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Almost Summer Music Festival is kicking off summer festivities in Bendigo

Words by Tehya Nicholas
Images Supplied

As the state begins to peel back their layers of duffel down, cast aside the woolly hats, and reveal their vitamin-D deficient skin to the sun, so too is the planning for warmer days ramping up. Musical festivals are often the first cab off the rank in the booking-up of sunshine months and Bendigo has gifted us a new ripper: Almost Summer Music Festival.

The regional festival is exploding into its inaugural year with a huge lineup of local and national acts. Its headliners include Kardajala Kirridarra—the incredible all-female First Nations act from the Red Centre—singer-songwriter extraordinaire Gabriella Cohen, and critically acclaimed Melbourne five-piece Bananagun. Punters can also expect to catch a range of other artists across almost every musical genre: Geoffrey O’Connor, Pookie, PhoebeGo, Cool Sounds, Greatest Hits, Sunfruits, Freeds, Suzi, Carissa Nyalu, Nadia Phillips, Flora, and Aplegate all feature. To keep you dancing into the night, DJs Joey Lightbulb and DJ Friday are on deck with their original mixes of disco, house, funk, and more.

All acts will take to the one outdoor stage, located right beside historic Capital Theatre, across three days. The event is family-friendly and has been curated by experts to keep the vibes high. Plenty of locally sourced food and drinks are available for a pitstop in between boogies, and Bendigo Vinyl will host a pop-up record store throughout the event if you’re hoping to add to your record collection.

Creative Director of Hear Them Holler, the independent agency behind Almost Summer, Lior Albeck-Ripka says, “Curating Almost Summer Music Festival has been a dream come true. We’re getting to put on a festival that we want to go to! We’re beyond excited to have booked Kardajala Kirridarra — a band I’ve personally fawned over and who haven’t played in Victoria for over four years. Whilst we’re all experiencing one of the coldest winters ever in Victoria, we are busy planning this super fun all-inclusive festival of great music and food. We want the experience to be easy, relaxed and fun, and we’re thinking of all the things audiences will want so we have them on the ground ready to go.”

Almost Summer is a part of Victoria’s celebrated new statewide Always Live program centred on bringing world-class live music events to hungry gig-goers. Other acts include Dua Lipa at the Palais Theatre (sold out), Toro Y Moi at Northcote Town Hall, and many more.

Tickets to Almost Summer are limited to 500 per day to keep the shows intimate and to ensure plenty of dancing room. Punters can choose to purchase a pass for the entire three-day event or to pop in on individual days/nights. The full timeline of acts can be found on the Almost Summer website linked below. Tickets are available now.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Almost Summer Music Festival
WHERE: View St, Bendigo VIC
WHEN: November 25-27 2022
MORE INFO: Almost Summer Music Festival

We wish to acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

New Hepburn Treehouse a magical “haven in the hills”

Words by Della Vreeland
Images Supplied

Early this year, Australian actor Hannah Fredericksen decided to purchase her very own slice of heaven nestled in the hills of Hepburn Springs.

Performing six nights a week as part of Harry Potter & The Cursed Child (for those well-acquainted with the production, her roles include Moaning Myrtle, Polly Chapman, Fleur and Lily Potter Snr) she was seeking her own magical space where she could escape the hustle and bustle of city life and reconnect with nature.

‘I think having this beautiful refuge is game-changing for me in that it gives me a space to properly recharge, which does wonders for creativity,’ Hannah says.

‘There is something about arriving in the air out there that really forces you to slow down.’

Aptly dubbed The Hepburn Treehouse, Hannah made her newly-adopted home into an accommodation offering at the end of July, allowing travellers to also find repose within its walls.

‘I figured if I couldn’t be out there enjoying it myself, someone else should,’ she says. ‘I always wanted the space to be an escape for both me and others.

‘I think we all need a chance to run away from the city after the past two years and I couldn’t think of a better spot to take a breath.’

Peacefully tucked away in the hills and with Hepburn’s finest food and wine at your fingertips, Hannah describes The Treehouse as her ‘haven in the hills’.

