Recently in Sydney, Capella Hotels and Resorts hosted an exclusive opening event, a black-tie occasion to commemorate the transformation of the heritage-listed 1915 Department of Education building into Capella Sydney.
The opening of Capella Sydney saw a number of A-list guests walk the red carpet, including Julie Bishop, Pip Edwards, Justin Hemmes, David Koch, Neil Perry, Skye Leckie, John Symond, and more. The Kwee family and members from Pontiac Land Group also travelled to Sydney from Singapore. Our Editor, Katrina Holden, was also in attendance on behalf of Luxury Travel at the glamorous event.
To mark the official opening, a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony was held in the foyer for a select number of guests. Afterward, the doors dramatically opened to the Farrer place entrance, and the full crowd of guests was invited inside to move throughout each room.
Musicians and dance performances were held throughout each of the hotel’s sophisticated new spaces including Aperture, Brasserie 1930, McRae Bar, and the Living Room. Media personality and architecture enthusiast Tim Ross played host and the finale DJ set was by Rich Penny.
Guests dined on extensive appetisers by the hotel’s culinary team, from the esteemed Sydney-based The Bentley Group who take the helm at Capella Sydney’s flagship restaurant, Brasserie 1930.
About the hotel
The 192-room Capella Sydney underwent an extensive seven-year restoration and renovation process, with architecture by Make Architects and interior design by BAR Studio.
In a prime Sydney location, occupying an entire city block and just a short distance from key attractions of Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, the hotel is poised to set a benchmark for luxury accommodation in the harbour city.
The hotel is located within the Department of Education building, originally designed in the 1900s by NSW government architect George McRae. Forming part of the city’s prestigious Sandstone Precinct, the building has been reimagined by Pontiac Land.
Guests enter the hotel via the Farrer Place lobby passing commissioned artwork by Australian First Nations artist, Judy Watson. The ground-floor collection also includes works by Otis Hope Carey, Elise Cakebread and Georgia Bisley — as well as a kinetic lighting installation by Dutch art duo DRIFT.
Titled Meadow, the installation by DRIFT is suspended in the hotel’s central gathering space, titled Aperture. On opening night, a collection of dancers and performers entertained the large crowd here – including a mesmerising performance on the glass ceiling of Aperture.
The guestrooms and suites span across nine levels, each featuring deluxe textiles, standalone tubs and Italian Frette linen, and a bespoke collection of vegan, sustainable in-room amenities designed in partnership with UK brand, Haeckels.
On level six, guests are invited to indulge in rejuvenating treatments at Auriga Spa or swim in the 20-metre heated indoor pool, designed to provide the ultimate wellness experience in the heart of the city.
The Living Room, a signature space of all Capella properties, is the private ground-floor retreat for in-house guests. It’s also the place where the hotel’s culture and experience programs are conceptualised, facilitated by Culturists who are on-hand to shape the guest experience from pre-arrival to departure.
Cristiano Rinaldi, President of Capella Hotel Group, is pleased to introduce the Capella brand to Australia for the very first time. “The opening of Capella Sydney is a milestone moment in the company’s global expansion,” Rinaldi says.
He adds: “This launch represents a significant opportunity for Capella to showcase its refined and curated offerings to Sydney and its visitors, and we look forward to amplifying the stories, culture and experiences of the city through a uniquely Capella lens.”
Red carpet images courtesy of Getty.
Event photography by Shayben Moussa