From the Editor

I remember the first time I went to what was then called Hotel Hotel in Canberra. It was 2015 and the hotel (now Ovolo Nishi) hadn’t been open for long. But word had gotten out that the city finally had a lodging worthy of the national capital. And when I walked in, I understood why.

Talk about making an entrance. More than 2000 beams of recycled timber created a staircase and snaked up the walls and onto the ceiling. The concierge desk was a slab of concrete. In the lobby, vintage furniture mingled with bespoke pieces by Australian stars such as Charles Wilson, Lucy McRae and Adam Goodrum. The Molonglo Group, developers of the New Acton precinct, collaborated with more than 50 artists, designers and architects to create a property that celebrated the past but looked to the future.

It had a knock-on effect. The in-house restaurant, Monster Kitchen and Bar, was packed and the lobby became a meeting place. Other eateries and bars started popping up and suddenly Canberra had a dining scene to complement its cultural smarts.

Design and the arts have such an influence on transforming cities and towns and how we travel. The “MONA effect” in Hobart has been well documented. When David Walsh founded the Museum of Old and New Art in 2011, he fashioned something unique and innovative that attracted others to do the same. Energy and vision is contagious.

I travelled back and forth to Hobart for more than 30 years before settling here at the end of 2020. Two decades ago, I could have counted its good restaurants on one hand. Cool accommodation? Few and far between. But now I have a long list of recommendations. And not surprisingly, they all look the part.

I hope you enjoy our design issue.