Boasting floor-to-ceiling walls, a spa bath overlooking the lush outdoor landscape, and soaring A-frame ceilings, the home combines mid-century design with that of a Swiss-style chalet – creating a stay that is calm, rejuvenating and truly mesmerising.

‘My vision was a warm and inviting space which satisfied the eyes and the heart. Somewhere you felt relaxed and comfortable enough to sit on the couch in front of the fire with your feet up and a glass of wine in-hand, but also appreciate those finer comforts,’ Hannah says.

‘I’ll definitely be escaping out there between acting jobs and I’m really excited that I get to share it with other special guests too.’

THE DETAILS:

WHAT: The Hepburn Treehouse
WHERE: Hepburn Springs, Victoria
FIND OUT MORE:  The Hepburn Treehouse

We wish to acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung  people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

The Continental launches stunning new accommodation options

Built by 1800s businessman and comic performer George Coppin, the four-story building was hewn from local rock and has been a local institution for locals and visitors for generations.

The latest addition to the multimillion dollar makeover of ‘The Continental’ is a Victorian era inspired seaside resort from architecture studio Woods Bagot.

The accommodation options include an array of luxuriously appointed rooms or one-and-two-bedroom suites, located either in the original 1875 limestone building or within the recently added wing. High-end penthouses will be made available by the end of 2022.

Guests will have access to the Mediterranean-style poolside deck, replete with cabanas, poolside chaises and a view across Port Phillip Bay. For those with a little more energy, there is a fully-fitted gym with 24-hour access.

Chef Scott Pickett and his team are looking after food and beverage across the different bars, restaurants, and room service. Spend the day at the beach, fishing or exploring Point Nepean then head to the public bar in your board shorts for a beer. Or you could dress up and head upstairs to Audrey.

This is a beautiful upmarket restaurant with velvet banquettes, bespoke hand-woven carpets and exquisite commissioned still-life floral photographs by a Japanese photographer. The room looks out over the palm trees, the Sorrento ferry jetty and across the azure blue waters of Port Phillip.

The set menu is seafood focused with little dishes of spanner crab in rich pastry tartlets, a crumpet topped with creamy whipped cod roe, oysters, yellowfin tuna, and local line-caught squid. The brand new rooms offer five-star luxury including top-of-the-range two-level penthouse suites offering a private rooftop terrace, private plunge pool, and separate lounge and dining area.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula
WHEN: Open Now
WHERE: 23 Constitution Hill Road, Sorrento
MORE INFO: Accommodation bookings.

We wish to acknowledge the Bunurong people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Victoria’s best pub stays

Words by Richard Cornish
Images Supplied

Once upon a time, a community couldn’t call itself a town unless it had a church, a school and a pub. During the Victorian era, the fashion was to build grand buildings with large dining rooms to feed travellers during the day and evening and then accommodate them in rooms at night. The countryside is dotted with these beautiful old boozers. Some are falling into ruin, some are now private homes while, thankfully, some still offer excellent meals and a comfortable bed for the night. Here are five of Victoria’s best old pubs with great food and good rooms.

The Alexandra Hotel

Victoria Pubs The Alexandra Hotel sits in the heart of the beautiful little town of Alexandra 70km north of Healesville, just west of Lake Eildon. This classic old pub was built in 1903 in the late Victorian style and was given a lot of love and a sympathetic makeover in recent years. For some, it’s the night’s stop after a hard day on the Great Victorian Rail Trail, but for an increasing number of food lovers, the pub’s a destination in itself.

Co-owner and head Chef is Patrick Browning, formerly with the Melbourne Wine Room under Karen Martini. He takes local produce and turns it into satisfying dishes such as house-smoked pumpkin served on his own sourdough with poached eggs, cashews, avocado and dukkah for the weekend brunch menu.

It’s worth staying the night and grabbing a table by the fire, taking a seat in the upholstered carved chairs and getting head down into some Loddon Estate free-range chicken with potato and pancetta terrine or an 800g chargrilled Sabre Pastoral grass-fed ribeye. With a beautiful wine list supporting many local wineries, and superb countryside nearby, it’s worth booking one of the well-appointed ensuite bedrooms with views out over the balcony and the bustling township below for a weekend in the country.

