Newcastle, AustraliaCBD
QT Newcastle
Maximalist department-store conversion
CBD Newcastle, Australia
Opened
2022
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage SocialOutside the door
The house
QTMaximalist department-store conversion
The Federation-era retail building is now a flamboyant stay filled with Australian art and nods to Newcastle's industrial past.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Lunar ceiling pendants and an illuminated lobby orb anchor bold, jewel-toned rooms.
Notable
Inside the 113-year-old department store, a bathtub sits behind the original clockface.
Listed
A ninth-floor rooftop bar pours Newcastle’s largest Japanese whisky selection overlooking the harbour.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
The 113-year-old building on Hunter Mall started life as Scotts Limited… before becoming a David Jones, and the mannequins painted by local artist Mitch Revs dotted around the lobby are a deliberate reference to that retail past.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Hunter Street runs through the revitalised East End, and the sand of Newcastle Beach is a short walk away.
The rooms
Brushed copper tables sit beside deep emerald bathroom tiles, and walls carry original pieces by Australian artists.
Bar
Rooftop at QT
Glass doors open onto an outdoor terrace overlooking the harbour. Inside, high tables sit beneath a ceiling of glowing lunar pendants.
At the table
Jana Restaurant & Bar serves housemade pasta and Hunter Valley wines on herringbone brick floors. Resident DJs play each evening.
How it began
The site spent decades as Scotts department store before architect firm SJB adapted the 1890 facade for its 2022 opening.
Newcastle
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.