Our brief was simple: a design to bring back the Mona Castle — authentic, familiar, and better than ever.

The challenges were as real as the opportunities. A series of piecemeal renovations had left the venue with a confused, compartmentalised layout. The front bar had been a TAB, lit mostly by the glow of countless TV screens. The side entrance had been blocked off by a bottle shop and cool room.

Typical of a traditional Melbourne pub, there was an almost total lack of connection to the outdoors — a huge missed opportunity for the corner site. So a key part of the brief was to honour the north and west-facing outlook. We also needed to create better connection between the spaces, allowing natural light to permeate — and clear lines of sight and circulation (once consciously avoided) from front bar through to dining room.

Within the constraints of a tight budget, our design transforms the Mona Castle — while sincerely honouring its history. The untouched facade reassures the older patrons: not too much has changed. The original bartop and layout are retained in an updated front bar, alongside character-laden features including timber architraves, picture rails, lining boards and coat hooks. The former bottleshop off Collins Street becomes a private, intimate dining room. On a clear afternoon, sunshine streams in the windows.

In the rear dining room, the wall trim and banquette seating subtly connect the old pub with the new. A classic colour palette of oak brown, heritage maroon and Brunswick green adds another nod to the past.

The overall effect is clear. The Mona Castle has undergone a long overdue facelift — the abundant natural light and sense of openness are remarkable. But this remains the Seddon local its residents have loved for generations.

When the Mona Castle closed in 2020, it felt like Covid-19 had claimed another victim. But it also symbolised a deeper problem.

The pandemic was accelerating a worrying trend: the demise of what American urbanist Ray Oldernbug called “the third place”. Neither the home nor the workplace, the third place — perhaps a pub, a church, a salon or a gym — is an essential part of the social fabric. Even when privately owned, it is a neutral zone where locals come together in conversation and shared activities.

Now more than ever, our cities (and our suburbs) need these authentic spaces for connection. That’s why it’s so important the Mona Castle is back where it belongs — at the heart of the Seddon community.