How a roadside motel became a boutique resort: 3 new places to stay in WA

Bohemian LA meets Perth’s CBD, while Freo’s convict quarter comes alive, and a Busselton motel shows off a breezy transformation in these three new getaway properties in Western Australia.

Hyde Perth

37 Pier St, Perth; (08) 9200 5555

• Wheelchair-accessible

THE LOCATION On Pier Street in Perth’s CBD, Hyde occupies a late-1960s hotel building stripped back and reworked over four years while retaining its original facade. Inside, the mood draws on Hyde’s beginnings on LA’s Sunset Strip: sociable, music-led and bohemian.

THE PLACE Warm interiors, curved furniture and retro details continue through 121 rooms and suites, where earthy colours meet leather, linen, rattan and wool rugs. Australian touches include designs by late Walmajarri artist Jimmy Pike. Rooms have rainfall showers, Bumble and bumble toiletries, Bose speakers and Lavazza coffee machines. The standout is the heated courtyard pool, where palms, loungers and cabana-style daybeds create a resort-like pocket in the city. There’s also a 24-hour gym.

THE EXPERIENCE Lounge areas flow towards the pool bar, carrying lunch into afternoon cocktails. At Farra, the Greek-inspired restaurant, WA produce appears in hot and cold meze and larger dishes cooked over fire. It’s a city hotel where staying in can be as appealing as heading out.

DON’T MISS Walk to Elizabeth Quay on the Swan River and cross its striking pedestrian bridge for views back across the city.

FROM $359 a night. Carla Hildebrandt

Garde Hotel

Corner of Parry St and William St, Fremantle; (08) 9239 3300

• Wheelchair-accessible
• EV charging

THE LOCATION Twenty kilometres south-west of Perth, Fremantle is where maritime history meets a booming food and arts scene. Garde Hotel sits in the heart of Freo’s historic Convict Quarter, with Fremantle Markets just around the corner.

THE PLACE The 83-room main hotel spans former police buildings dating from 1897 to 1903, alongside a striking 1978 Brutalist addition by acclaimed West Australian architect R.J.  “Gus” Ferguson. Garde also incorporates the neighbouring historic Warders Cottages. The design wears this layered past proudly, melding raw concrete and original brickwork with terracotta-drenched corridors and commissioned artworks, including works by Indigenous artists. Amenities include a wellness space with infrared sauna and ice shower, and a complimentary minibar in every room.

THE EXPERIENCE The vibe throughout Garde is effortlessly cool. A Gus Standard room is minimalist yet warm, balancing clean, modern lines with soft, tactile finishes and a plush king bed. Step straight out of the lobby into Freo’s shopping and cafe scene, with the famous markets nearby. If you prefer to hunker down, visit Anglesea, the hotel’s modern Australian restaurant and bar, where the menu draws on Japanese and Korean influences.

DON’T MISS Wander down to Fremantle’s West End for Vin Populi, a lively Italian restaurant where fresh pasta is a speciality.

FROM $276 a night. Indigo Lemay-Conway

The Timothee Resort

70 Causeway Rd, Busselton; (08) 9752 3000

• EV charging
• Wheelchair-accessible

THE LOCATION The Timothee sits beside the Vasse River on the edge of Busselton, about 2½ hours south of Perth in one of WA’s great holiday regions. Busselton Margaret River Airport, with direct flights to Melbourne and Sydney, is an eight-minute drive away.

THE PLACE This former roadside motel has been transformed into a stylish 33-room boutique resort with sustainability at its heart, while retaining its drive-up layout. Rooms have a breezy mid-century feel, with timber and rattan furnishings, coastal colours and commissioned works by WA artist Mia Laing. Outside, there’s a year-round heated pool with striped parasols and loungers, tennis court, barbecue area and riverside firepit. A restored timber cottage houses a communal guest kitchen; Indian restaurant and bar The Curry Port is on site.

THE EXPERIENCE The grounds are made for lingering, with complimentary bikes, bocce and lawn games, but there’s plenty to explore nearby. Margaret River township is about 45 minutes away, with the beaches around Dunsborough and Cape Naturaliste closer still. Swim at Meelup and Eagle Bay or head to the Indian Ocean at Yallingup.

DON’T MISS Walk Busselton’s famous 1.8-kilometre jetty, then have lunch at Shelter Brewing Co. Founded by local families, the brewery makes beer on site and serves wood-fired pizzas with views across Geographe Bay.

FROM $210 a night. Rebecca Peppiatt