Whitehorse City Council is proud to have worked alongside the community to breathe new life into the Mont Albert Station Heritage Building with the opening of cape café.

The social enterprise café now occupies the 120-year-old station building. Many feared the building would be lost following the Level Crossing Removal Project’s closure of Mont Albert Station.

Whitehorse City Council Mayor Cr Kirsten Langford said that she was thrilled that locals and Council had worked together to transform the heritage station building into a force for good.  

“The 120-year-old station building is an icon of our town and we were worried for its future when Mont Albert Station was closed. Our community stepped up and from a simple resident sketch, the idea for a new plaza was born.”

“Council worked with the community and the Mont Albert Village Business Group, to reimagine the old station building as a meaningful public space and the heart of our village. Together with the new plaza, cape café is transforming the area into a vibrant hub where people can connect and relax.”

Whitehorse City Council worked with cape group to develop a social enterprise café that provides people with disability training and employment opportunities in the hospitality sector.

CEO of cape group, Mr Glenn Hodgkin said they were committed to providing real opportunities for people to build their capabilities.

"At cape we focus on creating real employment pathways, not just programs. Social enterprises like this provide real workplaces where people can build skills, confidence, and careers."

The adjacent plaza is a new space for gathering and connection and can be used for performances, local business events and community gardening. The plaza and new café have revitalised the area which not so long ago, looked every different.

Following the State Government’s decision to fast-track the removal of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations, the Mont Albert Heritage Building was removed off-site, restored and then reinstated.

The building was moved to the Beresford side of the tracks, creating the connection point towards the Hamilton Street shopping precinct. 

Council worked with the Level Crossing Removal Project to explore the future use of the Mont Albert Staton Heritage Building and built its understanding of social enterprises. 

Through a competitive Expression of Interest process, Council offered the use of the building to not-for-profit and social enterprises and cape group was selected. 

The project is a demonstration of how ingenuity and community spirit can save much-loved local icons so that they can be enjoyed for years to come.

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