Imagine this: you’ve taken a bite out of the Burleigh Heads restaurant scene, strolled through an early morning farmers market, taken a waterhole dip in the nearby hinterland, grabbed brunch at one of Currumbin’s laid-back cafes, and now you’re reclining poolside beside wafting palms as the shadows start to grow longer.
This is the idyllic blueprint for a day you can instantly envisage for yourself when you step inside the newly renovated Cheshire Cat Motel. The Gold Coast’s Palm Beach has become a popular hangout; it’s undergone a sensational glow-up in recent years with a burgeoning hospitality scene and luxury developments. All of which are framed by a stretch of beach where hours can quickly disappear.
The Cheshire Cat Motel is one of a few iconic motels that have survived the last few decades on the sun-splashed shores of the Gold Coast. The era-defining accommodation is sophisticated, warm and offers just the right amount of nostalgia.
“The Cheshire Cat has been here forever; it’s been part of the make-up of Palm Beach for decades. So when we saw it was for sale last July, we jumped at the opportunity,” co-owner Matty Roberts tells Broadsheet. “Since then, we’ve painstakingly reinstated the motel to its former glory, surpassing it with modern, luxury finishings while ensuring it feels sincere and welcoming.”
He’s done it alongside his wife, interior designer Monique Luchterhand of Mon Studio. The pair is responsible for the entire restyle. Room orientations, walls and archways remain untouched. There is terracotta styling in the bathrooms in a palette of ethereal blue, pale eucalypt, and burnt orange. Custom-built carpentry is tasteful and practical while eclectic rugs, lampshades and artworks are charmingly complementary.
Across six queen rooms and a two-bedroom apartment, the Cheshire Cat Motel is the perfect sanctuary for a weekend away or a midweek break. Come alone, with friends, or get a larger group together and book out the entire property. There’s a communal area, under the shade of an impressive umbrella tree, complete with an outside shower. And there is a studio space underneath for a wellness element, still yet to be confirmed.
The jewel in the crown is the magnesium pool and decked lounge area aptly named “Le Plunge”. Perfectly positioned to capture the afternoon sun, this secluded area invites guests to mingle and socialise between dips and dappled sun.
“We wanted to bring in a tangible sense of comfort with personality … not so much whitewashed and minimalistic,” says Roberts. “As Palm Beach locals who’ve spent time living away, we’re stoked to bring this icon back to life.”
Rooms start from $350 per night. Head here to book or for more information.
The Cheshire Cat Motel
1005 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
Cafes
Restaurants
Bars
Accommodation
Shop
Broadsheet Pick
Recently Opened
