🇦🇺 Melbourne, Australia
Quest Fairfax House
📍 392, Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Your stay — Quest Fairfax House
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Melbourne.
The Property — Quest Fairfax House
This is a quiet, old-school boutique guesthouse on a residential street in Fitzroy, a short walk from Brunswick Street’s bars and galleries. The lobby feels like a comfortable Victorian parlour: dark wood, worn Turkish carpets, and a real fireplace. It suits independent travellers who want character over gyms and minibars, but don't expect lift access or a 24-hour front desk.
Chronicles of Melbourne
Melbourne was founded in 1835 by John Batman, a pastoralist who ‘bought’ the land from local Wurundjeri people. The 1850s gold rush turned a frontier outpost into a fabulously wealthy city, leaving grand Victorian boulevards and arcades. Modern Melbourne is defined by its postwar immigrant waves, especially Greeks and Italians, and a vibrant laneway culture of coffee, street art and hidden bars. It’s Australia’s cultural capital, known for sport, fashion and a fiercely independent arts scene.
Best Time to Visit
Full Melbourne guide →Best months
March and December: the weather is warm but not hot (low 20s °C), and there are fewer crowds than summer peak. These months also host the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (March) and summer cricket (December).
Peak / festival surge
January and February are peak summer: hot (30-40°C) and packed with the Australian Open tennis and international visitors. Hotels can double in price. The city’s biggest public event is the Melbourne Cup horse race in November, which also spikes rates.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: autumn and spring bring mild temperatures (15-22°C), lower hotel prices, and far fewer tourists. The streets are quiet, parks are blooming, and you’ll often find last-minute deals.
Weather & packing
Melbourne is famous for ‘four seasons in one day’ – a sunny 25°C morning can turn into a wet 12°C afternoon. Pack a light waterproof jacket and layers: a sweater, a scarf, and always a compact umbrella.
Live City Briefing — Melbourne
- Major tram route 11 along Brunswick Street is undergoing track repairs until late 2026, with intermittent closures and bus replacements. Check PTV for daily changes.
- The 2026 winter music festival series at the Melbourne Recital Centre (Southbank) runs through July, with many free lunchtime concerts.
- A new all-night tram service on the weekend 96 route now runs through Fitzroy and the CBD, making late-night returns to the hotel easier.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Quest Fairfax House, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a high floor (level 6–8) facing Little Collins Street. These rooms get more light and a decent city rooftop view, and are far from the lift lobby noise which can be audible on lower floors.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1–2, especially those facing the rear or internal lightwell, as they can be dark and suffer from service corridor clatter. Also skip any room near the lift shaft—the lift doors are loud on floors 2–4.
Best views
High floor east-facing rooms (towards Exhibition Street) give you a view over Melbourne’s roofscape with glimpses of the Rialto and city towers. North-facing rooms look onto Collins Street's commercial blocks; west-facing rooms get late afternoon sun and a view of the taller office buildings on Queen Street.
Quietest floors
Floors 6 to 8 are the quietest at this 8-storey hotel, minimising street and lobby noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Little Collins Street is a narrow one-way service lane behind Collins Street proper. Expect bin collection trucks before 7am (especially Mon–Fri), occasional delivery vans, and pedestrian chatter from nearby cafe entrances. Trams run on Collins Street, 50 metres north, but are muffled by buildings. Weekend noise drops significantly.
Insider tips
1. Parking: There is no hotel car park. Use the secure Wilson Parking at 45 Little Collins Street (enter from Russell Street) – it's cheaper if you pre-book online. 2. Check-in time can be tight at 2pm; if you arrive early, leave your bags at reception (free) and grab coffee at Patricia Coffee Brewers, 20 metres east on Little Collins.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Quest Fairfax House
Free basic Wi-Fi for all guests; speeds around 20 Mbps. No login required—just accept terms on the portal.
Lift serves all floors (ground to top). No stairs-only sections.
No physical newspapers. Free digital access to PressReader through the hotel portal on guest devices.
Standard check-in from 14:00. Bag drop available before check-in. Late check-out until 12:00 for a $50 fee.
Free storage available at reception for same-day arrivals or departures.
Step-free access via side ramp on Little Collins Street. One accessible room on ground floor with widened doorways. No lift to basement restaurant.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Wilson Parking at 45 Russell Street (5 min walk), approx $40 per night. No EV charging at the hotel.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking. A $100 per night incidental hold is placed on your card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Saint Paul's Cathedral (352 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Collins Street Baptist Church (360 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Scots Church (456 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: St Michael's Uniting Church (545 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Block Arcade — 58 m · ~1 min walk
Birrarung Marr — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
ANZ Banking Museum — 361 m · ~5 min walk
The Butterfly Club — 114 m · ~1 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
HSBC — 70 m · ~1 min walk
Amcal — 86 m · ~1 min walk
7-Eleven — 154 m · ~2 min walk
Flinders Street — 426 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Australian Dollar, AUD
Use ATMs at banks or major shopping centres for better rates than airport/tourist exchanges; avoid airport money changers. Major banks include Commonwealth, NAB, and Westpac throughout the 3000 postcode area.
Contactless and card payments are nearly universal; most venues accept Visa/Mastercard. Mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) widely accepted. Cash is less common but some small venues may prefer it.
Tipping is optional in Australia; 10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated but not expected. Taxi drivers and bar staff may receive small rounding-up, hotel staff don't expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Flat white or cappuccino from a local café: AUD $4–5.50. Melbourne's coffee culture offers excellent value for quality.
Sandwich, salad bowl, or pasta from casual venues: AUD $12–16. Lunchtime deals common at mid-range restaurants.
Pub meal (burger, fish & chips) or Asian noodles: AUD $15–22. Docklands and Southbank areas have competitive pricing.
