STREAT Cafe - Queen Victoria Market
Type: Hospitality / Retail
Location: QVM, Melbourne, CBD
Wurrundjeri Country
This small project was developed for STREAT, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering young people in Melbourne through hospitality training.
Located within the historic sheds (Shed F) of Queen Victoria Market, STREAT’s new location expands its offerings within the ‘Purpose Precinct’—a laneway dedicated to sustainable and circular products. Beyond serving as a café, this space also functions as a retail outlet for Moving Feast, STREAT’s kitchen initiative focused on reducing waste through crafted, preserved products sourced from QVM market excess.
Positioned at a lively market corner, the design strategy is simple: open to Peel Street’s busy pace with a takeaway window, while offering dine-in seating within the sheltered Purpose Precinct lane beneath QVM’s quintessential shade awnings.
Working within the heritage constraints, the original façade was kept entirely intact, and existing structural elements were carefully restored and renewed. As with any hospitality project, functionality and operation were key drivers in refining the spatial layout.
Recycled timber joinery, including an XL bench and custom-designed shelving elements, supports both the café and retail functions, providing a space to showcase Moving Feast products.
Leaving the original building shell untouched created the challenge of transforming a dark interior into a warm, inviting space. A myriad of warm-hued lighting elements highlight different areas, while a palette inspired by heritage colours—red, black, and white—draws on the historic context.
Builder: Michael Russell
Photos: Ben Clement
Published: TDF