The historic Hotel Kurrajong Canberra is set to reopen its doors this December.
Currently undergoing a significant renovation, the iconic boutique heritage-listed hotel is located in Canberra’s parliamentary precinct and surrounded by the city’s attractions and business district. For 11 years, including his time in office in the 1940s, post-war Prime Minister Ben Chifley called the hotel his home. He preferred its comfortable, down-to-earth confines to that other well-known local accommodation, The Lodge.
Rachel Argaman, CEO of TFE Hotels, said: “The light on the hill has been relit! We look forward to reopening the doors of the famed Hotel Kurrajong Canberra, a classic and classy hotel, located right on parliament’s doorstep.
Our guests want more than just a bed, and at Hotel Kurrajong they will experience a piece of the capital’s history, with the hotel having enjoyed a long association with key Australian political and architectural figures.”
The restored Hotel Kurrajong Canberra will retain many of its finest historic architectural features including pavilions, deep verandas and radiating courtyards. The hotel’s sophisticated design and chic furnishings pay homage to its notable origins and design by the Commonwealth’s Chief Architect John Smith Murdoch in 1926; who was also responsible for the design of Old Parliament House.
Hotel Kurrajong is co-owned by TFE Hotels and the National Roads & Motorist’s Association (NRMA). Group CEO of NRMA, Tony Stuart said the history behind the famed Hotel Kurrajong Canberra married well with the NRMA’s proud history in Canberra as Australia’s largest mutual.
“The opening of the renovated Hotel Kurrajong represents an exciting chapter in the NRMA’s growing travel and accommodation portfolio,” Mr Stuart said.
“This hotel – so steeped in history and tradition – will give the NRMA and its partners TFE Hotels a fantastic avenue to deliver a unique hotel experience. We can’t wait to open its doors to our members and the broader community.”
The 147 room hotel will comprise 26 heritage listed rooms, four executive suites, four balconies and eight terrace rooms. The hotel’s lovely garden setting was established by Thomas Charles Weston, then the Superintendent of Parks and Gardens in Canberra. Most of his original plantings remain.
Chifley’s Bar and Grill, a nod to Ben Chifley, will be a quality-driven restaurant with an unmatched premium beef selection, by way of hand selected meats. Diners will be wowed by contemporary creations with a focus on premium local ingredients and a selection of over 80 local and international wines.
TFE Hotels is known for its respectful transformation of heritage buildings into hotels and apartment hotels. Other heritage buildings within the TFE Hotels portfolio include Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury, Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne, Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney and Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne.
TFE Hotels also manages Medina Serviced Apartments Canberra, James Court and Medina Serviced Apartments Canberra in the ACT. Following the company’s recent joint venture with Far East Hospitality last April, TFE Hotels is pursuing an ambitious growth strategy with other upcoming new hotels which include Vibe Hotel Canberra Airport, Vibe Hotel Marysville, Adina Apartment Hotel Mascot and Travelodge Mascot.
