13 Jul 2023
Words
John Miller Informer 107
Let's Go Retro
From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, from Tasmania to the Top End, our cover story celebrates the continuing charm of our country’s retro motels.
The year 1954 gave us Elvis, Godzilla and The Lord of the Rings.
Here in Australia, Menzies was PM, Rising Fast won the Melbourne Cup, and a curious new type of holiday establishment entered our landscape: the “motel.”
The motel was a hotel for motorists. It was an American idea that Australian property developers thought would catch on here too, driven by our economic boom which saw car ownership skyrocket and a generation with more disposable income than any before it.
The first Australian motel opened in Bathurst in 1954 and was followed in quick time with more around the country, especially the Northern Rivers and Gold Coast where the motel found a natural home.
In 1955, El Dorado in Surfers Paradise cemented the classic motel template: an eye-catching neon sign, a bright colour palette, a futuristic design and a revolutionary new concept — guests could park their cars right outside their hotel rooms.
From the mid ‘50s through to the late ‘70s, the roadside motel became an integral part of the Australian holiday experience. The motel democratised travel for Australians, making vacations affordable for everyone. The great Aussie road trip was born.
Today, El Dorado is no more. But the enduring appeal of the roadside motel remains. Some of the original motels have been restored to retro glory, while newer establishments have been “retro-fied” to give them the look of yesteryear.
We loved them then, and we still love them now. Let’s take a tour of the best retro and roadside motels around the country …
New South Wales
01. Motel Molly, Mollymook
Motel Molly’s owners call their refurb “Moroccan inspired,” but the hotel’s impeccable pastel palette makes it retro enough.
02. The Black Dolphin Motel, Merimbula
Designed by famed Australian architect Robin Boyd, this 1960 roadside icon was recently sold by ResortBrokers’ Russell Rogers to ASX-listed Aspen Group and is now part of Tween Waters Merimbula.
aspenholidayparks.com.au/tween-waters-merimbula
03. The Blue Water Motel, Kingscliff
This Tweed region retro revival has a soothing pastel palette and a cool coastal vibe.
04. The Isla, Batemans Bay
The 18-key The Isla opened its burnt-orange doors in 2022 after a makeover featuring a sunset-inspired colour palette and a nod to the ‘70s.
05. The Sails Motel & Pool Club, Brunswick Heads
Built in the ‘60s as The Casablanca Motel, the 22-key motel was given a makeover in 2015. The hacienda archways leading from the carpark
to the rooms are a nice twist on the classic roadside motel.
06. The Astor Hotel Motel, Albury
Opened in 1962 during the heyday of the roadside motel, the 45-key Astor Motel reopened in 2021 after a refurb which restored its retro roots by bathing it in vibrant pink, orange and teal, beautifully contrasted by white. The revamp re-established the Astor as an Albury landmark and is now enjoying the “Fine Times!” promised by its neon sign.
07. The Berry View, Berry
This 13-key Shoalhaven sanctuary has been newly renovated with bright orange doors beautifully offset by white.
08. Blueys Motel, Blueys Beach
The 10-key Blueys Motel is relaxed, coastal chic with an appealing palette of teal, blue and white.
09. Chalet Motel, Brunswick Heads
The 12-key Chalet Motel is a classic ‘60s motel with a tropical vibe and one of the few dog friendly retro offerings around.
10. Thirroul Beach Motel, Wollongong
This 20-key Wollongong wonder is textbook retro: two-storey red brick, a curled-iron banister and gorgeous green, pink, blue and yellow doors.
11. The Sunseeker, Byron Bay
The Sunseeker is a 12-key ‘80s brick motel given a retro reboot a few years ago.
12. The Cabana, Nambucca Heads
Turning heads at Nambucca Heads is the 37-key The Cabana with its bright colour scheme and setting on 5 acres of tropical gardens.
13. Halcyon House, Cabarita
Formerly a surfing motel called The Hideaway, the 22-key Halcyon House re-opened in 2015 after extensive renovations that saw it reborn into a boutique offering that evokes memories of carefree summers past.
