Starter Stories Sourdough Bakery

Starter Stories Sourdough Bakery is a small, solar-powered neighbourhood bakery near Stockton’s north boat ramp, with a focus on naturally fermented bread and other sourdough-baked goods. The bakery works with flours including wholewheat, rye and spelt, and gives its dough 40–52 hours to ferment. The result is a range built around traditional sourdough methods rather than quick commercial yeast baking, with an emphasis on straightforward ingredients and careful preparation.

The offering changes, but the bakery’s public range has included rustic white and seeded sourdough, alongside smaller baked goods such as danishes and cinnamon cruffins. The Newcastle Herald has also reported croissants and pastries among the goods available. Coffee is supplied by Sprocket Coffee Roasters, whose biofuel-powered roastery aligns with Starter Stories’ effort to keep the business close to zero waste. For customers with specific dietary needs, most of the flavour range is vegan-friendly, while a small selection of low-gluten breads can be ordered in advance. These are made with gluten-free ingredients but in the same kitchen as regular gluten products, so people with allergies should contact the bakery before ordering.

The space is designed to feel more like a working studio than a conventional shop. Large windows and a viewing area allow visitors to watch the dough being portioned and prepared, giving families and curious bread lovers a glimpse of the process behind each loaf. The bakery occupies a former bait shop, fish and chip shop and general store on Fullerton Street, close to the beach, and its visible kitchen helps make the baking itself part of the visit. It is a particularly suitable stop for Stockton locals, families with children, and anyone who enjoys seeing how food is made rather than simply picking it up from a counter.

Starter Stories began as Shivangi Maheshwari’s home-based baking project, inspired by a search for good German-style bread. After starting with a borrowed sourdough culture and a small oven, growing demand led her to move into a dedicated venue and build a small team. The bakery now serves the Stockton community and customers from beyond the peninsula, while made-to-order baking helps reduce waste. With rotating public bakes, pre-orders and a clear connection to its local setting, Starter Stories offers a thoughtful bread stop for a takeaway coffee, a fresh loaf or a closer look at the slow work behind sourdough.