Commercial Outdoor table settings are the hub of any park, school or public space. Victoria’s Urban Design Guidelines identify seating as the most frequently used type of street and park furniture, ahead of bins, bike hoops and other public amenities. You just have to look down your local high street to see it, with new streetside dining initiatives around Australia being implemented, based on evidence showing that adding outdoor tables and seating increases foot traffic, creates more attractive public spaces and benefits nearby businesses.
The right product to choose depends on more than just the colour; durability will ensure your settings last, design will encourage use and DDA requirements ensure you meet compliance.
Draffin supplies Commercial Outdoor Table Settings for Australian Parks, Schools and Public Spaces. We’ve put together this guide to help architects, planners and specifiers match the right materials and products to the space, and which products meet DDA compliance requirements.
Table of Contents
- Matching Outdoor Table Settings to Parks, Schools and Civic Spaces
- Accessibility Considerations for Outdoor Table Settings
- Selecting Materials for Australian Conditions
- Final Considerations
- Talk to Draffin About Your Outdoor Furniture Project
Matching Outdoor Table Settings to Parks, Schools and Civic Spaces
The needs of an employee break space in comparison to a modern university outdoor setting are vastly different. Outdoor School Furniture selection should support the purpose of the specific space. The common challenges architects and planners see create different priorities that showcase the importance of matching the right outdoor table settings to the right space.
Parks and recreation areas
Outdoor table settings in parks and recreational areas need to handle regular public use, changing weather conditions and a diverse range of users. These spaces may experience high foot traffic, exposure to the elements and challenges such as vandalism. To encourage high usage of the settings, they must suit the landscape and be modern and visually appealing to the audience.
Picnic Tables
A popular choice for economic and durable outdoor table setting requirements, Picnic Tables encourage longer visits by creating places for families, community groups and visitors to eat, socialise and gather. Suitable for picnic areas, reserves, playgrounds and foreshore locations. DDA options make them suitable for inclusive public spaces.
Picnic Tables for Park Spaces
| Product | Material / Construction | Style | Durability | DDA / Wheelchair Access | Best For |
| Standard Picnic Table | Hot-dip galvanised steel frame; batten choice of aluminium, Enviroslat composite, powdercoated aluminium, or Spotted Gum timber-look aluminium | Traditional/classic | High | Yes | Budget-friendly all-rounder for parks & councils |
| Standard Picnic Table – Aluminium | Hot-dip galvanised frame with heavy-duty aluminium plank top/seats; also available in a 1000mm 4-seater | Traditional/classic | High | Yes | Low-maintenance, best value-for-money option |
| Square 4-Sided Picnic Table | Galvanised mild steel frame; battens in aluminium, Enviroslat, composite, powdercoated aluminium or timber-look aluminium | Traditional/classic | High | Yes | Compact seating for 4 sides of use |
| Large Magnum Picnic Table | Steel frame with Spotted Gum or aluminium timber-look battens | Traditional/classic | High | Optional | 12-seater for high-capacity group areas |
| Four Sided Recycled Plastic Picnic Table | Recycled plastic top on heavy-duty steel frame | Modern | High | Yes | Eco-conscious councils & schools |
Beyond Picnic Tables, there are freestanding and fixed table options that work in different recreational spaces, that can cater to varying budgets or weather requirements. The below table provides an example of popular products used in park and recreation spaces.
| Product | Material / Construction | Style | Durability | DDA / Wheelchair Access | Best For |
| Knox Table Setting | Powdercoated & galvanised mild steel frame with timber battens | Traditional/classic | High | Yes | Classic council park table setting |
| Freestanding Timber Table Setting | Cypress Pine timber with galvanised fasteners | Traditional/classic | High | Optional | Economical, tried-and-tested picnic design |
| Heritage Park Setting | Stainless steel & aluminium, or composite Enviroslat battens, curved profile | Traditional (deluxe) | Extreme | Optional | Premium/heritage-style parks |
| Wandin Table Setting | Steel frame, part of the Wandin suite | Contemporary | High | Yes | Schools, botanic gardens, council parks |
| Parks Table | Heavy-duty bolt-down steel frame construction | Traditional/classic | Extreme | Optional | Extra-long / bush & regional park settings |
Designing settings to consider the landscapeIn 2021, Draffin was hired to create a range of outdoor furniture for The City of Casey’s new off-leash dog park at Casey Fields. This 70-hectare multi-sports complex in Cranbourne East, Victoria required tables and chairs for pet owners, so we created beautiful blended wood and raw steel benches and table settings, based on our Hobart suite designs, that are durable, low-maintenance, and will survive Melbourne’s erratic weather. This worked perfectly with the environment and the City of Casey opted to add dog-themed laser cut logos as finishing touches, to highlight the special use of the space.
