Last loaves as Alstonville’s sourdough siblings begin their next chapter
The final sourdough loaves from Talln Bakehouse’s Alstonville home kitchen go on sale today, closing one chapter of a much-loved Plateau success story.
But for siblings Lucy and Lachlan Trease, it is less an ending than a relocation.
After six years building the micro-bakery from a COVID-era idea into a regular fixture distributed through the Alstonville butcher, the pair is moving to the Gold Coast to continue university studies and elite sport — taking the business with them.
“It’s definitely the end of an era in Alstonville,” Lucy said.
“But also just moving forward with sport and study and hopefully taking it up the coast with us as well.”
Talln Bakehouse began in 2020 when Lucy was 15, Lachlan 13 and younger brother Noah eight.
The name TALLN is formed from the initials of each family member.
What started as test bakes for family and friends quickly became a weekly production run supported by the community and stocked through the local butcher, while baking continued from the family home.
“We thought starting our own business would be the best way to keep the balance we wanted with school and sport,” Lucy said.
By their peak, the Trease team was producing up to 300 loaves in a single day at Christmas, with typical weeks reaching between 100 and 150 loaves.
The operation grew steadily, funded by a family loan that allowed the purchase of their first oven before expanding to multiple ovens, mixers and refrigeration.
“It was slowly built over time,” Lucy said.
Back to the beginning: Noah about to make one of Talln Bakery’s very first deliveries to Alstonville neighbours
Today’s bake will be the last regular bread drop from the Alstonville kitchen, with fresh loaves delivered early to the butcher while stocks last.
The enterprise itself will continue, with most baking equipment set to be relocated to the Lucy and Lachlan’s new share house on the Gold Coast.
There they’l be studying at Griffith University while continuing high-level sport.
Lucy plays soccer, while Lachlan trains intensively with a Gold Coast swim squad and has his sights set on competing at the Brisbane Olympic Games.
The siblings will be living with friends from Alstonville who are already familiar with their high-energy routine combining study, elite sport and baking.
“We’ve already been giving friends bread up there, so it will definitely be a change but a nice shift to continue,” Lucy said.
Meanwhile Noah, now 13, will keep part of the business local by producing his specialty pizza bases for sale through the butcher each Friday.
“It’s just a new beginning,” Lucy said.
The sibling’s ability to juggle early-morning baking with school, university and high-level sport has been widely recognised, including a finalist placing in the Young Business Leaders category at the 2025 Plateau Business Awards, while Lachlan was named 2025 Ballina Shire Young Citizen of the Year on Australia Day.
Lucy said knowing they had the backing of neighbours, friends and loyal customers on the Plateau helped them aim high.
“Everyone in the Alstonville community is just so supportive,” she said.
“We’ve loved being able to provide a product that people enjoy week after week.”
Parents Toni and Andrew Trease backed the idea from the beginning, although Lucy says they insisted on a pretty solid business plan upfront.
“We’re very lucky to have incredible parents who’ve been so supportive,” Lucy said.
As she works with Lachlan to pack up and prepare for the Gold coast move, Lucy insists Alstonville will always be home.
“Alstonville’s where our heart is,” she said.
“We’ll be back.”
