Latest news with #Fitzroy
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ex-brothel to sell for almost $3million in Melbourne after wild transformation from used mattresses to modern design
An ex-brothel in one of Melbourne 's trendiest suburbs is set to go under the hammer after being renovated into a stylish family home. Previously known as the Club Rose bordello, the venue-turned-home 182 Rose Street in Fitzroy was purchased by Paul Ghaie and partner Lucy Wallace in 2014. At the time, the property came complete with used mattresses, spa baths and a glowing neon sign that once lured punters in with the promise of 'exquisite ladies.' 'We were living in an apartment two doors up when it was still a working brothel,' said Mr Ghaie to on Thursday. 'But the tenants fled in the middle of the night… then it went up for sale.' The abrupt exit of its former occupants meant the brothel was still fully set up when they got the keys. Following a transformation, it has been listed with a price guide of $2.9million to $3.1million. But while the home has been completely transformed, some cheeky hints of its past remain. 'We didn't want to erase the history,' Mr Ghaie explained. 'It was part of the charm, so instead, we worked with it.' The couple brought in acclaimed Fieldwork Architects for a 'sympathetic renovation,' creating two separate buildings connected by a courtyard garden. The result was a beautifully crafted residence with four bedrooms, multiple living areas with room to both work and relax. 'With a humble façade and a colourful past this property has been transformed... to provide beautiful spaces for a diversity of uses,' the listing said. The home also offers a distinct layout, which the listing says allows for versatility. 'Live in one, work in one, rent one, or use it all, the choice is yours,' the advert said. While a lot of the former brothel's features were stripped out, including the aforementioned mattresses and plumbing, some remnants were retained. The couple kept the VIP area's Roman columns and restored a pink neon sign, which still lights up the courtyard today. The property owners didn't want to lose some of the history of the home, including pink paint and a sign referencing the 'exquisite ladies' who were advertised when it was a brothel 'The pink paint, the sign, they're little nods to what it was,' Ms Wallace said. 'We didn't want it to feel sterile. It's a home with personality.' The home is set to go up for auction next Saturday, on June 28. Paul Gahie and Lucy Wallace were approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Melb couple list ex-brothel, reveal wild reno that made it a home
A Melbourne couple who turned a brothel into their home have revealed why they decided to keep a few hints of its sordid past — and the concerning things they had to remove. Paul Ghaie and partner Lucy Wallace bought Fitzroy's former Club Rose bordello in 2014, complete with used mattresses and spa baths, as well as some roman columns in its former VIP area. But rather than erase the 182 Rose St property's seedy history, the pair decided to bring in architects for a sympathetic renovation including retaining some of its very pink former paint scheme and having repairs done on a neon sign reading 'exquisite ladies' that still lights up their courtyard today. Buyers lust after hot property as inner-city brothel goes on sale And the update is poised to make it a multimillion-dollar address. 'We were living in an apartment two doors up at the time it was a working brothel,' Mr Ghaie said. 'But the tenant's fled in the middle of the night … then it was up for sale.' The property passed in at an initial auction and 'just sort of sat there' until a while later when Mr Ghaie, who is a co-founder of boutique Melbourne bottle shop group Blackhearts and Sparrows, decided to have a look inside and realised it had 'the bones of a really good property' if you brought a little imagination to it. Unfortunately, the hasty departure of its former tenants meant it was still 'set up ready to go' for the next day of business when the couple got the keys. 'It was a bit of an eye-opener,' he said. 'But I have spent a lot of time in Fitzroy, when it was very working class and houses with red lights were quite common in the streets. So we found an architect that was on board to have a bit of fun with it.' A renovation plotted with Fieldworks Architects' Quino Holland delivered an effectively new, and much more sanitary home, but didn't completely erase it's more than decade-long stretch as a brothel. Advertising for the former business indicates it had a 'deep crimson interior', 'opulent decor' and 'very private rooms'. 'So the pink that has been used in some of the rooms is the original colour from the entrance, that exact shade of pink,' Mr Ghaie said. 'The neon sign was always there, but I had to have it remade as it was broken in a few places. 'And when we have had parties, there's been quite a few photos of men and ladies posed under the sign.' They effectively built a new studio space within the envelope of Club Rose's old VIP building at the rear, but added a pink neon light trim from the ground floor all the way upstairs — to where some very pink bedrooms await guests. 