Freya Downie
by Genevieve Morton
Sweet tooth Freya Downie is the creative young entrepreneur behind Freya’s Delights. When she’s not making her signature caramel sauce the 15 year-old is playing soccer or riding a jet ski.
What do you love about where you live? My family and I love living near the beach at Blackmans Bay. We have a great view with good sunrises and sunsets. Being close to the beach allows us to swim and go for adventures on our jet skis.
What’s the best thing about Hobart? The waterfront and Salamanca. It has a wide variety of souvenirs and great food at the Salamanca market. The wharf has good views of incoming boats.
And the worst? Not having direct flights to international countries for holiday and work. As a keen travelling family unfortunately we have to go via another state to get out of Australia.
Tell us a little about your work? I was inspired at the age of six to cook. It was something I loved to do and soon found I was pretty good at it! Growing up on a dairy farm in the Derwent Valley cooking was way easier than going and getting the cows in for Dad. After chats with Alistair Wise at Sweet Envy, he encouraged me to make Dulche de Leche – a thick caramel sauce used for adding to tarts, donuts or just licking right off the spoon. The Freya’s Delights range is now stocked in various Hill St stores and cafes in the Derwent Valley.
What’s your favourite eatery? Cultura is my family’s favourite place to go. It’s an Italian restaurant with friendly staff and great food. We go there for birthdays and any other achievements we want to celebrate. My siblings love the garlic pizza and Luke the owner always looks after us very well.
Drink of choice and where do you head for it? Robbie Brown on Kingston Beach is a really nice place to go for drinks with friends. My favourite is their lemon lime bitters.
What do you never leave home without? I never leave home without my phone. Mainly so that mum and dad can contact me or I can contact them if I need to.
When there’s nothing to do I…Watch the highlights of professional soccer games and analyse the players and teams. They teach me a lot about how I can improve my performance in games.
Favourite Hobart secret? Beronia Beach is a really private beach along from Kingston. It is a small walk off the road but it’s sheltered and really quiet. Sometimes penguins come for a visit too.
What do you love doing outside work? I love playing soccer so when I’m not working I’m training or kicking the ball against a wall. I also love spending time with my friends.
What’s your next business move? See what happens next and what opportunities arise. I’ll more than likely focus on more international sales.
What are you keen to do after school? Play football professionally.
I’m inspired by…Samantha Kerr, a female athlete who represents Australia with pride.
I’d like to travel to…England.
If I didn’t live in Hobart I’d live in…Italy, the food over there is unbelievable.
Quote to live by? If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. I live by this because I know that if I’m not willing to change something then my results will stay the same. ■