Blacksmith | The Stella Collective

Bringing back the great Australian holiday dream of the 60’s and 70’s, The Stella Collective has created a dream hospitality venue Blacksmith that tells the story of the past and the future of this beautiful regional Australian town.

Since the early 1960’s lake Mulwala was a celebrated good old-fashioned ‘escape from the big smoke’ resort town noted for its all year impeccable sunshine. Holidaymakers enjoyed being out on their boat all day, water skiing, fishing and enjoying the great Australian sunshine.
Standing proud, Blacksmith Provedore sits on the banks of Lake Mulwala, a modernist exploration into the hazy nostalgia of bygone summers set in the regional town of Mulwala. Owner Liz Bayles’s, through the love of her hometown wanted to create a building, space and ethos for her regional community that stood strong and bright.

The outcome is a serene modernist building that successfully merges the country past of Lake Mulwala into a utopian present-day palace. Guests step off their boats onto the green shores, welcomed by incredible wine and cheese from the surrounding countryside and afar.
The approach from the main street (Melbourne St) is a simple earnest white pavilion, yet as you draw closer to the lake, the design slowly reveals itself. Timber beams lead you down the path to the entry creating a perfect symbiosis of rhythm, excitement and anticipation. Once inside you are greeted with a golden buttery explosion of soft dry pressed brick, sand dune walls, textured tiles, warm walnut timbers, and white onyx stone. A perfect marriage of interior and architectural facade finishes that seamlessly balance between summer and winter palletes, to combine the ultimate multiseasonal resort-like getaway.

A vintage Brazilian cheese cabinet has been lovingly restored and sits centre stage amongst the provedore area filled with bottles of wine, ready for a sundowner.
The fireplace was designed for the perfect winter escape to read a book and enjoy a glass of red ensuring that the winter months provide welcoming respite, ensuring the venue is loved throughout the seasons.

Whilst the approach from the street is quite and simple, the approach by boat from Lake Mulwala is vastly different. Blacksmith appears like a mirage from the waters edge. The shimmering and dramatic building beckoning you in with its arched doors creating a jaw dropping moment signifying that you have arrived somewhere incredibly special.

There are little touches every where that tell a story of love, fun and spirit; the round cabana doubles as a dance floor late in to the night and custom peach tiger print umbrellas that are dotted around on the green lawn are not just stylish beacons from the foreshore, but are symbolic of the white tiger renowned for its strength, majestic courage, and vision.

It was our primary ambition to safeguard the towns legacy whilst being able to give something new and exciting to the people. Blacksmith was designed to not only blend but also enhance the environment of its neighboring mid-century motels, hotels and tourism sector. The regional location is significant as the design needed to have ‘wow’ factor but also be available to all people, whether in kaftans and swimwear or dressed up for a celebration, people needed to feel appropriate, comfortable and welcomed in the space. This design also marks a shifting landscape for regional hospitality and a new standard for country Australia.
Hana explains “I am an outsider looking in on the phenomenon that is the collective memory shared by my Australian friends of their childhood summer road trips. To me the charm is undeniable and I wanted Blacksmith to reflect this in an updated way, for the next generation are making new memories with their own families. 

“Blacksmith draws a comparison to a Slim Aarons scene but the design is quintessential Australiana. The glamour and appeal of Blacksmith reminds us of the good life that exists beyond the rabbit hole, but ultimately Blacksmith reminds us to walk on the sunny side, and smile.”