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We’ll be honest: with the number of new hotels that Melbourne has welcomed over the past year, we didn’t expect to see any major developments announced for at least a few months. Apparently, we were wrong – with shiny plans just revealed for a new 57-room hotel, set to slot into the mega Richmond Square precinct. But this one will operate differently from most city hotels – integrating into the development in a way that could mean a 24/7 hotel lifestyle for Melburnians who decide to move in. Here’s what we know so far.
Planned for levels one and two of Carmine House, the hotel isn’t a standalone play – it’s part of a much bigger, $330 million vision that’s reshaping the pocket between Richmond and Cremorne. As mentioned above – this one’s less traditional mixed-use space, more all-in, service-heavy urban living. When the dust settles, Richmond Square will bring together 107 residences across Wiltshire House and Carmine House, alongside the new hotel, hospitality venues, wellness offerings and a mix of other lifestyle services aimed at everyone from local residents to the ever-expanding office crowd spilling out of Cremorne’s tech corridor.
According to Fortis, the hotel approval marks a shift away from the “build apartments, add a café, call it a day” model. Instead, this is about creating a destination – one where living, staying and socialising all blur into the same ecosystem.
Rather than operating as a separate entity, the hotel will be integrated into Carmine House’s residential offering. Future residents won’t just be living above a hotel, they’ll be able to benefit from its offering: with housekeeping, linen refreshes, laundry and dry-cleaning, in-house dining and grocery stocking all available through the concierge team. Essentially, the people who move in will score a hotel lifestyle without ever needing to check out.
According to Fortis, it’s a model that’s been gaining traction globally, but remains relatively rare in Melbourne – especially outside the CBD. Fortis’s Head of Acquisitions (Commercial) Victoria, Jordan Winada, frames it as a response to changing expectations: buyers aren’t just looking at square metres anymore, they’re looking at how a place functions day-to-day. In other words, the apartment is only part of the equation (and let's face it: if you can afford the option of 24/7 room-service, you wouldn’t turn it down).
The hotel itself is slated to open in early 2027, with an operator yet to be announced. More hospitality, retail and lifestyle tenants are expected to roll out in the coming months as Fortis continues to curate the precinct.
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