St Kilda Art Hotel on the Block

An historic St Kilda hotel frequented by artists is up for sale for the first time in nearly 30 years.

The Tolarno Hotel at 42 Fitzroy Street was established by artist Mirka Mora and her husband Georges Mora.

The couple came to Australia in 1951 from France after escaping the Holocaust and surviving World War II. Georges was a resistance fighter during the conflict.

The hotel’s 37 rooms are each individually designed, and the property also has dining spaces, conference rooms and private event spaces.

The hotel sits on a 968sq m site with a 19.4m frontage to Fitzroy Street.

The hotel is home to a valuable collection of original artworks, incluidng works by Mirka Mora, and 165 pieces from the Tolarno graduate art prize.

Mora’s artwork also cover the walls, windows, halls and bathrooms of the hotel, showing her evolution from the 1960s to the last mural she painted, in 2007.

▲ After emigrating to Australia, the couple estabished galleries and restaurants throughout Melbourne.

“Tolarno is expected to appeal to a broad range of buyers who are attracted to a prime asset that comes with intrinsic value associated with its history and notoriety,” said Scott Callow, senior director at CBRE Hotels.

The Tolarno Hotel is being offered on a freehold basis inclusive of the lease to the hotel tenant.

The hotel is near the tram line, putting it 15 minutes from the CBD, and within walking distance of St Kilda Beach.

Offers of interest are due to close on March 6, 2024.