A flower farm from rural NSW has relaunched a popular Braddon florist with a fresh name and new owners, aiming to offer local, farm-fresh blooms to the community.
Collector Cottage, a micro-flower farm located in Collector, NSW, is known for its vibrant dahlias and roses. It has taken over the Braddon Flowers location on Lonsdale Street, rebranding it as Blooms of Braddon. The new owners, Rachel Torrealba and Dean McCormack, worked tirelessly to prepare for their first day of business on Tuesday, February 4.
“Being flower farmers, we have the unique opportunity to bring farm-fresh blooms to Braddon without the middleman,” Rachel explained. “Think of us as your farmgate stall in Braddon, offering handpicked, fresh, and local blooms.”
Before Christmas last year, the closure of Braddon Flowers left many couples without flowers just days or even hours before their weddings. One groom-to-be, Henry Waldren, shared that he and his fiancée had already paid $5,000 for their wedding bouquets. However, they arrived on the big day to find a “Sorry, we are closed” sign on the shop door. He said the owner had disconnected all communication channels, including Instagram, Facebook, and the business phone line.
Another bride, Angel Cabuya, from Queanbeyan, had to find alternative bouquets on her wedding day through a post in a local Facebook group.
In early December 2024, Braddon Flowers owner Lauren King shared on Instagram that the store would be closing indefinitely due to personal struggles and poor decisions. She expressed that although it felt like “the end of the world,” she believed stepping away was the right choice for her.
Dean shared that the closure was particularly impactful for Collector Cottage, as Braddon Flowers had been one of their largest and most loyal customers. The two businesses had formed a partnership in 2022 when Rachel introduced herself and brought a sample of their farm’s flowers. Dean recalled that Lauren was a strong supporter of local flower farms, and they had always enjoyed working with her.
Rachel and Dean established Collector Cottage a few years ago after moving to the country and developing a passion for flowers. Rachel, a former teacher, completed floristry training in 2020 and now leads workshops and creates bouquets for local events. The farm also offers wellness accommodation available for rent on Airbnb.
“Being based in Collector, we have beautiful natural surroundings but not much foot traffic,” Rachel said. “When the opportunity arose, we thought, ‘Why not take matters into our own hands and launch a florist shop ourselves?’”
Rachel explained that flower farming is much like food farming—once the flowers are ready, they need to be moved quickly to preserve their quality. With a direct-to-consumer approach, the couple aims to provide flowers that are vibrant, fragrant, and long-lasting.
“Flowers sourced directly from the farm often look more vibrant, have a stronger fragrance, and last longer when cut,” Rachel said.
Rachel and Dean also expressed empathy for Lauren’s situation, acknowledging that small business owners often face immense pressure without a safety net. Rachel noted that mental health struggles can affect business owners deeply, and they understand the difficulty of dealing with such challenges while running a business.
With Blooms of Braddon, the couple is committed to continuing the florist’s legacy. They plan to offer not only their own locally grown flowers but also flowers from other nearby farms, ensuring a variety of blooms throughout the seasons.
In addition to bouquets and arrangements available in-store, Blooms of Braddon will also provide event floristry services for weddings, engagements, baby showers, and birthdays. The farm will also host floral workshops throughout the year.
The new store is located at 104/16 Lonsdale Street, Braddon, and is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information, visit Collector Cottage’s website.
