A stately heritage mansion and 22-hectare estate in Victoria’s bucolic Dandenong Ranges will be the very first Australian property from iconic luxury brand Six Senses. Known officially as Six Senses Burnham Beeches, the 43-room hotel sits just 40 km east of Melbourne in the midst of fern glades and forested hills, completely reviving a mansion that was designed by Harry Norris for the Nicolas “Aspro” family back in 1933.
Located just a stone’s throw from Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens, Six Senses Burnham Beeches project aims to bring a renewed purpose to the three-story mansion, which was constructed in the Streamline Moderne style and is said to mirror an ocean liner. Not only that, but the entire property will be used to complement the hotel and create a comprehensive luxury escape in the region.
The Trenerry Consortium, backed by the wealthy Smorgon family, is behind the $100 million development, coming off the back of investing an equal amount in the great revival of the famed Continental Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula as the new InterContinental Sorrento.
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Plans were only just announced, and the hotel is still a few years away from opening, so exact details on what to expect are fairly scarce right now. We do know that, in addition to the initial 43 guest accommodations, there will be a welcome lounge and terrace, a signature restaurant with indoor-outdoor seating, a library bar and a rooftop framed by abundant garden planters.
It seems English-style elegance is very much the brief with Six Senses Burnham Beeches. The mansion’s original Art Deco flamboyance will be accentuated by “unexpected decor and curiosities” according to a press release sent out to media this morning.
Most interesting is the standalone accommodation adjacent to the mansion, which will be just one two-bedroom cottage with an interconnecting one-bedroom suite. Plans also include some glamping tents as well, bumping the accommodation offering to 82 guests in total and making further use of the pristine landscape.
The owners have appointed the reliable firm Woods Bagot as lead architect and interior designer for Six Senses Burnham Beeches, while construction firm Hamilton Marino will take care of the restoration and build.
Gardens play a big part in how Six Senses Burnham Beeches operates day to day. The sprawling farm gardens nearby will provide fresh fruit and vegetables for the yet-to-be-named restaurants within the hotel, while a special herb garden will be regularly used to provide plants for use in the cocktail-focused Alchemy Bar as well as the signature Six Senses spa.
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The spa is especially exciting. Six Senses properties have built up a solid reputation for having some of the best spas in the world, so we’re hoping this won’t be an exception. It’s sounding like an ambitious project, with a welcome lounge, treatment rooms, fitness centre, tea lounge, separate relaxation spaces and a hydrotherapy area with a sauna. An additional pool house complex will be constructed as the centrepiece, with a dedicated “Earth Lab” furthering the brand’s commitment to the local community and the ecosystems that feed the hotel.
The Trenerry Consortium plan to complement the entire guest experience with a Village Square precinct that will sit on the property, fashioned as a bit of a gathering spot for anyone staying at the hotel with various venues including The Hearth, The Barn, Steak House, The Baker, Brew House and Providore.
Talking to AFR, Six Senses global CEO Neil Jacobs has revealed a desire to bring the ultra-luxurious brand to Australia for quite some time now.
“[We] needed to find the right offering and right developer,” said Jacobs.
“This will be our first hotel in Australia, and will lead to more.”
Six Senses Brunham Beeches is set to be completed in 2025.
