Union Hotel, Colac

Complete in 2025

The Union Hotel has long been part of Colac’s social fabric, a place for gathering, eating, staying and celebrating, so the project focused on improving and updating the building without losing the atmosphere people associate with it.

Rather than treating the hotel as something to completely reinvent, the architects approached it as a building with history and meaning. The design balances restoration and renewal, keeping important elements of the existing structure while introducing upgrades that support how people use hospitality spaces today. 

The aim was to make the hotel feel refreshed and more functional, while still recognisably the Union. The project also reflects the practical realities of regional hospitality, where buildings need to work hard and cater to different types of guests. 

Spaces for accommodation, dining and socialising were reconsidered to improve the experience for visitors and locals alike, with an emphasis on flexibility, comfort and longevity. At the same time, the design had to respond to construction and operational needs, ensuring the hotel could continue to serve the community well into the future.

Ultimately, the Union Hotel is less about dramatic change and more about careful evolution. Porter Architects’ intervention respects the building’s history while helping it adapt to contemporary expectations, reinforcing its role as a familiar and important meeting place in Colac.