George Powlett Apartments

George Powlett was a good find for my daughter and me when money was tight and we needed somewhere cheap, quiet and safe in Melbourne. It’s very outdated and not fancy, but the central location at a low price suited us. Our room was small, though we only needed somewhere to sleep since most of our time was spent exploring the city. The staff were friendly and helpful, and free parking was a bonus with mostly 1 hour metered parking nearby. I’d stay again.

The location is lovely if you’d rather be outside the CBD, with beautiful gardens and houses nearby. Service was good, and the basics were covered: kettle, towel changes, soap and cleanliness. We had some trouble with the hot water, but otherwise it was a good stay.

The bathroom setup was absurd. The bathroom/toilet door swung 93 degrees and was meant to do two jobs, leaving a huge gap in the wall and making the person plainly visible. The shower rail was held up with sellotape, there was a three inch gap under the front door, and something seemed to be growing on the shower walls. We got to the apartment block at 7pm. They knew we were coming and said they would email an entrance code, but never did. We sat outside in the rain for 40 minutes until another guest let us in. We still had no key and no idea which room was ours. A resident said they’d found their key under their mat, so I checked all 40+ doormats and randomly chose one with a key. The staff were hostile, the rooms filthy, the building was falling apart, and the 'internet room' was rotten. The whole place smelled of mildew. Nothing redeemed it. Avoid this place at all costs!

The reception setup was a highlight for me. There were Melbourne brochures and maps by the stairs, discount cards for food and attractions, and the desk was staffed 8am - 5pm every day. The brunette or blonde woman I saw there each day was super nice and helpful, and happy to chat. The apartment was clean, the staff and other residents were friendly, and the location was perfect for my week in town. George Powlett Apartments in East Melbourne was a great deal, $750 for 7 nights for 3 people, close to the olympic ground. The next cheapest option I found was a YHA hostel in the heart of the city for the same price, and I chose the apartments for peace of mind. Melbourne was almost as expensive as Sydney haha. Wellington Ave was a 2 minute walk away, with a 7/11, a great cafe, tasty pizzas and the tram stop. The train station and olympic park grounds with all the arenas were across the road. It was a 5 minute tram ride to the heart of the city, and a 5 - 10 walk to botanical Gardens and the remembrance memorial. Going the other way, Fitzroy and Collingwood had cool restaurants, cafes and pubs/bar on smith street, about five blocks away. Walking there with a friend or two and chatting made it feel like no time at all. The apartment layout suited us, with a double and a single bed. Ours had a big window, while some others have balconies. The compact kitchen had the essentials, including a toaster, kettle, microwave, mini fridge and sink, plus cutlery, plates, cups and bowls. The bathroom shower was a decent size, which some places don’t have. I also used the free off-street parking when I hired a car for 2 days. It was a bit squashed, but there were usually 2 - 3 spots available at night. During the day it was fairly empty, and you can park free on the street at night, handy if you’re driving during the day. I’d not had a proper holiday in Melbourne for a long time and didn’t know the area or how smoothly my week’s itinerary would go, but my 1 week stay was fantastic :D!!