Dome reveals details for refurbishment of old flour mill building

Details of the Dome Cafe Group refurbishment of the old flour mill building in Katanning were revealed at a Town Hall meeting last week.

The near capacity town hall was presented with stories of the building’s history and shown 3D modelling of features to be included in the finished product by Dome Cafe Group managing director Nigel Oakey.

Mr Oakey told the crowd 22 rooms in the hotel would incorporate much of the existing structure of the building and refurbished examples of machinery used inside the building when it was an operating flour mill.

A team of three architects from around Australia who specialise in re-purposing heritage buildings for use as hospitality venues are working with the Dome Cafe Group to preserve and use as much of the old building as possible in the new designs.

Mr Oakey said although the cafe on the ground level would be Dome-branded the accommodation side of the project would be branded as Premier Roller Flour Mill as it was when the original building was opened in 1891.

The hotel and cafe will feature touch-screen technology integrated into the building to allow visitors to learn the history and stories of the building, as well as stay informed of sites and attractions in the Great Southern.

Mr Oakey said Katanning was the perfect central hub for visitors to base themselves while they explore “undervalued attractions of the Central Great Southern”.

“I think Katanning has massive potential to be the concierge to the region,” he said.

“Brand Margaret River has had the game for way too long and it’s not like that on the east coast, we are very south-west coast oriented in WA and it’s time to change the game.”

Click here to read more on the Dome Cafe Group’s Katanning flour mill refurbishment project.