The Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street hotel is located within the historically important 1931 Equity Chambers building.

The development comprises 244 hotel rooms, including 10 suites; the Luci Restaurant located within the restored grand hall of the heritage building and opening to an internal courtyard; bar; executive club lounge; guest gym; meeting rooms and pre-function space.

Significant additions include six levels over the existing building and a new 16-level tower to the rear.

Mindful of the heritage character of the site, the new building provides a respectful backdrop and is designed with a calm and ordered facade system that reflects the hotel use of the building. The facade facing Bourke Street is more open and takes advantage of the views and natural light, and as the building rises the glazing increases to maximise the impressive vistas.

The Bourke Street entry is accessed via the heritage building where the hotel bar, The Douglas Club is located. As visitors move through the building, the restored heritage lift, stair, lobby, and grand hall is revealed. The hotel lobby is located on Little Queen Street, enabling valuable activation to a high quality, but underutilised Melbourne laneway.

Benefiting from the level changes of the site, the lobby overlooks the grand double-height space of the restaurant. The lobby is also connected to the restaurant below and to the meeting rooms above, visually and physically via a feature staircase.

This project brings a new chapter to a beloved heritage building and makes a notable contribution to the urban renewal and evolving character of this part of Melbourne’s CBD.