The Craftsmanship of Pavilion Joinery at The Retreat, Newtown

A heritage building, a thoughtful architectural vision and beautifully executed custom joinery.

At The Retreat Restaurant & Bar in Newtown, Pavilion Joinery has helped transform a former post office into an intimate dining destination, with cabinetry and timber detailing playing a starring role.

Located on Retreat Road in the former Bareena Post Office, The Retreat Restaurant & Bar has been reimagined as a 50-seat neighbourhood restaurant and bar. The brief was to retain the character of the heritage building while creating a modern, functional space that feels warm, inviting and somewhere locals want to return to.

With the architectural design by Hamilton Clark, Pavilion Joinery was tasked with bringing the interior to life through custom joinery that would complement the building and contribute to the overall atmosphere.

And it certainly makes an impression.

A Curved Bar that sets the tone

The first thing guests notice when they walk into The Retreat is the beautifully detailed curved bar. It is a defining feature of the interior and a great example of how custom joinery can do much more than serve a practical purpose.

Wrapped in curved timber cladding, the bar introduces softness and warmth to the space. Its rounded form takes inspiration from the architectural design, helping create a natural flow through the restaurant while giving the room a distinctive identity.

Pavilion Joinery used Curved Modulo Panel (Arc 3) profiles in Navurban’s Tablelands timber veneer to achieve the curved finish. The bar is topped with a substantial 30mm Fibonacci Ink Blot terrazzo benchtop, which continues through to the kitchen pass.

The combination of timber and terrazzo creates an appealing contrast in texture and material, while tying the different elements of the interior together.

It is a feature that demonstrates the value of considered detailing: a strong visual statement that also contributes to the relaxed, welcoming feel of the venue.

Custom joinery throughout the restaurant

While the bar may be the hero, the joinery extends well beyond it.

Pavilion Joinery manufactured and installed a range of bespoke elements throughout the venue, including back bar drawers, custom cupboards, a tiled feature unit at the end of the bar and the vanity unit in the amenities.

At the front entrance, custom banquette seating welcomes guests as they arrive. Finished in the same Navurban Tablelands timber veneer, the seating incorporates Camira wool upholstery on the seat backs and Instyle vinyl on the seat pads.

The curved bases of the banquettes presented one of the more technically demanding aspects of the project. Achieving a clean, consistent finish required considerable attention to detail – the kind of precision that is essential when working with curved forms.

Red panels framing the kitchen’s steel surround provide another considered detail, adding a confident touch of colour and helping define the transition between the dining space and kitchen.

Together, these elements create a cohesive interior where the joinery feels integral to the architecture rather than simply added to it.

The skill behind the finish

Projects like The Retreat highlight the important role local cabinetmakers play in bringing architectural and interior design concepts to life.

Working alongside the client, builder and architect, the team from Pavilion Joinery helped translate the design vision into carefully crafted joinery that gives the restaurant its warmth, character and distinctive finish.

The project was delivered for Hamo Hospitality, with Hamilton Group as builder and Hamilton Clark responsible for the architectural design.

For anyone who enjoys discovering Geelong’s local dining scene, The Retreat is a lovely example of how thoughtful design and quality craftsmanship can transform a space. And for those planning a hospitality fit-out, renovation or new build, it is a reminder of what can be achieved when skilled cabinetmakers are part of the process.

Pavilion Joinery is a member of ICM Geelong, connecting independent cabinetmakers and design professionals across the Geelong, Surf Coast and Bellarine regions.