The Hamlet breathes new life into an old landmark

Braddon’s been given a heart transplant with The Hamlet food development.

The old Beau-Repairs Service Centre on Lonsdale St had long been abandoned. For years, passers-by were separated by a temporary fence, a “nothing to see here” symbol, which told us to stay on the path and keep walking.

And for a while there, we were more than happy to as the building beyond the fence was creepy and lifeless.

The owners could have easily done what most Braddon developers do: knock it down and erect a glass-clad structure for residential and commercial use. But these guys didn’t. Instead, they surgically gutted the building, reversed in a few food trucks and dismantled the temporary fencing that kept us shut out for so long.

I arrive at The Hamlet hungry, on a bright Sunday afternoon. A hipster DJ mixes vinyl, a stomach-gurgling scent of ground coffee beans and sizzling pork wafts through the excited air. The place is near full. Mostly it’s chatty 20-35 year olds scattered about on seats, sipping juice, chewing burgers with oil trickling down their chins.

The Hamlet’s variety of choice is unique. There’s a custom pizza shop, a Peruvian Street Food stand, a Milkshake caravan, an Indian cart, a Hotdog van and more.

It’s like the Multicultural festival everyday.

Other attractions include the London Phone box and the kitschy rickshaw parked at the entrance. For the art and fashion savvy, stores selling local work at the rear of the warehouse are sure to delight.

The ultra cool Hamlet is designed to draw crowds in – a stark contradiction to its dilapidated past.  And so far it’s done just that. A welcome addition to Canberra’s thriving alternative scene and perhaps a new found heart beat of a lively Lonsdale St.