Outdoor Table Settings for Schools and Universities
Outdoor table settings for schools and universities face heavy traffic and require low maintenance surfaces. Unlike parks, outdoor school furniture zones see constant daily use around eating times and outdoor learning as well as after school activities.
Facing the harshness of student use combined with harsh weather conditions, this calls for materials that are tamper resistant, easy cleaning vandalism/graffiti resistant. As well as DDA compliance customisation options and safety compliance, particularly important in school environments.
Best Materials for School Outdoor Table Settings
Recycled plastic provides very low maintenance which suits outdoor school furniture with limited grounds budget. A high resistance to graffiti means paint and markers can be easily cleaned off, and it doesn’t rot or corrode, so it holds up over time. On top of this, it provides great design options, as it comes in bright colours which suits primary schools wanting a playful aesthetic.
Powder-coated/galvanised steel frames with recycled plastic tabletops tend to be the most common and practical choice, combining the vandal-resistance and low maintenance of plastic with the structural strength of steel. Timber works best as an accent material in lower-wear areas rather than the primary choice for busy quadrangles or lunch areas.
A perfect combination
This proprietary table and bench design compliments the rest of Monash University’s outdoor furniture suite. A fully welded frame entirely made from stainless steel, spotted gum battens on the bench and stainless steel table top. Learn more about blending product suites.
A few other school-specific factors worth considering:
- Bolted-down / fixed settings are often preferred over freestanding furniture to prevent movement or theft
- Rounded edges and corners are important for younger students
- Shade structures paired with the setting matter a lot in Australia given UV exposure during recess/lunch
- Lighter colours reduce surface heat buildup in summer, which matters for comfort and safety
Popular Draffin Outdoor Table Settings for Schools & Universities
| Product | Material / Construction | Style | Durability | DDA / Wheelchair Access | Best For |
| Wandin Table Setting | Steel frame, part of the Wandin suite | Contemporary | High | Yes | Secondary school grounds where a contemporary look matters alongside durability |
| Twelve Seat Satellite Setting | Recycled HDPE plastic flat-top on steel satellite frame | Modern | Extreme | Yes | Outdoor classrooms or lunch areas where you need to seat a full class group at once |
| Spectrum Rectangle Table | Fully welded all-steel, powdercoated in any colour, in-ground or bolt-down | Modern | Extreme | Optional | For high-turnover student areas prone to vandalism, where you’d rather avoid timber battens altogether |
| Spectrum Square Table | Fully welded all-steel, powdercoated | Modern | Extreme | Optional | Vandal-resistant build as the Rectangle but in a smaller courtyard footprint |
| Square 4-Sided Picnic Table – Aluminium | Powdercoated aluminium frame & top | Contemporary | High | Yes | If you want to match tables to school or house colours |
| Four Sided Recycled Plastic Picnic Table | Recycled plastic top on heavy-duty steel frame | Modern | High | Yes | If sustainability credentials matter to your procurement process, alongside graffiti resistance |
| Satellite Round Table Setting – Recycled Plastic | Recycled HDPE top/seats, powdercoated steel frame | Modern | High | Yes | Choose this for primary school settings where bright colours and low maintenance are the priority |
| Knox Table Setting | Powdercoated & galvanised mild steel frame, timber battens | Traditional/classic | High | Yes | For general campus grounds where a solid, no-frills option is all you need |
| Glenelg Table Setting | Steel frame, slim bench profile | Contemporary | High | Yes | Suits tighter courtyard or breakout spaces where a slimmer profile helps with flow |
Redefining campus wide outdoor table settingsIn 2018, we fabricated bespoke seating for Monash Clayton’s Southern Precinct Landscape project, redefining the campus entrance and how students experience it. We created contemporary benches and picnic tables that allow students to work outside and enjoy the sunshine and community. Constructed from sustainably sourced Australian hardwood battens and contrasting galvanised steel, the durable seating blends harmoniously with the surroundings.
Outdoor Table Settings for Civic and Public Realm Spaces
Public realm projects and community spaces often require furniture that balances functionality with visual appeal. There are often strict procurement requirements including meeting compliance and accessibility standards. Unlike schools or parks, civic spaces have more focus around durability and long lasting materials. Easy maintenance is key, as the outdoor table settings must work with the organisation’s existing maintenance plans.
