EVENTS
Melbourne’s
Southbank
district
welcomes new
luxury hotel
Sydney Opera House opens
first new venue since 2004
The Sydney Opera House has
opened the doors of its latest function
and events space – the Yallamundi
Rooms – marking the completion
of the next major project in its $273
million program of renewal works.
By transforming office space into
a multi-purpose events venue, more
of the Opera House has been made
available for public use and with extra
open space created on the Northern
Broadwalk. The rooms are the first new
venue development at the Opera House
since 2004.
The Yallamundi Rooms will be
available for a range of occasions,
including community celebrations,
intimate gatherings, private events and
small-scale performances. The flexible
space has capacity for up to 400 people
standing or 180 seated, with several
room configurations available. Floor-
to-ceiling windows offer sweeping
views of Sydney Harbour.
“We set out our ambitions for a
decade of renewal, to ensure the Opera
House continues to inspire generations
of artists, audiences and visitors… the
Yallamundi Rooms are another example
of how we are realising that ambition,”
says Louise Herron, Sydney Opera
House CEO. S
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
secures new convention centre
The Sunshine Coast, two hours drive
north of Brisbane, is home to some of
Australia’s best beaches and coastal
living and they’re set to receive a new
purpose-built convention centre.
The Convention Centre will
be open to local, interstate, and
international visitors after April. The
$8 million development is part of The
Shakespeare Property Group’s growing
portfolio in the region, following its
purchase of the Novotel Twin Waters
Resort in September 2018.
Shakespeare Property Group CEO
and Executive Director, Yak Yong
Quek, said he was pleased “to deliver
the Sunshine Coast this much-
needed facility to capitalise on fresh
opportunities in the business and
events space.”
Queensland Tourism’s Development
Minister, Kate Jones, is pleased with the
new development.
“We are confident that further
investment in infrastructure such
as this will increase the capacity for
the Sunshine Coast to attract events,
conferences and exhibitions.” S
Accor has opened its newest
luxury Melbourne hotel,
Shadow Play by Peppers, in
the city’s Southbank arts and
entertainment district.
The 46-storey hotel
features one and two bedroom
apartments, with floor to ceiling
windows overlooking the bay
and Melbourne city.
It includes a number of guest
facilities including a gym, heated
pool, sauna and an enclosed
garden space on the top floor.
Avant garde design elements
feature throughout the property.
On arrival, guests are welcomed
to the hotel in an appointed lobby
on the ground floor, which flows
into Edwin Wine Bar & Cellar.
This brand new venue
is positioned to be one of
Melbourne’s finest food and wine
experiences with its seasonally
curated menu and extensive
wine list, with distinct Victorian
flavour, meticulously selected by
the Edwin Wine Bar & Cellar’s
sommelier.
“We’re excited visitors to
Southbank can now experience
Peppers’ unique style and
acclaimed hospitality,” says
Simon McGrath, Accor Pacific
COO.
“[The hotel] has added a new
level of sophistication and luxury
to Melbourne’s accommodation
offering, which caters perfectly
to an increasingly selective global
market that is looking for quality,
location and facilities of a world-
class calibre,”
Shadow Play by Peppers is
the brand’s second Melbourne
property. The first, Peppers
Docklands, opened in January
2016. S
Issue 2 2019 | Chief of Staff 41