The Melbourne hotel where you can now book the entire top floor

In the 1970s and 1980s, you might have seen the likes of Dennis Lillee and Allan Border pass through the lobby of the Melbourne Hilton, the Australian cricket team taking up whole floors of the high-rise hotel on Wellington Parade, a short stroll from the Melbourne Cricket Ground where they plied their trade when in the Victorian capital.

Perfect perch ... the William Clarke Sky Villa.

The Melbourne Hilton is long gone, but the building it inhabited lives on, these days as the Pullman on the Park. And what it lacks in superstar cricketers roaming the corridors, it makes up for with views of the Australian home of cricket, the MCG.

And now, you can stay in similar style to the legendary Aussie teams of yore, and enjoy those views from multiple vantage points, with Pullman on the Park’s new ONE9 package.

Deluxe Executive Room with MCG views.

Designed for large groups attending special games such as the upcoming AFL Grand Final and concerts such as Taylor Swift’s dates at the ’G in February 2024, as well as for special occasions and groups, with ONE9 you book the entire top (19th) floor, which includes the hotel’s equivalent to a presidential suite, the William Clarke Sky Villa.

Sleeping up to 36 people across 18 rooms (the villa, three Suites and 14 Deluxe Executive Rooms), it comes with an all-day beverage package, continental breakfast, lunch, evening canapes and drinks and valet parking for up to 18 vehicles.

Pick a bed ... Deluxe Suite.

The price? A rather rockstar $20,000, or from $555.55 a person a night.

The issue, however, will be deciding which two of you gets the William Clarke Sky Villa (though that would be a moot point for hen’s nights and bridal parties).

The split-level suite alone usually costs $5000 a night and features a spacious living and dining area, king bedroom, kitchenette and a generous walk-in-robe leading to an opulent bathroom with a free-standing spa bathtub overlooking the MCG.

The views aren’t all about the ‘G, though. Pullman on the Park’ is next to Fitzroy Gardens and has unobstructed site lines south across Yarra Park (the area surrounding the stadium) proffer outlooks to 180-degree greenery and the CBD.

Dinner anyone? William Clarke Sky Villa.

A $40 million renovation revealed in 2022 saw an upgrade to all rooms and added a new Executive Lounge as well as the William Clarke Sky Villa.

Importantly for those views, specially designed windows with metal shrouds acting as frames were added to turn them into “works of art”.

A friends’ chill-out area - aka the Executive Lounge.

Swifties don’t need to book ONE9 to elevate their anticipation levels pre-concert. Each room in the hotel has a window chaise for quiet – or excited – contemplation and privacy glass allows views – even from the bathroom. They just need to be sure to secure a room that looks out onto the concert venue.

See pullman.accor.com