More details here.

Harvest Home Hotel, Avenel

Regional Pubs VictoriaWhen Ned Kelly was a boy he saved the life of another lad from drowning in Hughes Creek on the outskirts of his hometown called Avenel, just north of Seymour. It’s a beautiful historic little town with one of the state’s best butcher shops and a swathe of wineries nearby in Nagambie and Strathbogie Ranges. The train running between Southern Cross and Wodonga pulls in several times a day to the station, a short walk to the 1870 Harvest Home Hotel.

With its broad verandahs, wine cellar and semicircular brass topped bar this old boozer is now a boutique hotel and restaurant. The six rooms upstairs offer charming old-world accommodation with antique chairs and sideboards mixed with state-of-the-art bedding, ensuites, heating and cooling. The dining room captures the height of Victorian pomp with carved balloon-backed chairs, parlour plants, and open fireplaces.

Outside in the large sprawling garden are fun, funky bohemian chic dining spaces and towering trees. Chef Martin Golding makes the most of his kitchen garden in dishes like twice-baked Gruyere souffle with freshly picked garden salad and potato and leek soup. While the eye fillet is as great, it is the mashed potato with two-day reduced jus that makes it the reason to drive up the Hume Hwy. Together with dishes like confit duck and roast chicken with Israeli cous cous, and a focus on regional wines, The Harvest Home Hotel has become a popular destination for couples and friends to come for the weekend.

More information here.

Criterion Hotel, Sale

Victoria PubsThis part of Gippsland, between the 90 Mile Beach, the Macalister and Thomson Rivers and ranges beyond, is becoming very popular with fishers, hunters and bike riders. Art lovers are coming to town for the ever-changing exhibitions at Gippsland Art Gallery. A good hub is the Criterion Hotel on Macalister street, a historic pub making a name for its great grub.

Built-in the 1880s, The Criterion has been given a modern, rustic makeover that blends fencing wire lampshades with faux library wallpaper and clean white lines in the main dining room. The food is a good step up from pub grub steering into gastro-pub turf with starters such as a soft, sweet, sticky, peanuty eggplant bao or a plate of fried tiny baby squid with a good dollop of aioli and fresh sharp chimichurri. Mains might include a 350g free-range Gippsland porterhouse with jus, salad and fries or a fat, juicy chicken schnitzel topped with Napoli sauce and tangy Maffra cheddar.

Upstairs the rooms are spacious, modern, and well appointed, each with its own ensuite. Some look out onto the iron lacework of the balcony and beyond. While the location is in the heart of town it is a good point to kick off to explore this beautiful region.

Find out more here.

The Continental Hotel, Sorrento

Pubs Mornington PeninsulaSince 1875 the limestone tower of the Continental Hotel has stood sentinel over Sorrento’s sand dunes, looking out over the azure blue waters of Port Phillip. Built by 1800s businessman and comic performer George Coppin, the four-story building was hewn from local rock and has been a local institution for locals and visitors for generations.

After a recent multimillion makeover, the Intercontinental Hotel is managing the 108 luxurious rooms while chef Scott Pickett and his team are looking after food and beverage across the different bars, restaurants, and room service. Spend the day at the beach, fishing or exploring Point Nepean then head to the public bar in your board shorts for a beer. Or you could dress up and head upstairs to Audrey.

This is a beautiful upmarket restaurant with velvet banquettes, bespoke hand-woven carpets and exquisite commissioned still-life floral photographs by a Japanese photographer. The room looks out over the palm trees, the Sorrento ferry jetty and across the azure blue waters of Port Phillip. The set menu is seafood focused with little dishes of spanner crab in rich pastry tartlets, a crumpet topped with creamy whipped cod roe, oysters, yellowfin tuna, and local line-caught squid. The brand new rooms offer five-star luxury including top-of-the-range two-level penthouse suites offering a private rooftop terrace, private plunge pool, and separate lounge and dining area.

Take a look here.

Bunyip Hotel, Cavendish

Bunjip HotelOut west of the Grampians/Garwiwerd, where the river red gums grow old and gnarled is a little pub by the banks of the Wannon River on the corner of the Henty Highway. This is The Bunyip, a community-owned hotel built in the 1840s and remodelled in the 1930s.

