The splendour of the surrounding landscape provided inspiration for Marnong Estate, with rich colours and textures drawn from the undulating farmland, vineyard and Macedon Ranges in the distance.
Set on more than 100,000 acres, Marnong Estate is an exciting new hospitality destination just 35-minutes’ drive north from Melbourne CBD. The homestead dates back to the mid-1800s and is of great historical significance for its associations with the pre-colonial pastoral era. Today Marnong Estate is an evolving initiative providing a sustainable, cultural and historical experience for the community and tourists. With the award-winning restaurant Bankvale Run (Hotel Restaurant of the Year, 2019 Tourism Accommodation Australia (VIC) Awards for Excellence), and a resort, vineyard, brewery and agribusiness in development, Marnong Estate is a world-class destination and the first of its kind in the region.
The client engaged us to redesign the Bankvale Run restaurant bar and terrace to elevate the customer and brand experience and create an all-day dining venue that can transition from day to night trade and be flexible for events and intimate gatherings. We looked to nature for the colour and material palette and infused the venue with modern Australian style and the warmth of Melbourne hospitality.
Located in a modern building behind the bluestone homestead, the restaurant and bar offer landscape views through panoramic windows. Banquette seating wraps around the edge of each space, and dining and bar tables are set within. Stairs lead up to the terrace for outdoor dining accompanied by views of the countryside stretching as far as the eye can see.
The palette has warmth and authenticity, inspired by the colour, texture and depth of this landscape. It brings the beauty of nature into the space, complementing the views and unifying inside and out. Terrazzo floor tiles are speckled with warm orange, amber and olive-green, and rendered walls have a textured surface. Timber ceilings radiate warmth; leather-bound shelving adds unique detail; and reeded glass panels create privacy while still maintaining unity and flow within the space.
Banquettes and chairs are upholstered in rich brown and green leathers with scattered cushions in deep earthy colours. The curved armrests and corners of the banquettes soften the lines of the architecture and continue in the timber seating that sweeps around the terrace perimeter. Glass panels ensure unobstructed views, and light timbers complement the landscape.
We injected vibrant colour into the stairwell with hot-pink walls and a “Green as the Grove” neon sign referencing the hilltop landscape. The upstairs bathrooms have been opened up and modernised, with terrazzo tiles and rendered walls creating consistency between the levels.
With a colour and material palette drawn from the Australian landscape, Marnong Estate emanates the splendour of nature. It embodies the warmth and authenticity of Melbourne hospitality and provides an unparalleled destination for local, visitors and tourists, all just a stone’s throw from the city.
