Construction has started on the Killara Café at Mt. Atkinson, a new community café, and the first in our Stockland Mt. Atkinson community.

In partnership with The Killara Foundation and Edmund Rice Services Mt. Atkinson (ERSMA), the café will operate as a social enterprise and will be run by the community, providing opportunities for employment, on-the-job training, and education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The café will offer a relaxed dining experience for the community and features a round table created from reclaimed redwood timber, representing a Yarning circle, and based on First Nations principles of coming together. 

“It’s great to have started construction of the Killara Café at Mt. Atkinson which will provide the community with a dedicated space for cultural and educational enrichment,” Stockland Project Director, Ed Krushka said. 

“The highly anticipated café will bring people together to celebrate and understand the stories of First Nations communities in the Mt. Atkinson area. 

“The new café aligns with Stockland’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity, in turn supporting improved economic and social outcomes. 

“We want the café to support and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and provide them with various opportunities for employment, education, and talent development, including building hospitality and business management skills.  

“It’s a privilege to be working with The Killara Foundation and Edmund Rice Services on this project which represents our shared drive for Reconciliation and cross-cultural engagement with the community.” 

Olympian and Killara Foundation CEO, Kyle Vander Kuyp, said: “The Killara Foundation is looking forward to the opening of the café and is proud of the partnership with Stockland and Edmund Rice Services. This partnership will support local community with opportunities to train and grow.” 

“The café will be a platform to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, our culture and also provide an opportunity for the stories of Traditional Owners from the area to be told.” 

Edmund Rice Services Executive Officer, Mark Monahan, said: “We’re proud to be continuing our partnership with Stockland Mt. Atkinson and working alongside the Killara Foundation to bring local residents and surrounding communities a place to come together and make strong connections through the celebration of culture.” 

Killara Café at Mt. Atkinson will become a social hub for the growing Mt. Atkinson community and act as a shared space for community activities run by Stockland, The Killara Foundation, and ERSMA. 

The café will be located behind the new playground at Stockland Mt. Atkinson Sales and Information Centre in Truganina, on Wurundjeri Woi Wurung Country.  

Construction is expected to be complete in December 2022, and the café is expected to be open to the public in the new year, with plans for a community celebration event already underway. 

Watch the video below to find out more!