ACT senator and Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs, Zed Seselja, and Havelock Housing Association managing director, Neil Skipper, were on hand for an official opening on Tuesday.

As part of the works, the building's Federation Room, kitchen, and bathroom facilities have been upgraded, giving residents and community organisations new gathering spaces and state-of-the-art audio visual equipment.

Senator Seselja welcomed competition of the refurbishments and repairs.

"Havelock House addresses housing affordability in the region by providing much needed share accommodation for over 100 residents," he said.

"These upgrades will be welcomed by both residents and local cultural and community groups, with up to 2,000 people per year expected to use the facilities."

The $135,665 project was jointly funded by the federal government and the Havelock Housing Association.

Managing director Neil Skipper said the renovations came as the Federation Room was in dire need of improvement.

"The facility offers the latest in technology to community organisations of whom many are looking after the most vulnerable members of our community," Mr Skipper said.

"Grants such as this really do make a difference to community organisations such as ourselves, who otherwise would find it much more difficult to achieve the outcomes that we do."

Completed in 1951, Havelock House is an example of Canberra's early hostel living for relocated public servants.

Of the 12 hostels built by the federal government as part of efforts to address shortages during the period, only two buildings - Havelock House and Lawley House - were designed to be permanent.

The building operated as a hostel until the early 1980s, when the government attracted controversy over a decision to make it the temporary home of the Australian Federal Police.

The building houses more than 100 people today.

Territories and Regional Development Minister Fiona Nash said the government was helping Canberrans and local organisations.

"This critical community investment which delivers modern and accessible facilities for the Canberra community demonstrates the Coalition government's strong commitment to the ACT and its residents," she said in a statement.

Earlier Senator Seselja visited Holy Family Primary School in Gowrie to open two new classrooms and an amenities block, supported by the government.

The school received $525,000 in funding from the government's capital grants program for critical capital infrastructure investments at non-government schools.