Arthouse Hostel

James was fantastic and helped me sort out arriving late. I stayed here before doing the overland track, and it had what I needed. Good coffee and groceries are about a 20-minute walk away, and I’d bring ear plugs. The Federation Architecture is beautiful, and for the price it was fine if all you need is a roof and somewhere to leave your bags. If you want a more modern hostel or better amenities, it’s worth paying more elsewhere. The building could get VERY cold in winter. It could also use a deep clean, especially the kitchens, though I couldn’t tell how much of that was down to the guests. The rating reflects that. Bring shower shoes!

The building is beautiful and has a lot of potential, but it’s not being looked after and is falling apart. I stayed there for more than two months. It’s definitely the cheapest place around, and the people had a really nice vibe when I first arrived. But the kitchen and toilets were always very dirty, and my room was never swept or cleaned during my whole stay. My friends and I complained several times about the lack of basic hygiene. One friend even got some diseases from using a toilet that was never cleaned. I really hope things improve, because as it is now, it doesn’t have much going for it.

The whole hostel put me off, and I just wanted to get away. The mess behind reception was off-putting as soon as I walked in, and the shared living area was smelly and disgusting. My room was well below basic, with torn curtains people could see through, holes in the wall and a heater that didn’t work at all. The quilt was very old and smelled. The toilets and kitchen were terrible too. People were stomping around and talking loudly at 5am. I’m sure there are cleaner, nicer hostels around.

The old building makes it feel like you’re living in the past, and I enjoyed cooking in the big kitchen, which had everything I needed. The dining room was spacious, bright and open. The staff were kind and lovely, everything worked well and I felt safe. This was one of the best hostels I stayed in during my three months in Australia. I’d recommend staying here for a unique experience.