Banyule BestBiz Awards 2023
The 2023 Bestbiz Awards and Networking Night took place on 15 June 2023 at the Heidelberg Golf Club, marking a momentous occasion to celebrate Banyule’s Bestbiz for the year. A total of 27 business finalists, along with their friends, family, and other local businesses, attended the event to celebrate the memorable night. The event was masterfully hosted by the beloved comedian Lehmo, who added a touch of laughter to the evening. Attendees thoroughly enjoyed the festivities, accompanied by plenty of giggles.
Banyule Council recognises the vital contribution made by home-based and startup businesses. A significant addition this year was the introduction of the Home-Based Business Award, a category specifically created to honour the remarkable growth of home-based businesses.
Congratulations to all exceptional finalists and winners (winners are in bold):
- Cafes, Takeaway Food: Four Leaves Food Store, Little Bliss Coffee Bar, The Alleyway
- Fresh Produce: Sculli Bros, Stephens and Sons Meats, The Froot Shop
- Professional Services: East Ivanhoe Travel, MCV Careers, Mortgage Choice Greensborough
- Restaurants, Pubs, Bars: Lucille Bistro, Sir Henry Barkly Hotel, Urban Grooves
- Goods and Services: Flower Club, Miracle Events, Were St. Trading
- The Newcomer: BFT Heidelberg, Sammich, Tone Store
- Hair, Beauty, Fashion: Hair by Ciccone, Hair by Two Sisters, Kimberley and Co Hair Salon
- Home Based Business: Austin Rise B&B, Dots Singing & Music School, Play Health & Fitness
- Health and Wellbeing: Banyule Massage Therapy Centre, F45 Training Heidelberg, Hustle & Thrive
Mayoral’s Choice Awards: Souva So Good, Barr’d Wine & Tapas Bar, Vinoshis Beverage Shop
This year marked the fifth anniversary of the awards, strengthening its place as a significant event on Banyule’s business calendar. We received a remarkable total of 9588 online and paper-based votes throughout a six-week voting period, representing the engagement and enthusiasm of the community. The vote count encompassed over 930 businesses, showcasing an increase from 2018.
Banyule BestBiz Awards 2018
The votes are in and winners of the 2018 Banyule BestBiz Awards have been announced after 8,231 votes were submitted. Over 750 businesses were represented in the vote count which is a threefold increase from 2017.
Winners were announced from 27 business finalists at the Banyule BestBiz Awards presentation night at Cellini Bar Lounge in Heidelberg on Wednesday 24 October.
This year two new awards were introduced: The Newcomer award for businesses less than 12 months old; and an Age-Friendly award nominated by our Age-Friendly Champions.
Winners in each category were:
- Cafes and takeaways: The Were Street Food Store
- Fashion: Ricardo Ferro
- Fresh produce: Monty Fresh
- Goods and services: Chocilo
- Hair and beauty: Hair by Ciccone
- Wellbeing: F45 Training Heidelberg
- Professional Services: Briar Hill Pharmacy
- Restaurants, pubs and bars: Café Saffron Indian Restaurant.
- The Newcomer: Passage thru Malaysia
- Age Friendly: Curves Greensborough
We also acknowledged the highest vote getter in each major retail strip with a Champion of the Centre certificate.
Champions of the Centre were:
- The Mall: McLaughlan Shoes
- Watsonia: The A Team Kitchen
- Greensborough: Passage Thru Malaysia
- East Ivanhoe: Align Pilates Studio
- Ivanhoe: Café Saffron
- Rosanna: Hunter Lane
- Monty: The Were Street Food Store
- Lower Plenty: F45 Training Lower Plenty
- Macleod: Hair by Ciccone
- Eaglemont: Elliott Steele
- Burgundy Street: Barkly Hotel
Café Saffron won the Restaurants, pubs and bars award for the third time in as many years, so were inducted into Banyule’s prestigious BestBiz “Hall of Fame”.
The Mayoral Choice Award went to The Sycamore Tree, a social enterprise café run by the Banyule Network of Uniting Churches. The Age-Friendly award nominated by our Age-Friendly Champions went to Curves Greensborough.
Banyule Mayor Cr Mark Di Pasquale congratulated all winners and finalists in the 2018 Banyule BestBiz Awards and said that the awards were established to promote and recognise Banyule businesses and reinforce the benefits of shopping, eating and doing business locally.
“Now in its fourth year, the Awards are a key fixture on Banyule’s calendar of Business events and recognise our most popular business in Banyule as voted by customers.”
