Oakwood Premier, Melbourne: a fresh angle on the city fringe
It rises 40 storeys behind Melbourne’s tangled West Gate Freeway like a stately lighthouse guiding us in from peak-hour madness.
It rises 40 storeys behind Melbourne’s tangled West Gate Freeway like a stately lighthouse guiding us in from peak-hour madness. There’s no flashing signal but the tower’s crown shimmers sunset bronze, an unmistakable landmark as we wend our way off the highway through an industrial area of quiet streets to the gleaming new entrance of the Oakwood Premier. And now I wonder, where exactly are we?
As an out-of-towner I thought I had a reasonable grasp of Melbourne’s CBD; the river and restaurants, the galleries and gardens, but entering this new hotel on the fringe of Southbank I’ve temporarily lost my bearings. Not for long, thanks to walls of windows in our 38th floor apartment that, over the course of a weekend, reveal the many sides of Melbourne. From the dining table there looms the city skyline with glimpses of the Yarra; from the lounge we survey South Melbourne to Albert Park and beyond. From my bed there’s Port Phillip Bay, where a posse of windsurfers clip along under the shadows of multi-coloured paragliders. Cargo ships come and go; the Spirit of Tasmania sets off.
You’re not in the thick of things here but this view alone makes the short dash over busy roads to get anywhere worth it. I test my thesis with a born-and-bred Melbourne friend and watch as she hops from window to window, pointing out landmarks. It bodes well for the Sky Bar on the 40th floor that will open to all-comers, not just guests, in June.
Oakwood traditionally operates serviced apartments but it chose this spot for its five-star hybrid property comprising apartments and hotel rooms, not just for what currently exists but for what will be. General manager Andrew Donadel explains that this industrial and manufacturing hub of Fishermen’s Bend is undergoing massive redevelopment: there are plans for new homes for 80,000 people, schools, parks, cycleways, transport links and multiple tower blocks. This area will be transformed in coming years. As it is, it’s a short walk to the restaurants of buzzing South Wharf and discount shopping at the DFO. Southbank restaurants and the CBD are mostly via the pleasant riverside promenade. The convention centre is strolling distance; a tram stop nearby gets you to the city or the beaches in no time.
If you simply wish to stay put, there’s room to sprawl. The hotel rooms are comfortable and well-sized but book a studio, one-bed or two-bedroom apartment and you get a home away from home: washing machine and dryer, proper fridge and oven, induction hotplates – these kitchens are a step above and will appeal to longer-stay corporates or families who want to self-cater. In our two-bed, two-bathroom apartment, kitchen cupboards reveal full sets of crockery, glassware and utensils with plenty of storage for BYO goodies. The dining and living area would host a small family and the master bedroom contains a desk and comfortable chairs to double as a work space. The furnishings are good quality and the entire space in neutral tones with wooden cabinetry is bathed in natural light.
There’s no pool but a spacious gym with the latest equipment is positioned to enjoy the views and distract from your exertions. A games room with a full-size snooker table, large television and sofas is connected to an outdoor area, one of several large landscaped decks. There’s a roomy resident’s lounge and separate catered executive space for guests in higher tier rooms, along with a boardroom, conference rooms, co-working spaces and, on level five, all-day restaurant the Fifth. The welcoming foyer has a cosy bar with plush banquettes crowned with swanky oversized brass mesh chandeliers.
It’s a hotel that will appeal to the business set looking for longer stays or for those attending conferences and functions, but leisure travellers who want more than a standard hotel room won’t be disappointed. We were here to attend the musical Hamilton at Her Majesty’s Theatre but I could see myself visiting with friends for a weekend getaway, meeting in the resident’s lounge or outdoor gardens for pre-dinner drinks, brushing up on our snooker in the games room. The bars and new restaurant in the soon-to-open Sky Bar, with those 360 degree views, will make this a destination in its own right.
• Perfect for: Urban explorers.
• Must do: There’s plenty to see between the Yarra River, Port Melbourne and the bay. The South Melbourne markets are walking distance; take a tram to the bay for a morning promenade.
• Dining: Head to the riverfront for everything from cheap and cheerful to fine dining. Colonial Brewing and Starward Distillery in Bertie St come recommended. At the hotel, all day dining in Fifth Restaurant.
• Getting there: Oakwood Premier is at 202 Normanby Rd, Southbank.
• Bottom line: Hotel rooms from $260pn; studios from $295 and one-bedroom apartments from $325pn. Two-bedroom apartments (seven-night min) from $650pn.
oakwood.com/australia/melbourne/premier-melbourne
The perfect late summer salad
If your peaches are already super sweet, don’t even bother grilling them.
A Greek salad with the lot, and then some
The surprise here is the stone fruit, which pops with sour–sweetness to elevate the lot.