Final check out for Embassy Motel
29/5/09
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The iconic Embassy Motel will close its doors on 31 May, checking out of a place it has occupied at the heart of Canberra’s political and social life for more than four decades.
The hotel was purchased by Canberra Investment Corporation Limited (CIC) in March 2008 and will shortly be demolished to make way for The Ambassador, Canberra’s most prestigious new apartment complex.
But before the motel is gone for good, CIC’s CEO, Col Alexander and motel manager Michael Parkes will take one last walk through its corridors, which have seen many famous faces come and go.
“We’re in the centre of things here with the Lodge and Parliament House just down the road, so the motel has always been a place where politicians and other interesting people tended to gather,” Mr Parkes said.
“I think it felt like a home away from home for a lot of them because it’s in the middle of an established suburb where people live and work and there has always been a strong sense of community and neighbourhood,” he said.
Col Alexander said that while the closing of the Embassy Motel marks the end of one Canberra landmark, it is also the beginning of a new one.
“The Ambassador will create a new chapter in this site’s history by uniting its prestige location with the best in sustainable, elegant urban design,” Mr Alexander said.
“Led by renowned architect Colin Stewart, we have designed homes which will integrate with Deakin’s graceful aesthetic, while also standing out because of their quality and contemporary style.”
The Ambassador has been designed to make the most of its location, with sweeping views to Parliament House, Black Mountain and the Brindabellas a key feature. It is also unique in offering new luxury homes at the heart of desirable Deakin, only minutes from Civic, Woden and Manuka.