“I was very pleased to give the Mayoral Choice Award to The Sycamore Tree, a café that does great work by offering people in our community work experience and training including providing opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities”.
BestBiz Awards 2017
Congratulations to all our 2017 category finalists and winners!
Cafes & Takeaways: Boots and Barley Café, Sweet by Nature and The Were Street Food Store
Restaurants, Pubs and Bars: Cafe Saffron Indian Restaurant, Max’s Woodfired Pizza & Burgers and The Henry Bar & Bistro
Fashion: Christines Shoes, Mojo on Main and Ritz of Rosanna
Fresh Produce: , Karve It Up Meats & Fine Food, Mont Fresh and Sculli Bros
Goods & Services: Barking Good, Leos Fine Food & Wine Supermarket and Yuppy-Puppy Dog-Grooming
Hair and Beauty: EKO Designs, Hair By Ciccone and Kimmy Rose Hair Studio
Wellbeing: Banyule Massage Therapy Centre, Bung Pai Thai Massage and Jetts Rosanna
Professional Services: Andrew Place Pharmacy, Briar Hill Pharmacy and Heather Rongard Education Consultant.
BestBiz Awards 2016
Congratulations to all the 2016 category finalist and winners!
The finalists and winners in the 2016 Banyule Bestbiz Awards were:
Cafes & Takeaways – Cruze Lounge, Watsonia, Divine at YaYas, Macleod, Miss Marie Café, Rosanna;
Restaurants, Pubs & Bars – Barkly Hotel, Heidelberg, Café Saffron, Ivanhoe, Max’s Burger Bar, Montmorency, and Urban Grooves Café, Greensborough;
Fashion – Alter My Stuff, East Ivanhoe, Christine’s Shoes, Greensborough, and Ritz of Rosanna, Rosanna;
Fresh Produce – Karve It Up Meats & Fine Food, Greensborough, Lime Fresh Produce, Heidelberg, and Sculli Brothers, Greensborough;
General Retail – Helloworld Greensborough, Greensborough, Leo’s Fine Food & Wine, Heidelberg, and Yuppy Puppy Dog Grooming Services, Macleod;
Hair & Beauty – Eko Designs, Ivanhoe, Hair by Ciccone, Macleod, and Johnathan a Hair, Rosanna;
Wellbeing – Banyule Massage Therapy Centre, Rosanna, Bung Pai Thai Massage, Bundoora and Jetts Rosanna, Rosanna;
Professional Services – Andrew Place Pharmacy, Bundoora, Briar Hill Pharmacy, Briar Hill, and Heather Ronngard Education Consultant, Greensborough
Mayoral Choice Award – Deep Ocean Fish & Chippery, Heidelberg West
Banyule BestBiz Awards 2015
Congratulations to all the 2015 category finalist and winners!
Cafes, Takeaway & Eateries – Miss Marie Café, Rosanna, Buongusto Café and Homewares, East Ivanhoe, Holey Moley! Gourmet Coffee, Greensborough;
Fashion – Christine’s Shoes, Greensborough, Suz’s Socks and Jocks, Macleod, Ritz of Rosanna, Rosanna;
Fresh Produce – Lime Fresh Produce, Heidelberg, Delicut Deli, St Helena, and Karve It Up Meats and Fine Food, Greensborough;
General Retail – Australian Chocolate Emporium, Eaglemont, Yuppy Puppy Dog Grooming, Macleod, and Greensborough Grain Store, Greensborough;
Hairdressers & Beauty Services – Hair by Ciccone, Macleod, Johnathan A Hair, Rosanna, House of Gents, Heidelberg West, and Manhattan Skin & Laser Clinic, Watsonia;
Health & Wellbeing – Andrew Place Pharmacy, Bundoora, Banyule Massage Therapy Centre, Rosanna, Cinch Personal Training, Macleod;
Professional Services – In Home Care, Heidelberg, Austin Rise Bed and Breakfast, Heidelberg, and Busybird Publishing, Montmorency;
Restaurants, Pubs & Bars – Vino Central, Ivanhoe, Kanda Japanese Restaurant, Ivanhoe, and Barklys Hotel, Heidelberg;
Manufacturing – Birch Haberdashery, Heidelberg West, Dolphin Product, Heidelberg West, Sweet by Nature, Heidelberg West, Chocolatier Australia, Heidelberg West;
Mayoral Choice Award – Smart Graffiti & Coatings, Heidelberg West