19/09/2026
The best kind of Saturday morning: uncovering a massive dose of local history and a massive mushroom toastie.
My Heritage Councillor brain was instantly hooked on the story of this building. Built in the early 1890s this was "The City Loan Office." It was a critical pre-Gold Rush pawn shop (a type of lender that was much more flexible than banks back then), and was even designed by WA's first locally qualified architect, H.S. Trigg.
This building has worn many hats, from a Chinese restaurant to an actual bank, and now, a fantastic hidden cafe. You can even still see the "ghost" of the original Loan Office sign outside and the original pressed metal ceiling and old-school storage hook/pulley system inside.
If you want a great coffee, incredible food (thanks Gizem!), and a side serving of history, find your way to this secret spot.