Our Collaborations - Little Parliament Rainbow Beach
The Queensland coastline offers many pristine beaches and cute coastal towns however nestled along the Cooloola National Park coastline you will find Rainbow Beach. This heavenly sub-tropical town is a playground for those who live for the sandy days and infinite ocean swims. In the heart of Rainbow beach, you will find local gem, Little Parliament. We spoke to Carly who has been running Little Parliament for just over 12 months now.
Hi Carly, introduce yourself and your go to choice of coffee?
Hey 👋🏻 I’m Carly and I’m the Managing Director of Little Parliament in the quiet coastal town of Rainbow Beach. My coffee go-to is a piccolo on the Little Parliament house blend with good old cow’s milk.
What was the inspiration behind opening Little Parliament?
Little Parliament was born at the start of COVID in Feb 2020. Shaky start. Prior to its inception, the cafe operated largely as a backpacker cafe so I had to do a serious rethink of who the new customer base would be. Locals became the focus. I wanted to create a space for locals to sit, sip, chat and connect. At its core, Little Parliament is all about conversations with friends who become family, all while indulging in our simple, seasonal menu showcasing locally sourced foods and smooth coffee.
Why is living in Rainbow Beach so great?
Both my husband and I grew up in Rainbow. Our earliest memories were taking cardboard boxes to Carlo Sandblow to sandboard, being attacked by catfish at Searys Creek, falling out of old beach trucks on our way to Double Island and making boobie traps and cubby houses through the National Parks. We lived a simple life, but we lived a rich life. The best thing about Rainbow is that now our daughter can experience the same simple pleasures that the town offers in abundance.
Any special memories or stories about some of your regular customers?
We love our patrons. Travellers and locals alike. In particular, we love how at home our locals feel at LP. One of our regulars helps to put our furniture and umbrellas out each morning. Another makes sure our bins are always out and cleaned. It is such a nice community vibe.
We’re stoked to be partnered with you and your business!
I see SCCR is an extension of our own team. We love that you guys roast locally, and it is a family run business like ours. The training is second to none and you do everything you can to make our coffee on par with any of the best.
What’s next for Little Parliament?
I am so excited to announce that LP will soon be expanding into retail! Part of our store will be converted into a space for exciting, ethical Australian design. Our Store will offer a range of homewares, giftware’s and self-care including sunglasses, jewellery, essential oil perfumes, ceramics and more. We are hoping to be up and running by November so follow us on Insta for updates.
Are you ready to hit the dunes yet? Next time you find yourself strolling down the centre of Rainbow beach, pop in and say hello to the LP team for a brew and chat.
12 Rainbow Beach Rd, Rainbow Beach QLD 4581