To consider Melbourne’s Hotel Indigo, you cannot merely look at it as a hotel. It is defined by several factors: Melbourne’s richly metropolitan status, its location by the heart of Melbourne, the artistic history of the avenue it is in, and its association with InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG).
Its location is perhaps the most obvious reason for its popularity. The hotel is situated just down the street from Southern Cross Station, which has a SkyBus terminal for easy access to the airport. For those who want to take in Melbourne’s famed retail and epicurean scene, its location is ideal – far enough away from the bustle of central Melbourne (and the bars, restaurants, malls and boutiques of Collins and Bourke Streets), but not too far that one is isolated from amenities. It’s a short walk away from the Yarra River and its many riverfront lifestyle destinations.
To truly understand its appeal, and what informs its present-day aesthetics, we need to look into its past, and the life of famed Berlin-born photographer Helmut Newton. The Jewish man fled Nazi Germany in 1938, and ended up in Singapore, where he worked as a photographer for the Straits Times. Later, he was interned by the British colonial authorities and shipped to Australia. After being released from internment, he became a British subject, and restarted his career as a photographer, opening his famed studio a stone’s throw away from where Hotel Indigo stands today.
He would delve into industrial and portrait photography, but it was in fashion that he really made his mark. In a moving tribute written shortly after his death in 2004, The New York Times described him as a “prolific, widely imitated fashion photographer whose provocative, erotically charged black-and-white photos were a mainstay of Vogue and other publications.”
Inspired by Newton, the hotel follows a ‘lights, camera, action’ theme. Rooms are adorned with Newton’s photographs, as well as lamps reminescent of the lights of a photography studio. The colours are bright and bold, alluding to the aesthetic sensibilities of fashion magazines of the 80s and 90s, when Newton was at the peak of his influence as a creator of incredible, soulful visuals. Vast floor-to-ceiling windows provide a dramatic backdrop of the neighbouring buildings, a mix of old-world and post-modern architecture. It might be a lot for some, but those who want to steep in Melbourne’s brand of glamour will find this a well curated hospitality experience.
Newton’s photographs also line the walls of the lobby, as do artworks and photographs by some of Melbourne’s most respected creatives. These mostly black-and-white masterpieces are paired dynamically with multi-coloured set pieces such as rugs and vivid abstract art. Near the reception counter, you’ll find a scarlet photobooth, where guests can take their own photographs in the style of Helmut Newton.
Situated next to the lobby is the stylish Beso, a contemporary lounge offering drinks and bar snacks from day to night. It specializes in freshly brewed barista coffee, fine wines by the glass, and Spanish tapas. In the morning, it serves up a great continental breakfast with a decent spread that includes breads and pastries, cereal, eggs, pancakes and more.
Hotel Indigo Melbourne is a cultural hub as much as it is a hotel. It has modern comforts and curated spaces. While most of your needs are met, we highly recommend bringing you camera with you for your stay, so perhaps you could see downtown Melbourne the way Helmut Newton did.
Hotel Indigo Melbourne 575 Flinders Ln, Melbourne Victoria 3000, Australia