This is sheep grazing country where the locals wear big hats, drive big utes, and have big appetites. Chef James ‘Jimmy’ Campbell knows this as he is a local, there is even a Campbells Road off the highway, and his serves are big.

He cut his teeth at Movida in the early days and ended up running their Sydney restaurant. He’s back home cooking up mutton, duck, and free-range chook using the skill and technique he learned over the years. A classic is the sticky, chewy Koroit French fries topped with a free-range egg and dusted with paprika. Move to hogget skewers with whipped cod roe or house-made black pudding with green tomato pickle. Charcuterie is tops, the shanks, schnitty, steak, and pork are some of the best cooking in the state.

The rooms out the back have been renovated and are comfortable, clean, modern, and very reasonable at $120 a night. The only drawback is the shared bathroom. On warm nights sit out under the stars with a bottle of local wine, such as a Crawford River Riesling, and watch the free light show under the Milky Way. The Bunyip is one of the last great old pubs in the nation and the value is exceptional.

Details here.

We wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Ballarat’s Underbar moves, Pencilmark Wine Room opens

Ballarat’s culinary pride and joy, the hatted restaurant that is Underbar (oon-de-bar), is set to move to a brand new wonder locale of its own.

Owned by Ballarat locals Chef Derek Boath and partner Lucy Taylor, the award-winning restaurant is moving to a purpose-built dining space located within the up-and-coming luxe accommodation offering Hotel Vera.

The Swedish adjective for divine, gorgeous, lovely, marvellous, and wonderful, Underbar will officially open its doors in spring and will continue to offer a totally unique dining experience to guests on Friday and Saturday evenings, with a tailored wine pairing to accompany its ever-evolving tasting menu.

According to Derek, the past five years has seen increasing numbers of visitors seek out the Underbar experience from out of town, particularly weekend visitors from Melbourne and regional Victoria.

‘With this trend in mind, we saw a perfect synergy in working with Martin Shew and David Cook-Doulton of Hotel Vera to offer a holistic culinary and luxury accommodation experience,’ he says.

The sleek new purpose-built restaurant space will be inspired by the colour palette of Ballarat and surrounds and will boast a beautiful private dining room seating up to 14 guests.

Situated on the site of a mid-1880s gold rush era premium medical building – Hotel Vera will provide guests with a personalised lifestyle experience to delight all senses, making for a getaway characterised by history, charm, warmth and poise. It too is set to open its doors in spring this year.

Coinciding with Underbar’s move, Derek and resident wine expert Anthony Schuurs will open up Pencilmark Wine Room in its wake – a relaxed and fun space to enjoy good tunes and fine nibbles, while drinking interesting and delicious wines.

Located in Underbar’s current premises, the Wine Room’s food offering will be curated by Derek and follow the Underbar ethos of sourcing high quality ingredients while keeping intervention low, with the team working with both local and not-so-local purveyors to keep the food simple and complement the wine room’s ever evolving wine list.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Underbar and Pencilmark Wine Room
WHERE: Hotel Vera and 3 Doveton St N, Ballarat Central
WHEN: Spring 2022
FIND OUT MORE: underbar.com.au

Bendigo expands its accommodation offering with Ernest Hotel

 Images by Leon Schoots

Bendigo’s accommodation scene is set to elevate to a whole new level with the opening of the suave new Bendigo Ernest Hotel.

Previously known as the Fountain View Suites, the space has been transformed from a Victorian aesthetic to a boutique accommodation offering that combines historic grandeur with modern features.

The project is led by David Cook-Doulton and Martin Shew – the visionaries behind Ballarat’s soon-to-be luxury offering Hotel Vera.

Situated in the heart of the CBD, and a stone’s throw from the city’s coveted eateries and the renowned Bendigo Art Gallery, the accommodation space has been dubbed a ‘requisite destination for the discerning traveler’.

‘As soon as we saw the building up for sale, we knew it had the potential to become a grand hotel which stayed true to its incredible history while also showcasing the marvels of today.’ David says.

