A room with a Vue in Battery Point
Hobart’s beautiful harbour takes centre stage at this boutique hotel.
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Stepping inside the elegant Grande Vue Hotel is an experience in itself – an elegant entry followed by an equally elegant reception lounge, and that is just the beginning.
We were greeted by owners Ash Fleming and Brock Gardner, the hosts with the most. Their warm welcome and attention to detail is a breath of fresh air compared to some of the “cookie cutter” experiences you can get at big hotels.
As it says on the label, the Grande Vue has just that, a grand view of Hobart’s beautiful harbour. The vista sweeps across to Wrest Point and the side-by-side yacht clubs with their forest of masts gently rocking backward and forth and their burgees kissing the breeze.
For first-time visitors, it’s a knockout.
A recent guest said: “We were delighted from the moment we stepped inside this fabulous hotel. Lovely attention to detail throughout the whole hotel, both in the shared spaces and our own room.”
Ash and Brock are spoiled – they enjoy it all the time.
“Our guests all love the historic house, the furnishings, views and location, and most importantly the service Brock and I provide,” Ash says.
Once past the grand leadlight door, checkered-tiled entrance, and the inviting reception lounge with its warming fire, is an even more majestic lounge.
It features one of the biggest sideboards you will ever see, as well as the house’s original chandelier and well-preserved 1906 tiling around a big working
fireplace.
Opposite is the stairway to heaven, but we’ll get to that.
The bright kitchen has an embracing feel, and a coffee machine – and if you are smart enough to work it, help yourself to a brew.
The dining room has a table for 12. Lovely views over Sandy Bay, the yachts and the river can be had through original windows with stained glass panels, and a garden that Ash and Brock aim to transform into an Italian-style terrace for small weddings, receptions and other special occasions.
“We are in the planning stages of designing our backyard,” Ash says.
“We would love to host small cocktail parties on the terrace and garden parties. We also plan to have a vegetable and herb garden to supply our pop-up dinners, and lots of flowers to fill the rooms.”
Up the stairs now, past more leadlight windows, and we encounter our first problem – which room to choose.
It took some debate to solve the dilemma but eventually we decided to select what was behind door No.3.
The original mantel is a centrepiece of the room and the comfortable antique bed goes nicely with the elegance of the room.
The bay windows unlock more views, and other rooms offer slightly different angles of the view of the harbour, or the mountain.
“The guests are always pleasantly surprised. The photos don’t capture the views and the ambience of the hotel – the views of the glistening, somewhat moody Derwent plus our unique style and our relaxed welcome,” Ash says.
“We love sharing our secrets of how to enjoy all the fabulous things in Hobart. As travellers ourselves, these insider tips really can make a stay even more special.
“We also get a buzz out of seeing all style of guests happy and loving their stay and the Hobart visit experience.
“Our fabulous reviews keep us happy and lets us know that folk are loving what we have created.”
Majestically restored by the previous owners, there is no hint of the once falling down house it had become in the 1970s.
When Ash and Brock took on the landmark 1906 Queen Anne-style mansion last year, one of their first stops – after stamping their own style on the hotel – was to the Hallmark Gallery where director Allanah Dopson hand-picked a selection of works to adorn the walls.
Between them, they chose art that reflected their personalities and vision. Some of the pieces were specially-commissioned, such as the three works created by the late Tom Samek for the Gin Room – that’s right, a gin room.
Other works include a commissioned Battery Point Streetscape by Vika Fifita, and ceramics by local maker Christopher Summers, making Grande Vue Hotel a showcase for fine Tasmanian art.
The guys plan to replace carpets with polished original floor boards, repaint some rooms and bring in antique furniture from Europe to complement the pieces already in situ.
The Grande Vue is situated in the heart of Battery Point, an easy walk to the Hampden Rd restaurants and a short distance from bustling Salamanca, comfortably walkable or an annoyingly-short ride for your taxi driver.
Guests have come from far and wide across Australia, depending on Covid-19 border restrictions of the day. When the coronavirus pandemic is behind us, they also hope for a wave of international guests.
The author was a guest of Grande Vue Private Hotel
MAKE A NOTE
The Grande Vue Hotel is in a quiet location at 8 Mona St, Battery Point
■ Rooms range from $259 per night for The Montpelier Room – Standard Queen, to $294 per night for The Colville Room – King Spa, The Hampden Room – Turret Room with Spa, The Trumpeter Room – Queen Water View, and The Kelly Room – Queen Water Views.
■ For dinner, local restaurants are close, like Da Angelo, Monsoon Thai, Kathmandu Cuisine, or Magic Curries.
Phone: Grande Vue (03) 6223 3388.
■ Email: reception@grandevuehotel.com.au
For more information go to the website http://www.grandevuehotel.com.au
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