Isle of Wight Hotel resurrection set to transform Phillip Island
Phillip Island is set to be transformed with a $130 million accommodation and entertainment complex.
The popular tourist destination in Victoria, is set to welcome a new Isle of Wight Hotel in 2027 – the third iteration of the iconic establishment after two previous buildings were destroyed by fire. The seven-story, 27.5-metre development on The Esplanade in Cowes is expected to inject millions into the local economy and create 150 jobs.
Exclusive images reveal the design by Melbourne firm Moda, showcasing 163 hotel rooms, a retail laneway with a gym, wellness centre, and yoga studio, four dining and beverage venues, an outdoor pool terrace and bar, two function rooms, and a beer garden. The masterplan also includes a three-storey, 14.5-metre tourist hostel with 49 one-bedroom units, a manager's apartment, retail space, and a rooftop tennis and basketball court. A 197-space basement carpark is also planned.
Construction on the long-vacant site, which has been empty for over a decade and was listed for sale in 2014, will begin later this year with the removal of existing structures and trees. Local residents have long advocated for the site's redevelopment.
Moda managing director Ed Farquharson emphasised the historical significance of the Isle of Wight, calling the previous hotel a Phillip Island "icon." He estimates the new hotel will boost the local economy by $55 to $76 million annually.
The original Isle of Wight, opened in 1870, was destroyed by fire in 1925.
The second Isle of Wight famously hosted Fred Astaire, Ava Gardner, and Gregory Peck during the filming of On the Beach in 1958.
In 2005, a permit was granted to transform the hotel into a seven-storey building with 255 units, a bottle shop, restaurants, cocktail lounges, a nightclub, a sports bar, a gaming lounge, and a gymnasium.
Changes were made to the permit in 2010, but the hotel was destroyed by fire a month later.
Since then, plans to redevelop the site have been ongoing. The Bass Coast Shire Council finally approved the multi-million-dollar Moda project in September 2023.
The project forms part of the council’s $8 million Streetscape Masterplan, which will transform the Cowes Foreshore Precinct, including The Esplanade, Thompsons Avenue, Bass Avenue, Chapel Street, and Church Street, into a pedestrian-friendly and vibrant destination with extended outdoor dining spaces.
Jonathan Jackson, 13th February 2025
