Treasury on Collins Apartment Hotel

Treasury on Collins Apartment Hotel

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Posted 2018-10-18 by Nadine Cresswell-Myattfollow


Treasury on Collins is a stunning heritage hotel with a contemporary, plush and velvety feel to the interior. Staff go out of their way to make all guests feel treasured and there are many perks when staying there.

As this apartment hotel continues to exceed guests' expectations, Treasury on Collins is ranked #1 of 162 Hotels in Melbourne on Tripadvisor. All travellers hate being ripped off by hotels who charge for every little extra such as WI-FI, movies and mini-bar produce and at this hotel, all these charges have been vanquished.

The 1876 neoclassical-style building was originally built to house the Bank of Australasia, but after a rich and illustrious history, it now houses this boutique apartment hotel.



With its tall box shape and columns, it reminded me of a moneybox I had as a child - a replica of a heritage bank. I would deposit my treasured pocket money into the slot. So the name Treasury for this apartment hotel seemed fitting.

Guests love that it is a boutique hotel (only 95 rooms) but most of the rave reviews touch on the perks of booking directly with this popular hotel. The Treasury, I noticed on my recent stay, even keeps a definition of the word 'perk' on a wall plaque: 'To become or make more cheerful, lively or interesting'.

Arriving late, the first perk we encountered was the Afternoon Wine Down - complimentary drinks daily between 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm

I'd had booked a two-bedroom apartment for my adult son and myself. He came after work (as the hotel is only a 5-minute walk from Southgate) so I was able to meet him in the aptly named Treasured Guest Lounge.



The complimentary drinks included wine, bubbly and beer and top-ups were liberally given. There were also extensive free snacks including excellent cheeses and ( Tarago olives from Gippsland) alongside the award-winning Tahbilk wines.



Our second highlight wasn't so much a perk as a benefit. We could have walked the few minutes up to Flinders Lane for some of Melbourne's favourite restaurants such as Chin Chin, Tonka, Cumulus Up or Coda, but looking down from the mezzanine level, we could see a bustling and popular restaurant.

The Bank on Collins Restaurant and Bar was on the same level as our lobby. A separate business to Treasury on Collins this restaurant shares the ground floor's cavernous and dramatic space - the old banking chamber.



An additional incentive was that this restaurant/bar happy hour until 7 pm. So a $12 cocktail seemed the next order of the day.



We were relieved there was no need to go elsewhere in search of dinner. There was a GF menu and reasonably priced pub style meals but it was the lively ambience that was the real drawcard. Lots of locals enjoying themselves and winding down after work.

Heading off to our room, we walked through an amazing space (shown below). I later found out it was once the bank's boardroom.







Our apartment not only looked stunning but we kept stumbling across additional perks. There was a huge 50& #8243 ; TV in the lounge area pre-programmed with free Netflix so no need for a personal Netflix account. A little sign told us that Treasury on Collins was the first Australian hotel to introduce Netflix.



There was also free and lightning fast Wi-Fi (30MB per second).

The small kitchenette had everything guests could require including a two-burner stovetop, dishwasher, microwave and a Nespresso machine.



Bathrooms were decked out with luxurious Molton Brown toiletries. There were seemingly endless bottles of shower gels, body lotions, shampoos and conditioners. Nor was there any skimping on this luxury brand as there were even large pump bottles on the hand.

This London perfumer don't just make toiletries, they create collections, so one feels well and truly spoilt. The hotel sometimes do a special promotion, where they also give away a 10-piece gift set of Molton Brown toiletries. Click here.

The whole premises smelt divine and I discovered the source when I picked up a diffuser bottle in a corridor and the label underneath said Molton Brown.



The decor in our room was stunning. Chairs were covered in a silver-grey velvet with vibrant cushions as green as a peacock's tail feathers. This colour was also picked up in a lustrous pearl tray, the coffee cups, a throw rug and even on the foil wrapping of our bedside chocolates.



I learnt later the hotel calls the colour 'teal' and that staff even wear teal scarves in winter. The tall windows in our apartment had long dramatic curtain drops and overlooked tree foliage.



This greenery framed the turrets and windows of other heritage buildings across the road. The beautiful neo-Gothic and Italianate banks and insurance buildings surrounding the Treasury on Collins are a legacy of the wealth created in the 1851 to 1860s Gold Rush. It is an attractive area to stay in. Sometimes called the Golden Mile. it is a reminder of the era when Melbourne was the largest and wealthiest city in the British Empire after London.



Melbourne is still a vibrant metropolis and looking down I saw pedestrians bustling along on their way to work. There was also a view of Melbourne's iconic trams as a tram stops right outside the hotel.



I also had a view of the intersection ,one of the few where Melbourne drivers have to do a difficult manoeuvre known as a Hook Turn. . It was fascinating to watch from above as they must turn right from the left lane, in order not to interrupt the passage of trams. Even local drivers are justifiably nervous as they must sit out in the middle of the intersection. Luckily for guests, you don't need a car here as the hotel stop is on the free tram zone and railway stations for both local and country trains are nearby.



