Wilderness Railway Cafe | Tourism & Cafe Design
This project involved refurbishing an unused space at the Queenstown Station complex, home to the iconic West Coast Wilderness Railway, and relocating the existing café. Although most of the station was originally built in the 1980s, it is heritage-listed, and the tourism offering celebrates Tasmania’s rich history.
Our brief was to create an experience that recognised the operation’s history while providing a modern facility for locals and visitors alike. We included design elements that subtly referenced the grandeur of old stations and the romance of train travel. Our material and colour palette is inspired by copper, which has long been mined in the mountains surrounding the town, as it ages and develops a patina. The site’s remote location meant resources were scarce, and the fitout needed to get the most out of what was available. Much of the fitout was fabricated off-site, and some furniture was restored or made in the Railway Workshop.
“It was a great pleasure to work with Karryn and Dean (IN-TERIA) to create a new cafe for the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Queenstown. Essentially, we had a large blank canvas to work with, a very loose brief and some serious funding constraints. We were keen to create a new cafe space that would appeal to the many locals who support us all year, however, we were also looking to design a cafe that tourists from the rest of Australia and the world would also enjoy!! It was also in the brief NOT TO overplay the faux-heritage look and create a contemporary feel. I am delighted to say that Karryn and Dean did just that – the cafe has been well received by our regular customers and enjoyed by tourists. The final product is functional, light, warm and welcoming, and revenue has risen considerably!”
Michael Saville
General Manager, West Coast Wilderness Railway
Project Name // Tracks Cafe
Project Type // Cafe, Bar & Restaurant Design
Location // Queenstown, Tasmania
Client // West Coast Wilderness Railway
Photography // Dean Baird
