The Jakarta Post explores Indonesian-owned businesses in Melbourne

Ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world according to The Economist Intelligence Unit, Melbourne, or Naarm, in Australia combines the glory of the past and the grandeur of the present, from World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Buildings to the graffiti aisle, Hosier Lane.

The city also has a strong diversity in culture. The Australian government website counts at least 140 different cultures including people from Asia, Europe and Africa residing in Melbourne.

Melbourne's reputation as a hub for creative industry featuring art and local businesses allows enterprises owned by members of the Indonesian diaspora to thrive.

Warkop Melbourne

One thing about Melbourne’s culinary scene is clear - it thrives in great coffee shops.

Located in one of the coolest suburbs of Richmond, two Indonesians Barry Susanto and Erwin Chandra bring the warmth of the warung kopi (Indonesian coffee joint) to Warkop Melbourne, a coffee and sandwich shop.

From the interior, Warkop Melbourne tries to incorporate the scene of a typical Indonesian warung kopi with its dangling sachets of instant coffee.

"We want to serve something that's close to our heart, and we want to be consistent in serving food and coffee. I found that in warung kopi. Warung kopi mostly serve the same menu, but for me, they almost never disappoint. Aside from that, the term [warkop] is catchy," says Barry, who previously worked at Navi, a fine-dining restaurant located in Yarraville owned by Julian Hills, as well as The Hellenic Republic, previously owned by former Australia's Masterchef judge George Calombaris located in Kew.

Warkop Melbourne shares its Indonesian heritage through the menu, including kaya toast, ayam Taliwang (Taliwang chicken), gado-gado (mixed vegetables with peanut sauce), beef rendang sandwich and ayam kuning (yellow chicken) schnitzel.

"We want to introduce Indonesian cuisine differently, and I think it's best to present it in the form of sandwiches. For example, our beef rendang sandwich is made with pastrami," he shared.

"We source our tempeh from Primasoy, which is owned by fellow Indonesian businesspeople, Sinta and Sugeng," Barry added.

Lastly, Warkop Melbourne also serves beans from one of the best coffee roasters in Australia, Dukes Coffee Roasters.

"We use Duke's coffee beans because they are organic. We try to be as environmentally friendly as we can," Barry said.

Warkop Melbourne is located at 12 Risley St Richmond, Victoria 3121.

Kata Kita

Kata Kita is a fine-dining restaurant owned by Dion Sanusi and his family. Opened in November 2021, it is perfect for those who are homesick for a truly Indonesian ambience. Kata Kita serves a varied hearty Indonesian cuisine, such as lodeh (vegetable soup with coconut milk), beef rendang, grilled or crispy fried fish served with sambal embe (Balinese chili sauce) and other typical Indonesian dishes.

"We're trying to keep everything authentic. In Melbourne, you can find Padang food very easily, but you most likely can't find delicacies from the lesser known [areas in the] archipelago," Dion said.

"We're just serving the food that we love, like the Jimbaran-style grilled fish that I personally love. But most importantly, we want to show that Indonesia has many different cuisines across its archipelago," Dion said. He added that the development of Kata Kita's menu is based on personal stories and travels across Indonesia.

Aside from food, Kata Kita also serves cocktails inspired by Indonesia. One is the cendol cocktail — cendol is a traditional dessert consisting of rice flour and coconut milk. Kata Kita gives it a twist with a perfect combination of light rum, palm sugar, Malibu, Baileys and pineapple juice. It also serves rambutan cocktails that are made with martini and rambutan.

And lastly, dinner would not be complete without dessert. Kata Kita serves bao cendol that consists of fried bao, pandan jelly, palm sugar and coconut ice cream.

"Our cendol cocktail and desserts are one of a kind because we want to show that something traditional is also worth exploring," he said.

Kata Kita is located at 266 La Trobe St, Victoria 3000.

Daphne Huguette

Melbourne also has an eclectic fashion scene.

"I was mesmerized by the engraving patterns in candi [temples] across Indonesia and I incorporated them into my design. I like to create jewelry that has meaning," jewelry designer Daphne Huguette said.

Daphne, who was born in Blitar, East Java, and shares Dutch and Indonesian heritage moved to Melbourne four years ago to pursue her career as a jewelry designer. She created a brand under her name in 2020.

Her designs are predominantly influenced by nature and cultural heritage, especially from Greece and Indonesia. For example, the ruby flower rings were inspired by gelung, the traditional headpiece of Balinese dancers.

"I want to make something more personal because jewelry is something that is attached to you, and if it has a story behind it, it's just different," she added.

While trying to create beautiful designs, Daphne's jewelry pieces are eco-friendly as she uses recycled sterling silver. Additionally, she mostly works with local artisans across Naarm to support local businesses.

People can get Daphne's designs through her website daphnehuguette.com.

Toilè Studio

Toilè Studios is a perfect brand for people who are looking for the eclectic 2020s style with a modern look.

Toilè Studios is a Melbourne-based made-to-order womenswear line owned by Nadya Kusumo, a Jakarta native who first moved to Melbourne in 2015 to pursue her fashion design degree at RMIT University. Every piece is individually handmade from her studio in Brunswick, Melbourne.

Her label focuses on upcycling through the multifunctional wardrobes that ​​epitomize a balance between fashion's commercial, creative and sustainable sides. For example, the "binary dress" can be worn backward, and the "binary top" has detachable sleeves and can be layered separately and styled in various ways.

"​​I like to think that modularity and multi-functionality are the ways I address overconsumption. My customers can consume less clothing but get more to wear," said the finalist of the i-D International Emerging Designers Award 2020.

Nadya added that she tries to source more sustainable materials by working with local supply chains. "Our current fabric collections include natural materials like ZQ-certified wool and bamboo jersey. I choose synthetics fabrics for activewear and opt for low-impact recycled polyester," she added.

Toilè Studio is at 165 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North 3068, and 438 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, Victoria 3055.

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