Ultimate guide to Flemington’s exclusive Birdcage marquees for the Spring Racing Carnival
YOU don’t have to be rich and famous to see what Flemington’s elite Birdcage marquees have on offer. From a personalised perfume bar to drinks by conveyor belt, get a glimpse of Melbourne’s best party.
Confidential
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IT might be the calm before the storm at Flemington, but the Birdcage is already buzzing as the exclusive marquees give a glimpse of what the VIP crowd will be eating, drinking and celebrating during Melbourne’s most extravagant four day party.
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But you don’t need to be rich and famous to know exactly what the elite enclosures have planned; from boats to bubbles, food to fashion, Herald Sun reporters Jackie Epstein and Anna Byrne take you on a guided tour of the iconic racing precinct.
James Boags
Inspired by the Tasmanian wilderness this marquee brings the outside in with native florals and natural textures.
Theme : Cabin for the Curious — a refined rural cabin experience.
Menu: Curated canape using bespoke ingredients native to the Tasmanian wilderness, including: Steamed Freycinet scallops, Cape Grim beef and ale pie, Ashgrove cheesecake doughnuts with barley sugar syrup.
Hearty and substantial pub food with a refined twist, including coal-roasted Flinders Island lamb, fresh beans and garlic flowers and baby beets, plums and Tongola goats curd.
Guests : Corporate partners, sponsors and guests
Features:
● View from The Verandah, the best track-side vantage point for ‘Birdcage watching’ and views of the track.
● Tasmanian forest installation featured in the middle of the marquee.
● Tasmanian-based, French illustrator Rachel Tribout hand-sketched artwork across the hand-built 18m long bar.
● One way window in the men’s urinal overlooking the racetrack.
Lexus
Forget the horses and the fashion, at Lexus it’s all about the food with world class culinary forces creating a coveted dining experience.
Theme: Joost Bakker has designed the Future Cave, the three storey facility that is the Lexus Design Pavilion.
Menu : This year’s menu has been curated by renowned chef, Ben Shewry who has selected the best provedores from bread, to seafood, meats and cheese.
Dessert Instagram queen Caroline Khoo of Nectar & Stone has created an all-day dessert bar with her Instagram, treats that guests will love.
A unique experience for Lexus guests will be our perfumery on the third level, with our perfumist matching you to your own perfect scent
Guests: Karl Stefanovic, Lisa Wilkinson, Emma Freedman, Chyka Keebaugh and Hugh Sheridan
Features:
● Interiors by Emilie Delande take inspiration from the new Lexus LS with a custom light installation by Lexus Ambassador Henry Wilson.
● Floral artist, Dr Cooper, has created sculptural floral art installations throughout the Pavilion.
● Guests can enjoy a perfumery.
Tabcorp
Masculine meets feminine in this marquee tailored for the true racing enthusiasts of the Birdcage.
Theme: Punter’s dream. The marquee has been designed by the renowned MIM design with a whole new look and feel including an expansion.
Menu: Peter Gunn, of Ides Restaurant, who has just been awarded a chef’s hat, has designed the menu in conjunction with Epicure.
VIP foodies can also indulge at their cafe, The Paddock by Ides, a champagne bar and cheese and dessert stations featuring the work of the award-winning chocolatier Deniz of Epicure.
Guests
Jimmy Bartell, Cathy McEvoy, Chris Judd, Cameron Ling.
Features
● Floral installation by Victoria Whitelaw.
● Celebrity racing tipsters every race day including Michelle Payne, Nick Quinn and jockeys and trainers.
● 20 flat screen TVs, the most in the Birdcage.
1 Oliver Street
Calling all rascals and scallywags the VRC is throwing the biggest party inside the world’s biggest party, launching a members marquee in the Birdcage
Theme: Helena Cavesson-Brown’s Manor; a fictitious character throwing a party worthy of Oscar Wilde or Gatsby.
Menu: Tasty morsels and decadent bites including layered cakes with cocktails served in teacups
Guests: VRC members
Features:
● Helena’s butler Alfred welcoming guests inside.
● A Baby Grand Steinway with a piano man entertaining the crowd.
● Dancers and surprise musical performers.
● Oversize murals.
● A champagne tower.
Lavazza
Lavazza is lifting the roof on their party marquee this year, literally, adding a second story to the Neale Whittaker designed marquee which pays homage to the decadence and romance of 1950s Italy
Theme: Palazzo Lavazza, a luxury Italian Hotel
Menu: In what is thought to be the largest Melbourne chef line-up for a single marquee in Birdcage history, Palazzo Lavazzawill feature a bespoke menu by Buddha Lo (Matteo’s, and soon to be Eleven Madison Park in New York City), Gerald Achille and Giorgio Angele (Brunetti) and Adam D’Sylva (Tonka and Coda), including dishes like Lavazza coffee and black pepper cured kingfish on squid ink crisps, crispy King George Whiting wrapped in potato string, and a Lavazza Espresso Lollipop dipped in chocolate. And it wouldn’t be Palazzo Lavazza without the brand’s signature espresso martinis and Italian cocktails.
Guests: Zoe Ventoura, Dustin Martin, Montana Cox, Elyse Knowles, Gary and Jordan Ablett.
