Ingenious or poor taste

FORMER morgue has given life to new spirits.
The one-time morgue, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, has been transformed into a winery with a difference.
Hannah Van der Merwe opened the Little Morgue Winery, between Nambour and Yandina, with her husband Michael on December 6.
A Gothic-style former chapel used for funerals has been turned into one of the most unique cellar doors in Australia.
“We drove past the property by accident and it still had the sign up at that stage: ‘funeral parlour’,” Mrs Van der Merwe said.
“We made an offer for the building, bought it and then we discovered the history of the place.”
A hole where coffins were hoisted during services has been transformed into a viewing area into the winery, on the Nambour Connection Road.
The morgue’s embalmment area is now the boutique winery.
“We were looking for a cellar door facility and we were looking for an old school building or one of those quaint little churches,” Mrs Van der Merwe explained.
“We just couldn’t find anything and by accident, we stumbled on to this place.”
The label for their red and white wines is a silhouette of an undertaker.
The winery’s emblem – a big black cat with its hairs raised – can be seen from the Nambour Connection Road heading north, acting as a beacon for people wanting to visit.
Mr and Mrs Van der Merwe previously owned a vineyard in the Riverina region of NSW for 10 years. They began making their own wines in 2000.
The Little Morgue Winery’s first big event will be held next week – a Black Friday dinner.