Silver Star Cafe
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality, Restaurant |
| Founded | October 26, 2010 in Port Hedland, Western Australia, Australia |
| Headquarters | Port Hedland , Australia |
| Products | Food and beverages |
The Silver Star Cafe is a dining establishment situated in the western part of Port Hedland, Western Australia. Its kitchen and lounge are uniquely set inside a historically preserved railway carriage, accompanied by an outdoor deck area. This venue was created through a collaborative initiative led by BHP Billiton Iron Ore, with assistance from the Town of Port Hedland, Boom Logistics, and Laing O'Rourke. The official opening took place on 26 October 2010, conducted by the Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett.
United States
Constructed in 1939 by the Budd Company for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&QR), the railway carriage at the heart of the Silver Star Cafe originally served as a diner-parlour and observation car. It carried the fleet number 301 and was named Silver Star.
This car was part of the General Pershing Zephyr, a streamlined train that also included two passenger cars—the Silver Leaf and Silver Eagle—along with a power car called the Silver Charger. The train commenced operations on 30 April 1939, running between St Louis and Kansas City, Missouri.
The train’s name honored General John Pershing, a World War I veteran and former Chief of Staff of the United States Army. The cars—Silver Leaf, Silver Eagle, and Silver Star—were named to reflect US Army rank insignia, while the power car, Silver Charger, took its name from one of Pershing’s horses.
As the ninth and final "shovelnose" streamliner managed by CB&QR, the General Pershing Zephyr was distinct for having non-articulated cars. These lightweight stainless steel trains achieved greater speeds compared to their contemporaries due to their aerodynamic design. Unlike earlier articulated models that had fewer trucks and lacked couplers, this arrangement allowed for enhanced operational flexibility and simpler maintenance.
The Silver Star served as the rear car featuring a rounded observation end, often regarded as the train’s most prestigious carriage. It housed a 19-foot dining area accommodating 24 passengers across six tables, an observation lounge with 22 movable seats at its curved end, and kitchen facilities located at the opposite side.
The General Pershing Zephyr remained in service until America’s entry into World War II, after which its cars were reassigned to other trains. The Silver Star continued operating on combined routes until as late as 1967 before being retired in 1968.
Australia
By 1974, Western Australia’s Mount Newman railway in the Pilbara region had transported its first 100 million tonnes of iron ore between Newman and Port Hedland. To commemorate this achievement, US mining firm AMAX—then a partner in Mount Newman Mining—donated the Silver Star carriage during an official event. Reconditioned by Autoliner Corporation in the United States, it was upgraded with a diesel engine to power air conditioning and kitchen equipment, replacing its original axle-driven generator.
Renamed as the Sundowner, this carriage operated on the freight-only railway for nearly two decades, conducting weekly return trips that catered to families and sports teams traveling between Newman and Port Hedland. It also served VIP events and special excursions, offering passengers distinctive views of the Pilbara scenery.
Over its years of service, the carriage underwent multiple refurbishments including interior renovations featuring Western Australian jarrah wood. Although kept operational, it gradually fell out of regular use by the early 2000s and was last utilized during the official opening of the Area C mine in 2003.
In 2009, BHP Billiton Iron Ore—then sole proprietor of the railway—gifted the carriage to Port Hedland to be repurposed as a visitor attraction and café. With support from Form arts organisation, Town of Port Hedland, Boom Logistics, and Laing O’Rourke, it was transported to Perth for restoration before reopening at Port Hedland’s west end. The cafe’s formal inauguration was conducted by Western Australia’s Premier Colin Barnett on 26 October 2010.
Menu
Although the kitchen is compact, every dish on the menu is crafted fresh on the premises.
Reviews
The Australasian Mining Review refers to the Silver Star Cafe as "potentially the finest breakfast venue in Hedland".Lonely Planet similarly commended it as "perhaps the most distinctive cafe in the Pilbara region".
See also
Further reading
External links
- BHP Billiton Iron Ore Road Sundowner Siding – Article from Pilbara Railway Pages about the Sundowner
- Restaurant culture in Port Hedland – Audio feature by ABC Pilbara exploring the cafe
- Women in business: Julie Berry – Profile of the cafe and its proprietor from Pilbara Echo