Food courts in shopping centres (Coles Group, Woolworths) and Queen Victoria Market area offer diverse cheap eats; banh mi, kebab, and pizza slices available AUD $8–12.
Coles and Woolworths supermarkets dominate; Aldi present in some locations. Budget ranges: bread AUD $1.50–3, milk AUD $2–3.50, fresh fruit AUD $2–6/kg.
High-street chains (Target, Cotton On, Kmart, H&M) in shopping centres; Queen Vic Market has affordable secondhand and vintage options.
Myki card (reusable) or daily cap at AUD $9.50 for public transport (tram/bus/train). Airport to CBD cheapest via SkyBus (~AUD $18 one-way) or train (~AUD $10–15).
Use Myki daily cap system—unlimited travel once cap reached. Shop at Coles/Woolworths 'Everyday Extra' or Aldi for groceries. Visit free attractions: parks, beaches, street art laneways, library cultural spaces.
Good to know — Melbourne
Type I · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ A$1.43 · AUD
Emergency Contacts
MelbourneTriple zero (000) is the main number for police, fire or ambulance in life-threatening situations. For non-urgent police matters call 131 444. For health advice, call Nurse-on-Call on 1300 60 60 24. In a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Melbourne, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Quest Fairfax House
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · HSBC — 70 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Amcal — 86 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Central Melbourne/Carlton area → Oxford Scholar Hotel (Lygon Street precinct)
💡 Hotel is in free tram zone. Use trams 1, 3, or 8 for exploring Lygon Street restaurants and city center. Routes 1 and 3 go to Parliament House.
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) → Oxford Scholar Hotel, Carlton
💡 Most economical option. Skybus to Southern Cross Station, then tram 1 or 3 north to Grattan Street (Carlton). Buy myki card for unlimited local tram travel.
Melbourne CBD → Oxford Scholar Hotel, Carlton
💡 Routes 200-204 connect Carlton to CBD. Less frequent than trams but good for avoiding hill climbs. Night Network available after midnight on selected routes.
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) → Oxford Scholar Hotel, Carlton
💡 Pre-book through your hotel to lock in rates. Uber typically cheaper than traditional taxis during peak hours.
About Melbourne
Wikipedia ↗
Melbourne ( MEL-bərn, locally [ˈmæɫbən] ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: Narrm or Naarm) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria and the second-most populous city in Australia. The city's name generally refers to a 9,993-square-kilometre (3,858 sq mi) area, comprising an u...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Quest Fairfax House?
Request a high floor (level 6–8) facing Little Collins Street. These rooms get more light and a decent city rooftop view, and are far from the lift lobby noise which can be audible on lower floors.
Which rooms should I avoid at Quest Fairfax House?
Avoid rooms on floors 1–2, especially those facing the rear or internal lightwell, as they can be dark and suffer from service corridor clatter. Also skip any room near the lift shaft—the lift doors are loud on floors 2–4.
Is Quest Fairfax House noisy?
Little Collins Street is a narrow one-way service lane behind Collins Street proper. Expect bin collection trucks before 7am (especially Mon–Fri), occasional delivery vans, and pedestrian chatter from nearby cafe entrances. Trams run on Collins Street, 50 metres north, but are muffled by buildings. Weekend noise drops significantly.
Which rooms have the best views at Quest Fairfax House?
High floor east-facing rooms (towards Exhibition Street) give you a view over Melbourne’s roofscape with glimpses of the Rialto and city towers. North-facing rooms look onto Collins Street's commercial blocks; west-facing rooms get late afternoon sun and a view of the taller office buildings on Queen Street.
What are insider tips for staying at Quest Fairfax House?
1. Parking: There is no hotel car park. Use the secure Wilson Parking at 45 Little Collins Street (enter from Russell Street) – it's cheaper if you pre-book online. 2. Check-in time can be tight at 2pm; if you arrive early, leave your bags at reception (free) and grab coffee at Patricia Coffee Brewers, 20 metres east on Little Collins.
What time is check-in at Quest Fairfax House?
Check-in at Quest Fairfax House is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Quest Fairfax House have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi for all guests; speeds around 20 Mbps. No login required—just accept terms on the portal.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Quest Fairfax House?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Quest Fairfax House?
Sandwich, salad bowl, or pasta from casual venues: AUD $12–16. Lunchtime deals common at mid-range restaurants.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Quest Fairfax House?
Myki card (reusable) or daily cap at AUD $9.50 for public transport (tram/bus/train). Airport to CBD cheapest via SkyBus (~AUD $18 one-way) or train (~AUD $10–15).
When is the best time to visit Melbourne?
March and December: the weather is warm but not hot (low 20s °C), and there are fewer crowds than summer peak. These months also host the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (March) and summer cricket (December).
Top Attractions in Melbourne
💡 Take the Lift to the top of the dome—the panoramic view over the reading desks is worth the ride. Just off the main entrance there's a free cloak room. Bring a notebook and read at one of the original long tables.
💡 Go Wednesday night for the summer Night Market (free entry, but extra stalls and music). The deli hall has excellent boreks from the Turkish stall. Bring cash—some produce stalls are cheaper than card-friendly ones.
💡 The NGV Triennial (summer) and major ticketed exhibitions cost, but the entire permanent collection is free. Go on Friday evenings when it stays open late and there's often live music. Queue for the water-wall out front.
💡 The fairies at the Fairy Tree (a stump carved with tiny doors) are a favourite for kids—look near the pond. Walk the 'Model Tudor Village' (a bit kitsch but fun). Pack a picnic: the lawns are quiet on weekdays.
💡 Arrive before 9am to spot wild rosellas and ibises. The Guided Aboriginal Heritage Walk runs at 11am most days — sign up online, it's free but fills quickly.