Beneath the endless skies of Victoria’s High Country, at the gateway of King Valley, the reimagined Lancemore Milawa is now open to guests. Cradled by distant mountain ranges, the boutique hotel expands the vision of a contemporary country residence, inviting guests to experience barefoot luxury and Mediterranean influences amid patches of pastureland and world-class wine country.
Guided by award-winning interior designer Hana Hakim of The Stella Collective, the redesign of the hotel invites intricate detailing and plush finishes to pared-back, free-flowing spaces, allowing the celebration of the region’s four distinctive seasons: from the show of wildflowers in spring and the sun-drenched days of summer to the kaleidoscopic colours of autumn and winter’s snow-capped peaks.
Lancemore Group CEO Julian Clark said the hotel’s multimillion-dollar transformation has been a long-term strategy for the company and one to cement the location as a premiere destination for luxury regional travel in Australia.
“As a special part of our family’s hotel portfolio, we wanted to elevate Milawa on the global stage and deliberately sought to work with someone with the vision to do just that,” he says of Hakim’s involvement as the lead designer on the project. “The hotel was first born as a dream of my parents and the Brown family winemakers many years ago and it is a great honour to continue that legacy for the next generation of guests to discover.”
Presenting 40 generously proportioned rooms and suites, an onsite restaurant and bar, two luxurious lounge areas and pool, the hotel resides within hedged gardens where ornamental blossom, rambling rose bushes and golden acacia reflect in the peaceful ponds. Drawing inspiration from the warmth of the sun during the summer and the comfort of fire when it cools, indoor and outdoor spaces flow freely regardless of the season, allowing guests to interact with the environment year-round.
By leaning into local artisanship as well as relaxed international influences, particularly the sun-kissed palette made famous by the Moors, the hotel strikes a balance between regional sophistication and world-class luxury. Rooms and suites now greet guests with polished concrete floors, sumptuous bouclé daybeds or linen-covered sofas, custom timber joinery and commissioned artworks.
Split across two levels, the east-facing rooms open to the shared garden courtyard or elevated balcony, with masses of wisteria framing views in spring. West-facing rooms enjoy sunsets across the Brown Brothers estate – the ideal spot to enjoy a grazing board and a bottle of King Valley’s finest.
Hammocks, poolside cabanas and sunbeds lend a Mediterranean vibe, while the hotel’s position among Australia’s most celebrated wineries evokes a sense of Northern Italy. Grounding the hotel to its Ned Kelly country roots, Lancemore Milawa showcases the full series of Sidney Nolan prints depicting the outlaw – the only destination in Australia to do so.
The hotel’s onsite dining room, Restaurant Merlot, named for the variety of grape vines it overlooks, is helmed by executive chef Aaron Jose. With more than 20 years’ culinary experience from award-winning restaurants including two hatted Momo, Jose returns to his origins in the area, showcasing local ingredients through paddock to plate fine-dining.
Located in one of Australia’s oldest gourmet regions, Lancemore Milawa is less than three hours’ drive from Melbourne or one hour from Albury airport. A key location in the food- and wine-focused neighbourhood of King Valley, the hotel is surrounded by famed wineries, boutique distilleries and top-notch food producers including Brown Brothers, Hurdle Creek Still and Milawa Cheese Factory.
Visit www.lancemore.com.au for further information.