Accessibility Considerations for Outdoor Table Settings
In Australia, around 1 in 5 people lives with a disability, which is why accessibility needs are always a key consideration in our designs. The Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992, or DDA, in relation to public spaces, ensures public areas are accessible to all people, including those with a disability. Public spaces will require DDA Compliant Street Furniture in order to comply.
“Ensure you consider which products have DDA-compliant options (extended tabletops for wheelchair access). Most of Draffin’s standard picnic ranges can be configured this way on request, as well as many of our Outdoor Table Settings. Always ask your street and park furniture supplier “can the product have DDA configuration” rather than assuming it’s standard on every model.”
-Ian Draffin
For public furniture that meets the common mobility needs on your project: it is as simple as specifying dimensions at the order stage. Draffin Street Furniture has nearly 70 years manufacturing experience. And when AS1428.2 came to be, it was quickly adopted into Draffin Street Furniture designs, with the majority of seats now conforming or able to be conformed to the standard. As Draffin Street Furniture manufactures all products to order, most outdoor furniture suites can be adapted to conform to AS1428.2. on request.
Draffin Street Furniture’s Melbourne based factory has in-house engineers and skilled staff to design and manufacture commercial grade outdoor furniture to any specification required. Contact us to discuss your project.
DDA Compliant Outdoor Table Settings
The Kiama Table combines classic curves with durable materials, creating a versatile design suited to a wide range of environments. Its heavy-duty construction and highly durable material options make it ideal for demanding urban spaces, delivering long-lasting performance with minimal maintenance. The table also features offset legs to provide easy wheelchair access and support DDA compliance.
When selecting outdoor table settings for civic spaces, ensure your outdoor table settings:
- Complement the surrounding landscape architecture
- Encourage people to use and enjoy the space
- Support the right level of use
- Suit their maintenance schedule.
Choose a product that suits the purpose and style of the development. Draffin always suggests designing an overall outdoor furniture product suite, rather than an isolated product, that way you can design a suite of table settings and seating options that create an overall harmonious design and a series of products that can be placed across multiple spaces, with consistent styles and materials.
Draffin recommends powder-coated steel where colour flexibility and design integration are important, Timber where a natural aesthetic is required and steel options for high-use environments
Stylish Low maintenance Table Settings
Draffin Street Furniture are proud to be a trusted manufacturer of this bespoke product for the City of Whitehorse and specified stainless steel table tops alongside Modwood battens for their table settings so the entire setting is made of low maintenance materials. A quick wipe down is all that is needed for the next picnic. A quick high pressure wash is all that is needed for yearly council maintenance.
Outdoor Table Settings for Civic Spaces
| Product | Material / Construction | Style | Durabi-lity | DDA / Wheelchair Access | Best For |
| Heritage Park Setting | Fully welded steel frame in bead-blasted or brushed 304/316 stainless, or galvanised; battens in aluminium, Enviroslat, composite, Spotted Gum or timber-look aluminium finishes | Traditional (heritage) | Extreme | Optional | Specify this for civic precincts near heritage buildings or where councils want a classic, timeless profile |
| Satellite Pedestal Table Setting | Steel pedestal frame with round top, separate stools | Contemporary | High | Yes | Specify this where guaranteed wheelchair access and easy under-table cleaning are non-negotiable, such as civic forecourts and library plazas |
| Brisbane Table Setting | Stainless steel frame with timber battens | Contemporary | Extreme | Optional | Specify this for coastal or high-corrosion civic sites needing an all-weather commercial-grade finish |
| Emerson Round Steel Slatted Setting | Fully welded steel frame with slatted top/seat | Contemporary | High | Optional | Specify this for civic garden and cultural-precinct settings where a slatted, softer-edged steel profile suits the landscaping |
The right solutions for Commercial spaces
Creating inviting spaces that encourage people to stay while maintaining presentation standards
Commercial spaces are places for patrons to relax, eat, socialise and be comfortable. Unlike civic where durability is key, commercial spaces often place visual design as a high priority. The Outdoor Table Settings must provide comfort and, use the space well, match the fit-out or streetscape identity and provide an overall positive patron experience and walk in appeal. Materials need to balance strength and style, and withstand wind and rain.
