Dining destination The Royal Mail Hotel is set to get a makeover this year, adding a new fine dining restaurant to the mix.
The Royal Mail Hotel currently offers guests luxury accommodation, a two-hatted restaurant, wine bar and casual bistro in the tiny town of Dunkeld, a scenic 3-hour drive from Melbourne.
The owners are set to create a bold, new restaurant on the site, opening in October 2017. Fully committed to Dunkeld and the project, Executive Chef Robin Wickens has put his name to the new fine diner – Wickens at the Royal Mail.
The new restaurant will take advantage of the natural surroundings and feature views of Mt Sturgeon. Lead by architect Nicoholas Byrne of Byrne Architects, the Melbourne based design studio has promised to "capture the essence of Dunkeld, the Grampians and the rich history of the Royal Mail Hotel while ensuring the restaurant blends into the property's grounds and the broader Victorian landscape," Byrne said.
The floor to ceiling windows and views to Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt have shaped the overall design concept and create a feeling of dining in nature. By working closely with the restaurant team, Byrne Architects have created a structure that clearly conveys the connection between the restaurant, the natural environment and its local bounty that is featured in Wickens' dishes.
"The garden and the seasons are key elements in determining the dishes we create, and from October the new dining space will add to the overall experience; making an even stronger connection between the land and the dining table." said Wickens.
By incorporating a range of beautiful and locally-sourced materials that speak to the heritage and landscape of the Royal Mail Hotel, the space will deliver a sense of unadorned, simple elegance, letting the awe-inspiring setting of Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt demand attention whilst highlighting the important work of Robin and his team in the kitchen.
Key design elements of Wickens at the Royal Mail include:
• A winding bush trail through the native gardens that connect the hotel and the new restaurant
• A vertical garden lit from behind to create a mysterious and inviting entrance to the arrival lounge, from which the silhouette of the dining room can be seen through a fine, timber screen
• Australian hardwoods, sheepskins and sandstone sourced from Dunkeld's local quarry to create a raw and pared-back sense of luxury that highlight the Royal Mail Hotel's agricultural roots.
• A pre-dinner arrival lounge that is connected to the dining room by a wine corridor where approximately 400 local and international wines from the hotel's award-winning cellar will be on display.
The restaurant will be open as usual in the meantime.
Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel will open in October 2017; 98 Parker Street, Dunkeld, VIC
Check availability and book Royal Mail Hotel here on alluxia.
Images: supplied
