In the five years since The Pear Coffeehouse (the Pear) opened in Alberton, the community has focused on building connections and bringing neighbours together.

The Pear is a social enterprise founded by Christie Anthoney and Joost den Hartog in partnership with ECH.

The Pear operates with the motto "Don't ask what your neighbourhood can do for you but what you can do for your neighbourhood", based on the famous quote from John F. Kennedy's inaugural US Presidential address. It's a great reminder that building strong communities is everyone’s responsibility. By being proactive and taking action to contribute to our neighbourhoods, we can make a positive impact and create a universal sense of belonging and connection.

Most activities and events managed by The Pear team under their neighbourhood initiatives are initiated and executed by community members.

Harvesting and channelling the energy and enthusiasm that lives in every neighbourhood has become the team's core business.

The Pear is a vital part of the community, providing space for people to connect, share ideas, and form lasting relationships. Events and activities have been diverse, ranging from workshops to concerts, and are aimed at adults and children.

The Pear is an excellent resource for local artists, musicians, and performers, providing a space for them to showcase their talents and connect with the community.

Recently, the Pear expanded by establishing the Queenstown Neighbourhood Node (QT). QT is another space designed to bring people together and build community connections.

Supported by Office for Ageing Well, QT offers free room hire for community members and hosts events focusing on skill sharing, small-scale entrepreneurship, cooking, community planning and organising, and urban farming.

QT has already hosted several events, including weekly meetings of the Queenstown Citizens’ Club, workshops, and a street party. The community has been enthusiastic about QT and its potential to provide opportunity for conversation and to create a more cohesive community. QT is a social space for people to learn new skills and strengthen existing ones.

Expanding into Queenstown is an exciting development for the community. With The Pear and QT, the area is well on its way to becoming a model for community building and engagement.

For more information, visit the website or email Neighbourhood Node.

Find information about ECH here.

The Queenstown Neighbourhood Node project is supported by a Positive Ageing Fellowship Grant from Office for Ageing Well, SA Health.