This property has an incredible amount of history tracing back to its roots in 1883. My wife and I had visited on our first occasion several years back during one of the Open House Melbourne events. Back then, we had little to no knowledge of this place but had decided to return years later for a stay.
There were some positives and negatives about this stay. I have started with the negatives below but ended on the positives.
In short, it was a decent stay but could have been testing if this were a longer trip.
We checked in on the Mother’s Day weekend to celebrate Mother’s Day in the city.
We booked a two bedroom apartment that had one queen bed and one single bed. The apartment we got, was very big. Plenty of room for us and our toddler. Upon entry, the room had a distinct smell that we couldn’t put our finger on. It was somewhat rustic but unpleasant at the same time. But after leaving the windows open for a while, it was all good.
Some of the overlaying linen in the unused bedroom was dusty. Cords to the side table lamp were dusty and there was an unsightly bundle of cables in plain sight under the desk in the living room. The electric socket behind the tv was also loose (see pictures). The ducted heating was insufficient, we left this on for most of the day but it was still cold. Fortunately, there was a small portable heater which was good enough for the bedroom but unfortunately, not for the living room. And there was only one.
There was a tile missing from the bathroom and there was a cheap shower curtain used.
The building itself, is also not very accessible for anyone who may be wheelchair bound or using a pram. Several steps all over the building, but again, it’s an old building.
Finally, for the negatives, the walls are thin, we could hear the people next door and on the adjoining staircase.
Despite this. The building alone, is amazing. A rich piece of Melbourne history. The check in and check out staff were prompt and polite. The room was large and had plenty of room. The hallways are beautiful. It’s like living in a museum. The entry hall ways have displays from years before in the property’s earlier days.
Large palm tree in the main hall was impressive and dates back to the 1883.
Overall, this was an ok stay in a piece of history. Will be back in future, but not so soon.
starstarstar Byron C
Short version - NEVER stay here. I think the owners are letting it run down before selling it.
We arrived in Melbourne at 11:30 pm, eager for bed. We checked in to our hotel and were surprised to find we had to walk through a dirty alley to get to our room. We were even more surprised to open the door and find our bed filled the room we were walking in to. There's a kitchenette in the room, which one couldn't really cook on unless you were sitting on the bed. There's not enough room to walk around the bed, I had to climb over my wife to go to the toilet. We opened the window and were stunned to see that a table from the cafe next door was inches from where we were to sleep (in fact, we were woken in the morning by people eating breakfast). The room was very dusty and dirty. It was also very cold, but the blanket was so dirty, we refused to have it on the bed (when I say bed, the bed was two single beds pushed together, most uncomfortable). Despite this lack of space, the bathroom was actually huge. It's clear this hotel has been cheaply converted from office spaces, and that both our rooms were once small offices. No other explanation is possible for the huge bathroom with a shower in the corner (which constantly goes from burning to icy in the space of a three minute shower), a toilet in the other corner, and a sink against the other wall, next to the massive patch of rising damp that seems set to bring the whole place down.
Words can not describe how poor this is. I've stayed in hostels that were a lot better, at a third the price. We couldn't sleep until I'd got online and booked a new room, in a real hotel. I came back the next day and explained my situation to the person in charge who said they'd tell his manager. No one bothered to contact us. They are probably used to it.
Just to add, the manager of the other hotel, which got a good review, has responded. This hotel wrote to ask my thoughts and I replied and still they have not contacted me in any way. I am not certain they've returned the $150 deposit they took. Very poorly run and unprofessional. In my view the only function this hotel can serve society is on TV shows where Gordon Ramsay yells at people.
star Christian Graus
I stay in a lot of different accommodation options, from super cheap to moderately expensive. Usually there isn't too much to write home about, but this one stood out for all the wrong reasons.
On check in, I was explained that there were actually two accommodation options within the one reception. I stayed in the Gordon Place one, on the other side of the block from Lonsdale and after check in, had to walk out the front door and through a bunch of alley ways to eventually make it to the entrance of the Gordon Place units.
I was on Level 3 and first impressions of the apartment were OK. The apartment I was in was huge, had a lounge, full kitchen, laundry, separate bedroom and bathroom and could have been amazing. But, there were a range of issues which started to appear from the minute I walked in the door.
I arrived around 11pm, and the first step I took the floor squeaked. I thought it might just be the hallway, but literally 80-90% floor surfaces in he whole apartment were squeaky. Even the hard tiled floors squeaked, all through the bathroom and kitchen areas. I was working until approx 1am and felt terrible that I could possibly be causing other guests noise issues either side.
Then I headed into the bathroom. There were all sorts of issues here, but the main ones were the amount of hair on the bathroom floor, the dirty 'new' towel, and the shower door that actually came off while I was in there, and only allowed me to get out once I re-seated the rail with a bit of brute force. The internal surfaces in the shower were also pretty poor, but kind of expected for all the other issues.
The bedroom was OK, the bed was huge, think it was a king, but you could feel the zip holding the two single beds together. The sheets had a big rip in them, not that I notices that until the morning as I was so tired the night before. I only slept 4 hours before getting up at the to continue to work, but the bed was OK comfort wise.
I didn't use the kitchen, so can't really comment there but looked OK.
Generally just wanted to ensure people knew that this place wasn't super flash and if you get a good deal $$, I can understand why.
Getting back to reception to check out in the morning was another mission. I went the 'other' route, through the building following the 'To Reception' signs and it was a left, right, right, left, up, down, outside, inside, swipe card, spin around kind of deal. They literally just need two receptions.
Would I stay again? Only if my company was paying for it as it did this time. Looking for somewhere quite nice? Look elsewhere.
starstar Andrew Humphries
Very poor and won't stay again. The one bedroom studio apartments are ridiculously small with no room at all. The bathroom was a decent size thankfully as it was the only place we could store our luggage however it was dangerous to shower as the water went from cold to scalding hot. No seating apart from the bed. Totally reliant on other guests departing as the swipe cards didn't work. Every morning woken up by diners eating breakfast right outside our window. A very disappointing experience.
star georgia richards
Don't waste your money. Our room (number 81- if you are allocated this room request another) was dingy and noisy as it fronted Little Bourke st. It had a strong smoke smell (interesting for a non smoking building) The windows did not have curtains only thin drapes. This meant we could not open them and have sunlight without every passer by looking straight into the room. The hot water was a joke and dangerous when it worked. It scalded when other rooms turned their water on. The noise from Little Bourke street until the early hours was only surpassed by the morning noise of the children playing inside and it echoing throughout the building ( this was both mornings). The hair dryer was hanging off the wall, the robe hooks were broken. The carpet, walls and skirts were dirty and chipped. When we asked to be moved rooms after getting no sleep on the first of 2 nights we were told there was nothing they could do and the Manager does not work weekends. We even asked to transfer to another Quest. Our friends arrived on our second night. Their room looked better but they had the same issue with noise and with their hot water. Their bathroom tiles were disgusting (charcoal instead of white) and their toilet was positioned snuggly so they could rest their head forwards on the towel rack if they got tired. There are many great budget places to stay in Melbourne, until they fix these issues I wouldn't stay here.
star J De Kort
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