Heritage Cafe – West Block

As part of the restoration works to the historic West Block Building, Fore Group was engaged to transform the southwest corner of D-Block into a 225sqm café with a full commercial kitchen. Working within a heritage-listed structure, our team meticulously balanced century-old finishes with modern materials, ensuring that every detail honoured the building’s historical character while embracing contemporary functionality. The café’s design, led by Capezio Copeland, seamlessly extended the aesthetic of the primary West Block fit out while establishing a distinct atmosphere of individuality and escape from the surrounding workspaces. A carefully curated palette of warm, natural materials—including terracotta tiles, travertine stone, and dark timber cabinetry—creates an inviting and calming environment for patrons to enjoy. This project came with its challenges, particularly in accommodating mechanical services for the commercial kitchen within the constraints of the existing heritage structure. Through meticulous planning, precise coordination with contractors, and close collaboration with architects, our team developed a solution that was both aesthetically seamless and highly functional for the café operator. The West Block project was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Fore Group. To work within one of Canberra’s first government buildings—deeply intertwined with the history of Australian Parliament—and contribute to its continued legacy was both an honour and a testament to our commitment to exceptional workmanship and heritage restoration.