Features:
● A new second-story addition that features a brass, curved bar.
● Bespoke artwork by Robert Doyle.
Schweppes
Splashes of rich heritage and dashes of contemporary style adorn the Birdcage’s hottest cocktail spot.
Theme: Bar Schweppes.
Menu: Schweppes designed menu in collaboration with Peter Rowland, highlighting the hero ingredients of Schweppes mixers including Lime Infused Crispy Fried Pork Belly highlighting the secret ingredient of lime, used to craft Schweppes’ renowned lemonade.
Guests can also taste a tipple prepared by renowned mixologists crafting signature Schwepps cocktails including Berry & Botanical, The Dill Derby, The Highland Orange, It’s Lime Thyme and The Chilli Cuban.
Guests: Schwepps clients, stockists, stakeholders and spring racing ambassador Roza Russian.
Features: Schweppes fountain impression.
Sensis
Theme: All-white exterior of the marquee and tech-inspired overall design of the marquee.
Menu: Darren Purchese, celebrity chef from B&P Sweet Studio, discussing his exclusively made desserts for each day as well as his toasties for each race day.
Guests enjoying speciality menu by B&P, Commune Group/Neptune & Epicure
Guests: Taylor Dayne, Natalie Imbruglia, Jane Seymour.
Features:
● Epicure barista creating Skip-ordered coffees
● Artist Paul Snell & his art that inspired the marquee design, mixing modern technology & digital innovation with traditional racing themes.
● Jack London (Roy) discussing his designs for the staff and doorman for each race day, inspired by the “mod’’ direction of the Sensis Digital Marquee.
● DULUX representative discussing painting the marquee a different colour for each race day, based on race day colours and in tune with their DULUX Colour Design trends for 2018.
Myer
Fashion racing fuse to create a visual bomb that represents the hottest trends of the season with a bold and colourful personality.
Theme: Pass to Play
Menu: The “Movable Feast” and “Cocktail Conveyer” sees a moving food conveyor send amazing food and drinks out from the bar for guests to retreat and refuel with delicacies by The Big Group.
Guests: Paris Jackson, Jennifer Hawkins, Rachel Finch, Kris Smith, Lauren Phillips.
Features:
● An elevated DJ and “Dance through Selfie Room”.
● Hashtag tiling for shoe selfies.
● Waterford crystal flutes
Mumm
Maison Mumm are raising their glass, and the stakes in the Birdcage this year, making waves with a boat
Theme: Nautical
Menu: The Peter Rowland catering includes a food station, sweets, cheese and fruit as well as delicacies such as smoked brisket, king fish sashimi and seaweed crusted salmon
Guests: Shanina Shaik, Gina Liano, Lydia Schiavello and #Rich Kids of Beverly Hills stars Morgan Stewart and Brendan Fitzpatrick.
Features:
● Daring dance and acrobatic performances by Strut & Fret.
● World debut of the new Mumm Grand Cordon bottle ahead of their 2018 release.
● Guests will also experience the art of sabrage.
Emirates
Theme: Emirates luxury in-flight experience
Menu: The menu provides insight into Emirates on-board dining experience. Inspired by a range of international cuisines, the menu showcases how Emirates caters for passengers from each of the 150 plus destinations that it flies to.
A series of food moments will be presented throughout the carnival which are set to entice including a raw fish and oyster bar featuring freshly shucked oysters from around Australia, and a gelato bar showcasing flavours from around the world.
Guests: Matt Preston, Karl Stefanovic, Molly Meldrum, Eddie McGuire, Dave Hughes, Daria Gavrilova.
Features:
● EK Beauty Spa with Joey Scandizzo and beauty supplier
● A380 bar and Cabin Crew
● Skywards restaurant
● The Emirates marquee will take guests to new flights of enjoyment in 2017 — connecting guests to its luxury in-flight experiencing by bringing to life its signature First and Business Class on-board experiences.
● Emirates guests will ascend into the marquee through a towering 3D installation which replicates a sweeping sky of clouds with a 12,000 piece, abstract facade and overhanging model aircraft including Emirates A380 and B777 models.
Kennedy
New kids on the Birdcage block and Oaks Day naming sponsor, the luxury jewellery and watch retailer will be celebrating the carnival in opulent style.
Theme
Maison Kennedy; French inspired.
Menu
Bistro Thierry will serve up classic French fare, accompanied by Mumm champagne and bespoke cocktails.
Guests
Melissa George, Priscilla Presley, Robyn Lawley, James Roberts, Lleyton and Bec Hewitt, Karl Stefanovic and Jessica McNamee
Features
● $2 million worth of timepieces from the world’s leading luxury brands on display.
● Australia’s first waterproof television on the Terrace.
● Changing floral walls.
● Burlesque dancer and snake charmers every race day.
Herald Sun
Theme
Light and Luxe
Menu
Modern Australian, designed by Peter Rowland Catering followed with sweet treats from Brunettis.
Guests
Senior executives from News Corp Australia, advertising agencies, key accounts and sporting organisations.
Features
● Flowers from Glasshaus Nursery in Richmond.
● Luxe interiors from cotton velvets and mirrored surfaces accented by metallic, brass, copper, rose and gold accessories.
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