Discovering something new in a city I know or uncovering what Chat GPT constantly refers to as a ‘hidden gem’ is my preferred sport. Staying at Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne in the centre of the CBD was one of those discoveries.
Grand hotels have a certain indescribable something that separates them from the also-rans. Confident enough not to say “look at me” but still requiring more than a glance. Magnificent but restrained. Refined but never stuffy. Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne is that kind of hotel.
I’m a world away from where jet-setters have been replaced by set-jetters; Those looking for the new, or next big thing, the ‘White Lotus’ crowd. The Rendezvous Melbourne has been around long enough to see the southern capital shed its post-WW2 dowdiness and become Australia’s cultural capital. It mixes all that old-world charm with just the right amount of 21st-century pizzazz to make it the perfect city stay.
History
Seamlessly blending 20th-century glamour and elegance with modern amenities, 328 Flinders St, Melbourne, debuted in 1913 as the new headquarters of the Commercial Travellers Club of Victoria. The landmark construction was Victoria’s tallest building until 1930.
Having already designed the original Commercial Travellers Association (CTA) Clubrooms in 1899, celebrated commercial architect Henry (Harry) Tompkins won the design competition for a new clubhouse. The bold English Baroque Revival facade was and still is eye-catching with the opulent hallmarks of the Beaux-arts architectural tradition with interiors that embraced the new American ‘palazzo’ style.
But it’s the grand vestibule where travelling salesmen must have certainly been awe-struck. The towering circular dome is a testament to the artisans and craftsmen of the time.
Member facilities included a suitably fancy dining room, large billiard hall, bars, cafe, palm court and barber. This was topped with five stories of bedrooms (with a telephone in each), exercise rooms and bathrooms on each floor.
In the first half of the century, the luxurious CTA Clubhouse hosted visiting dignitaries regularly, including the Prince of Wales in 1920, while the royal tradition continued when the Duke of Gloucester played the Clubhouse tournament billiard table in 1934. Australian war hero Sir John Monash was honoured at a stellar lunch in the dining room.
When Hollywood came to town
But it was Hollywood royalty that grabbed Melbourne’s attention in the 1950s. The Clubhouse interiors starred alongside Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins when Stanley Kramer’s drama, ‘On the Beach’ – the movie adaptation of Nevil Shute’s celebrated anti-war novel about nuclear apocalypse.
The CTA grew even more famous when Ava Gardner supposedly described Melbourne as “the perfect place to make a film about the end of the world”. Widely circulated as true, it, of course, never happened. Sydney Morning Herald journalist Neil Jillett concocted the story when Ms Gardner refused interviews.
As the importance of travelling salesmen declined, and the clubhouse was ultimately sold off in 1977 it fell into serious disrepair.
Luckily, in 1992, the building was included in the Victorian Heritage Register and was saved at the eleventh hour from the wrecking ball. There was refurbishment. But, it wasn’t until TFE Hotels took over management of the now Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne that it was restored to its former glory.
The grand dame lives again
Today, the grand dame is back to her best movie star looks and demands a close-up. The restoration was more than a mere nip and tuck. She’s glorious and really unlike anything else in the city on the Yarra.
Across the road from Flinders St Station guests and steps away from Melbourne’s theatre and arts precincts, the location demands an NGV wander. Or take a tram for something sporty at the ‘G. It’s a perfect base for exploring the city and beyond. In nine minutes via the Queens Bridge and you’re at the sprawling Crown Casino complex.
The low-key but modern reception translates into a warm welcome. But even weary travellers can’t fail to notice what’s going on in the adjacent space – The Grand Vestibule.
The Grand Vestibule
This is beyond grand. The splendour and scale are extraordinary even in a city that still bears trademark Gold Rush boom opulence. The dome crowns a colonnade mezzanine and gloriously extravagant decorative mouldings. Majestic, even religious in its proportions, the eight onyx columns rise up from the intricate mosaic floor. Whimsical gum leaves intricately entwine the ceilings, cornices, and stained glass, adding enough of an Australian touch to this otherwise European ballroom. Every detail has been meticulously hand-painted.
View the grand Vestibule in all its magnificence with a 360˚ Panorama.
White lounges and armchairs piped in black line the grand vestibule and make a superb place to take in the entire spectacle.
Although less imposing, the heritage wing’s ceilings are seven metres high. The halls sport circular bakelite switches, oak panelling and customised woodwork that harks back to the days when quality craftsmanship was valued. And the impressive winding staircases are centred with a distinctive black and white carpet.
Travellers Bar
The ground-floor Travellers Bar serves breakfast and more during the day. Stately dark timber and stained glass windows set the mood in the evening for pre-dinner cocktails, bar bites and dinner. It’s a wonderful spot to linger over a cocktail and take in some yesteryear glamour. Although I didn’t have time for High Tea it would be an unforgettable moment to sip champagne in a room that was built for it more than a century ago.
Rooms and Suites
The former commercial traveller’s club, now Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne, has 340 rooms and suites.
Large windows welcome plenty of natural light by day, while at night, frame Melbourne’s downtown sparkle. Photos of familiar city landmarks won’t let you forget you’re in Melbourne. Oversized plush velvet headboards and heavily veined marble and brass touchpoints add elegance, while the custom-designed desks add practicality.
Free wifi? Of course. There’s a smart TV with Chromecast for late-night Netflix catch-ups. Beds are designed for sleep-ins, and balconies in some rooms open to the busy cityscape.
Barn doors provide entry to the ‘cosy’ ensuites. Perhaps due to heritage building constraints, shelf space is minimal, making it difficult to store toiletries or hair appliances.
Verdict
After the multi-million dollar reinvention, the Hotel Rendezvous Melbourne is no mere overnight sensation. The former travelling salesmen’s Clubhouse’s renaissance has been years in the making. When it comes to style and comfort, this historic hotel offers so much more than a comfy bed for the night in a prime location. And that’s no sales pitch.
