Cover story
Above: The Merri Creek Room. Below: Olivine wine bar beverage manager Liinaa Berry.
feature – a showstopping location for cocktail functions, fashion shows or an unforgettable long table event, there are surprises at every turn. For TFE Hotels senior director of sales, Shahnaz Bahkshay, it’s the versatility of the venue that’s a standout. “Part of our adaptive reuse plan was to retain and bring to life part of the original prison wing. Accordingly, Chapter Place features a series of beautifully designed venues within a venue that will work for conferences, incentive groups, exhibitions, smaller meetings, catwalk events and even pop-up comedy if the mood takes you,” Bahkshay says. “Quite simply, we have a collection of beautiful spaces that pay homage to a chapter in Australian history and promise to create meaningful memories our clients will love.” According to Bahkshay, one-of-a-kind experiences like Chapter Place’s The Real Underbelly event, uncover stories of the darker times with one of Pentridge’s original prison guards who shares unpublished stories from its early Ned Kelly days to personal experiences with some of Melbourne’s most notorious characters.
“The feedback to date from our clients who have had a preview has been outstanding.” The traditional meetings industry is also well served by the Merri Creek conference rooms, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows, high-tech AV, and hybrid conferencing capability. Whilst Pentridge’s former chapel – with its beautifully arched leadlight windows and 10-metre-high ceilings – adds a touch of drama to any event. Nearby bistro, North & Common, with Melbourne chef Thomas Woods at the helm, offers the best of Victoria on the plate and in the glass. This is a place where the simplicity of presentation is underpinned by rigorous technique. North & Common can accommodate groups of up to 80 guests inside and 120 in the alfresco dining area complete with open fires and operable ceilings which is perfect for year-round events. B Division’s standalone Olivine wine bar, with its world-class wine list, walk-in wine rooms, booth seating and in-house sommelier team, caters for more intimate affairs.
Stay and play
Inside Pentridge’s massive bluestone walls, the newly built Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne has been completely reimagined from its Victorian origins and, according to the delivery architects, Konzepte, stands in deliberate contrast. Here, there’s no blurring of the boundaries on what is old and what is new, so the heritage aspects stand out. Featuring 106 spacious apartments, the Adina is the tallest tower in the north. It boasts hightech technology where the hotel windows clean themselves, solar energy and a unique vista back across to the north side of Melbourne CBD and panoramic views over Pentridge. The hotel offers onsite parking and is perfectly positioned for MICE and leisure guests but also ideally situated to soak up the local culture, eateries, parks, and modern art galleries including The Heide and Division Gallery. Chapterplace.com.au n
10 Spice Autumn 2023