While my son went off to the hotel gym, I ran a luxurious spa bath. The bath had a padded headrest as well as the indulgent Molton Brown products and the hotel had provided large, white fluffy towels to cosset oneself in after such an indulgent soak.



We spent the evening relaxing and watching Netflix, which of course, meant a raid on the fridge. There was the perk of free bottles of water but also a sign that said "Oops we lost the mini-bar."



Instead of paying exorbitant mini-bar prices, you could order a mini-bar pack. Options included local produce such as Thomas Chipman chips from the Yarra Valley, Tahbilk (Nagambie) wines and sweet treats from Melbourne chocolatier, 'Ministry of Chocolate'.

Or during the day, you could simply help yourself to complimentary drinks and snacks in the Treasured Guest Lounge. Checking it out the next day, I found savoury biscuits, muesli bars, packets of lollies, and fresh fruit as well as a fridge with a clear glass door stocked with juices and soft drinks.
Breakfast

Our breakfast the next morning was also included (another perk of booking directly with the hotel).



There was a help yourself buffet of – cereals, yoghurt, juices, fresh fruit mini muffins, pastries. You could also opt for a hot breakfast that included excellent scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms, breakfast sausages and tomatoes and so on. I stay in a lot of hotels and I noticed the food here was all of an excellent quality with fresh dishes brought out regularly.

Over breakfast, I chatted to a couple of American women who had been staying at the Treasury on Collins for a week. They appreciated the regular new additions to the breakfast buffet particularly on weekends.

As we left, our waiter chirped up with 'thank you for joining us.' It reminded me of the subtle ways this hotel makes all guests feel special.



I'd received a text shortly after checking in asking if there was anything I needed to make my stay even more enjoyable and on the mirror in our room was a handwritten message of welcome. Every time I looked in the mirror, I felt welcomed yet again.



Late Check Out and a Self-Guided Tour

Having booked directly through the hotel we received a midday check out. My son went off to work early, but not before taking me to visit his favourite coffee shop - Shambles Coffee Brewers that was just around the corner. This would also be a great introduction for tourists to Melbourne's vibrant and world-famous coffee scene.



With hours left before the need to checkout, I took a self-guided heritage tour of the hotel as there was a pamphlet in my room. It began outside and I learnt that:

The heritage building was constructed from hand- chiselled blocks of Oamaru limestone.

An old brass drop safe embedded in one of the outside walls is where bags of gold brought straight from the goldfields were dropped for safekeeping.



Robberies were common hence the need for precautions. The original huge brass doors, still indicate just how cautious the bank was as they weighed a tonne each. By searching hard enough, you might even be able to find the secret keyhole.



The tour takes you inside The Bank Restaurant and points out where the old teller windows have been incorporated into the design of this trendy bar and eatery.



Above the Collins Street entrance, is the old Bank of Australasia's emblem. It features a sailing ship denoting the importance of shipping to the early economy.



The sheep is part of the emblem because the Australian economy was once said to ride on a sheep's back. I liked the tie-in detail that on my bedside table the night before had been a statue of a sheep. There are so many historical details woven into this hotel - it pays to be observant.



The Rooms

Most of the hotel/ apartment rooms are unique but all are large with kitchenette and laundry facilities.



There are also Plaza Queen suites (40 sq. metre), Heritage King & Queen Suites, one-bedroom heritage apartments (65m2) and Heritage Two-Bedroom Apartment (85 sq. metre) that would be ideal for longer stays.

We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a heritage split-level King Loft with a Spa. All photos in this story are of that apartment.

Above us were the Heritage Balcony Suites that would be perfect for a special occasion, especially if you fancy sipping champagne with views of the sunset or enjoying your morning coffee as Melbourne rallies to life beneath you.


Who is this hotel for?

Overseas visitors will find this hotel is in a prime location for exploring Melbourne. I did ask at reception for some suggestions on what there was nearby. By the time the lovely young person had finished with the map, it looked like a pincushion. You are only a few minutes walk from Melbourne's famous alleyways and arcades and some great restaurants.



You can easily access the main shopping district, walk to Queen Victoria Market and in the other direction to the Arts Precinct and the Casino that is alongside the famous Yarra River. The Skydeck with views over Melbourne is nearby.



For locals and interstate guests, this is a great hotel for attending any of Melbourne's iconic sporting events such as the Australian Open or for football lover the Marvel Stadium (formerly Etihad Stadium), or for any evening that requires you to stay in 'town.'

I would imagine that corporate guest would love not only the great city location, but also the free after work drinks, the homely feeling of the apartments plus the lightning fast WI-FI.

Booking Tips

Sunday night can be a cheaper night to stay as there are fewer corporate guests.

If you are after a room with a view, then make sure you request this when booking.

Make sure to book directly with Treasury on Collins. These days there are so many booking sites but all the perks I have mentioned such as complimentary drinks, free breakfasts, priority room upgrades (where possible), early check-in and late check-out until midday (subject to availability) are all gained by booking directly with the hotel. For more information on the perks of booking directly, including the 10% discount, click here.



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120927 - 2023-06-12 22:42:43

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