Melbourne’s coolest new hotel opens for bookings

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
hero media
A new eco-luxury hotel is coming to Melbourne’s waterfront.

Global eco-luxury brand 1 Hotel is making its long-awaited Australian debut this June, with the announcement that reservations are now open for 1 Hotel Melbourne – a lush new waterfront retreat that brings the brand’s signature blend of sustainability and sophistication to the heart of the city.

If you’ve stayed at one of the group’s cult properties in Brooklyn or Mayfair (I stayed at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge and it was divine), you’ll know what kind of magic to expect: immersive design, reclaimed materials, nature woven into every detail and an atmosphere so Zen it feels like an antidote to modern life.

1 Hotel Melbourne River King Room
1 Hotel is making its long-awaited Australian debut this June. (Image: Mikkel Vang)

The Melbourne opening marks 1 Hotels’ first foray into Australia and a major moment for the city’s luxury hotel scene.

The centrepiece? The beautifully restored Goods Shed No. 5 – a relic of the city’s bustling maritime past and the last of its kind – is now reinvented as a sanctuary of green design and contemporary luxury. Over 2000 living plants, repurposed timber and steel and locally crafted, reclaimed materials tell a story of conscious construction.

And while the look is effortlessly cool, the substance is serious: the hotel is aiming for LEED Silver certification, with a mission to divert more than 90 per cent of waste and eliminate single-use plastics altogether.

1 Hotel Melbourne Exterior
1 Hotel Melbourne is serious about sustainability. (Image: Mikkel Vang)

Set on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD, just minutes from the tram network and major attractions like Marvel Stadium and the Botanic Gardens, 1 Hotel Melbourne will feature 277 tranquil rooms (including 36 suites), a show-stopping riverside event space, holistic wellness spa, indoor pool and an extensive gym.

Its yet-to-be-revealed signature restaurant, helmed by a beloved chef, promises menus inspired by land and sea, with a strong emphasis on seasonal produce and local makers.

From preserved moss panels and salvaged wharf timber etched by naval worms to cocktails foraged from native botanicals, this hotel doesn’t just talk the sustainability talk – it lives and breathes it.

Whether you’re planning a city escape, a business trip or simply want to be among the first to experience one of the world’s most hyped hotel brands in an Australian setting, this is one opening worth booking early. Reservations are open now.

1 Hotel Melbourne River King Room
Book your stay at 1 Hotel Melbourne now. (Image: Mikkel Vang)

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
View profile and articles
22 of the best accommodation in Melbourne
Melbourne

22 of the best accommodation in Melbourne

From chic boutique hotels in the ‘burbs to quirky stays in the city and dreamy cottage conversions, here are some of Melbourne’s best accommodations.

Read more
Hannah St Hotel in Melbourne, Vic
Melbourne

Melbourne’s newest hotel is a love letter to the city

With a bold personality and richly layered design language by Flack Studio, plus a streetside coffee shop to boot, Hannah St Hotel is Melbourne’s hottest new hotel – and a microcosm of the city itself.

Read more
The glamorous Showroom Bay at The Royce hotel
Melbourne

Is it worth staying at The Royce hotel in Melbourne?

This elegant hotel is bringing Art Deco glamour to the city.

Read more
The swimming pool at The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne
Melbourne

This Melbourne hotel has set the bar sky high

Welcome to Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels and share what makes them worthy of your wishlist.

Read more
hero media

Discover the Yarra Valley town made for slow weekends

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
    Continue
    Once a service town for gold miners, Healesville has evolved into a destination brimming with character.

    If you trace your finger to the heart of the Yarra Valley on a map, you’ll land on Healesville – a charming little town framed by towering gums and rolling hills. Its main street is lined with cosy cafes, a bookshop, silversmiths, boutiques and a providore stacked with artisan breads and cured meats. In other words, all the essentials for a leisurely weekend. Just beyond the shops, parklands invite picnics, bush trails suggest a wander, along with an old tourist railway, distilleries and award-winning vineyards. Originally a service centre for the goldfields, the railway soon brought visitors seeking fresh mountain air. Today, it’s the kind of place that rewards a slow stroll.

    Staying in Healesville

    the lounge in one of the cosy villas at Healesvillas
    Inside one of the cosy villas.

    If sweeping mountain views are part of your accommodation prerequisite, Healesvillas are two architecturally designed villas sleeping six guests, complete with landscaped al fresco areas and a fire pit. Wander into town to visit Cheesemonger Sophie to help craft the perfect platter, and Barrique Wine Store for a local red, before returning to soak up the views.

    Dining out in Healesville

    small plates at No. 7 Healesville
    No.7 offers small plates and tasting menus centred on seasonal produce. (Image: Ben Frazer)

    For breakfast, head to My Little Kitchen Cafe, a cheerful spot on the main street known for its strong coffee and warm hospitality. Herd is a low-lit spot with serious style, serving up modern comfort food, or to sit beside wine barrels and underneath chandeliers head to No. 7 Healesville, a wine bar and restaurant in a converted warehouse.

    Drinking in Healesville

    a cocktail at Four Pillars Gin Distillery
    Enjoy a cocktail at renowned Four Pillars Gin Distillery. (Image: LVDI)

    Take a tour or sip your way through a tasting paddle at one of Australia’s most famous gin distilleries, Four Pillars Gin. If visiting a boutique winery is on the list, Boat O’Craigo wines has sweeping views over the vineyards to the hills beyond. The newest addition to the local drinking scene, Zoncello Yarra Valley serves a must-try Limoncello Spritz.

    the Boat O’Craigo winery
    Boutique winery Boat O’Craigo. (Image: Rob Blackburn)

    Healesville highlights

    If you’re after a one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery, Silvermist Studio designs beautifully unique pieces. Lifestyle store Morris et al is filled with women’s fashion and homewares, and because everyone deserves a good book, Verso Books is a cosy independent bookshop with carefully chosen titles.

    Head to Healesville Sanctuary to get up close to some of Australia’s wildlife. If the weather is on your side, pack a picnic and head to Maroondah Reservoir Park to climb the steep dam wall, where kids and adults alike can’t resist testing out the booming echo. And if you feel like stepping back in time, board a vintage train at the Yarra Valley Railway.

    the Puffing Billy Railway
    Step back in time at the Puffing Billy Railway. (Image: Visit Victoria)