The Isla – Batemans Bay
Designed by Those Architects, The Isla has opened its very good-looking retro-inspired doors in Batemans Bay – giving us all the 80s Australian motel vibes.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Anson Smart
Remember those old-school beach front motels from your youth? Lately there’s been a firm focus on reimagining the nostalgic motels, sprucing them up with subtle luxury design features to bring them into the modern day.
Clocking in at 18 humble rooms, The Isla is one of those aforementioned motels, designed to play homage to the quintessential Australian beach holiday, located in the former Abel Tasman motel in the holiday town of Batehaven, on the edge of Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast.
The incredibly cool retro interiors can be attributed to award-winning Those Architects, who anchored their inspiration from 80s interiors, taking design cues from the unspoilt landscape and relaxed energy of the South Coast.
Terrazzo, natural textures and sunset hues decorate the subtly luxe rooms, with a spacious pool area, vending machine stocked with Poor Toms Negroni Spritzes, St Ali Espresso Martinis and artisan chocolate.
The external bricks of the ’80s motel have had a bright white paint job, while doors and arched window frames are coloured a sunset-orange.
Inside, each room features bespoke oak furnishings, terrazzo features, brushed brass accents and dreamy lush king-sized topped with A.H Beard mattresses, seating and sofas are from retailer Design by Them, and lighting is by Melbourne’s Coco Flip Design Studio.
After a tough two years of bushfires and lockdowns, The Isla’s founders are ecstatic that the moment of opening has finally arrived.
‘We’re so excited for people to rediscover Batemans Bay – it’s a magnificent pocket of the world and the ideal hideaway to get off the grid. Pristine beaches, vast leafy stretches and a beautiful community of people,’ says Yanna Dascarolis, The Isla co-founder.
Located just a stone's throw away from the beach, the motel is surrounded by some of the world’s best oysters and picturesque walking tracks. Photo: Anson Smart
The seating and sofas are from retailer Design by Them, and lighting is by Melbourne’s Coco Flip Design Studio. Photo: Anson Smart
The interior takes design cues from the unspoilt landscape and relaxed energy of the NSW South Coast. Photo: Anson Smart
“There’s something so wonderfully nostalgic about the Australian motel; it feels like a home away from home. We instantly fell in love with this property... it was an honour to be able to give it a new lease of life.”
Designed by award-winning Those Architects, The Isla takes its design cues from the unspoilt landscape and relaxed energy of the NSW South CoastPhoto: Anson Smart
The motel’s old garage was reworked into a cosy communal pool house. Photo: Anson Smart
Doors and arched window frames are coloured a sunset-orange. Photo: Anson Smart
