The Rolling Pin Bakery and Patisserie

Baking success in Campbelltown: The Rolling Pin Bakery story

Tucked away in Magill, The Rolling Pin Bakery and Patisserie has become a cornerstone of the Campbelltown community. Known for its French-inspired tarts, cakes, and pastries, as well as a mouth-watering savoury range, this family-run business has built its reputation on three values: quality ingredients, genuine craftsmanship, and deep community connection.

From apprenticeship to icon

Owner and head baker, Phil Donnelly, began his journey at just 14 years old, taking a part-time job in a bustling bakery before completing his apprenticeship at O’Connell Street Bakery. By 21, he had the skills, grit, and vision to launch his own venture alongside his mother, Suzanne. Together with Phil’s dad, they purchased a former bakehouse, a small but long-running bakery site, and transformed it into The Rolling Pin.

Before opening its doors in 2013, Phil travelled through France, drawing inspiration from Europe’s patisseries with the intention of creating a bakery that combined affordability and accessibility with the refinement of artisan patisserie back home. As he explains, ‘We wanted to make food that people could enjoy every day and not just for special occasions.’

A commitment to quality

From the very beginning, The Rolling Pin set itself apart by using only the best ingredients and locally grown South Australian produce. Their ethos is simple: good ingredients make good food.

Every product is handmade, with care and attention to detail, ensuring each tart, pastry, and cake carries the distinctive flavour of authenticity. The bakery’s dedicated team of bakers and apprentices continues to uphold these high standards, blending traditional techniques with fresh creativity.

By staying true to their craft, The Rolling Pin has carved out a reputation as one of South Australia’s leading artisan bakeries.

Community at the heart

Community has always been at the centre of The Rolling Pin’s success. In its early days, locals would exchange figs, apples, venison, or even rabbits for baked goods. Today, that grassroots ethos continues in more formal ways: mentoring over 100 local youth through apprenticeships, school programs, and TAFE partnerships; sourcing First Nations ingredients like quandong and wattle seed; and ensuring that no food goes to landfill, with leftovers donated to charities and homelessness services.

The bakery has also become a place of history. Customers bring in their family rolling pins to display on the bakery’s walls, creating a living exhibition of community memory and connection. Which is what the bakery is all about.

Baking a bigger future

While rooted in tradition, The Rolling Pin has keeps moving with the times. From establishing two commercial kitchens in Port Adelaide, including a designated gluten-free facility, to interstate distribution partnerships with independent grocers, the bakery continues to expand its reach. Collaborations with iconic South Australian brands like Beerenberg and even a Copenhagen cheesecake ice cream show a flair for creative innovation.

But also, the bakery remains committed to nurturing the next generation, continuing to take on and train apprentices. With a growing wholesale arm supplying more than 150 supermarkets and 140 wholesale venues across South Australia, The Rolling Pin proves that growth and innovation can go hand-in-hand with tradition and craftsmanship.

Council support, community connection

Phil and Suzanne are quick to acknowledge the support they’ve received from City of Campbelltown Council. Grants, participation in the Flavours of Campbelltown Food Trail, and access to the council’s team for ongoing support have all played a role in helping the business grow. ‘There’s never been anything we’ve asked for that hasn’t been supported,’ Phil says.

This partnership has strengthened The Rolling Pin’s role as a hub for the local community. A place where neighbours gather, young people find pathways into work, and food traditions are kept alive.

Hungry for success

When asked about the secret to their success, Phil points to consistency, resilience, and innovation. 'We don’t take shortcuts. Everything is handmade, and we take pride in what we do. We’re always looking for ways to adapt, grow, and innovate.’ Suzanne adds that it’s also about believing in yourself and investing in your community: ‘If you build something for the community, the community will invest in you.'

From humble beginnings to statewide recognition, The Rolling Pin Bakery and Patisserie has become more than just a local bakery. It’s a symbol of what’s possible when passion, quality, and community spirit come together. With every tart, cheesecake, and loaf of bread, they continue to prove that the heart of Campbelltown is best tasted fresh from the oven.

Business tips

1. Believe in yourself. Even in the hard times, confidence in your ability to keep going will carry you forward.
2. Be flexible and dynamic. Stay open to innovation, adapt to challenges, and change with the times.
3. Build for your community. Understand your customers, create something meaningful for them, and reinvest in the local area.

Discover how Council can help you live and work in the area.