A LETTER TO ALL THE GUESTS OF MASON DIXIES  
This is “Chef” Gino, owner of Mason Dixies, a unique Home – Based Food Retail restaurant specializing in yummy comfort food that your whole family will just love. We’re located on a residential street at 24 Glenelg Boulevard, in Taylors Hill, Victoria, a community which I’ve been happily serving since mid – 2024.

Firstly, to all Guests of Mason Dixies, both past and present, thank you so very much for your business. As a small business owner, I really do appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to serve you.

Yes, it is completely lawful to sell food to the public from your private residential home.
After many months of open trading, it STILL seems that folks are reluctant to purchase food from Mason Dixies because I am trading from a private home in a residential neighborhood. Yes, I’m very aware that many people may find this business concept as too unconventional or unorthodox and may even question its legitimacy.

Know that selling food to the public from your private residence is completely lawful throughout most of the Commonwealth of Australia, provided that the owner of the home – based food business meets and maintains the established Government, State, and local Council compliances required to do so. I own and operate a fully licensed, registered, and legitimate Home – Based Food business. Plain and simple.

Food premises within Victoria and Melton Council are given a classification of 1, 2, 3 or 4. Retail premises are food businesses that sell direct to the public. Premises that fall under Class 2 include restaurants, fast food outlets, pubs, caterers, supermarkets, delicatessens, and cafes.

Mason Dixies is categorized as a Class 2 Home – Based Food Retailer, meeting and even exceeding the compliances as set forth by both the Melton Council Planning Scheme Clause 52.11, sections 1 & 2 as well as various State of Victoria ordinances and guidelines. This ensures that the food which I prepare for you and your family is of the highest quality and safe to eat.

Our Melton Council Food Premises registration is F2024 / 0942, which is valid through 31 December 2025. Our Melton Council food business registration is MELT – 1051819.

So, please, don’t be shy or suspicious about purchasing food from Mason Dixies. We are a nice little Home – Based Take Away shop very conveniently located in OUR Taylors Hill neighborhood. Everyone is welcome. So come, Come and join us for yummy comfort food and warm, gracious hospitality. Be our Guest.

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WE’RE OPEN FROM 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM EVERY DAY INCLUDING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. 

TAKE AWAY FOOD ONLY:  Mason Dixies offers Take – Away food orders and Pick – Up Catering services only. Sit – down dining on the premises is not permitted by Melton Council ordinance.

OUR LOCATION:  Our home – based Take Away restaurant is located at 24 Glenelg Boulevard in Taylors Hill in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

When coming down Glenelg Boulevard, look for a light yellowish brick home with a black fence and a green garage door. When arriving, you’ll see a street facing banner of the Australian national flag and our sign on the fence.

We are conveniently located just a few minutes from the Aquagardens and Watergardens Shopping Centres, Kings Road, Hume Drive, and the Calder Freeway.

ORDERING:  Whether you’re driving to our location or simply waking in from the street, everyone is welcome. Once inside, seating is available while your meal is being prepared. 

We do not accept any food orders placed by either Text / SMS messages or E – mail.

ON STREET & DRIVEWAY PARKING:  For Mason Dixies guests, on street parking is available on Glenelg Boulevard and you can also park in our driveway if the space is available. 

PAYMENTS:  Payments in person can be made with Credit / Debit card. E.F.T. & Pay To Pay I.D. We do not accept credit card payments cover the telephone.

Note: As of 1 May 2025, we will no longer be accepting cash payments until further notice.

PICK – UP CATERING:  Needing to feed a hungry crowd at Work, Home or for a Holiday and don’t want to cook? We also offer convenient Pick – Up Catering. Please call us for details and a pricing quote.

DRESS CODE:  A strict “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service” policy applies to all. For your health and safety, you must be wearing footwear on the premises, such as shoes, slippers or thongs / flip – flops.

NO PUBLIC RESTROOM:  No public restroom is available. We apologise for any inconvenience.

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS:  Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the premises.

NO SMOKING OR VAPING:  Mason Dixies is a completely Smoke – Free establishment.

CASH ON HAND:   No cash is kept on the premises.

DOGS:  Your dogs are welcome to play off leash in our large, fully fenced back yard and covered deck. Water will be provided for your pets and both you and your loveable pooches can enjoy a nice private and relaxing space.

Please note that you are responsible for your dog and its behaviour while on my property. As the home owner and an avid dog lover myself, I strongly encourage that your dog be obedience trained, desexed, have all current required vaccinations and shots and be currently registered with the local Council.

Please pick up after your dog. Victoria law mandates that it is your responsibility as a dog owner to clean up after them outside of your property. Any mess made on public land or in someone else’s yard may result in a fine. Poo bags and a disposable receptacle bin will be provided for you. Please know that I am not liable in any way for your dog’s behaviour or welfare while they are on my property.

NO STOPPING OR PARKING ON NATURE STRIPS:   The current Victoria Road Safety Road Rules 2017, Regulation 197, clearly states that motor vehicles must NOT ever stop or park on a nature strip or footpath for any reason, even for a moment. There are very good reasons for this regulation, which are:

1. Because important utilities are underneath the surface of nature strips, it is illegal across all of Melton Council and the State of Victoria to park on nature strips, as it can cause damage to utility connections and prevent access to these utilities, especially in an emergency.

2. Parking or stopping your vehicle on nature strips obstructs the view of drivers and pedestrians entering and exiting driveways, which poses an immediate safety issue, first and foremost.

Motorcycles can park on a footpath, unless posted signs state they cannot. Motorcycles on the footpath also must not obstruct pedestrians or driveway access points. Bicycles are exempt from this regulation.

Please be aware that Victoria Police and Council local law enforcement officers do monitor and patrol this neighbourhood often now. Penalties can range between $111.00 – $182.00 for each offence.

OK, Y’ALL, ACT RIGHT & PLAY NICE:  Besides serving y’all great food, Mason Dixies is a friendly and very hospitable place. You will always be welcomed warmly and treated as a Guest in my home. Folks just need to be looked after and many businesses these days seem to have forgotten this.

In this frenzied, overloaded and distracted “Digital Age,” old fashioned courtesy, respect, manners, and kindness still very much matter. Look, honey, I was raised right and I know y’all feel very much the same as I do. After all, we invest the time in teaching these core values to our children, don’t we? Well, as adults, we need to remember this and lead by example. Just saying a warm “Hello” or “Good Morning” to a stranger in passing may be all that it takes, because we just don’t ever know what someone else is going through, do we? So, let’s each do our part in looking out for one another. Simple, ain’t it, y’all? Yep.

Having said all that, as owner of Mason Dixies, I absolutely reserve the right to refuse service to or even trespass ANYONE, including those under 18 years of age, who choose to use crude, profane, abusive or disrespectful language OR who display ANY KIND of disruptive behaviour. So, don’t even think for a second about acting up in here, cause I ain’t playin’ that,y’all. Not in my house. Ever.

MASON DIXIES 

TELEPHONE:  0403132290

ADDRESS:  24 GLENELG BOULEVARD TAYLORS HILL, VICTORIA

DAYS & HOURS:  OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM INCLUDING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. 

INTERNET:  WWW.MASONDIXIES.COM.AU

E – MAIL:  [email protected]

NEED YUMMY FOOD FOR FOLKS AT WORK, HOME, A CASUAL GATHERING OR A SPECIAL OCCASION? CALL US FOR PICK – UP CATERING!