Adina Melbourne unveils multi-million-dollar repositioning, inspired by the comforts of home
MELBOURNE: Adina Melbourne is in the midst of a multi-million-dollar repositioning, transforming the 155-room apartment hotel into a more contemporary, experience-led destination in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. The refurbishment project, as part of a $100 million investment in first-generation Adinas, will deliver upgrades across all 155 generously sized guest rooms, public areas, meeting and event facilities, and wellness spaces. The transformation will reimagine key touchpoints throughout the property while preserving the apartment-style accommodation that has long defined the Adina experience.
Located at 189 Queen Street in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, the apartment hotel offers studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments complete with kitchens, laundry facilities, and generous living spaces, placing guests within walking distance of Bourke Street Mall, Hardware Lane, Queen Victoria Market and Melbourne's theatre district.
Designed by Bates Smart and led by Brenton Smith, the repositioning respects the building's architectural foundations while introducing a distinctly more contemporary identity through new textures, lighting, furniture and finishes.
TFE Hotels’ Group Chief Operating Officer Chris Sedgwick said the multi-million-dollar refurbishment reflects what guests increasingly want from an apartment hotel.
"Guests want room to settle in, flexibility throughout their stay and spaces that make it easy to experience the city like locals," Sedgwick said. "Our guests consistently tell us they love the kitchens, living areas and apartment-style comfort that come with staying at Adina.”
Sedgwick said TFE Hotels was repositioning Adina Melbourne for the next generation of travellers by building on what guests already value most.
“We've enhanced the apartment-style experience we're known for while creating more inviting, connected spaces that better reflect how people want to stay, work and travel today."
Adina Melbourne follows in the footsteps of sister properties Adina Town Hall and Adina Darling Harbour in Sydney from an ESG perspective. Through a partnership with ReLove, quality furnishings from the refurbishment are being reused to support people transitioning into secure housing while reducing waste.
“Through this incredible partnership, quality preloved furniture is donated to people and families experiencing crisis,” said ReLove’s Co-Founder, Ben Stammer. “Every bed, table, chair and piece of furniture can make a meaningful difference to someone who needs it most.”
Stammer said the partnership gives quality furniture a second life, helping people escaping domestic violence, experiencing homelessness, or rebuilding after incarceration create a place to call home.
Among the most significant elements of the repositioning is the complete reimagining of the ground floor experience. Furniture arranged around a central fireplace creates areas where guests can sit, work or catch up with colleagues and friends. Pendant lights, textured wall coverings, layered fabrics, and bespoke rugs add character while respecting the building's original design.
Bates Smart Director Brenton Smith said the design team wanted the arrival experience to feel natural and welcoming.
"We were interested in the idea of arrival feeling less like checking into a hotel and more like walking into a familiar space," Smith said. "Many of the existing materials were already high quality. Rather than removing them, we worked with them.”
“The project was really about adding texture and personality."
In the guest rooms, new furnishings, textured wall finishes and thoughtful additions such as entry tables and storage pieces strengthen the apartment-style experience Adina is known for. Drawing on some of the design principles explored at Adina Town Hall Sydney, the rooms feel lighter and more contemporary while remaining true to the apartment-style experience.
"The rooms already had great bones," Smith said. "They're genuine apartment-style spaces with the proportions and functionality guests want. The apartments are also incredibly spacious, particularly compared to many newer developments, with room categories ranging from 19m2 studios to 132m2 penthouses."
Adina Melbourne's conference and meeting facilities has been reimagined with warmer finishes and contemporary design, replacing traditional corporate styling with earthy greens, terracotta, and ochres, complemented by new carpets, lighting, artwork, and joinery.
Flexible event spaces, catering up to 150 pax, are paired with upgraded audiovisual technology, including high-resolution laser projection in the Waratah and Gardenia Rooms, AI-powered conferencing cameras, ceiling microphones, and premium audio systems, creating a seamless experience for meetings, conferences, and hybrid events. Guests can make use of the outdoor balcony and generously sized penthouses for breakout sessions, smaller meetings or informal networking.
Sedgwick said the refurbishment reflected broader changes in how people travel and work.
"Whether guests are staying a night, a week or a month, people want spaces that feel comfortable and authentic," he said. "The same applies to meetings and events. People respond better to spaces they actually enjoy spending time in."
The works also include a refurbished swimming pool area, sauna and fitness centre with Technogym equipment, and new outdoor terrace furniture. The undercover, heated pool can be enjoyed year-round, whether for laps or relaxation, regardless of Melbourne's unpredictable weather.
Reuse was a key consideration throughout the project. Existing kitchen cabinetry will be retained and refreshed with new doors and hardware, and artwork will also be retained, reducing waste while preserving quality materials already embedded within the building.
"For us, it's common sense," Sedgwick said. "If something is well made and still has plenty of life left in it, replacing it isn't always the answer. This project shows what can be achieved through thoughtful and considered design."
Levels 11-19 will be completed ahead of the Australian Open, with the conference spaces and wellness facilities to open soon after.
Ends.
What’s in a name: Adina Melbourne (also known as Adina on Queen Street)
Address: 189 Queen Street, Melbourne CBD
Completed works: September 2026 to May 2027
Rooms: 155 rooms are split into studios (average size 19m2); one bedroom apartments (average size 52m2); two bedroom apartments (average size 69m2); Two-bedroom apartment penthouse (average size 96m2); three-bedroom apartments (average size 129m2) and 2 x three bedroom penthouse apartments (average size 132m2)
Developer/Owner: TOGA Group
Operator: TFE Hotels
Interior Design: Bates Smart
Builder: Dean Psalia from DLP
FF&E Supplier: Toga Procure.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jodi Clark - TFE Hotels (Director of Communications) | +61 499 900 658 | [email protected]
In a fast moving digital environment, we understand story edits can impact performance, so please avoid using historical press releases or image links. We’re here and happy to assist with fact checking/image distribution as needed.
ABOUT ADINA
Adina is a proudly independent business with a global footprint of more than 40 apartment-style hotels across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Europe, and the UK. Over the past four decades Adina has brought its unique approach to hospitality around the world, from Melbourne to Munich. The brand is proud of its origins and there is a quiet Australian-ness to everything it does – it’s easy going, unpretentious and friendly. Adina offers neighbourhood-based living in some of the most exciting corners of the globe and encourages guests to live like a local wherever they are. It does this by providing fully equipped apartments with kitchens at their hearts, built in flexibility to make being away from home easy, and choice, comfort, and connection. www.adinahotels.com
WHO ARE TFE HOTELS?
TFE Hotels (TOGA Far East Hotels) is Australia’s International Hotel Group - headquartered in Sydney and operating in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Austria, Singapore, Switzerland, and the UK. TFE has a portfolio of seven established hotel brands - A by Adina, Adina Hotels, Vibe Hotels, Quincy Hotels, Travelodge Hotels, Rendezvous Hotels and Collection by TFE Hotels; the award-winning MM:NT Berlin Lab and, most recently, Hobson Cambridge by Adina and Wellington Glasgow by Adina, with more in the development pipeline. TFE Hotels acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands we conduct business upon and pays our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. We respect the Country itself, including its trees, animals, spirits, waters, skies, stars, and special sites. https://www.tfehotels.com/