Housed in the oldest bank in Bendigo, the hotel retains some of the original features of the 1860s building, including its underground cellar and bank vault – which have been repurposed into an expanded hotel lounge.

Each of the 10 individualised suites will be adorned with alluring Australian art and swept with contemporary aesthetics, luxurious bedding, and designer furnishings.

According to Martin, the hotel is founded on the ethos that holiday-makers should be afforded ultimate comfort.

‘Our team has created a special accommodation offering that is luxurious, accessible and, most importantly, stylish,’ he says.

Our hope is to provide a tactile and memorable experience that lingers long after our guests’ departure.

The hotel’s central location makes it easy for guests to take a leisurely stroll down the city’s main street for a warming coffee and scrumptious brunch; dine at one of Bendigo’s award-winning eateries or; pack a picnic and bask in the summer sun at the adjoining Rosalind Park. There is also car parking available on-site, adding further convenience to one’s stay.

‘We have tried to create a space that can act as the perfect home base during one’s Bendigo getaway,’ Martin says.

‘As is the case with all our projects, we want our guests to be immersed in a calming space where they can relax and rejuvenate.’

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Bendigo Ernest Hotel
WHEN: January 2022
WHERE: 10–12 View St, Bendigo
FIND OUT MORE: hotelbendigo.com.au

 

We wish to acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Visitation surge a beacon of light for Cape Nelson

Word by Della Vreeland
Images Supplied

What used to be simply a stopover hotel has now turned into a destination in and of itself following two years of restrictions and lockdowns.

Portland’s stunning Cape Nelson Lighthouse is seeing a surge in post-COVID visitation as more holiday-makers seek a remote escape by the seaside.

Lighthouse general manager Debra Craib says business has gone ‘gangbusters’ since restrictions eased.

‘We’ve always had a good occupancy rate, but since COVID we’ve seen a change in the length of night stays,” Debra says.

People want to go somewhere which is a bit more remote, so they have discovered us. We have had a lot of people saying they never realised we were here.

The Cape Nelson Lighthouse is one of Portland’s most popular attractions and also offers an accompanying suite of charming cottages all located on the Great South West Walk.

The Lighthouse itself remains operational by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, with its white group light flashing four times every twenty seconds and ensuring the safety of the seas.

The old on-site stables have been renovated into an eclectic cafe so visitors can soak up the serenity while enjoying some coffee, cake or a gourmet meal.

The Lighthouse also offers tours and ‘spectacular’ sunset views, with groups flocking to the area for whale watching, cycling tours, and to venture along the many seaside walks – further enriching the site’s allure.

While Debra says the Lighthouse has seen a decrease in interstate visitation as well as international travellers – which accounted for much of their business – she says holidaymakers from regional Victoria have loved discovering the cottages and the town of Portland.

‘We are only 70 kilometres from the border, so normally we would get a lot of visitors from South Australia, with our biggest clientele coming from overseas. They would do the Great Ocean Road, stay overnight and move onto Robe and Adelaide,’ she says.

‘But we very quickly welcomed Victorians who would travel the whole of the state, come in and stay longer.

‘In November, once Melbourne was set free, it was like a tsunami of visitors from the city.’

Cape Nelson Lighthouse is comprised of five two-bedroom cottages which have been refurbished to maintain their history, and styled with dabs of modern comfort.

Self-contained, the cottages sit brightly along the rugged cliffs of Cape Nelson and are overlooked by the towering Lighthouse.

Boasting a whole range of amenities and luxuries, guests can expect to stay in a quaint house aptly-doused with light and set to perfectly round off one’s beachside stay.

Debra says the property lease was taken over about 10 years ago, at which point the buildings were abandoned and derelict.

She says it was a long and arduous process to restore the cottages to their current state, but well worth the effort.

‘We went from being a backpacker’s hotel to winning the Victorian Tourism bronze medal for deluxe accommodation,’ she proudly exclaims.

Despite the recent surge of business, Debra says the road to post-pandemic recovery remains long.

