One of Melbourne’s much-loved bakeries is heading to Kensington, with Cobb Lane Bakery set to open its fifth location in late November.
The new bakery will take over a 122-year-old former wool store at Younghusband on Elizabeth Street, bringing Cobb Lane’s signature viennoiserie, sourdough, sandwiches and provisions to the neighbourhood.
As with Cobb Lane’s existing bakeries, the new venue will bake its sourdough, pastries and viennoiserie on-site, including the crowd-favourite chilli cheese twist. Sandwiches will also be a major part of the offering, with rotating fillings including smoked ham, cheddar and piccalilli — a sweet-and-sour British relish.
For those who’d rather take something home, the Kensington bakery will also stock a selection of provisions, including Cobb Lane sourdough, charcuterie, cheeses, Acide pickles and Mount Zero olives. The idea is to make it just as useful for an impromptu picnic or dinner at home as it is for a morning pastry and coffee.
Coffee will come courtesy of Cobb Lane’s long-standing partnership with Duke’s, alongside a rotating filter selection featuring local roasters including Wood & Co and Manta Ray.
The setting is arguably just as interesting as what’s coming out of the kitchen. Younghusband was formerly a working wool store and has since been restored as a multi-purpose precinct spanning art, events, workspaces and hospitality. Much of its industrial character remains, including the original red brickwork, steel columns and wool pulleys.
Cobb Lane plans to lean into that character, with seating extending along the bluestone laneway and the new bakery designed as a relaxed neighbourhood spot for morning coffee, a bite before heading to the markets or picking up something for later.
For co-owner and pastry chef Matt Forbes, the move also has a personal connection. Forbes lived in Kensington when he first moved to Melbourne 20 years ago, before opening the original Cobb Lane in nearby Yarraville in 2013.
“We’ve had our eyes on the Younghusband building for years,” says co-owner Amy Newman. “Kensington is such an amazing inner-west community, and it feels like the right time.”
Cobb Lane Kensington is set to open at 2/50 Elizabeth Street in late November, with trading hours from 7.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 3pm on weekends.
Cobb Lane Kensington
2/50 Elizabeth Street, Kensington
Opening late November 2026
