About Melbas

Melba’s Chocolates was started by Graeme & Joy Foristal in March 1981 in a small wash house behind their Adelaide Restaurant, ‘Melba’s’! The business progressed in varying stages and with the restaurant sale, was relocated to a single car garage behind their Oakbank home.

In June 1990 the Adelaide Convention Centre asked Melba’s to supply their after dinner chocolate. Larger premises were required. This coincided with Graeme’s attendance at an Adelaide Confectionery Company’s liquidation sale where he purchased 5 truck loads of equipment. Little did they know that this was the lead up to Melba’s becoming significant chocolate & confectionery makers and a South Australian tourist attraction.

July 1st 1990 Melba’s transferred to this historic Woodside Farmers Union Factory site which had closed in 1977 and been left to languish. Melba’s took over the former cheese factory building. The mammoth task of cleaning the old site commenced. Fourteen years of abandon and neglect were washed away – Stage 1 of Heritage Park had commenced.

Historically, Melba’s operated old heritage chocolate and confectionery making machinery and this continues today allowing visitors to experience the old arts and techniques.

Stage 2 of Heritage Park commenced in 1991, taking in the former smallgoods buildings. Burnt out shells were repaired, floors and walls rebuilt and the buildings divided into separate tenancies, where small manufacturers and crafts people  set up work/display areas.

A 3 bedroom residence was built in 1991 on the upper floor of the Chocolate Factory, the former testing laboratory, milk receiving depot and can storage area.