But with bookings filling up fast next year, the future does not look so bleak.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Cape Nelson Lighthouse
WHERE: Cape Nelson Lighthouse Road, Portland West
FIND OUT MORE: capenelsonlighthouse.com.au

We wish to acknowledge the Gunditj Mirring people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Ballarat’s new romantic retreat by the dam side

Words By Della Vreeland
Images by Nikole Ramsay

The duo behind the highly-coveted Pyrenees accommodation space Grayling’s Gift has opened up its second unique venture – this time in the form of a van, by a dam.

Aptly called Jean-Claude, the vintage caravan is nestled among the gumtrees and overlooks the serene acreage located on the owners’ secluded property.

Jean-Claude co-owner Annie Brereton says she and her husband Shane decided to take on the project after witnessing the incredible success of Grayling’s Gift, particularly following the onset of the health pandemic.

‘We soon realised experiences that provided people with much more than a bed were going to be needed in our new normal,’ Annie says.

‘COVID has made us all evaluate our lives to various degrees, and for us, it meant committing fully to providing people with inspirational places where they could take a real break from the busyness and mess of everyday life.’

Annie and Shane made the move from Melbourne to Ballarat in order to fully commit to their aforementioned business aim.

During their search for somewhere to live, they made sure to purchase a property that could also house another accommodation offering.

‘We had stumbled across this beautiful, but very unkempt, parcel of Australian bush just 10 minutes from the heart of Ballarat,’ Annie says. ‘The house needs a major renovation and the acreage had been let go, but we had a vision for something special on the little dam.’

And so Jean-Claude was born – a lovingly-restored 1970s caravan perfect for a much-needed romantic getaway.

The van boasts a king-size bed dressed in luxurious French linen and includes a cosy nook for reading.

The van’s outdoor shack houses a toilet and warming shower, plus a covered area for food preparation and washing-up, as well as a small bar fridge, esky and BBQ – allowing guests to truly appreciate their natural surroundings by the glistening water.

In true Annie and Shane style, much of the decor and furnishings have been sourced second-hand and from vintage sellers, adding to the overall allure of the space.

‘Our vision is to create an experience unlike any other,’ Annie says. ‘I like to refer to it as old-fashioned hospitality combined with modern luxury.

‘Gone are the 1000-count cotton sheets and sterile hotel styling. Ours is a more welcoming, but no less luxurious offering, that strives to make each and every guest feel like they are being wrapped in a giant hug from the moment they enter any of our properties.  Spaces to reflect, reconnect and wonder.’

Just recently, Annie and Shane rebranded their business from Grayling’s Gift to the Wonder Inns in order to accurately represent their vision and ever-expanding accommodation offerings.

‘We have plans for further expansion and this will enable us to keep growing,’ Annie says.

‘Next year we embark on the renovation of a little city apartment above a shop in the Main Street of Ballarat.  Our properties are all very different from one another but are all designed to offer the same opportunity for couples to come and reconnect amongst unique, inspiring settings.

‘We are striving to create something so far removed from home in order to give our guests the opportunity to dream their own dreams and hopefully return home inspired to take action.’

THE DETAILS
WHAT: Jean-Claude
WHERE: Mount Helen, Ballarat
FIND OUT MORE: wonderinns.com.au

We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

A Grand Plan to Revitalise a Grand Hotel

Words by Amanda Kennedy
Images Supplied

A large crowd of locals gathered for last drinks in March this year as testament to a much-loved landmark. Portarlington Grand Hotel has retained an imposing presence on the town’s main street since 1888, overlooking the foreshore and Port Phillip Bay. Nine months and many millions of dollars later, it will reopen this summer to much excitement from those same locals as well as visitors alike.

It takes a considered approach with plenty of skill and experience to marry the old and the new in a project of this scale. It turns out Melbourne-based architects, Technē Architecture + Interior Design, were just the people for the job. And if you’re getting a similar vibe to that of The Espy in St Kilda, you’re not wrong – they’ve had a hand in many a hospitality makeover.

What’s on offer at the Portarlington Grand Hotel 2.0?

Probably most importantly, dining options abound in this new incarnation. Choose from the airy Atrium beer garden for seaside vistas with your wood-fired pizza. The Lawn will be on your hit list if bringing the family (Rover included) with picnic tables, yellow and white striped umbrellas and seafood platters. Perhaps it’s a casual meet-up with colleagues in the front bar for a light snack you’re after or maybe plans include a leisurely meal with family and friends in the bistro.

