The Albert, Mosman, NSW
How about a short break in your own town?
There’s a three-letter abbreviation I’d never heard of when I first moved to Sydney and only came to understand after I’d lived here a while. OTB, or “over the bridge”, refers to the north-south divide created by the Harbour Bridge but really it means that people don’t much like to leave their immediate neighbourhoods. It’s about traffic gridlock, certainly, but there’s something more – some deep tribal connections to particular suburbs that serves to create lots of separate villages. And so I find myself in Mosman on the lower north shore, a mere 13km from my home, feeling like I’m in a different city.
Surrounded by harbour on three sides and with just one main road in from the city, geography helps enforce a village vibe here. It’s a suburb known for its affluence, expansive Federation homes and its gifts from nature – the perfect arc of Balmoral Beach, city-view parks, a proliferation of bush and coastal walking trails and Taronga Zoo. In other words, if you lived here you might never want to go OTB and if you visit for a day you might want to stay the night. Enter a new luxury 26-room boutique hotel, The Albert, which embodies the rarefied atmosphere of its location.
The once stately two-storey mansion was built in 1886 but unlike its grand twin, the nearby Boronia House, was allowed to fall into disrepair. Over the years it was converted into offices and the front garden became a service station that is now a car wash. The unloved heritage site, along with a neighbouring property, was bought by hotel group Emerald City in 2017. Then began the long journey of council approvals and renovations to reimagine the beauty of the original home and construct a new connecting wing.
The filigree-lined verandas and colourful Victorian-era patterned tiled floors were reassembled or remade, floorboards were dusted off and patched up, the central staircase was brought up to safety standards, decorative plaster ceilings and panels were touched up or sourced elsewhere. Rooms were painted and decorated in rich heritage blues, burgundies and greens, with heavy drapes and velvet chairs and lounges. The result is elegant and modern, with tangible reminders of the site’s history in the black and white photos of the mansion in its heyday, when trams ran out the front.
My king suite is bathed in afternoon light when I arrive, thanks to a private plant-filled sunroom off the bedroom, accessed through two sets of French doors. More glass doors off the ensuite lead to a small walled garden with a little table and chairs. A lounge in the sunroom converts into a double bed for extra guests and a chair under an oversized lamp calls for a lazy evening with a book. Heavily glazed windows keep out the noise from the adjoining car wash and nearby Military Road, and button-controlled blinds deal with the morning light.
There’s an emphasis on local provenance in the minibar offerings: coffee beans from a Neutral Bay roastery, chocolate from Mosman, wine from NSW and Canberra. In the large all-white ensuite with its own little garden view you’ll find a deep cast iron bath, dual rainwater showers and Leif products. Each room is different: one has a freestanding tub on a raised platform under bay windows, others have outdoor balconies or attached lounges, and smaller rooms for smaller budgets don’t miss out on the luxury touches.
The hotel has an outdoor lounge area for afternoon drinks and breakfast. Other meals aren’t served here – there’s a proliferation of restaurants and bars a short walk away. So who’s the target market for this five-star hotel in the ’burbs? Emerald City CEO Jean-Claude Branch says it’s popular with friends and family visiting Mosman residents, and city travellers who eschew bland hotel rooms. It’s a good base for visitors to the zoo, which has popular twilight concerts in summer. For my money it makes the perfect staycation, a reason to leave the suburban bubble of our normal lives and explore a new area. See how the other half lives.
• Perfect for: Business or leisure travellers, including families.
• Must do: Browse Mosman’s many boutiques; do the Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach walk (one of the finest in Sydney), with stops at Bradleys Head and Chowder Bay.
• Dining: The Albert has an extensive breakfast menu. Hotel Mosman is around the corner, along with high tea options at Boronia House. There are more than 40 restaurants and cafes within a 500m radius; the highly regarded Bathers Pavilion at Balmoral is nearby.
• Getting there: The Albert is at 89B Cowles Rd, near Spit Junction. Buses stop at nearby Military Road.
• Bottom line: Ranging from standard queen rooms from $269 per night to two-room suites $549.
thealbert.com.au
A fresh and healthy Vietnamese salad
This salad is completely customisable. Build it with what you like or have access to.
These Vietnamese pork patties are perfect salad fillers
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