Emerald Hill Shop Top

South Melbourne, Victoria

Street view of a beige building with a green-tiled lower wall and cafe and boutique shops at ground level, large windows, and leafless trees in front.

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Outline icon of three people standing together, representing the number of guests.
Line drawing of a bathtub with a towel hanging over its side, a showerhead above, and water droplets indicating water spray, representing the number of bathrooms available
Outline drawing of a bed with a headboard and two pillows, representing the number of beds available
Line drawing of a bathtub with a towel hanging over its side, a showerhead above, and water droplets indicating water spray, representing the number of bathrooms available

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Ideal for couples, small groups & families, everyone loves Emerald Hill Shop Top.

Highlighting the charm of Emerald Hill in its formative years (now known as iconic South Melbourne), Emerald Hill Shop Top is a historic loft apartment, which has been carefully curated, providing a sublime combination of aesthetic pleasure, comfort, and practicality.

Emerald Hill Shop Top is centrally located, literally steps from the bustling Clarendon Street Shopping District. With trams just 200m from the door, access to Marvel Stadium, MCG or St. Kilda is simple. An easy walk will take you to South Melbourne Market, Clarendon Street, cafes, restaurants, MCEC/Southbank & the CBD.

The History

At the time of the initial development planning for the area of Emerald Hill, the land on which Emerald Hill Shop Top now stands was part of a 10-acre lot, set aside for the establishment of the Melbourne Orphan Asylum in 1854. From 1856-1858, the orphanage operated at this site, after which it was relocated to Brighton and the building demolished.

This land formed the ‘hill’ of Emerald Hill and could be seen, far and wide. It was decided that this was an appropriate location for the new Emerald Hill town hall to be located, leaving the land along Clarendon & Park Streets to extend the current shop fronts and the residual land to be used for residential purposes.

It was as part of this process that the building on the corner of Clarendon and Bank Streets was constructed. William Buckhurst Estate Agent was the initial occupier of the entire ground floor, and renowned photographer, David Elder Wood, had his studio in the upstairs space.

The Home

Approaching the home from the street, you will immediately get a sense of the tight-knit community that has been the foundation of the area since its establishment and remains so to this day. This is a demonstration of inner city living at its best, so be ready with a smile and a wave to greet those who cross your path during your stay.

Entering the single-fronted home, you will pass through the iron gate and cross the wide, iron-laced verandah before passing through the heavy timber front entry door to the central hallway.

The first room off the hallway, a bedroom, has a beautiful shuttered window which overlooks the street and an electric log fire to keep you cosy on chilly Melbourne nights. A queen bed with a luxury mattress, linen bedhead and hotel-quality bed linen invites the perfect night’s sleep, and each side table has a dimmable lamp. The room is also equipped with a generous robe. A desk, desk chair, printer and basic stationery are also available for those who require a dedicated workspace separate from the main living area.

The additional bedroom is the next room along the hallway. Here, a double-pane glass sliding door looks out onto a plant-filled lightwell, allowing a flood of beautiful natural light into the room along with a direct connection to nature. Again, a queen bed with a luxury mattress, linen bedhead and hotel-quality bed linen beckons. A generous robe and dimmable table lamps, and an electric panel heater are also available for your convenience.

As you approach the end of the hallway and pass through the stained glass feature door, the space opens out before you as the two original rooms (kitchen & living) are now combined into one, with the adjoining lightwell creating a bright, light-filled living & dining space. Here, a dining table & sofa setting provide a comfortable and welcoming space to relax and unwind at the end of a day exploring the local area. Books, magazines and a television are on hand for entertainment, and an electric logfire and luxe throw rugs entice guests to curl up and read or watch a movie. A split-system air conditioner is also located in this space to ensure guest comfort during the warmer months.

The galley kitchen connects the living/dining space to the private rear courtyard. Equipped with gas hotplates, an electric oven, a microwave and a full-size fridge/freezer, the space is well equipped to accommodate the produce from a shopping spree at South Melbourne Market. The pantry is stocked with the basics to get you going, if having a cook-up of all your delectable market finds and clean up is easy work with the Miele dishwasher.

Stepping outside at the rear of the home is a gorgeous, fully enclosed, high-walled, private, sun-filled courtyard. Here, a generous outdoor setting under festoon lights awaits, perfect for enjoying breakfast, a morning coffee, pre-dinner drinks or a meal off the Weber BBQ, either night or day.

The bathroom, located off the main living area, includes a shower over bath, vanity and toilet. Also within this space is a laundry trough housed in a European-style laundry.

A cozy living room with a grey sofa, a small black side table, a grey armchair, two windows with sunlight, a shaggy area rug, a wall art piece, a white side table with a vase of flowers, a TV on a wooden stand, and a basket of magazines.
Aerial view of Albert Park Lake, palm trees lining a curved road, and a city skyline with tall buildings in the background.
Open-concept living area with a dining table, chairs, kitchen, and a TV. Wood flooring, natural light from windows, and decorative plants.
Inside South Melbourne Market with fresh organic produce such as bananas, apples, carrots, and other vegetables displayed on wooden shelves, and customers shopping at the checkout counter.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, white subway tile backsplash, stainless steel refrigerator, microwave, toaster, electric kettle, and a small dining table with croissants and coffee cups.
Interior view of a café called Proper & Son with customers ordering and staff preparing drinks, and a menu board listing various beverages.
Modern open-concept kitchen and dining area with a wooden table, black chairs, white cabinetry, subway tile backsplash, and a small potted plant on the window sill.
Crowded indoor market with signage reading 'South Melbourne Market' and 'Pickadeli', with people shopping and eating, and high ceiling with large windows and hanging lights.
A bedroom with a bed, white bedding, gray pillows, a gray blanket, a window with sunlight, a framed art piece, and a white nightstand with a black lamp.
Exterior of South Melbourne Market with trees and parked cars in front.
A bedroom with a bed on the left side, white bedding, and brown pillows, a bedside table with a lamp, a desk and chair near the window, a potted plant in the corner, and a ceiling lamp. Natural light from the window illuminates the room.
View of a city skyline with tall buildings, a river with boats, and a bridge, taken from a park with trees and a decorative lamp post in the foreground.
Tray with two croissants and a mug on a wooden table in a bright living room with large windows, a sofa with pillows, a television, and wall art.
A sandy beach with bushes in the foreground, calm blue ocean in the middle, and a partly cloudy sky above.
Bathroom with washing machine and dryer, toilet, glass shower enclosure, vanity with mirror, and laundry basket with towels.

All photographs by Mel Tonzing

Interior Design by Jo Powell

 
Floor plan of a home with two levels. The ground level has an entry staircase. The first level includes a living room, kitchen and meals area, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a staircase with an adjacent wardrobe. The rooms are labeled, and doors and windows are shown.