. The law would have changed eventually regardless of his involvement. I don’t see that as reason enough to campaign for the name to be kept.
Gus’ Cafe first started in Manuka in the mid-60s. You can read all about Gus and his cafe ventures here http://www.library.act.gov.au/find/history/frequentlyaskedquestions/personal_stories/canberra-citizen-of-the-year-1967/gus-petersilka