'Really, the only parts that are original are the facade and a section of the interior wall of the main home,' Mr Ghaie said. 'We wanted it to feel like it had been there in its current state for a long time, but still have those flashes of fun through it. And for it to still be great for entertaining.' While the courtyard is still somewhat shady, that's mostly because of a Persian Silk Tree that provides a green canopy in summer. Just before their plans to start building commenced an outdoor spa concealed beneath paving in the courtyard was uncovered. The cement and tiled structure was too hard to remove, so it's still there, concealed once again but now hosting a water tank they use to keep the garden green. And while the pair have made efforts to introduce more natural light throughout the home, it's still a private space. 'You walk in from a street in Fitzroy, then you are transported once you close the front door — you can sit in the courtyard and have a barbecue and you don't hear the suburb around you,' Mr Ghaie said. 'It's still extremely private.' Even within the home there are private spaces, including the front lounge room which can be screened off from the rest of the house as a private cocoon via a heavy set of curtain drapes that can be drawn across the entire width of the house. The space became the couple's covid lockdown hideaway, where they could situate themselves while their normally entertainment-centric life was on hold. The pair said they would absolutely consider another 'adventure' property, and even another brothel conversion. 'Walking in and seeing what it was would have scared a lot of people, but you have to see it as a blank canvas,' Mr Ghaie said. Ironically, having bought one brothel he's since had a few calls from real estate agents selling others. 'But one at a time was enough,' he said. Close to seven years after they moved into the renovation, Mr Ghaie and Ms Wallace are selling up with plans to look for a home in a more coastal area — before the property market heats up too much more. Nelson Alexander's Peter Stephens is handling the sale, with expectations of a result from $2.9m-$3.1m. Records show the couple's renovation would have added more than $1m to the $1,292,500 paid for it in 2014. Mr Stephens said it was attracting plenty of interest with a range of buyers intrigued by its unusual decor, and its enviable location. 'It's between George St and Gore St, so it's right in the centre Fitzroy,' he said. The agent added that with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and two living areas, joined by a kitchen, the main residence 'feels like a real sanctuary, away from the world'. But with a secondary studio with a kitchenette and two bedrooms upstairs at the rear of the block, there was potential for it to offer a short-stay rental space, or home office. Especially with pedestrian access possible via a rear laneway.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
See the disgraceful moment 'heartbroken' 12-year-old footy player is hit in the face by a coach from rival team during a match - as his attacker has a big win in court
The grandfather of a 12-year-old boy, who was attacked by a 42-year-old football manager during an U13s match, has been left 'sick to his stomach' after the coach had a jail sentence overturned on appeal. In footage published online by The Advertiser, Michael James White was seen running onto a football field during a SANFL Juniors match between North Haven and Fitzroy on August 6, 2023, before he appeared to strike the young player. White, who had coached North Haven U13s, had been handed a three-month jail sentence in February. But after lodging an appeal in the Supreme Court, he has now had the sanction overturned and replaced with a suspended sentence. Justice Doyle believed White had a good likelihood for rehabilitation and subsequently suspended the jail term if he agreed to sign a $500, 18-month good behaviour bond. But the decision has been branded a 'slap on the wrist' by the 12-year-old's grandfather. 'I was sick to the stomach, I still am,' the victim's grandfather said, upon learning that the man had dodged jail time. 'I walked away from there (the sentence) thinking we've got justice for him and absolutely cannot believe it. 'We're just sickened with how a grown adult can do what he did … he's got a slap on the wrist as far as we're concerned.' The grandfather was furious by the act from the coach, telling the outlet that he had to be 'held back' by other spectators on the touchline. 'I was very agitated, wild, upset, angry, all the emotions just flooded out,' he said. 'Luckily I did get held back but I did verbally get very aggressive.' In the events prior to the attack, White's son had been tackled by the victim during the match but had suffered an injury, the court heard. Play was then paused while the New Haven player received treatment on the pitch. Players from both teams stood around catching their breath while waiting to recommence the match. A magistrate told the court in February that the victim: 'heard [a shout of] "watch out" and saw you [White] running towards him, elbowing him to the left-hand side of his jaw, further causing him to fall to the ground.' '(The victim) felt immediate pain in his jaw.' On appeal, Justice Doyle said that 'contact was plainly not inadvertent' but he added that it was not clear from the footage whether White raised his elbow to the boy's face. It was reasoned by the court that the collision was spontaneous, with the man 'likely in an emotional state' following the injury to his son. 