Victoria’s Historic Portarlington Grand Hotel Gets a Modern Revival

In redesigning the Portarlington Grand Hotel, Technē Architecture + Interior Design took its cues from the seaside location, using bright and breezy colours throughout

The Portarlington Grand Hotel has long been an architectural hallmark of its namesake town. Perched on the town’s main street, opposite a ferry pier, the sea-facing hotel was originally built in 1888 to support the swell of beach-seeking holidaymakers arriving via the novel steamer service. However, its allure as a coastal getaway had faded in recent decades and its century-old bones were in dire need of a facelift. Enter Technē Architecture + Interior Design, the Melbourne-based firm called on by Little Group to helm the restoration.

In revitalising the heritage building, the Technē team wanted to pay homage to the original architecture while introducing modern elements. The historic facade and structure, therefore, were retained and restored to their former glory. This included the refurbishment of the 1800s archways and cornices, wall filigree, etched glazing and the main stair balustrading. In addition, the upper levels’ original cast iron verandas and several other heritage elements that had been removed over the years were reimagined as sleeker, more modern versions. 'We limited the demolition of the existing structure, preserved various heritage details and ensured minor alterations were made only to the internal walls,' explains Technē’s associate director Sam Sempill.

Technē took inspiration from Portarlington’s coastal landscape, selecting palettes and elements that hark back to the spirit of the locale. The essence of the old pier was brought indoors with natural and reclaimed materials like timber, as well as colours that reference the sea and the shoreline. The hotel’s former hard plaster walls were replaced with hand-trawled finishes inspired by the surrounding terrain, while the exterior cast iron design and Victorian detailing are echoed in the furniture and carpets. ‘To authentically recapture the hotel’s former grandeur within its new contemporary context, we used layered colours and textures to invigorate the visual interest in each space,' says Sempill.

The hotel's layout has been modernised to include a front bar, a bistro, indoor and outdoor beer gardens and private dining areas. The outdoor beer garden is of special note, with brightly coloured parasols, fabrics, tiles and lining boards that evoke the zest and vibrancy of a beachside holiday. Further accentuating the connection to the outdoors, large windows in the internal beer garden allow patrons to look out to the ocean. Equal parts classic and contemporary, the hotel presents an à la mode seaside retreat, while staying true to its heritage.

Text / Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
Images / Tom Blachford