Even before the boom of older accommodation in Australia being revitalised, rather than building from scratch, one set of new property owners saw the appeal.
The resulting accommodation is Oriana Retro Hotel and Resort in Orange, a 3.5-hour drive from Sydney. Built in 1969, the property’s architecture was based on resorts in California, specifically Palm Springs, at the time. Though it was popular during the ’70s and ’80s, hosting glamourous guests and throwing parties, it lay vacant for years after that.
Then, in 2015, its new owners Espen Harbritz and his late partner Ted Marr decided to breathe new life into it. Today, many of the hotel’s rooms are still themed with the artwork they collected during their travels. Though it started with just seven employees, the hotel and its bars and restaurants — The Summer Kitchen and Pool Club, The Peacock Room and Bela Vista Bar — now employs around 60.
“The hotel is a mid-century build and any of our refurbishments and enhancements have been sympathetic to this architectural style,” says Kellie Ferguson, Oriana Retro Hotel and Resort’s General Manager. “We describe ourselves as the foodie hotel with a retro ‘Palm Springs’ vibe.”
Guests are greeted with a welcome drink, which they can enjoy in the communal area with antique chandeliers and plush velvet lounges, or in their room or suite, which ranges from Standard Single to King Poolside Suite. Inside, guests will find designer furniture, premium bedding and a complimentary mini-bar.
They can then spend their afternoon out in the property’s gardens or by the pool, nibbling on snacks from the Summer Kitchen and Pool Club. Think wood-fired tapas and pizza, as well as salads.
Or they can head out for a wine-tasting tour and lunch at nearby cellar doors, Heifer Station Wines and Mortimer’s Wines family vineyard. After, they can drive through the spectacular countryside surrounding Orange or explore local villages Millthorpe, Lucknow, Carcoar, Canowindra or Molong. You can also take a walk around Lake Canobolas or up the mount. Stroll down historic main streets or meander through eclectic local shops.
Back at the hotel, after freshening up, enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and a charcuterie board at Oriana’s Bela Vista Bar, followed by a three-course dinner of European-inspired fare with a modern twist at The Peacock Room. On weekend mornings, the restaurant serves a buffet breakfast.
“I love to sit up at the bar in our Club Lounge, which is in the heart of our lobby and reception area,” says Ferguson. “From here, I have a wonderful bird’s eye view of the hospitality staff while listening to the sounds of a very busy kitchen. When I want to take a moment, I’ll find a sunny nook in the Bela Vista Bar and take in the view of our beautiful parkland garden.”
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