'As the magistrate observed, it is utterly unacceptable that a fully grown man, particularly one entrusted with a team manager role who should understand the importance of modelling appropriate behaviour for young footballers, should assault a defenceless 12-year-old.' 'It had the potential to have caused significant injury (and) those who saw the incident are likely to have been shocked and potentially affected by it.' The boy's grandfather told The Advertiser that his injuries were not the worst, however, it was the mental trauma of the attack that had been the most damaging for the young footy player. In 2024, Fitzroy would be drawn against New Haven for the opening game of the season, with his Grandson returning to the pitch to play in that match. '(My grandson) played a woeful game that day, he was just looking over his shoulder thinking is this guy going to run on,' the grandfather said. 'He was petrified.' White has been handed a lifetime ban from being involved in any club representative capacity by the SANFL, who also slapped him with a $500 and a 12-month suspension from the date the incident took place, from attending any Australian rules football game. SANFL executive general manager of football Matt Duldig said: 'SANFL has zero tolerance for anyone who is in breach of our Code of Conduct at junior matches and it is simply unacceptable to see team officials, who should be role models for young players, behave in this manner.' However, the boy's grandfather has criticised the league following the incident. He claims that they have not made contact with the family over the matter. 'It's an absolute let-down, they hold themselves up fairly high and consider themselves a body that there's to support the children but we've heard nothing,' he said. But Duldig said: 'As a League, our priority is to protect the wellbeing of young players and umpires, ensuring that junior footy is an enjoyable and quality environment in which the game can be played,' Duldig said. 'SANFL has worked closely with Fitzroy Football Club and North Haven Football Club, both of which were highly cooperative throughout the process.' Thankfully, the shocking incident has not deterred the young man from playing footy, with the 12-year-old having understood to have joined up with a new team this season.
Daily Telegraph
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Telegraph
Australia's first fixed pill testing site is opening in Melbourne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. The lifesaving service is expected to reduce pressure on frontline services. After successful trials at music festivals across the state, Melbourne is getting its first permanent pill testing site. Open Thursdays to Sundays from August in the inner-north suburb of Fitzroy from August, the facility is close to nightlife, public transport, community health and social services. According to the Victoria's Department of Health, about half of Australian adults have used drugs at some point in their lives, and there has been an increase in emergency department admissions relating to use and overdose deaths involving novel synthetic drugs. Run by Youth Support and Advocacy Service, The Loop Australia, and Harm Reduction Victoria, the government said the site will provide a free, lifesaving service. The results of pill testing globally Pill testing has been proven not to encourage people to use drugs, but to provide education and information about what people are actually taking, so they can make safer, more informed decisions. Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said, "No drug is safe, but with testing and open, health-focused conversations, we are helping Victorians make more informed and safer choices". 65 per cent of service users spoke to a health professional about drug and alcohol safety and harm reduction for the first time. Image: Pexels "Our pill testing trial has already shown young people want the information that could keep them safe and now we'll support even more Victorians with our fixed site service in Fitzroy." During the service's trial period, almost 1400 samples were tested at five different festivals. 