INDESIGN
TROPICAL NORTH Whitewashed wooden panels, an almost Bohemian detail aesthetic and Bougainvillea’s merging the bar with the ocean’s edge - a sunsoaked weekend in the Tropical North is a lot more luxurious than you may have imagined, writes Cameron Pine.
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ocated as an idyllic gateway to Magnetic Island, overlooking the Coral Sea and Townsville City, The Ville demands you to throw away any pre-conceived idea you may have had about the level of luxury on offer in Townsville. Politely put those notions aside and pick up a Miss Song’s curated cocktail – The Ville Hotel and Casino’s eclectic Asian restaurant that, just like the rest of the hotels delivers a standard that’s world class. Benefitting the entire community, The Ville Resort and Casino has recently seen a $45 million redevelopment of one of its most iconic hotels – punched with a whole lot of coastal whimsy and dreamy beachside energy from the same owners as Orpheus Island, one of Australia’s most luxurious destinations frequented by the rich and famous. Townsville, on the other hand with a population of 300,000 has emerged from its post-mining slump with a fresh approach to its DNA, offering new experiences. The designers Woods Bagot followed a brief of lush, tropical and ‘retro cool’ making heavy use of white timber, render and white brick, to follow the authenticity of the tropical climate but with a feeling of ‘pleasure garden.’ The Quarterdeck bar where they ‘serve cocktails and dreams’, the designers have continued the use of circular motives a decorative feature, wooden awnings as if you were on the deck of a five star ship and the coastal perfect picture has been adequately painted. Making the most of an ‘endless summer’, The Ville has been redesigned to take into consideration of guests who want to enjoy the sun (there’s more than 300 days a year of it), but also have some fun – if a Nautilus helicopter from the Hotel’s backyard to Magnetic Island takes your fancy? It’s all no problem - that’s if you even want to leave the lush hotel surrounds where hints of green and gold meet white tropical prints at every turn. There are four restaurants on the property, five bars including a swim up pool bar ‘Splash Bar’, but we’re not talking Sea World resort style family swim up – think classy retro pool house meets 46 INSTYLE
mosaic tiled pool complete with lie in chairs and you’ve got the coastal dream down pat. The Ville is the gateway to the reef, rainforests and the outback and a explorative notion but it’s bright and fresh aesthetic feels more like like a Five star resort along Hawaii’s Waikiki – an abundance of textural variety, space and comfortable furnishings provide a welcome for everyone. Guests can even completely zen out adjacent to the pool with the help of Healing Hands Day Spa who offer traditional massage without all the fluff – outsourced to perfection, The Ville has recognized that a discerning clientele expect both the quality of design and service to merge. Crisp white sheets, a luxurious bathroom, loungeroom and balcony in all suites withdraw the limitations of a Casino hotel and open up the possibilities to relax and get lost in your own space or explore the vast surrounding environment without feeling like you’re coming back to a standard bed and a hotel room. If you do leave the food and entertainment opportunities of the property check out Michel’s restaurant, still one of the best Townsville has to offer. Who said a touch of natural textures, palm fronds, morrocan tile influences, wood and brass can’t look at home in a large-scale Casino venue. It’s those quintessential Queensland never-ending sunsets meets contemporary cool that will have you going back for more. For more information visit www.the-ville.com.au
