Thursday 14 May 2026
5:44am AEDT

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Heritage

Once Melbourne’s first prestige car showroom, The Royce was transformed into a hotel in 1928, the golden age of the city, and a time of glamour. In 2022, it emerged from a two-year renovation – the vision of a luxury boutique hotel in standing with the establishments on the world stage: the grand hotels of England and Europe, and a place of unprecedented luxury and tasteful service.

A bold spirit, through the ages

The royce history 1888 boomtown beginnings grey

1888

The Royce Hotel site has a rich history of service that began in Melbourne’s glorious Golden Age, when the city was dubbed “Marvellous Melbourne”.

Prior to the grand building that stands here today, resided one of Melbourne’s many cable car engine houses. From 1888 it serviced holidaymakers and day-trippers that would ride cable cars all the way from the CBD to the city’s playground at St Kilda Beach.

With the advent of the electric tram and the revolutionary motorcar, nicknamed the “horseless carriage”, the huge cable wheels finally ground to a halt in the 1920s. The abandoned engine house was put on the market and levelled to make way for the landmark building that was to become the Royce Hotel. The original cable tunnels and wheel pits still reside under the floors of the Royce, an echo of the building’s enterprising past and commitment to world-class travel experiences.

The royce history 1927 hollywood dream grey

1927

The Royce Hotel building began its life as an opulent car showroom commissioned by racehorse owner, motoring buff and pioneering car dealer, Charles Kellow. Reputedly the first person to own a car in Melbourne, Kellow handpicked the high profile site on Melbourne’s grand boulevard to highlight the elite status of the luxury American and British motorcars, including Rolls Royce, Bentley and Packard that he was importing.

Kellow commissioned prominent Melbourne architect, Harry A. Norris, to design his new monument to the motorcar. Norris was a champion of the Spanish Mission style and was responsible for the iconic Nicholas Building, Curtin House and Majorca House in Melbourne’s CBD. He created an extravagant showroom and offices that embraced the excesses of the Roaring 20s and set a new standard in luxury for commercial establishments in the southern hemisphere.

Opening in 1928, the car salon had all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood Hills mansion, with a lofty gold ceiling, marble stairs with an iron balustrade, a palm fountain, Spanish style tiling, faience detailing and copper and wrought iron chandeliers. More like a ballroom than a showroom, walking into the space in the 1920s was like entering a theatrical world of fast cars, movie stars, and flowing Champagne. That is until the Great Depression cooled everyone’s engines.

The royce history 1940 return to greatness grey

1940

The Second World War saw the Royce Hotel building - then known as Kellow House - drafted into military service. The building was transformed into the headquarters for the Royal Australian Air Force Records section and then employed as a recruiting centre.

In 1949, the State Electricity Corporation renamed the building Rubicon House. The site came full circle in the 1970s, with high performance vehicles once again the focus when it was occupied by the Department of Civil Aviation.

The architectural and historical significance of Kellow’s original showroom was recognised with a Heritage Victoria listing in the 1980s. This ensured the protection of the ornate Spanish Mission features when the building was redeveloped as the luxury Royce Hotel in the 1990s.

In 2020, a stunning renovation was undertaken - drawing inspiration from the grand hotels of Europe. Heritage details were preserved, with the reimagined interiors paying homage to the opulence of the 1920s, and the discreet luxury of the Rolls Royce.

Almost a century on, The Royce has returned to its position of prestige and greatness.

Boomtown Beginnings (1888-1926)

The Royce Hotel site has a rich history of service that began in Melbourne’s glorious Golden Age, when the city was dubbed “Marvellous Melbourne”. Prior to the grand building that stands here today, resided one of Melbourne’s many cable car engine houses. From 1888 it serviced holidaymakers and day-trippers that would ride cable cars all the way from the CBD to the city’s playground at St Kilda Beach. With the advent of the electric tram and the revolutionary motorcar, nicknamed the “horseless carriage”, the huge cable wheels finally ground to a halt in the 1920s. The abandoned engine house was put on the market and levelled to make way for the landmark building that was to become the Royce Hotel. The original cable tunnels and wheel pits still reside under the floors of the Royce, an echo of the building’s enterprising past and commitment to world-class travel experiences.

Hollywood Dream

The Royce Hotel building began its life as an opulent car showroom commissioned by racehorse owner, motoring buff and pioneering car dealer, Charles Kellow. Reputedly the first person to own a car in Melbourne, Kellow handpicked the high profile site on Melbourne’s grand boulevard to highlight the elite status of the luxury American and British motorcars, including Rolls Royce, Bentley and Packard that he was importing. Kellow commissioned prominent Melbourne architect, Harry A. Norris, to design his new monument to the motorcar. Norris was a champion of the Spanish Mission style and was responsible for the iconic Nicholas Building, Curtin House and Majorca House in Melbourne’s CBD. He created an extravagant showroom and offices that embraced the excesses of the Roaring 20s and set a new standard in luxury for commercial establishments in the southern hemisphere. Opening in 1928, the car salon had all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood Hills mansion, with a lofty gold ceiling, marble stairs with an iron balustrade, a palm fountain, Spanish style tiling, faience detailing and copper and wrought iron chandeliers. More like a ballroom than a showroom, walking into the space in the 1920s was like entering a theatrical world of fast cars, movie stars, and flowing Champagne. That is until the Great Depression cooled everyone’s engines.

Return to Greatness

The Second World War saw the Royce Hotel building - then known as Kellow House - drafted into military service. The building was transformed into the headquarters for the Royal Australian Air Force Records section and then employed as a recruiting centre. In 1949, the State Electricity Corporation renamed the building Rubicon House. The site came full circle in the 1970s, with high performance vehicles once again the focus when it was occupied by the Department of Civil Aviation. The architectural and historical significance of Kellow’s original showroom was recognised with a Heritage Victoria listing in the 1980s. This ensured the protection of the ornate Spanish Mission features when the building was redeveloped as the luxury Royce Hotel in the 1990s. In 2020, a stunning renovation was undertaken - drawing inspiration from the grand hotels of Europe. Heritage details were preserved, with the reimagined interiors paying homage to the opulence of the 1920s, and the discreet luxury of the Rolls Royce. Almost a century on, The Royce has returned to its position of prestige and greatness.