THE evolution of the Bank of Victoria building in View Street has begun with accommodation suites opening this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Formerly Rocks on Rosalind, the building was purchased by David Cook-Doulton and Martin Shew who have a vision of turning it into boutique accommodation with a premier restaurant.
Named Bendigo Ernest Hotel in honour of Mr Cook-Doulton's grandather, five of the suites are available for booking with two more to open next week.
"We wanted to do a soft launch - there are still some bits and pieces in transit, which is why we only seven suites ready," Mr Cook-Doulton said. "But we are super excited about the response so far.
"Stage 2 includes the facade. The building has a beautiful chamfer edge and we realise we have an opportunity to make it look fantastic, so we want to light the facade. (The building is) very much a bookend for View Steret, so it makes sense to have activation there."
The establishment of the restaurant is expected to be done later in the year.
"We have an exciting plan (for the restaurant) and have partnered with a hatted chef who will come to Bendigo," Mr Shew said. "The timelines are still a work in progress but we have exciting plans for Bendigo going forward."
Mr Cook-Doulton said the building would continue to evolve but that it was important to get each aspect right before moving on to the next.
"It's never set and forget with us," he said. "It's about how we can evolve the space. We wanted to get the accommodation right and focus on that to get it activated.
"We could have rushed the restaurant but understand, having renovated so many heritage buildings, that we want to understand how the community feels about the building, what the building wants you to do and get a sense of what Bendigo wants the building to be."
Mr Cook-Doulton and Mr Shew have also turned Lascelles Terrace and Lyon House in Ballarat into boutique accommodation and are currently working Hotel Vera in an old mansion in Ballarat's Sturt Street.
He said excursions to the goldfields when he was younger had him in awe of the region's architecture.
"I remember coming on a year 9 excursion to the goldfields and being in awe Balalrat, Bendigo and the amazing buildings," he said. "Over the years I have come back and had incredible fondness for this region.
"I always respected the stories these buildings told. This is an old back with its old bullet hole. We all love stories and this whole goldfields region is rich in stories. To be a part of that and help curate that is super exciting."
Mr Shew said architecture and heritage was a major passion for both of them.
"We consider ourselves guardians of these buildings," he said. "We want to preserve them but give them new life and a sense of purpose. (This building) is an important asset to the city in the dress circle part of town. We have to make sure we preserve building and take it to the next level.
"I have noticed a lot of people looking through the windows when we are doing the renovation and upgrades. The doors are usually open, so there is always the odd person who comes to have a look and say hello, which is lovely and encouraging."
As well as providing boutique accommodation, Mr Cook-Doulton and Mr Shew want to give their guests and authentic goldfields experience.
"There's a world trend towards experience and the authentic experience," Mr Cook-Doulton said. "On one side there is mass consumerism, on the other the slow experience and Bendigo is perfectly positioned to lean in to that and win from it. You have the natural elements here that are impossible to duplicate."
The pair hope to collaborate with local makers and creators as the hotel grows.
"There are an amazing array of makers and creators in the goldfields region," he said. "If we can connect the dots and provide the destination, then educate travellers on the amazing things here, then we have done a great service to city.
"One collaboration we have would be with Marsha at Harvest. She has created a continental breakfast for us, that we will offer in the coming week. People will get a taste of the best of Bendigo and can go explore.
"It's about supporting the local businesses that do amazing and incredible things."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Download our app on iOS and Android
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News