24 Jan 2013
The Mornington Peninsula now boasts a stylish 40-room boutique hotel, with the completion and formal opening of Quarters, the final stage of the iconic Flinders Hotel redevelopment by the Zig Inge family.
"It is the culmination of our vision to make the Flinders Hotel a true culinary destination on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, following the opening of Terminus fine dining restaurant and then Peninsula function space in December 2011," said Karen Inge, Director of Flinders Hotel.
"We knew that Flinders needed high quality accommodation and were adamant the design and style needed to fit in with the surrounding area and to capture how Flinders Hotel and Quarters are anchored in the fabric of this stunning coastal destination."
"Quarters had to be a unique property with accommodation that felt like a private, modern seaside retreat, offering relaxed comfort and spacious accommodation, with a little touch of luxury in the quality of finishes and inclusions.
"We are delighted with the result. The design wonderfully captures the imagery of abstract waves to define most of the facades, while timber cladding, stone and splashes of colour are evocative of the Flinders pier, cliffs, sand and sunsets.
"The architectural interpretation of our vision resonates with locals, visitors and the surrounding countryside," said Karen Inge.
She is firmly committed to ensuring the Hotel's unique offering will expand the tourism potential of this delightful area of the Mornington Peninsula.
Located within Flinders village, close to the southernmost tip of the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, and surrounded by the calmer waters of Western Port Bay to the west and the rugged coastline of cliffs and ocean beaches fronting Bass Strait to the south, Quarters is the perfect base to explore, indulge and relax in a warm, welcoming environment, according to Karen Inge.
"After a day experiencing all the Peninsula has to offer, from coastal walks, golfing, boating, visits to wineries or markets, not to mention the charming village shops and galleries, slipping into complete chill out-mode is so easy once you enter your Quarters accommodation," said Karen Inge.
"Of course there's the 40" LCD TVs with 13 cable channels; free WiFi internet access; and iPod and iPhone connectivity, but it's our attention to details that helps create the relaxing ambience we aimed for. Everything from luxury body care products based on pure flower and plant essences; to original artwork in each suite, not to mention chic interiors featuring comfortable Swiss armchairs and luxurious Abode bed linens made with the finest Italian and European textiles.
"From the staff uniforms, room keycards to door handle cards, featuring Seesaw Design's original nesting collage, Quarters reflects a quirky sense of humour and fun, perfect for a break away," Inge said.
Naturally guests staying at Quarters don't need to move far for dining pleasures either. The Hotel's Terminus restaurant showcases Executive Chef Pierre Khodja's North African-influenced cuisine, executed with classic French technique. He uses the best the Peninsula has to offer, featuring fresh local produce. An extensive Peninsula wine list is also on offer. Terminus was recently awarded a coveted Chef's Hat by The Age Good Food Guide 2013.
While Terminus under the direction of Pierre Khodja is the heart of the Flinders Hotel and its culinary focus, the The Deck offers a more casual dining experience.
The Flinders Hotel also has Peninsula, a unique and versatile events space that can be configured to suit small gatherings, conferences with breakout spaces, through to larger cocktail or wedding functions, making the Flinders Hotel and Peninsula ideal for celebratory functions or conferences.
"With its marble bar, lounge area, state of the art equipment and professional staff, we could see the potential for Peninsula and Quarters to offer new opportunities for tourism operators to extend offerings within the area, not just for Melburnians but also visitors from interstate and overseas.
"Flinders Hotel has over 120 years of stories to tell, and with the opening of Quarters, there's sure to be many more," Karen Inge enthuses.
For more on Flinders Hotel, Quarters, Terminus, Peninsula and The Deck
There are four accommodation wings at Quarters;
Bass, Bauer, Westall and Flinders. Each wing has been named in honour of those brave explorers who discovered and documented the beauty of our island home
Bass Room (10 rooms)
With a contemporary design, these rooms offer a variety of outlooks. Rooms have large bathrooms with shower and are available with king sized bed or twin king singles.
Bauer Room (14 rooms)
Ground floor rooms with outdoor patio, surrounded by landscaped gardens. Rooms have large bathrooms with shower and are available with king sized bed or twin king singles.
Westall Room (12 rooms)
Built in a contemporary design, these rooms offer either balconies or patios with views of the original Flinders landscape. Rooms have large bathrooms with shower and are available with king sized bed or twin king singles.
Flinders Room (3 Rooms)
With high ceilings and large outdoor balcony, this room offers elevated views to the Flinders village and across the tree canopies. Rooms have large bathrooms with shower and are available with king sized bed or twin king singles.
Flinders suite (1 or 2 Bedroom)
The Flinders Suite includes separate lounge room with bar, dining table, flat screen TV and powder room. Separate bedroom with king size bed and large en suite featuring free standing bathtub. The large outdoor balcony has elevated views to the Flinders village and across the tree canopies. Room available with king sized bed or twin king singles.
A Word about our History
Flinders Hotel has over 120 years of stories to tell. Below is a short yarn of the hotel's early beginnings and how it has grown to be a part of the Mornington Peninsula landscape.
The original Flinders Hotel was built in 1889 as a large double-storey wooden building that could house 100 guests. The area's population was increasing due to growth in farming and the local fishing industry and the Flinders Hotel was built to accommodate and supply refreshments to the Morse code trainers and staff at the cable station, following the laying of an underwater cable between Tasmania & Flinders for communication to London and the local community.
In the early 1900s the first horse drawn coach service operated from the Bittern railway terminal to Flinders, making the Hotel the major establishment for rest and refreshments, as well as a general meeting place.
Tragedy struck the Flinders Hotel in 1926 when it caught fire and burnt down, under somewhat suspicious circumstances. It took two years for the Hotel to be rebuilt.
Since reopening in 1928, the Hotel has undergone many extensions and renovations. Since the early 1900s there have been over 30 operational licenses issued to run the Hotel with owners modifying and adapting the Hotel to meet the evolving needs of the community and visitors alike. In the 1970s a large dining room was added to cater for the ever-increasing Peninsula population.
There are many colourful tales about the Flinders Hotel. On a Saturday night in the 1980s a live band was playing and the floor caved in, leaving patrons waist high in sand and water (the hotel had filled in its underground cellar - obviously not properly). In midwinter during the
1990s the Hotel used to fill the then Locals Bar with sand on a Saturday night and hold beach parties.
In 2008 the Inge family purchased the Hotel. After holidaying at Flinders for many years, the family couldn't bypass the opportunity to purchase the Hotel situated on two acres of prime real estate in the very heart of Flinders.
But the most significant changes made to the Hotel in the past 80 years were during 2009, when the Inge Family began the massive renovation and refurbishment transforming the Hotel into a culinary destination within a modern multi-purpose venue fit to meet the needs of today's discerning clientele.
Stage two, which included 'Terminus' and 'Peninsula'. Terminus opened Boxing Day 2011.
The final stage, 'Quarters', a 40 room boutique hotel has just opened.
For Further information
See www.flindershotel.com.au
Media Contact
Karen Inge
Director, Flinders Hotel
P: 03 59890201
M: 0418533479
Jeannie Armstrong
Director, Hemisphere
P: 02 8819 6389
M: 0412142645
