Six Senses to open first Australian resort in Victoria

Six Senses Burnham Beeches will be set in the heritage Harry Norris-designed mansion in the Dandenong Ranges, about 40 kilometres outside of Melbourne.

The luxury hospitality group Six Senses will open its first Australian property in the Victorian Dandenong Ranges in mid-2025. The resort will be set in the heritage Burnham Beeches mansion built in 1933, designed by the renowned architect Harry Norris for the Nicholas ‘Aspro’ Family. The 22-hectare estate is located about 40 kilometres out of Melbourne and stands as one of Australia’s best examples of Art Deco design.

The design concept for the resort, which will be led by architecture studio Woods Bagot, will reflect a contemporary interpretation of classic elegance in the 43 guest accommodations, a welcome lounge, a terrace, a restaurant with outdoor seating, a library bar, and a rooftop space.

Original Art Deco details will be maintained in a variety of guest rooms spread across the mansion’s three wings and a two-bedroom cottage with interconnecting one-bedroom suite within the Hilltop Retreat on the site. A series of glamping options will also be available, bringing the total accommodations to 82, subject to planning applications.

Gardens on the property will be used to cultivate fresh produce for the resort restaurants, while a herb garden will be the source of aromatic plants for use in the Alchemy Bar and treatments at the Six Senses Spa.

A nature playground is planned for the little ones, as part of the Grow With Six Senses programs that are designed to connect children with their surroundings through play and interactive learning experiences.

On the mansion’s lower ground level, the Six Senses Spa will provide the same holistic wellness approach that the group has become known for—in addition to treatment rooms, there will be a tea lounge, a gym, a hydro area, and a sauna.

The project has been conceptualised through a regenerative lens, with several initiatives planned to connect with the community and ecosystem in which the resort is set.

Guests will be able to explore historical, ecological, cultural, and Indigenous stories from Burnham Beeches and the Wurundjeri and Kulin nation lands, which will be incorporated into the art, architecture, signage, and landscaping throughout the grounds.

“For Six Senses Burnham Beeches to be regenerative, it will not be a static place. We’ll evolve and respond to bring the rich heritage of Burnham Beeches to life, inviting moments of exploration, discovery, connection to nature, and delight through interactive gastronomy, wellness, and sustainability experiences”, said Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs.

The property owner and developer, Trenerry Consortium, has engaged Sophie Paterson, great-granddaughter of Alfred Nicholas, to serve as the community liaison consultant on the project.

“As a family, we are so excited at the prospect of our beloved family home finally being restored. Sitting neglected for far too long, this beautiful heritage home needs to be shared, and we could not be more pleased with the involvement of Six Senses as its new custodians”, said Paterson.

www.sixsenses.com/en