The Mail Exchange Hotel, conveniently located on the corner of Bourke and Spencer Streets, is now open.

Housed in the basement of the former Mail Exchange Building, which was built in 1917, the Mail Exchange Hotel has been meticulously restored and features a 200-seat bistro, stunning bar and internal courtyard, and informal lounge areas.

Dominated by original fixtures, solid timbers, textured leathers and bucolic pillars, the Mail Exchange Hotel offers a warm and inviting setting, and the perfect venue for dining, drinking and celebrating.

The concept of this hotel design was to create a vibe that takes in the heritage of the site which was the original Melbourne Mail Exchange. The building shares other tenants in the floors above including Project Runway and the School of Whitehouse Design.

“My client is the owner of the building and decided that end of town needed a safe place to relax to enjoy a variety of entertainment,food and drink for the traveller,” explained Steve Innes. “Having designed many other venues for the client I was chosen to lead the design of the venue. I wanted to create an earthy, warm friendly place that was a place to visit time and time again and feel comfortable.

“The project was fast tracked - some 9 months from start to finish. I used a variety of finishes using specialist trades to achieve the results. The original ceiling, beams and columns were covered in fire retardant spray which was stripped back so we could apply rusted ageing effects to enhance the beauty of the structural beams and riveted columns, further enhanced with LED spots. The design was influenced with the steel windows and industrial feel of the space.”

The story of the era has been enhanced using large graphic panels and memorabilia, and leaving a few of the unearthed signs and orginal columns clad in rubble to show the history of the building.

Steve specified four custom carpet designs to flow through each of the spaces using a synergy of colours, both positive and negative for the large open plan style. Lighting is all energy effecient with the use the latest of LED’s and fluorescent technology.

Many fittings were hand made to create a warm and aged style.

Furniture features warm solid rustic timbers, stone, leathers and quality leather look vinyls for their textures.

“I convinced my client of the need for great washrooms, where I have created a system of no entry doors to the washrooms and the use of electronic taps makes more for a hygienic environment to avoid recontamination,” added Steve. “Female bistro toilets feature makeup area and lounge area.”

The main focus of design was to arrive at a main bar and branch off to each of the designated areas, each of which has their own bars some 27 metres of bar made from backlit Onyx and solid spotted gum timbers from sustainable forests.

The smoking area features a custom designed and manufactured 3m x 3m steel laser cut rusty tree and the use of acoustical treatment wall designs to minimalise sound to neighbours which were a strong part of the councils requirements on noise.

“My role as head designer was to see the implementation of the design philosophy and concept using a team of independent creative people who through their talents, made the hotel what it is today,” said Steve. “Much of the design was based on daily decisions to keep the very tight programme moving along. There was very little time for full documentation of interiors much of this was fast tracked.”

The hotel had original safes built into the walls which are now being used to hold travellers luggage whist enjoying a cool ale before their journey on the train and bus station over Spencer St. These safes were recommissioned and are fully workable.