Bar Height Table Settings
Bar-height settings maximise patron capacity within a constrained footprint, critical for CBD laneway bars, footpath dining zones with narrow permit envelopes, and waterfront promenades where every linear metre of frontage is valuable. They also suit quick-turnover, standing-adjacent social use rather than extended sit-down dining, which shifts table turnover rate and revenue-per-square-metre in the operator’s favour.
Round table settings
Round table settings provide better space efficiency when settings need to be arranged in tight rows or against walls/facades, rectangular tables tessellate more predictably than round ones, which matters in dense footpath dining zones with permit-restricted footprints. Square settings scale easily (join two together for a 6–8 person group), which suits venues wanting flexible group sizes without custom furniture.
High Traffic Retail Spaces
One of our more recent projects, from 2025, involved introducing a new outdoor seating zone at Manor Lakes Shopping Centre, to strengthen the centre’s role as a local meeting place. With a focus on comfort, visibility and social connection, we supplied a visually appealing curved seating area with spotted gum battens and robust concrete plinths, engineered for long‑term public use. We added several smaller Hepburn Cafe tables for quick breaks and outdoor dining, and integrated planting pockets to soften the space and introduce greenery into a high‑traffic retail environment.
In these environments, outdoor table settings should complement the surrounding design while providing practical spaces for visitors, employees and patrons to meet, eat and relax.
Outdoor Table Settings for Commercial Spaces
Material / Construction | Style | Durability | DDA / Wheelchair Access | Best For | |
| Hepburn Round Cafe Table | Bead-blasted or brushed 304/316 stainless steel, galvanised or powdercoated frame; inset battens; 600mm top, 3 height options | Contemporary | High | Optional | Choose this for tight cafe courtyards and shopping-centre dining nooks where you need bar, standard, or coffee-table height in the same footprint |
| Glenelg Low Table | Steel-framed, coffee-table height, slim bench profile | Contemporary | High | Optional | Choose this for lounge-style outdoor waiting or break-out areas outside offices and retail lobbies |
| Hamilton Planter Bar | Powdercoated or galvanised mild steel, weathering steel, or stainless steel planter with integrated 1m bar-height table and WaterUps wicking system | Contemporary | High | Optional | Choose this for shopping-centre plazas and street cafes where you want greenery and bar seating combined in one fixture |
| Spectrum Rectangle Bar Table | Fully welded all-steel, powdercoated in any colour, 1100mm height, seats up to 8 | Modern | Extreme | Optional | Choose this for waterfront and lookout hospitality venues needing a large, vandal-resistant bar-height table |
| Modular Block Seat | Semi-portable modular bench blocks, Enviroslat battens | Modern | High | Optional | Choose this for business park courtyards where you need flexible, reconfigurable seating that can be rearranged between events |
| Recycled Plastic Rectangle Satellite Table Setting | Recycled plastic top on steel satellite frame, 8-seat rectangular configuration | Modern | High | Yes | Choose this for food-court style seating where sustainability credentials and easy cleaning matter to the property manager |
Selecting Materials for Australian Conditions
Material selection plays an important role in the durability, appearance and maintenance requirements of commercial outdoor furniture. Materials generally fall into four families across the range:
- galvanised/powdercoated mild steel, stainless steel (304/316, for premium/coastal or high-corrosion sites)
- aluminium (low maintenance, lightweight), and recycled HDPE plastic (sustainable, graffiti/scratch resistant)
- timber (Spotted Gum, Cypress Pine) and
- composite (Enviroslat) are the main batten/top choices layered onto steel frames.
A table setting installed near the coast has different requirements to one placed within a sheltered school courtyard or urban development. Coastal environments expose outdoor furniture to salt spray and moisture, which can accelerate corrosion over time. Choosing durable materials like galvanised steel helps protect against rust and ensures the table setting remains suitable for long-term use in beachside locations. The right material depends on the conditions of the installation site. Explore material options here.
Final Considerations
We’ve been advising organisations on outdoor table settings (and building custom design solutions) and this guide summaries our most popular questions. A park needs to withstand heavy foot traffic and changing weather while fitting the landscape. A school needs low-maintenance, vandal-resistant materials that suit different age groups. Civic and commercial spaces need furniture that balances accessibility, durability and design integration with the surrounding architecture.
Getting this right from the outset, rather than retrofitting a poor decision, is what separates a public space that ages well from one that becomes a maintenance burden.
Talk to Draffin About Your Outdoor Furniture Project
Not sure which setting suits your site? Our team has specified outdoor furniture for over 70 years of Australian projects, we can help you get it right the first time. Get a project quote from our Melbourne team today.