The Austral Hotel is a two level grand period hotel located prominently in the main street of Colac in the Western District of Victoria. It has recently been acquired (freehold and business) by experienced Surf Coast hoteliers who intend to upgrade the extensive facilities and position the business as the leading hotel in the region.

Currently the hotel provides a large family Bistro, Sports Bar, Gaming Room, Functions, Drive-Thru Bottle Shop and a Nightclub on the first floor. Overall the décor, specifically the furniture, fittings and equipment are dated and require upgrading. The directors also have some concerns about the location and adjacency of some of the different business components and as a result are considering making some alterations as part of the same exercise.

Seventh Sense Consulting (SSC) were contacted to conduct a site visit to tour the hotel and locality ( including competitors) and receive some background on the hotel and understand some of the design and operational issues associated with existing conditions.

Whilst on site SSC formed a view as to potential layout options that seemed in line with the director’s objectives. Those options could be described as evolutionary, that is working basically with the existing layout, or revolutionary involving a reconfiguration of the existing layout. Clearly one option would be more expensive than the other so it was agreed that SSC would develop sketch plans of both options for further discussion.

The options were completed within a couple of business days and sent to the directors for consideration and comment. Following review and refinement of the concept plans it was agreed to discuss options with a building contractor to determine indicative cost associated with each proposal. Following this step a decision can be made as to which concept is initiated.

AUSTRAL HOTEL

LOCATION: Colac, VIC

CLIENT: Sam Benjamin

TYPE: Regional Hotel Redevelopment

PLANS: ITN Architects / SSC

PHOTOS: TBC

OUR ROLE

Pre-design services including initial site visit; acceptance of brief; review of competitors and catchment; check measure of existing conditions; development of concept options; logic checking with industry architect; presentation of preliminary concepts; follow up meeting to discuss concepts; review and refinement; liaise with building contractor; site visit with building contractor; facilitate costing from builder; consideration of staged approach to project.