Oscar O’Shea Candy
Candy is part cafe, part bar, part record store, bookstore and streetwear shop—with Mom Gallery, an artist-run space for local emerging artists, tucked at the back. With great coffee, toasties and a drinks menu that takes the venue from day to night.
Owner Oscar O’Shea is a filmmaker as well as the operator behind Candy, Mom Gallery, and a publishing and events company. He opened Mom Gallery on High Street in 2022, before building Candy up around it in 2025. Oscar grew up in Indonesia, an upbringing he credits with giving him confidence and independence from a young age.
Since opening, Candy has become a steady, busy fixture in Thornbury’s High Street—something he puts down to the regulars and the people who live and work in the area. For Oscar, the neighbourhood’s appeal lies partly in how little it’s changed since he moved here at the end of 2018, and partly in its open, unpretentious character—a place where you don’t need to fit a certain mould to belong.
We speak with Oscar about Thornbury’s enduring appeal, learning the ropes of hospitality on the job, and the local creatives he keeps close company with.
(Photos by Oscar O’Shea)
Mosey Guide (mg): What is your connection to Thornbury?
Oscar O’shea (oo): I’ve lived and worked here for the better part of a decade. If I’m overseas and someone asks where I’m from, I say Thornbury.
(mg) What does Thornbury mean to you?
(oo) Home.
(mg) How does being in Thornbury shape what you do?
(oo) For Candy it’s genuinely everything, our regulars and the people that live and work around here are the reason we exist and can do this 7 days a week. It also is such an undefined place, you don’t really have to do a certain thing to fit in, people are keen on anything that feels good and honest I think.
...you don’t really have to do a certain thing to fit in, people are keen on anything that feels good and honest I think.
(mg) What makes Thornbury different from other places you’ve lived or worked?
(oo) There are heaps of pigeons. Too many.
(mg) What does your perfect day in Thornbury look like?
(oo) No wind.
(mg) Who are the other makers, creators, or people in Melbourne that inspire you?
(oo) There’s some good Thornbury heads doing good things: Jack Summers (painter), Felix Von Dallwitz (painter), Liam (Bell City), Jamal (Peaches), Tamlyn (Ballards), Archie Shannon (musician), Lola Hewison (artist), Ozzie Haire (musican), Zane Gardner (musican), Alex Millen (film maker), Billy Gardner (Antifade records), Aine Keogh (musician). God there are actually heaps more but that’s enough.
(mg) What are you working on right now that excites you?
(oo) Candy is getting really busy consistently which is really exciting me just because I'm only just getting the hang of how to do this as a job and so it scares me a lot less than it would have a year ago. I really am so green when it comes to all things hospitality so starting to understand how to make it work for us and the customers is a cool thing. It’s just going to get better and better.
...starting to understand how to make it work for us and the customers is a cool thing. It’s just going to get better and better.
(mg) What is the most memorable trip you’ve taken?
(oo) Probably to Japan.
(mg) Where is your next travel destination?
(oo) Hopefully Japan, it’s so great there.
(mg) How has travel changed the way you see the world?
(oo) I have lived in 3 countries and traveled to probably over 30, it’s really the only way to gain any perspective and get to know yourself properly. Seeing how the rest of the world lives is both fun and eye opening, it also can make you love Melbourne more, or sometimes hate it.
(mg) If you could recommend anywhere in the world for a mosey, where would it be?
(oo) Indonesia, it’s endless and incredible in every way.
[Travel is] really the only way to gain any perspective and get to know yourself properly.
Local knowledge
Favourite local ingredient or product:
Candy Toastie or Coffee or cocktail.
What to do beyond High Street:
Enjoy Epping.
Best coffee in the neighbourhood:
Candy
Favourite shop:
North Motorworx on Victoria Street (best mechanic in Aus).
Go-to spot to reset or find inspiration:
Coburg Leisure Center, middle of the day, very peaceful.
Favourite time of day in Thornbury:
Early early morning before we open on a Sunday, High Street is a peaceful ghost town.
Neighbourhood must-eats:
Candy Toastie.
Thornbury’s best kept secret:
Won’t say, but a good tip is that the Thornbury end of High Street is essentially all day parking before 4:30pm.
24 hours in Melbourne:
To and from the airport, Thornbury isn’t far from there which is another plus.
