The Albany was a 'boutique hotel' in Toorak Road, South Yarra. Boutique hotel seems to be a coded pair of words for a lovely exterior with some really nice historic internal decoration, possibly nice bedding and linen, but substandard bathrooms, lots of creaking floorboards, draughts at the windows and noise travelling from one room to another. I expect The Albany fitted this standard.
Here it is some years ago when it had closed and was about to undergo renovation. I have an older photo of the hotel when it was open, but my filing system is not being cooperative.
This was attached to the hotel, offering more modern accommodation with its either ivy or ficus covered exterior.
The original building was beautifully restored but aside from knowing it is no longer a hotel, I don't know of its current purpose.
The adjoining 1960s building along Milswyn Street was demolished and this new apartment building rose from its ashes. One bedroom apartment, AU$500,000, close to US$360,000, €304,000, GB£275,000. A fairly standard price for a modern one bedroom in the area.
I like the look of that apartment building. The prices seem reasonable too!
ReplyDeletePat, as someone from Toronto, you would say that, but it's a lot of money for a flat in some parts of the world.
DeleteWow. I am looking for a small house, with fenced in yard, full basement and 2 baths, 2 bedrooms and it'll be around $275,000. - $350,000.
ReplyDeleteMaribeth, that, and I knew already, your property is so much cheaper than here, but keep in mind the flat is half an hour's walk to the city.
DeleteI think you have summed up boutique hotel quite well - though the prices never, ever reflect the minuses in any way.
ReplyDeleteHalf a million for a one bedder makes me cringe, though I am well aware it is an accurate estimate.
DeleteEC, based on my experiences and yes, it isn't reflected in what you pay.
DeleteA boutique hotel is relatively small, and somewhat unique in taste. A large hotel can be so impersonal that the visitor feels invisible.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the Albany was built as originally, before it was a hotel.
Hels, I like the invisibility of large hotels, as long as the staff are pleasant. I would expect the original building was a posh private home.
DeleteIt appears you might be doing similar to what I am doing at present, Andrew. Doing some computer housekeeping!
ReplyDeleteUnless I win a substantial amount in Lotto...I won't be purchasing even a half-bedder! :)
'Ee, computer housekeeping is my life's work. It never ends. I hope you are secure in your comfortable home.
DeleteLooks a rather nice old boutique hotel, never stayed in one but they don't sound too good.
ReplyDeleteThat's is expensive my book for a one bedroom place..
Take care.
Margaret, certainly by the prices in your city, it is very expensive. There may be some nice boutique hotels but I haven't come across one.
DeleteTravelling noise, creaky floorboards, draughts. Sounds just like my place. I wouldn't call it boutique though.
ReplyDelete$500k is a lot for a one bedroom flat, just because of the area.
Yes River. It is very much the area, and I expect they are quite nice inside too.
DeleteThe Albany in London's Piccadilly must be one of the world's most prestigious addresses. Goodness knows what a small place would cost there; I must make enquiries.
ReplyDeleteCro, is it pronounced Orbany or Albany?
DeleteI would pronounce it All-bany.
DeleteThat's better than what I wrote. It is what we would say here too, except for a place name in West Australia where it is Al as in Alice.
DeleteThe one and only time I stayed in a boutique hotel , it had no window in the room just beautiful velvet curtains covering a brick wall!
ReplyDeleteLol Marie. Rather like our old Saigon hotel when we pulled back the curtains and could open a window with a brick wall less than a metre away.
DeleteA nice hotel room, is not a nice hotel room unless it has a nice bathroom. Prices in the USA depend on location, $360,000 for a one bedroom is not far off in the Washington DC area. I just agreed to buy a parking space, for almost what I paid for my first house in 1982.
ReplyDeleteI so agree about bathrooms Travel. Can you elaborate in a blog post about buying your parking space?
DeleteThe Albany is a beautiful building Andrew, it's been cleaned up very well. Now I'm curious as to what its being used for now 😊
ReplyDeleteGrace, I will see if I can find out.
DeleteWell, as a comparison, my 3 bedroom 2 bath house cost US$380,000 back in 1991.
ReplyDeleteGigi, with our exchange rate, that is a lot of money for us.
DeleteThat's way outside my price range:)
ReplyDeleteSandra, aside from close the city centres in your large cities, your prices are a good bit less than here.
DeleteGentrification! The question is, are they building any housing that people can actually afford and live in? Or just units that will be purchased as "investments" and sit empty? (That's our London real-estate curse.)
ReplyDeleteSteve, in this area no. My local council area, yes with quite an innovative scheme which I believe is used in London. But public housing has normally been a state government responsibility, not a local council one.
DeleteYou have my full attention, belated, yes, because I've been too busy to keep up. I have to now go look up the origins of my own town's name.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, just named after an English place I suppose.
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