The Motley Hotel on Bridge Road, Richmond, is one of Melbourne’s newest boutique hotels. Photo: Supplied.
An impeccable blend of urban edge and ingenuity, one of Melbourne’s newest hotels — The Motley Hotel — is trendy and intrepid, coming alive with a discerning character that’s undoubtedly special in Richmond.
The jazzy, design-driven, four-and-a-half-star hotel on Bridge Road aligns well with its maxim to ‘Stay at The Motley and Stay Different’.
First impressions created on the outside are belied once you walk through the entrance. Attention to detail at The Motley is the best there is.
When the lobby itself is a masterwork, you know you’re in for a lavish stay. Classic glamour is apparent in the interior, with replication walls, fearless floor patterns and down-to-earth innate consistencies generating a comfortable environment.
Splashes of black, white and gold merge with prominent portraits on walls in lavish quilted frames, and the aesthetic tiger mural behind the front desk is a restrained affirmation of ties with nearby AFL club — Richmond Football Club (known as the Tigers).
The powerful impact of a friendly smile was another effective drawcard as Jaimie welcomed us at the reception desk. “Weekends are about having fun and feeling reinvigorated,” she said. How true is that? I realised these encounters would leave an indelible mark!
The Motley offers an unparalleled experience for travellers seeking to ‘Stay Different’. It pays homage to the building’s former occupant: a quaint yet popular local seamstress and costumier, Ms Mary Parker, who first occupied the premises in 1913.
The Motley Hotel is a beautifully curated Richmond hotel rising behind the heritage façade of two Federation-style terraces. Photo: Supplied.
This beautifully curated boutique hotel, rising behind the heritage façade of two Federation-style terraces, offers 80 rooms over eight levels. It’s a place where history blends seamlessly with modern sophistication, according to its general manager Mel Watson.
“This is where the historical building blends into contemporary art and design, and pays homage to its former occupant, the local seamstress and costumier, Ms Mary Parker, whose name graces the hotel’s cafe, wine bar and restaurant, Ms Parker, led by our executive chef and Melburnian Paul Millist,” she said.
“Our priority is to immerse guests in a world of culture, art and design. The hotel’s bold graphics and modern imagery adorn not just rooms but also hallways and elevators, with more than eight kilometres of Grafico wallpaper to elevate the artistic ambience.”
For those in search of a distinctive and exclusive experience, The Motley Hotel offers three meticulously crafted Heritage rooms, each promising a one-of-a-kind stay.
The Tiger Room is an untamed sensory adventure, featuring Camilla bed sheets, a star-lit ceiling, fearless tiger-striped walls and a surprising bathroom, paying homage to the nearby AFL club.
Giving respect to the legacy of Mary Parker, Mary’s Room embraces her artistry through a modern take on monochrome threads. The Textured Room is a colourful and tactile wonder, where every surface tells a story of elegance.
Dining and drinking here is a complete experience with the on-site cafe, wine bar and restaurant Ms Parker for imaginative flair, and terrace bar Threads offering relaxed sips and bites with views of Richmond, Melbourne’s city skyline and the Dandenong Ranges.
The new design-driven The Motley Hotel offers an unparalleled experience for travellers seeking to ‘Stay Different’. Photo: Supplied.
Stylish maximalism is the visual of choice at The Motley weaving a new strand into the fabric of Richmond and inner-city Melbourne. With a history that dates back to 1837, Bridge Road is classified as a heritage area.
Experience the undeniably unique aesthetic all within walking distance of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne and Olympic Parks. Surrounded by exciting dining and shopping options, immerse yourself in Richmond’s diverse culture, where each moment is never quite the same.
Melbourne’s vibrant rag trade once defined this part of town, and The Motley Hotel celebrates this spirit of artistry and craftsmanship with vivid and eclectic décor. You cannot resist counting the artfully placed tigers and hand-stitched murals!
Sample what The Motley crew has in store for you with the launch of a new accommodation package titled ‘The Full Motley’ which starts at $385 per night and is available all year-round. The package includes overnight accommodation for two, staying in a deluxe room with breakfast and dinner.
The Motley revived recollections of some golden days. It’s a vibrant community, a memory-making playground with a celebration of the past, a journey into the present and a canvas for the future.