65 per cent of service users spoke to a health professional about drug and alcohol safety and harm reduction for the first time, and more than 30 per cent said they would take smaller amounts after these discussions. And in the UK, police and medical services at a festival said pill testing contributed to a 95 per cent decrease in drug-related hospital admissions. Image: iStock At a separate pill testing clinic in Canberra, one in 10 samples were discarded on-site once the service user learned what was in them. One third of people whose sample contained a different or additional drug from what they expected, or where results were inconclusive, said they 'definitely will not use' the illicit drug. And in the UK, police and medical services at a festival said pill testing contributed to a 95 per cent decrease in drug-related hospital admissions. Detection of lethal contaminants. Image: Unsplash Detection of lethal contaminants Despite Australia not experiencing the same level of fentanyl crisis as the US, the Australian Federal Police has made significant seizures of the opioid in the last three years, suggesting it may be cut into recreational drugs. Experts are also concerned about the growing presence of nitazenes in Australian wastewater. Canberra's CANTEST service identified a new variant with a high risk of overdose last year, which is 'one of the most potent drugs of its class ever detected.' The government said these drugs can be detected early and rapidly assessed through testing. The Fitzroy facility is staffed by chemists who analyse samples of substances, while trained harm reduction workers deliver test results and discuss possible risks. Image: Getty While still dangerous, being informed about the contents of their samples can help reduce the risk of overdose for service users. The Fitzroy facility is staffed by chemists who analyse samples of substances, while trained harm reduction workers deliver test results and discuss possible risks, service users' existing health conditions and potential interactions between drugs and prescription medications. In addition to saving lives and reducing drug harm, the service is hoped to decrease pressure on frontline services. Originally published as Australia's first fixed pill testing site is opening in Melbourne
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Australia Post debuts 'next generation' post offices as parcel deliveries boom
Australia Post will be ramping up its parcel collection process by introducing a post office entirely dedicated to parcels as online shopping continues to boom. Australia Post Parcels is a focused post office that allows customers to collect their deliveries, return and send parcels at any time. The service, which is opening in Fitzroy in Melbourne and Waterloo in Sydney, aims to streamline parcel collection, as well as sending and returning deliveries, with the help of 24/7 self-service desks and parcel lockers, which can be accessed with a one-time entry code via the Australia Post app. Those wishing to send or return parcels can access a vending machine stocked with packaging, stamps and other postage-related essentials, which are accessible 24/7. There will also be six to eight Australia Post employees on-site to assist customers at the post office, with trading hours extended to support growing customer demands. Australia Post executive general manager of retail, brand and marketing, Josh Bannister, said the new services would be a game-changer for Australians as parcel collection frequency increases. 'The number one reason why a customer visits a post office is to collect a parcel, so it's logical that we're making (Australia Post Parcels),' he told NewsWire. 'We're continuing to see the growth in parcel volumes, and this is really about moving with the customer and changing customer expectations to focus on a more seamless parcel experience.' He said more Australians are choosing to shop online than ever before, accelerating the need for easier parcel collection. '(Australia Post Parcel is) designed around how people use the postal network today, especially in response to the e-commerce boom,' he said. The dedicated post offices will feature a wall of parcel lockers, which are free to use and accessible 24/7. 'We're also looking at extending trading hours for assisted lodgements, and the lodgement of a parcel will be exactly the same as our customers are used to at our full-service post offices,' Mr Bannister said. Online shopping rates are continuing to grow across the country, with a record number of households shopping online every year. Australia Post research found 9.8m households turned to e-commerce in 2024 – a 2.3 per cent increase from last year. The majority of online shoppers are Millennials and Gen Z, who made up three-quarters of the demographic. 'With Aussies shopping more online than ever before, we're evolving our network to keep pace with how our customers are using postal services,' Mr Bannister said. As part of the trial, Australia Post has opened two Australia Post Parcels services available for customers in Victoria and NSW, one in Fitzroy and Waterloo. However, there are plans to open further dedicated parcel centres in Chadstone in Melbourne, St Leonard's in Sydney and in the Gold Coast. There are currently no plans to open Australia Post Parcels in regional areas, instead focusing on the metro regions of the country. 'We'll be monitoring how the trial locations perform and how and when customers use them and that will help us refine leanings,' Mr Bannister said. 'What we're really doing here is we've got a focused parcel experience to make it easier and more seamless for customers collect, send and return their parcels.'
