Sugar high: New sweet spot opens on Busselton foreshore

Chocolate lovers and fans of decadent treats have a new sweet spot to visit, with the opening of Little Otto’s Big Choc Shop just in time for the Easter holidays.

Located on the Busselton foreshore and owned by the same group as nearby Shelter Brewing Co, the store is selling its own brand of house-made chocolate and gelato, as well as shakes, coffees and other sweet treats available to takeaway.

Operations Manager Tess Baverstock said there was plenty of in-store fun for all ages.

“Most of the Little Otto’s experience has been crafted with kids in mind,” she said.

“And we also hope there’s a lot that helps us adults bring out our inner-child.

“We’re serious about making great chocolate, but we’re not taking ourselves too seriously, it’s meant to be fun and silly and a little chaotic.

“A lot of us on the team are parents to kids between zero and 15, so we found a lot of inspiration from our own households.

“We’re also pretty childish ourselves, which helped at times.”

The building was transformed from the ex-headquarters of the Busselton Tennis Club, led architect Paul Burnham and local builder Rob Kusal.

“Little Otto’s has been a long time in the making,” Director Zeb Packard-Hair said.

“We’ve been working closely with the City of Busselton since the EOI process kicked off in 2021.

“It’s a great relationship that will continue as Otto’s embeds itself into life on the foreshore.

“We had an amazing architect, local builder and tradies that completed this epic renovation to the old tennis club and turned it into a chocolate wonderland.

“Now we’re incredibly excited to make some delicious chocolate and gelato for all of Busselton and beyond.”

The business gets its name from the 24-metre blue whale skeleton on display at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, itself named for museum taxidermist, Otto Lipfert.

“Otto’s story is some deep-cut WA and Busselton lore,” Mr Packard-Hair said.

“Otto – who at the time wasn’t called Otto – was found beached in Busselton in 1897, by a local girl named Daisy.

“[Lipfert] visited Busselton to catalogue the whale and arrange transport by rail to Perth.

“In our story, Otto shoots chocolate from his blowhole, him and Daisy become best friends, and plot to open the world’s best chocolate shop in Busselton.

“Over 120 years later we’ve picked up the story and helped Otto, Daisy and the gang bring Little Otto’s Big Choc Shop to life.”

Little Otto’s Big Choc Shop is on the foreshore, opposite the Busselton Jetty.

For more information, visit littleottos.com.au