Food will be that clever balance between pub classics we all look for, as well as an emphasis on local seafood, naturally. Portarlington, after all, has been the home to a mussel festival since 2007.

Beverages will draw from the region’s award-winning local wineries, as well as craft beers and signature cocktails. So, even if you’ve taken advantage of Port Phillip Ferries’ 70-minute ferry journey from Melbourne’s docklands, you can get a taste for the region’s extensive brewed, distilled and fermented options. We know you’ll be back…

Accommodation can sometimes be an afterthought at regional hotels. Not here. With 18 boutique rooms blending original design details like ornamental fireplaces and archways with luxury finishes, when bookings open for stays beginning January, they’ll be hot property.

Portarlington is the perfect spot from which to explore the Bellarine Peninsula with all it has to offer, whether you’re after a pristine beach to stroll along, adventure activities in the great outdoors or a scenic drive exploring local producers. What are you waiting for?

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Portarlington Grand Hotel
WHERE: 76 Newcombe St, Portarlington
WHEN: Opening summer 2021
MORE INFO: portarlingtongrandhotel.com.au

We wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Iconic Warburton Motel returns to its mid-century glory

Words by Della Vreeland
Images supplied

Warburton’s iconic motel is currently undergoing a series of renovations in order to return it to its former glory. The mid-century motel, first built in 1966, has been owned by Richard and Simone Stanwix since 2017, who have grand plans to bring it back to life.

‘Put simply, we saw the rare opportunity to acquire a 1960s motel which – while run down, open and running modestly – was almost completely original in its design and construct,’ Simone says.

With previous accommodation experience in Gippsland, and with Richard’s grandparents having owned and operated the first motel in Tasmania, accommodation definitely runs through the Stanwix veins. They moved to Warbuton just over four years ago in search of an opportunity to do something new.

‘Richard grew up in and around (motels), experiencing the tapestry of life that a motel presents,’ Simone says. ‘We had been visiting Warburton for years and always loved what it offered.  One time we arrived, parked the car and immediately saw a Chihuahua wearing a sombrero riding a donkey in the main street. We instantly knew Warburton was for us but didn’t think for a second it would be in this context.’

Lamenting childhood memories of family road trips, Richard and Simone decided to gallantly take on the project with the aim to preserve original elements of the motel whilst connecting guests to its history and the natural environment. Rooms boast premium beds, crisp white linen and towels, soft furnishings and eco-friendly toiletries. A broad-roof deep veranda leading to an in-house wine bar will reinforce the motel’s indoor-outdoor attitude.

‘We don’t want to turn it into something it was never intended to be,’ Richard says. ‘It’s all about simple pleasures in an unpretentious environment that’s so damn close to Melbourne. It’s a 1966 motel and that is how we want guests to feel when they stay.’

Richard and Simone also offer a series of adventures for guests to enjoy during their stay, including a fleet of bikes, river tubing, toboggans for the wintertime, a specially created wine and dine tour, as well as curated hikes ideal for exploration.

Warburton’s greatest attribute is that it is an immersive experience in nature and we think in the future it will form part of the antidote to the lockdown blues. We love that the river runs through town like an artery. You know that everything is alive here. You can smell it, hear it and see it. It fuels your soul.

‘We can’t believe Warburton is so close to a huge city and yet a world away. It’s a quintessential village atmosphere where people care about how you’re doing, kids roam and there is plenty to entertain the grown-ups in great eateries, bars and quirky shops,’ Richard says.

Over the last 18 months, the Warburton Motel has been closed more than it’s been open. Richard and Simone are encouraging people to book direct instead of an online service, which sends a large percentage of fees overseas.

‘This allows us to do more at the motel, gives our team more hours and circulates the money in our local economy,’ Richard says. ‘We look forward to playing our role in enabling that.’

THE DETAILS:

WHAT: Warburton Motel
WHERE: 4 Donna Buang Rd, Warburton
FIND OUT MORE: warburtonmotel.com.au or via Instagram.

We wish to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as traditional owners of this land and to pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.