The sleek new Melbourne Place hotel pays tribute to the Australian city's vibrant design and cultural scenes – and comes with thoughtful details and excellent coffee, too
What makes something
Melbourne ? Stereotypes abound, of course. A propensity for wearing black and being pernickety about coffee. Moody cocktail bars and understated sophistication, compared to
Sydney's flash.
Melbourne is a city you need to uncover slowly – there's more beneath its gorgeous surface. And this is the case for its newest hotel, Melbourne Place, which opened last November.
The eye-catching brickwork exterior of Melbourne Place hotel. Photo: Handout
Advertisement
Even at first glance, the hotel – situated on Russell Street in the central business district, close to the buzz of Collins Street, Little Collins Street and Flinders Lane precincts – has superb aesthetics. There's the striking exterior of glazed brickwork and a colour palette of terracotta, rust, teal and forest green, with wood panelling and retro-accented brickwork throughout.
South Sudanese-Australian artist Atong Atem's work is on display in the hotel. Photo: Handout
The hotel has a partnership with the Mars Gallery in the Windsor area of Melbourne, so the powerful, exuberant work of South Sudanese-Australian artist Atong Atem is featured in its lobby and corridors. The digital artwork above the reception desk, a 125-minute loop featuring the artist and her family, is especially joyful.
Melbourne Place hotel, inspired by the spirit of the city. Photo: Handout
But perhaps the most appealing thing about the 191-room, independent hotel (which includes surprisingly affordable, entry-level options called Everyday rooms; suites with deep and inviting baths; and a grand penthouse taking up the entire 14th floor, complete with a baby grand piano and dining seating for 12) is the thoughtfulness behind its design. Practically all the fixtures and bespoke furniture are from local suppliers, including Jardan (the nubby Joy Bear Chair is especially appealing), Sussex (bronze taps) and Aesop (bath and body products).
The baby grand piano in the 14th floor penthouse. Photo: Handout
What it feels like, actually, is very Melbourne. Which was the whole idea for the award-winning architects behind the design, Kennedy Nolan.
'The raison d'être of Melbourne Place was to create the hotel that Melbourne needs. While Melbourne is well served by global chains, there was no hotel brand created in [Melbourne] by Melburnians. And so Melbourne Place was created to reflect Melbourne's unique identity as a city of design, of culture, of hospitality and of major events,' says the firm's Patrick Kennedy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
04-06-2025
- RTHK
Kohli leads Bengaluru over Punjab for first IPL title
Kohli leads Bengaluru over Punjab for first IPL title The win secured Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first Indian Premier League T20 crown. Photo: Reuters Batting legend Virat Kohli top-scored for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they beat Punjab Kings by six runs to win their first Indian Premier League T20 title. Kohli's 43 from 35 balls at the top of the order set up Bengaluru for an imposing total of 190-9 which was one big blow too many for a Punjab side that battled until the end, finishing on 184-7. More than 91,000 fans packed into the 132,000-capacity stadium in Ahmedabad, a sea of Bengaluru's red and Kohli's jersey number 18 dominating the stands as chants of "Kohli, Kohli" rang out. They celebrated noisily when Kohli and RCB clinched victory for the first time in the 18 years of the IPL, their three previous finals having all ended in defeat. The 36-year-old Kohli, one of India's all-time greats in all formats of the game, collapsed on the ground after the win and then got up to be hugged by his teammates as the crowd celebrated their hero. "This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team, it's been 18 long years," said Kohli. "I've given this team my youth, my prime, my experience. I gave it everything I have. I never thought this day would come. I was overcome with emotion as soon as the last ball was bowled." "I have stayed loyal to this team, no matter what," he added. "My heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore and this is the team I'll play for till the last day I play the IPL." Punjab faltered in their chase after left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya took 2-17 from his four overs. Shashank Singh hit a valiant 61 not out and finished with three sixes and a four off Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood who defended 29 runs in the final over. Hazlewood, who took 3-21 against Punjab in last week's qualifier win after recovering from a shoulder injury, struck first to send back left-handed Priyansh Arya for 24 with Phil Salt taking a stunning catch at the ropes. Impact substitute Prabhsimran Singh was the next to go off Pandya but the Bengaluru crowd went wild when Romario Shepherd had skipper Shreyas Iyer caught behind for one. Pandya stuck again to cut short Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis' stay on 39 and Bengaluru seized momentum and Shashank's late blitz was not enough. "I am very proud of each and every individual who has participated in this team," said Iyer. "There are a lot of youngsters who are playing their first season, they've shown a lot of fearlessness. We wouldn't be here without them. Kudos to them." Bengaluru had the perfect start as 'King Kohli' dug in. Far from his fluent best, he only struck three fours during his innings but in the end it turned out to be key. He lost opening partner Salt for 16 when New Zealand quick Kyle Jamieson struck in his first over to have the England batter caught in the deep off Iyer. Kohli anchored the innings, sharing important partnerships with Mayank Agarwal, who made 24, and then skipper Rajat Patidar, who hit 26. But Punjab kept chipping away with wickets as leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got Agarwal and Jamieson trapped the captain lbw. Kohli's vigil ended when he mistimed a rising delivery from Afghanistan pace bowler Azmatullah Omarzai for a caught and bowled, the disappointment etched across his face mirrored by his fans. Jamieson took his third wicket to cut short Liam Livingstone's rampant 25 off 15 balls. Wickets kept tumbling as wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma fell for a 10-ball 24 and Romario Shepherd for 17 off nine balls. Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh took three wickets including Shepherd in the 20th over and gave away just three runs. Bengaluru had defeated Punjab in the first playoff to book their fourth final. The 18th edition of the world's richest cricket league ended nine days late due to a pause because of the military conflict between India and Pakistan. (AFP)
RTHK
01-06-2025
- RTHK
Simon Yates secures first Giro d'Italia triumph
Simon Yates secures first Giro d'Italia triumph Yates sealed victory in the Giro d'Italia after the final stage from the Vatican City to Rome. Photo: AFP Simon Yates won the Giro d'Italia after cruising home in the pack to seal a career-defining victory in the final procession stage, won by his teammate Olav Kooij, around Rome. Briton Yates effectively secured his second Grand Tour triumph on Saturday when he took the leader's pink jersey from Isaac del Toro with an epic effort in the Italian Alps. Yates, a 32-year-old who rides for Visma-Lease a bike, is the first man to win the Giro without taking a single stage since Alberto Contador 10 years ago. Yates came out on top in a Giro missing last year's winner Tadej Pogacar and Yates' teammate Jonas Vingegaard and blown wide open by the retirements of pre-race favourites Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso. The win also validates Yates' pre-season decision to move to cycling giants Visma after 10 years with the same Australian team, now called Jayco-AlUla. "I wanted to come to a team that knew how to win the Grand Tours. They have done it successfully with different riders and it's looking like it paid off," said Yates. "All of us have doubts if we are doing the right thing or on the right path. I've also had a lot of setbacks, not just here at the Giro but at other races as well where I've thought maybe it's time to stop and do something else," he added. "I had no bad luck this year, which is what I had in the past." Kooij won the bunch sprint which has become a feature of the finales in Rome, pipping Kaden Groves, Matteo Moschetti and Mads Pedersen to claim his second win of this year's hugely entertaining three-week race around Italy. It was a perfect day for Visma with Yates and Kooij both victorious in the Eternal City. "We couldn't wish for a better final weekend. Yesterday was really amazing for the team and today I just had to give everything that was still left in the legs. The team made it a lot easier. I just had to push it until the line," said Kooij. "With sprints it's never easy to do it like perfectly, but today we really committed, we just went all in, we were in perfect position and just happy to make it to the line," he added. "I was really happy with this Giro, making it ot Rome and then winning here it's really special." Yates started the day stood alongside Pope Leo XIV who blessed the peloton in a short stop in Vatican City before the race proper started. The riders dismounted in front of the pontiff and Yates shook the pope's hand before standing alongside points jersey winner Pederson, king of the mountains Lorenzo Fortunato and Del Toro for a pre-race blessing. "For some reason I didn't realise we were going to stop. Immediately I thought we just passed through. An unforgettable moment for me and, I think, for all the riders," said Yates. Del Toro had to content himself with the white jersey for best young rider after failing to spot the danger in Yates' attack on the Colle delle Finestre climb on Saturday which ended up deciding the title. Yates could still be on a high from his Giro win when he lines up alongside Vingegaard at the upcoming Tour de France which starts on July 5. (AFP)
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Insiders' guide to the summer - and winter - attractions of ski hub Niseko
Niseko, a once sleepy farming area in southwest Hokkaido , has gone through a series of booms and busts over the years. For now, in what is arguably Asia's premier ski destination, it is all boom. Advertisement Millions of visitors from across the globe come to this part of Japan mainly for the winters at Niseko United – the term used for the linked ski areas above the villages of Niseko , Hirafu, Hanazono and Annupuri – and some of the driest, fluffiest, most consistent powder on offer anywhere. But it's not all luxurious ski-in ski-out hotels, private-onsen stocked chalets in the woods and world-class snow. The summers also offer a lot, as Kristian Lund, the managing editor of luxury bible Powderlife; Cezar Constantin, who owns the Niseko Pizza restaurant; and Henry Hockley, owner of ski and snowboard school Mountain Memories in nearby Rusutsu, know all too well. 'It's all about lifestyle,' says Constantin, a Romanian who has called Japan home for 24 years, including the past 18 in Niseko. 'And making the most of every season.' What to do in the summer Visitors can swim in Lake Hangetsu in Niseko in summer, and walk on it's frozen surface in snowshoes in the winter. Photo: Niseko Tourism 'Everyone says they came for the winters but stayed for the summer, and that's me as well,' says Lund, an Australian who grew up in Japan as the son of a diplomat and has lived in Niseko for 19 years. 'It's just a beautiful green, natural place to be.'
