If a visit to Newcastle Beach was a memorable part of your childhood, a trip to the ice cream shop on Zaara Street was probably the essential full stop on the end of those days in the sun and sand. Tracey and Chris at East End Ice Creamery have given new life to this long held tradition of so many locals and are introducing new flavours and new aesthetics along the way. With nothing but a love of Newcastle and ice cream as their guiding light, it seemed the only option to the couple once Kiwi’s closed. 

As owners of the building, Tracey and Chris first tried leasing the space out but were disappointed by the lack of responses that would continue the space’s tradition as an ice cream shop. There seemed no other option but to take matters into their own hands.

“It’s always been such an icon, so we thought we’d just give it a crack. It would be such a shame to not have ice cream here.”

Lockdown restrictions at the start of the year gave the couple the chance to give the building a total refurb. A brand new fridge and freezer room has been fitted to house the ice cream that will eventually be made on site, just meters from the shop front. The plan is to have 36 flavours, including 4 vegan options, with rotating flavours. You may have to make a few trips to this revamped east end icon to get a taste of everything.

The shop’s ice cream is supplied by Serendipity, a brand Tracey feels deeply nostalgic and, ironically, serendipitous about. Having tried Serendipity ice cream years ago in Sydney, the unique flavours and premium quality ingredients have always stuck with her as something special. Having the brand in her shop is is the full-circle moment that solidified opening East End Ice Creamery as the right idea.

With almost all Australian ingredients, no artificial colours or preservatives and inventive uses of natural colouring, you can rest assured this ice cream is the best possible quality.

“Our signature is the Bubblegum, it’s made with beetroot for the colouring. It’s awesome!”  

Pop in for a chat with the lovely staff, try the unique flavours and unlock your memories of ice-cream in the east end with this new-old icon.