Hospitality juggernaut Merivale has announced it will soon join Melbourne’s world-class hospitality industry in the beating heart of the city’s CBD, Flinders Lane.
Justin Hemmes’ outfit has purchased the freehold of Tomasetti House at 277 Flinders Lane, for close to $45 million.
This represents Merivale’s first venue in Melbourne, its first outside New South Wales and only its second outside Sydney.
Hemmes famously travels the world to find the best ideas and inspiration, bringing them home and adding the Merivale touch to create some of Sydney’s best-known and most patronised venues. He cites looking forward to working “alongside so many industry greats” in the southern capital.
“Melbourne is a very special city, with a unique energy and an inimitable soul. Its local hospitality industry is one of the best in the world; brimming with creative culinary talent and supported by a passionate community of diners.
“Melbourne’s CBD has suffered terribly from the hardships of the past year. We are committed to doing everything we can to help reinvigorate the city and support it in its road to recovery.”
The group’s venues have been amongst those heavily affected by the pandemic shift and transformation in travel, and the pub-tzar sees opportunity in the reinvigorated domestic market and opportunities.
“I have spent years travelling and being inspired by places from all corners of the globe, but the last twelve months has certainly reinforced that there is simply no place like home,” says Hemmes.
“I am energised by Australia’s collective appreciation for our own backyard and am extremely passionate about continuing to invest in an industry that defines so much of our vibrant culture.”
Tomasetti House has been an asset of the Sydney-based Millett family since 2014, after purchasing it for around $16 million. They responded to suggestion by HTL Property, which managed the deal, to bring Hemmes for an inspection.
HTL director Andrew Jolliffe proffers that Melbournians now “watch with great expectation” of what is to come, based on any of many previous examples of Merivale transformations.
“Properties such as Tomasetti House, and clients such as Justin Hemmes are synonymous with the very vanguard of what is possible when leading purveyors are matched with iconic real estate applications.”
Merivale will take the keys to the laneway building later this year, with further details on plans to be announced in due course.
