Gold rush money and architectural marvels define this spot. This is the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto. It stands as a testament to Melbourne’s rich history.
Completed in 1891, the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto began as two separate buildings. They housed Melbourne’s famous wool stores and offices. Imagine the bluestone cobbled laneways. They once echoed with horse hooves. Carts carried wool and wheat to the wharves. These laneways remain untouched beneath the hotel’s floorboards.
During Melbourne’s Gold Rush era, the Rialto building emerged. Melbourne was the richest city in the world then. Patrick McCaughan, a wealthy businessman, commissioned it. Celebrated architect William Pitt designed it in the neo-gothic style.
Next door, the Winfield building housed offices. These offices serviced the wool and wheat stores. Architects Richard Speight Jr. and Charles D’Ebro designed it. The Australian National Trust calls it “an example of the brick Romanesque style.” It hails from the closing phase of the gold boom.
The Rialto and Winfield buildings were designed for the new commercial enterprise. They offered tenants modern technology. Street-level shopfronts, overhead offices, and basement warehouse space were available. The Rialto building was a symbol of commercial modernity. It featured a unique laneway connecting the buildings.
In the 1970s, The Grollo Group purchased the buildings. They underwent renovation. In 1983, they joined the neighbouring building. An atrium-style glass ceiling was added.
In 2008, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts transformed these buildings. The InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto opened that year. The Rialto building is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The National Trust of Australia protects it.
Erik Steube, General Manager, says the building’s history is its foundation. It shapes its personality, success, positioning, and appeal. The InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto has 253 rooms. 180 colleagues service the guests. Many customers are Australians. The hotel caters to both business and leisure guests.
The hotel embraces its heritage. It is a 130-year-old building converted into a hotel. Original features have been retained. The function rooms showcase exposed bricks. Brightly patterned carpets add character. The old bluestone laneway features Melbourne graffiti art.
The hotel also runs a History Project. Interns and college students research the building. They track down real people and their life stories. The hotel connects with their descendants. The basement was once a chocolate Easter egg factory. The hotel values the stories of the people who went through it.
The InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto boasts an enclosed rooftop pool and gym. Merchant restaurant offers Venetian cuisine. The hotel has world-class building management systems. These cut energy consumption. Each room has an iPad for various services.
The InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is located on Collins Street. It places guests in the heart of Melbourne’s culture, entertainment, and business. The city’s sights are easily accessible. The hotel stands as a jewel. It connects Melbourne’s past with the present. Every visitor is captivated by its special charm.