The Royce Hotel Melbourne: this luxe palace was once an art deco car showroom

While you will no longer spot any luxury cars inside the opulent public areas of this five-star Melbourne hotel, traces of their history can be felt everywhere.

The Showroom Bar at The Royce Hotel, Melbourne.

Sometimes what’s missing makes the greatest impression. As you enter the chrome-filled ground floor of The Royce Hotel, Melbourne, with its grand curving staircase and gleaming fittings, you won’t find some of the inclusions you’ll see at other upscale hotels. There’s no swimming pool, no boutique. And while you will no longer spot any luxury cars inside the opulent public areas of this five-star hotel, traces of their history can be felt everywhere.

Almost a century ago, this grand art deco building was the site of Melbourne’s first luxury car showroom. In 1927, motoring buff Charles Kellow, reputedly the city’s first car owner, commissioned noted architect Henry A. Norris to design a car salon for the Rolls-Royces and Bentleys he was importing. With more than a few hints of Hollywood mansion, the Spanish Mission-style showroom that opened the following year featured a soaring gold ceiling, wrought-iron chandeliers, a palm fountain and a striking curved staircase that led upstairs to office suites.

The Deluxe Room.

While the building was later used as a workspace for a succession of government bodies – the RAAF Record Section during World War II, a recruiting centre, a power research centre and an office of the Department of Civil Aviation – in the 1980s it was heritage-listed, before being converted into a hotel in the 1990s. Now completely revamped, it has reopened as one of the city’s most glamorous boutique inns, imbued almost everywhere with hints of its decadent past.

From the 94 richly upholstered rooms to the shiny public spaces, all six floors ooze with understated opulence. Comfortable entry-level king rooms feature deco-inspired black glass panelling, while a row of loft suites in the original building have been cleverly converted from the old car service bays.

The bathroom inside the Royce Suite.

Our Royce suite, in the new wing, comes with a cavernous bathroom that includes a huge bath, walk-in shower and Molton Brown products. Automated blinds open to reveal St Kilda Rd, the city’s grandest boulevard, to one side and the Shrine of Remembrance to the other behind well soundproofed windows.

While rooms are beautifully designed, down to their supremely comfortable beds, the biggest stars are downstairs. From the Rolls-Royce image tiled into the entrance floor to the ritzy former showroom with its oversized bar, it’s like stepping back into the 1920s but with 21st century conveniences.

The Conservatory.

One of the loveliest spaces is at the rear of the property. Facing a small courtyard, and open for breakfast and brunch, the botanic-inspired Conservatory, with its peach velvet chairs and peacock-festooned wallpaper, is a light-filled, serene space for the first coffee of the day, and, like the rest of the hotel, beautifully considered. To deal with Melbourne’s famous range of seasons in one day, the tiled floors are heated, as are the bench seats in the courtyard.

The Royce Hotel checklist

Perfect for: Luxury lovers, Art Deco fans, Melbourne weekenders.

Getting there: The Royce is 27km from Melbourne airport. Trams run outside the hotel to the CBD.

Must do: Walk to the Botanical Gardens, have a coffee in South Yarra or catch a tram along St Kilda Road to the National Gallery of Victoria.

Dining: The Showroom Bar is a gleaming homage to the hotel’s history. From the darkened panelling inspired by a Rolls-Royce interior to the chrome-striped columns that mimic its grille, it can be hard to know where to look – until your meal arrives. The generous Eurocentric menu includes Aquna Murray cod with sweet corn purée, pickled cauliflower and grapefruit beurre blanc and a luscious peach panna cotta.

Bottom line: Rates from $420 a night for a king room.