Inside Swing By with owner Erin Reddan

This character-filled café along Mary Street is full of history, good conversation and plenty of hot coffee.

The walls of Swing By tell a story… layers of paint from previous storeholders reveal themselves on one of the walls. Artwork, photographs and knick-knacks, each with some kind of tale, are scattered throughout the space. And then there’s the regulars and passersby who stop in on this little café on Mary Street, bringing the space to life with conversation and laughter. 

It’s just how Erin likes it. 

“I like that it’s got character,” she says. “Everyone has a different vibe for how they want to drink their coffee… mine is more homey. I just really enjoy old buildings with charm.”

And then there’s four-legged Theo who occasionally pops in and quickly becomes the most popular staff member of the day. “It’s like dog therapy,” Erin laughs. 

Before Swing By, Erin spent years working in hospitality on the Sunshine Coast, and when she eventually moved to Gympie to be closer to family, she worked in other hospitality venues and cafés. Eventually, she made the leap and created the beginnings of Swing By. 

Finding the current home for Swing By was a matter of timing, and a bit of luck. 

“I was really lucky that when the space became available, that’s when I was looking,” she says. Rather than starting again somewhere completely new, Erin was intentional about staying close to where she’d already built connections, hoping to bring her regulars with her.

“I’ve been very lucky to meet a lot of people and just build that community,” she says. “Everyone’s just lovely.”

“Everyone has a different vibe for how they want to drink their coffee… mine is more homey. I just really enjoy old buildings with charm.”

Plus, the space just felt right. “It’s got a good feel about it… good juju,” she says, reflecting on the history and the affection locals still have for it, having previously been home to popular Italian café Emilia’s. 

Other details about the history of the building aren’t as clear, but the original pressed metal ceiling, hardwood floors and original architecture all add to the feeling of Swing By. 

When it comes time for Erin to sit down with a coffee of her own during the day, her go-to is typically a cappuccino with an extra shot and half a sugar, though she admits she flirts with different coffees depending on the mood. 

“If I’m going to have a hot coffee, it’s got to be hot, otherwise it’s not it for me.”