Delivering new opportunities

For decades, this historic building served as Huntly’s post office. Today, it’s been revitalised to welcome the community once again... now as a cafe.

By Marina Williams - Photography by Leon Schoots

It’s been two years in the making for a stylish renovation that’s put a thoroughly modern stamp on the former Huntly post office. The historic building has been transformed into a café and is again serving to bring the community together … this time with a taste of Spanish and French influence. The renovation is a collaboration between Eplus Architecture and the owners of El Gordo Bendigo, Haley and Chad with Total Fitouts completing the building works. The couple had been wanting to expand their business and, on inspecting the former post office, knew it would be the ideal space for their café. “It’s a great location, and Huntly has a wonderful vibrancy so we thought it would be a good fit for us,” Haley says. “We’re so pleased to be part of the Huntly community, it suits us.” Rimmon Martin from Eplus Architecture helped the couple design the space, balancing what Haley refers to as “wants and needs” in establishing a café within the building’s small footprint. “It’s a very modest building,” Rimmon says. “The interior needed to be stripped back to its shell to achieve Haley and Chad’s goals of maximising the space needed to run a commercial kitchen. “We left the front, it’s very original and that was the intent. The old brown tiles on the facade is a historic feature. So it was really important to keep those. “It was almost like a European approach to heritage at the front of taking out the old post boxes, and putting in one nice big window. This gives an opportunity for passers-by to see that there’s something happening. At six o’clock in the morning there’s a beautiful glow of light coming from inside, so it’s quite clear that there’s something happening.” To ensure the cafe retained an “openness” the front door was glazed, and a serving bench the only internal division. “With a tiny space, you need to be mindful of making it appear generous,” Rimmon says. For Haley, top of mind on completing the interior fit out was ensuring it “carried a little bit” of their Bendigo store. “It’s not ultramodern but a little bit quirky. Above all, it had to be inviting and comfortable so people would feel relaxed and welcomed.”

Walls are finished with white tiles in a subway pattern, with black featuring on the doors and skirts. For some warmth, a pale timber finish was chosen for the cabinetry and floating shelves. However, El Gordo Huntly has its own distinct style, with the kitchen pass incorporating unique tiles sourced from a tile importer in Myrtleford. “They were loving installed by a local tradesman, Scott Rayson, capturing the unique patterns and vibrant colours. I love them,” Haley says. “We discovered the shop when driving home from a holiday ages ago. We were curious, so popped in to see what he had, and put it in the memory bank. They suit the space and we had enough leftover tile to add to benches running along one wall.” A large courtyard at the rear of the property provides more seating. “There is an inviting flow from the front door to the courtyard,” Rimmon says. “On entering the café you are drawn to see what is outside, and it is like being in someone’s backyard.” As with any renovation, there were challenges. “Having done this before we knew there wouldn’t be anything straight forward in designing a commercial kitchen. We signed on in late 2019, but COVID didn’t hold us up too much. It was more the challenges of the space itself and designing the kitchen area. We went through five different plans of how it would work, and what the council would accept. “While it probably wasn’t exactly how we wanted it, it’s how the space works and would allow us to function and serve food and drink.” Rimmon applauds Haley and Chad for taking on the challenge of repurposing an existing building. “It’s nice to see someone take a punt on a building that maybe looks like it’s in the too-hard basket. From a sustainability point of view, the greenest building is the one that’s already standing. Haley and Chad’s vision to repurpose needs to be encouraged. They have made something that, hopefully, a lot of people get enjoyment from.” It’s been three months since the café opened, and Haley says the community has been equally welcoming to them. “We’re glad we made the move here. The world has changed since we first committed to this project, with some people a little more hesitant to dine out and feel comfortable; but we have been welcomed into the community. We’re happy to be here.”

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