Western Australia
14. Indian Ocean Hotel, Scarborough
Built in 1968, the then White Sands Motel was modelled after the famous Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. During the ‘70s, this 59-key beachside hotel was the place to stay for bands touring Perth, including Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Today, the Indian Ocean Hotel keeps the beat going as a live music venue and with inspired installation art in the shape of a giant amplifier.
Northern Territory
15. K – Town Hotel, Katherine
This 20-key Katherine hotel is a classic roadside inn … and stupendously pink.
Victoria
16. Kyneton Springs Motel, Kyneton
Recently reopened after a retro refurb, the 20-key Kyneton Springs Motel, about an hour’s drive from Melbourne, has serious street presence with its eye-catching three-part neon sign. The retro renaissance continues inside with kitschy cool rooms adorned with pop art featuring ‘50s icon Jayne Mansfield.
17. Sunnymead, Aireys Inlet
Previously Lightkeepers Inn Motel, this 20-key boutique hotel on the Great Ocean Road re-opened in February after a retro revival boasting white-washed walls, palm trees and orange-painted doors.
18. River Drive Motel, Tarwin Lower
This cosy 5-key hotel was lovingly refurbished with a nod to nostalgia.
South Australia
19. Seaview Motel, Kingscote
The first ever motel built on Kangaroo Island in the 1920s, the heritage-listed 17-key Seaview has enough pastels to warrant inclusion in the retro camp.
20. Retro Paradise, Adelaide
This one-bedroom workers’ cottage was built in the 1880s. Today, it’s a magnificent melange of vintage Hawaiian, retro atomic and pop art styles.
21. The Retro Shack, Aldinga Beach
Built in 1955 and renovated a la retro a few years ago, The Retro Shack is adorned with vintage wares such as Tretchikoff prints and plastic flamingos.
22. 1965 Lobethal, Lobethal
This Adelaide Hills hotel is tiny but has ‘60s in spades. Vintage lamps, Danish furniture, a vinyl record player and Onkaparinga blankets that first put Lobethal on the map, way back when.
23. Marion Hotel, Adelaide
This 62-key hotel’s reception has serious late ‘60s cred and was reopened in 2018 after a $20 million refurb.
Tasmania
24. Riverfront Motel & Villas, Rosetta
Built in 1960, this hotel’s signature feature is a gigantic Googie-style double catenary arch, originally created to celebrate the 1954 Royal Visit.
25. Alabama Hotel, Hobart
Opened as a hotel in 1867, “The Bam” as it is affectionately known had a mid-century makeover about a decade ago. ago and is now a 17-key masterpiece.
Queensland
26. La Costa Motel, Bilinga
Built in the 1950s, this 10-key weatherboard wonder was restored to retro glory about 15 years ago. The self-described “beach shack” is painted mint green and adorns its front garden with ‘50s nostalgic: rainbow-coloured beach umbrellas, red-and-white striped sling chairs and a white picket fence. Oh, and plastic pink flamingos.
27. The Pink Hotel, Coolangatta
Awash with pink, this mid-century masterpiece ticks every box of the retro aesthetic. Opened in the 1953 as The Ocean View Motel, this 17-key hotel was given a retro reboot in 2018. Undoubtedly, this is Australia’s most iconic retro hotel and consequently one of its most Instagrammed. A Muriel’s Wedding cameo adds to its star power.
28. The Mysa Motel, Palm Beach
Palm Beach Pastel perfection, the 7-key Mysa Motel occupies the site of former Gold Coast institution, the Palm Trees Motel. Mysa pays homage to its bygone occupant by way of two intertwined palm trees in its flashy pink neon marquee.
29. Loea Boutique Hotel, Maroochydore
A rare retro(ish) offering on the Sunshine Coast. The 10-key Loea opposite the Maroochy River has a vintage coffee
van and an understated beach vibe.
30. Ventura Beach Motel, Mermaid Beach
This classic ‘70s Mermaid walk-up shows its retro credentials with a coat of powder blue and candy pink paint.
31. Blue Heron Motel, Mermaid Beach
Calling itself a “classic seventies motel,” this 14-key Mermaid motel has retro-fied its reception, and the kidney-shaped pool out back is mid-century magnificence.
