Discover Melbourne CBD Accommodation, Hotel Windsor For Victorian Elegance

Melbourne, Australia is a world famous centre for the arts, for culture, and for entertainment, sports and tourism. This Melbourne CBD accommodation article describes the Hotel Windsor, an elegant and historic grand hotel, which has been an important part of Melbourne life for over a century.

The Hotel Windsor, which is in Melbourne city centre, in Spring Street, is an independently owned Grand Hotel, in fact the only one in Australia. It is within easy walking distance of many of central Melbourne landmarks, including Federation Square, the National Gallery, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Hotel Windsor has been part of Melbourne life for just over 125 years. It was built in 1883 to the designs of Charles Webb. The first owner was the shipping magnate George Nipper. An early expansion saw the addition of the Grand Central Staircase. At 127 years of age, the Windsor is in fact older than many of the extremely well known Grand Hotels of Paris, London and New York. In its early history the Windsor was a meeting place for the highest echelons of Melbourne society, from business people and politicians, to actresses and music hall performers, and in 1898 it was the scene of the drafting of Australia's constitution.

By the 1970s a decline had set in, and there was a real risk that the hotel might be demolished. Luckily the Victorian state government were not prepared to countenance the loss of such an important part of Melbourne's heritage, and they intervened to save the hotel. Since then heritage specialists have organised a restoration programme for the hotel, and it is now back in business and in independent ownership. The Hotel Windsor's elegant surroundings are now protected for future generations of visitors to Melbourne.

The hotel has even played a part in an unusual revival in Melbourne. Many younger locals, and tourists, now round off a busy day in town with a relaxing English style high tea. These high teas (afternoon teas) were regarded as a somewhat antiquated English tradition, suitable only for maiden aunts in vicarage gardens, but now in foodie obsessed Melbourne they have become the latest trend. Many restaurants and hotel (Langham, Sofitel) now offer high teas, sometime with unusual variations on the old traditional menu. The Windsor's high teas however remain true to tradition: egg, ham and cucumber sandwiches, scones (baked to the hotels original recipe), fresh fruit and chocolate pastries.

The Hotel Windsor has twenty luxury suites, and 160 other rooms. All rooms are non smoking, air conditioned and have a mini bar. Valet parking is provided for guests, and there is complimentary use of the Tower Fitness Centre.

The Windsor's restaurant is named 111 Spring Street Restaurant, and it offers an exciting menu, combining the classic French style with modern Australian influence. Jerome Tremoulet, the executive chef, believes in providing a dining experience suitably fitting to the beauty and style of the hotel's architecture and interiors. There is also an outstanding selection from the wine cellars.

Visitors to the Cricketers' Bar can choose from a wide variety of foreign and Australian beers. As one can judge by the name, the Cricketers has played a part in Melbourne's sporting heritage over its long history. The bar holds a large collection of memorabilia from the last one hundred years of Australian cricket, and on many occasions the bar has hosted the victory celebrations of Australian Test teams.

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