The Prince

Melbourne

In the 19^th century, this cultural capital of the state of Victoria was nicknamed, “Melbourne the Magnificent.” Melbourne is a trendy, cosmopolitan city which has often been voted one of the most pleasant cities in which to live by the British magazine, The Economist. Founded in 1835, on the banks of the Bay of Port Philip, the city’s Victorian facades live side by side with contemporary towers of glass and Gothic buildings, forming an authentic patchwork of architecture whose uniqueness gives Melbourne its charm. Numerous artistic and cultural events take place on the streets of Melbourne every year including live concerts and street art expositions. The trendiest quarter of the city is Saint-Kilda, a former working class suburb which now embodies both Bohemian and bourgeois Melbourne thanks to its cafes, pubs, boutiques and restaurants facing the sea.

A hotel in the form of an art gallery

Recent history still echoes with the sounds of rock, punk and new wave music which emanated from the bars, cabarets and night clubs on Fitzroyd, Acland and Jackson Streets. After twenty years of excitement and agitation, Saint-Kilda lived to the sound of broken windows and howling police sirens until August, 1996 when the Prince of Wales Hotel was renovated and restructured by architect Allan Powell, the creator of Saint-Kilda’s renowned Caffé Maximus which accompanied the gentrification of the entire quarter.

The hotel’s art deco façade, its interiors in the form of an art gallery with a collection of fabrics rich in color and texture, the natural wood and white marble create a palette of neutral. The Prince is modern, sophisticated and minimalist in style. The furniture bears the name the greatest names in design including Marc Newsom, Charles and Ray Eames and Arne Jacobsen, whose creations are spread throughout the common areas. Undoubtedly the trendiest hotel in the city, The Prince is also renowned for the quality of its restaurant, Circa, a veritable institution in Melbourne. Reopened after renovation, it’s a model of laid-back luxury. Taking a new look at dining is the goal of the owners John and Lisa van Haandel whose restaurant is filled with the work of different local designers, artists and stylists. The menu favors French cuisine with touches of Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors.

Since 1937, the Prince of Wales Hotel has attracted the quarter’s homosexual community.

Its bar was the first gay bar in the state of Victoria.