Araluen Cultural Precinct Director Dr Mark Crees has today welcomed Chilpy Investments Pty Ltd, a Territory owned business run by Mr Warren Seymour as the new operator of Yaye’s Café.

“We are thrilled to welcome Warren and his team as the new operator of Yaye’s Café at the Araluen Cultural Precinct following a formal tender process,” Dr Crees said.

“Warren has significant business acumen, a history of successful ventures and a personal connection to the precinct. He was given his first job by Eddy Connellan back when the Araluen Cultural Precinct was the town’s Aerodrome.”

Mr Seymour and his team will roll out a contemporary menu, with all-day-breakfast, daily lunch menus including burgers, salads, lunch bowls, light bites, and smoothies, as well as an array of beverage options including Alice Springs’ first nitrogen infused, cold-drip coffee.

“I am delighted to be associated with the cultural activities for which the Araluen Cultural Precinct is world famous,” Mr Seymour said.


“Yaye’s Café is an integral component of the Araluen Cultural Precinct and will provide quality coffee and healthy meals in a relaxing environment.


“I am particularly excited to return to my roots where I learned to fly at what was then known as the Town Site Aerodrome.  It is particularly significant that the Yaye’s Café building is the old Connellan Airlines lunch room and now also the site of the memorial to my friend Roger Connellan.”

The provision of the café is an important part of the integrated visitor experience of the Araluen Cultural Precinct, ensuring tourists and locals are able to enjoy more time at the precinct, and the key arts and cultural institutions and collections on site.

The Araluen Arts Centre wishes to advise our visitors that Yaye’s Café will be closed on Monday 25 September. We apologise for this short closure but are thrilled to announce that Yaye's Cafe will reopen Tuesday 26 September with a new operator, menu and extended opening hours of 8am to 4pm daily.

Follow @yayescafe or visit www.araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au to find out what’s on at the Precinct.

Media interviews
Dr Mark Crees, Director of the Araluen Cultural Precinct, 08 8951 1126
Mr Warren Seymour, Managing Director of Chilpy Investments, 0402 366 983