In 1976, a group of ANU students set out to create a place where people could buy affordable, package-free health food. Fifty years later, the Canberra Food Co-op is still going strong, now on Kingsley Street, and it’s the longest-running food co-operative in Australia.  

Today, it’s part bulk food store, part café, part events space and a regular meeting place for students, foodies, artists, activists and city locals. 

To mark the milestone, the Co-op is releasing a book, running a market and hosting a dinner for its members. 

 

A Cookbook 50 Years in the Making 

Food For People is part cookbook and part local history. It brings together more than 60 vegetarian recipes alongside stories, memories, artwork and photos from the past five decades, celebrating the people and ideas that have kept a small, volunteer-run, anti-capitalist food store going for half a century. 

Like most things at the Co-op, it was a collaborative effort, with volunteers digging through the archives, interviewing past members and collecting recipes from the community. 

“The result is a truly collaborative book which is reflective of our dedicated and diverse community, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone,” said Food Co-op Board Member Josh Viljoen.  

You can pre-order a copy now through the Co-op’s website. 

 

Launch Day at the Sly Fox Market 

The book will launch on Saturday 24 October, when the Co-op teams up with Sly Fox for a market day along the bike path between Macarthur Avenue and Turner Primary School. 

Running from 10am to 3pm, there’ll be live music, local food and crafts, second-hand stalls and garden games for the kids, with SeeChange volunteers helping keep the day waste-free. 

If you’ve got some second-hand treasures ready for a new home, flea market stall spots are still available. You can find details on how to get involved via Sly Fox’s Facebook page. 

“The markets are going to be a really fun day out,” said Josh. 

 

A Member-Only Birthday Dinner to Finish the Month 

The celebrations finish with a members-only gala dinner at the Co-op on Saturday 31 October. Running from 5pm to 8pm, the night includes a three-course vegetarian feast inspired by Food for People, a drink on arrival, music and stories from the Co-op’s history. Funds raised will go towards kitchen repairs and upgrades to the venue’s audio-visual equipment. 

The Co-op is hoping the anniversary brings new faces through the door as well as welcoming back old ones. Membership is open to anyone, and you can sign up in-store. 

“Opening this book might rekindle some old memories for someone who used to volunteer in their university days, or it might be the first time someone has heard of us,” said Josh. “The Food Co-op is for everyone!”

THE ESSENTIALS: 

Food For People Book Launch – Sly Fox Market
Location: Bike path near Sly Fox Coffee
Dates/Times: Saturday 24 October, 10am–3pm
Ticketing/Booking: Flea market stall enquiries via Sly Fox on Facebook 

Food Co-op 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner (members only)
Location: The Food Co-op, 3 Kingsley Street, Canberra City
Dates/Times: Saturday 31 October, 5pm–8pm
Ticketing/Booking: Click here 

The Food Co-op
Location: The Food Co-op, 3 Kingsley Street, Canberra City 

Shop hours:10am-7pm weekdays, 10am-4pm weekends 

Cafe hours: 12pm-2pm, Monday to Saturday.  

 

Details were correct at the time of publishing. Opening hours and event details may change, so check the Co-op’s website or socials before heading in.