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A new bathhouse is transforming the historic heart of South Melbourne

Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
A new sanctuary is set to open in the heart of South Melbourne in April 2026. 

Australians are realising the restorative value of time spent in a good bathhouse. With more and more popping up around major cities, we’re becoming spoiled for choice – but I, for one, intend to get to as many as possible. The next on my list? else BATHHOUSE.

Set to open in Emerald Hill, the historic heart of South Melbourne, by April next year, else BATHHOUSE is intended to take the idea of a spa or a retreat to the next level. Think: a modern bathhouse rooted in ancient traditions, where slowing down and embracing stillness is key.

else BATHHOUSE vitality pool
Step into modern luxuries and heritage surrounds.

“else is about presence, it’s about slowing down and stepping away from the noise of everyday life," said Paul Absalom, else BATHHOUSE Founder. “We wanted to offer something that would help people unwind and take care of themselves, a peaceful space woven into the rhythm of local life. Bringing else to South Melbourne felt natural."

And they started with transforming a heritage-listed space that was once home to wool trading and later Croft’s Grocery Empire. While maintaining the building’s original character, architects and designers have reimagined the space across three levels. Plenty of natural light shines on exposed brick, original early 1900s murals, timber beams, a heritage lift shaft and wool bale pulleys. The intention is to make the building itself part of the ritual and preserve the space as a living reminder of Melbourne’s past.

else BATHHOUSE rooftop pool
Soak in the city skyline from the rooftop pool.

Guests can step inside to a series of curated experiences that draw inspiration from Roman thermae, Japanese onsen, Moroccan hammams and more. Find thermal baths, cold plunges, saunas, mud and steam rooms, an alpine cabin, tranquil lounges and Sky Bathing. The latter can be experienced in rooftop pools with sweeping views of the city. Uniquely, signature Aufguss rituals (a German sauna ritual during which a sauna master pours water infused with essential oils over hot stones) anchor the experience and draw on centuries of global bathing traditions.

South Melbourne will be the first of several else BATHHOUSE destinations, with a second space to open in Bright (Victoria’s High Country) and plans underway for additional Melbourne sites.

Can’t wait for April? Fill in the time between then and now with our pick of the top six Melbourne bathhouses.

Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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Film lovers need to add these Victorian theatres to their bucket list

    Ricky FrenchBy Ricky French
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    Theatres have always been a cornerstone of regional Victoria, reflecting the character and history of their local communities.

    From grand, gold rush-era masterpieces to Art Deco wonders to repurposed prisons, we’ve rounded up four of Victoria’s best regional theatres to catch a show at next time you’re travelling through.

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat 
    Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat has been standing for 150 years. (Image: Michael Pham)

    A monument to the immense gold rush wealth flooding through Ballarat in the second half of the 19th century, Her Majesty’s Theatre (‘Her Maj’ to locals) celebrates its 150th anniversary as the city’s premier performing arts venue this year.

    Built in a classical style and immaculately preserved (thanks largely to a recent $16-million restoration), this Lydiard Street landmark is the oldest continuously operating theatre in mainland Australia, notable for its double balcony and a stage that slopes towards the front, making it one of the most audience-friendly venues in the country to see a show.

    The Capital, Bendigo

    The Capital Theatre, Bendigo
    The Capital in Bendigo was built in 1873 as a Masonic Hall. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Denoted by its distinctive Corinthian columns, more reminiscent of ancient Greece than regional Victoria, The Capital theatre in Bendigo has been through several iterations since the first stone was laid in 1873.

    Originally a Masonic hall, the renaissance revival-style building became a theatre in the 1890s, falling into disrepair for a time during the 1970s, before being restored and reopened (as the Bendigo Regional Arts Centre) in 1991. Today, the 480-seat venue hosts everything from comedy to cabaret to traditional theatre, dance, opera and live music.

     Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo

    a look insideBendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre
    Inside Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, a former prison. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Bendigo has busted out as a regional performing arts hotspot, so it’s fitting that one of its newest venues is housed within a former prison. Meaning ‘meeting place’ or ‘gather together’ in the language of the local Dja Dja Wurrung people, the $26-million, 950-seat auditorium rose from within the red brick walls of the historic Sandhurst Gaol in 2015.

    It’s an eerie feeling as you approach the imposing granite facade, pass beneath the old gallows and pick up your ticket from the box office occupying a repurposed cell block. With the building playing a main character in the show, this is performative architecture at its finest.

    Rex Theatre, Charlton

    the Rex Theatre in Charlton
    The 1938-built Rex Theatre in Charlton is an Art Deco gem. (Image: Jenny Pollard)

    Regional theatres don’t come more romantic than this Art Deco gem in the river town of Charlton, in north-central Victoria. Built in 1938, the 350-seat community-owned theatre provides an essential entertainment outlet for residents in the Wimmera Mallee region, as well as visitors making the trip up the Calder Highway from Melbourne.

    The volunteer-run venue is the last remaining purpose-built cinema in regional Victoria, and hosts the Charlton Film Festival every February, plus three weekly film screenings (Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday).