For the love of art; inside the Schaller Studio

After a jam-packed day exploring the arty city of Bendigo, (well actually there was no jam involved but there was oodles of culture, art, food, wine and even a spot of pampering. Read about that here), we finally arrive at the city’s newest hotel just before sunset.

Driving down the street, there’s no denying The Schaller Studio stands out from the old world charm of the buildings from the gold rush era but in the arts filled city of Bendigo, it fits the bill perfectly.

The hotel, which opened last month, is just a short drive from the main streets of Bendigo. It’s the first regional location for Melbourne’s well-known Art Series Hotel Group and is home to 240 original works by expressionist artist, Mark Schaller. It’s even inspired by his own working space.

The first glimpse of the art explosion is the enormous piece on the side of the hotel. Approaching the car park, I also spot two giant paint pots – the perfect way to spruce up the usually drab bitumen playground!

At the risk of sounding majorly uncool, it definitely has a hip interior. I can instantly feel the cogs whirring in the creative side of my brain and the inspiration flowing through my veins. No wonder the hotel says it’s a place for contemplation, creation and inspired thinking.

Coming from the relative warmth of Brisbane, it’s great to get inside. The fire is on, the reception is toasty, and other guests are taking comfort in the various chill out hubs throughout the lobby.

The check-in is smooth and we’re told the bright yellow Lekker cruiser bikes, which we spied on the way in, are ours for the taking in the morning. #exciting

And art isn’t confined to the lobby, each of the 128 workspaces (rooms) are home to a different piece of original Schaller artwork and there are even inspirational slogans on the pillows.

Each “workspace” has the essential ‘creative comforts’ including a TV with dedicated arts channel, work desk, coffee pod machine and minibar full of local, yummy produce.

What really catches my eye is the hotel compendium – forget boring book and think bulldog clips on the wall for the mini bar list, local area notes, pencil, notepad and much more. Another piece of art.

I resist the urge to flop before heading out for dinner and take the time to use the coffee machine. Nothing beats a lovely espresso, a salted peanut chocolate bite (procured earlier from Indulge Fine Chocolate) and some chill out time.

A few hours later…

After a night hitting the tiles of Bendigo and enjoying even more of the local foodie scene, it’s time to retire to my room as I have a date with the fun and quirky evo products in the bathroom, followed by the cosy bed.

The next morning…

It’s Sunday, it’s 7:30am and we’re off on a bike ride. The sun is still coming up and the air is frosty but thankfully we’re only ‘cruising’ a few short blocks before heading back to the hotel.

When we’re back, we notice breakfast is laid out in The Pantry. There’s a selection of cereals, breads, fruit, muffins and cold meat but what really tickles my fancy is in a big bowl in the corner – an assortment of quirky egg cups!

The Pantry is on hand to fuel your creativity with a selection of café style regional food throughout the day.

After checking out, we visit Bendigo Pottery to top off our creative trip away. Read more about it here.

If you’re planning a trip to the area and love arts and culture, then check out The Schaller Studio. It’s quite possibly the closest you’ll get to sleeping in an art gallery!

What interesting hotels have you stayed in? Tell us in the comments.

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