Blacksmith by The Stella Collective: Mid-century Glamour Meets Laidback Australiana at Lake Mulwala

Located on the banks of Lake Mulwala, an idyllic resort just three hours’ drive north of Melbourne, Australia, Blacksmith Provedore is a new hospitality venue that both celebrates and safeguards the town’s legacy as a classic Australian holiday destination. Melbourne-based design practice The Stella Collective conceived the venue as a modernist pavilion whose timeless elegance embodies Mulwala’s mid-century ambience and sophisticated ethos as well as introduced a new, forward-looking chapter in its beloved history. Jazzed with a chic decor that combines rustic and rock'n'roll accents, Blacksmith welcomes guests to a glamourous yet laidback all-day environment where they can eat, drink and relax in swimwear, kaftans or formal attire with the same comfort.

Lake Mulwala’ idyllic climate – long summers, mild winters and all year long sunshine that brings even Australia’s Gold Coast to shame – makes it the perfect destination for holidaymakers who can enjoy a variety of activities, from swimming, sailing and canoeing, to fishing, picnicking and bird watching. Built in the late 1930s as part of a major irrigation scheme, the lake transformed the sleepy community of Mulwala into a resort town whose popularity took off in the 1960s and 1970s. The designers tapped into the nostalgia for those bygone summers some 50 years ago, kept alive in the childhood memories of many Australians including Blacksmith’s owner Liz Bayles, creating an immersive environment that hovers between mid-century countryside clubhouse and utopian contemporary resort. As lead designer Hana Hakim explains: “To me the charm (of Lake Mulwala) is undeniable and I wanted Blacksmith to reflect this in an updated way, for the next generation to make new memories with their own families”.