Overview
For nearly a century, 280 Little Collins Street has stood as a significant retail and social hub for generations of Melburnians. Designed by celebrated Melbourne interwar architect Harry Norris as the first significant Chicago-inspired gothic-style commercial building in Victoria, it opened in 1930 as the flagship store of the fast-expanding G J Coles empire — later rebadged as Coles — before David Jones took over in the 1980s, transforming the site into that brand's Melbourne menswear flagship.
Now, the heritage-listed building has entered a new chapter as the home of Rodd & Gunn's new global flagship. The mega-venue showcases fashion, dining and design across its four floors, marking the New Zealand outfitter's most ambitious venture to date. It follows the recent arrival of Mecca's new Bourke Street flagship in the northern wing of the same building, marking a new era for one of Melbourne's most distinctive addresses.
The crown jewel of the venue sits on level one: The Lodge Dining Room. Framed by soaring arched windows and antique mirrors, the grand yet intimate space brings together The Lodge Bar Group's Executive Chef Matt Lambert (former chef and owner of Michelin-starred New York restaurant The Musket Room) and Head Chef James Evangelinos (The Musket Room, hatted Sydney pub Hotel Centennial and James Packer's former personal chef) to deliver produce-led menus ranging from à la carte to ten-course tasting journeys. To start, dishes may include scallops with white asparagus, marron with summer bisque, smoked eel with new-season tomatoes and herb emulsion, and a sophisticated quail galantine with foie gras and whiskey jelly. Mains are along the lines of duck with beetroot and radicchio, and Bass Grouper bouillabaisse with prawns and mussels.
Wines are curated by Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas, showcasing the best of New Zealand alongside standout Australian and international drops. At the same time, a reeded-glass private dining room with a striking white marble table adds a layer of exclusivity.
Rodd & Gunn has worked with St Kilda-based Studio Y to reimagine the building's southern wing, weaving its art deco glamour with hospitality-led design. Arched motifs, curved joinery, stepped stone and metallic accents nod to the 1930s, while warm timbers, natural stone and marble accents echo Rodd & Gunn's contemporary aesthetic. "This building holds a special place in Melbourne's history, and we wanted our flagship to honour that legacy at every turn," says Mike Beagley, Rodd & Gunn CEO. "Every design choice was made to respect its heritage while creating something entirely new."
Each of the four distinct but connected levels offers a different experience. The lower-ground Cellar Caffetteria pays homage to the famed Coles Cafeteria, combining a retail wine store with an innovative cocktail laboratory by Matt Bax (Bar Americano), an Italian-inspired menu featuring handmade pasta and all-day aperitivi. Oversized checkerboard flooring, bluestone laneway walkways, intimate booth seating and mood lighting evoke the feeling of a wine cave.
The ground floor has been transformed into an elegant, immersive retail space, where cornice plasterwork and marble joinery are juxtaposed with modern display fixtures, heritage-inspired balustrades and robust timber finishes. The mezzanine, meanwhile, is now home to an exclusive Members' Bar (for Rodd & Gunn's loyal clientele), a handsomely wood-panelled, club-like space with sculptural lighting by Volker Haug, featuring Kiwi-inspired snacks and classic cocktails for loyal clientele. "This is a space built on relationships," says Josh Beagley, Director of The Lodge Group. "It's our way of giving something back to the community who continue to shape Rodd & Gunn. The Member's Bar is for them."
"While New Zealand will always remain Rodd & Gunn's spiritual home, the opening of our Melbourne flagship is our way of giving back to a city that has supported Rodd & Gunn from the very beginning," says Beagley. "Every surface in this flagship tells a story — a dialogue between past and present that honours the history of the building and the fabric of our brand.
Images: Supplied.
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