Latest news with #Melburnians
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
A Sydney hotel has become an unlikely mecca for Japanese visitors
Just like the city it sits in, the Russell Boutique Hotel in Sydney's renowned Rocks area has its quirks of history. A narrow staircase leads to nowhere; room numbers in this one-time convict hospital are out of sequence, and the higgledy-piggledy layout echoes inner-Sydney's crooked one-way streets, a factor destined to toy with the minds of visiting Melburnians, lost without a grid. And in perhaps the biggest quirk of all, one room has become somewhat of a shrine for Japanese anime fans after detailed depictions of the interior of the hotel with its landmark tower featured in a 2016 YouTube episode of Free! Eternal Summer, where two characters, Rin and Haru, stayed in room 25. This gathering of old and new charms has been enhanced by a top-to-toe renovation of this newly reopened heritage-listed hotel on Globe Street, next door to the Fortune of War, Sydney's oldest pub. Each of the light 28 rooms – no two alike and all different sizes – now boast custom upholstered bedheads and joinery, striking Australiana-themed wallpaper, one-off antique pieces, plus refurbished bathrooms with signature scented products inspired by native flowers. Corridors on each floor showcase artworks, stunning light fixtures and different coloured carpets to aid in navigation. A restored sitting room and spacious rooftop with Harbour Bridge glimpses provides more spaces for guests to unwind or mingle with a drink or snack, while a grand staircase delivers them downstairs to the Fortune of War's new venue, Bistro 1828, for breakfast – included in all stays – or to sample an all–day menu by new executive chef Mark Williamson, ex-Woollahra Hotel.
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Daniel Andrews' signature phrase travels to the Motherland
If there were an award for attracting haters, former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews would be nominated each year – the M eryl Streep of Spring Street. Andrews, formerly known as 'Dictator Dan' to some, continues to live rent-free in critics' heads. CBD can report that Andrews' international influence continues unabated. First, there was a candidate for the 2024 Napoli elections who looked like him. And recently, Andrews was spotted living it up in New York. Now, eagle-eyed international readers have sent through pages of the UK's Private Eye magazine which show a phrase familiar to most Victorians is flourishing in Keir Starmer 's England. Back when Andrews was in charge, everything from signing a new Belt and Road deal with China, to banning fracking and locking down the community during COVID outbreaks was 'the right thing to do'. It was a signature line for a dominant government. It seems Starmer and his Labour gang, who have lost their election glow, are singing from the same songbook. 'Amid the chaos, it's just as well that Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, Britain's two most powerful politicians, both know the right thing to do...' Private Eye reported, sarcasm detected. The rag then details six occasions since April when Starmer and Reeves, who is Chancellor of the Exchequer, have labelled their political decisions the right thing to do. It was long rumoured after his exit from Victorian politics that Andrews would move to New York. But maybe the UK – which has loved Melburnians Kylie Minogue and Dame Edna – might be more his political speed?
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
A Sydney hotel has become an unlikely mecca for Japanese visitors
Just like the city it sits in, the Russell Boutique Hotel in Sydney's renowned Rocks area has its quirks of history. A narrow staircase leads to nowhere; room numbers in this one-time convict hospital are out of sequence, and the higgledy-piggledy layout echoes inner-Sydney's crooked one-way streets, a factor destined to toy with the minds of visiting Melburnians, lost without a grid. And in perhaps the biggest quirk of all, one room has become somewhat of a shrine for Japanese anime fans after detailed depictions of the interior of the hotel with its landmark tower featured in a 2016 YouTube episode of Free! Eternal Summer, where two characters, Rin and Haru, stayed in room 25. This gathering of old and new charms has been enhanced by a top-to-toe renovation of this newly reopened heritage-listed hotel on Globe Street, next door to the Fortune of War, Sydney's oldest pub. Each of the light 28 rooms – no two alike and all different sizes – now boast custom upholstered bedheads and joinery, striking Australiana-themed wallpaper, one-off antique pieces, plus refurbished bathrooms with signature scented products inspired by native flowers. Corridors on each floor showcase artworks, stunning light fixtures and different coloured carpets to aid in navigation. A restored sitting room and spacious rooftop with Harbour Bridge glimpses provides more spaces for guests to unwind or mingle with a drink or snack, while a grand staircase delivers them downstairs to the Fortune of War's new venue, Bistro 1828, for breakfast – included in all stays – or to sample an all–day menu by new executive chef Mark Williamson, ex-Woollahra Hotel.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
From mayoral robes to urinals: The hidden treasure chest that helped shape Melbourne
Upstairs in Melbourne's grand Town Hall, inside what was once a 'rabbit warren of old offices', lies a vast 13,000-piece treasure chest of the city's history. Here, the pompous ceremonial robes of lord mayors past share shelf space with gaudy Moomba costumes, gifts from visiting dignitaries, coin-operated parking meters and even models of the city's humble former public urinals. As part of this weekend's Open House Melbourne, the public is invited to hear the stories behind these objects in a special talk by former lord mayor Sally Capp and the city's long-serving curator, Eddie Butler-Bowdon. Their free talk, Heritage Stories of the City, on Monday night at The Capitol will dive into the collection's most fascinating tales. Butler-Bowdon, who has overseen the collection for 22 years, calls it the 'biggest and best capital city collection in Australia'. He says many Melburnians interact with it daily without realising it. 'It's actually a problem that we faced over the years – it's just incredibly hard to communicate that this [public artwork] – for example The Public Purse in Bourke Street Mall – is part of a much bigger thing.' The collection boasts one of the city's biggest archives of Melbourne photography, documenting everything from iconic protests in the CBD to council-taken images of potholes. It's also a place of interactive research. 'There's the land use room, which is amazing,' said Capp. 'If you live in the City of Melbourne ... you can go back and pick an address and go back through the books and see what's been there before.'
The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
From mayoral robes to urinals: The hidden treasure chest that helped shape Melbourne
Upstairs in Melbourne's grand Town Hall, inside what was once a 'rabbit warren of old offices', lies a vast 13,000-piece treasure chest of the city's history. Here, the pompous ceremonial robes of lord mayors past share shelf space with gaudy Moomba costumes, gifts from visiting dignitaries, coin-operated parking meters and even models of the city's humble former public urinals. As part of this weekend's Open House Melbourne, the public is invited to hear the stories behind these objects in a special talk by former lord mayor Sally Capp and the city's long-serving curator, Eddie Butler-Bowdon. Their free talk, Heritage Stories of the City, on Monday night at The Capitol will dive into the collection's most fascinating tales. Butler-Bowdon, who has overseen the collection for 22 years, calls it the 'biggest and best capital city collection in Australia'. He says many Melburnians interact with it daily without realising it. 'It's actually a problem that we faced over the years – it's just incredibly hard to communicate that this [public artwork] – for example The Public Purse in Bourke Street Mall – is part of a much bigger thing.' The collection boasts one of the city's biggest archives of Melbourne photography, documenting everything from iconic protests in the CBD to council-taken images of potholes. It's also a place of interactive research. 'There's the land use room, which is amazing,' said Capp. 'If you live in the City of Melbourne ... you can go back and pick an address and go back through the books and see what's been there before.'
