Media Room
AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS
Yarra Ranges Council letter under seal - 8 December 2009
To Monreale Estate
At its meeting on 8 December 2009, Council resolved to formally recognise Monreale Estate for its sustained success in the tourism sector over many years.
In particular is the company's success as winner in the category of Hosted Accommodation in the Melbourne Airport Victorian Tourism Awards for 2007, 2008 and 2009, and in the Hotel Motel Accommodation (HMAA) State Awards for Excellence for either Best Accommodation Experience or Hosted Accommodation for the years 2000 to 2008 inclusively.
These Awards have resulted in Monreale Estate being indicted into the Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and the HMAA State Awards for Excellence Hall of Fame in 2004 and 2008.
These Awards seek to recognise the efforts of accommodation operators and their contribution to the tourism industry and the role they play in creating, inspiring and promoting tourism and accommodation, through providing professional service to their guests.
Your company's success at these Awards is a result of your continual search for excellence and the hard work of your team, which has helped set the standards for the rest of the industry to follow.
The provision of boutique accommodation is a key attraction of our region and it is the dedication of businesses like Monreale Estate that help the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs retain its competitive edge.
View Monreale's Tourism Awards
PRESS RELEASES
Victorian Tourism Awards Hat Trick For Cottages at Monreale - 16/11/09 (PDF, 112Kb)
Karl Sietins Photographs Win 2009 Calendar Competition - 22/09/09 (PDF, 106Kb)
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Free Press Leader - 30 September 2009
Steadily on in Sassafras, with eye to a tourism trio
A unique Sassafras business is in the running for a tourism award.
Monreale Estate, a collection of luxury self-contained cottages, has been nominated for a Tourism Victoria award.
Each year the awards recognise leading businesses and individuals for their contribution to the Victorian tourism industry.
Monreale Estate is trying to achieve the trifecta this year, after winning the award in its category for the past two years.
The estate has been run by Karl and Cheryl Johnston for the past 10 years. Ms Johnston said that over the years the business had built a loyal clinet base, and they had a number of loyal customers, including locals and those from interstate.
She said although business dropped off in February after the bushfires, it was once again steady.
Other popular attractions of the estate include three troup ponds with fresh fish, open fires and large fireside spas, as well as the surrounding bush scenery.
Award winners will be announced on November 16.
Cheryl Johnston pictured outside one of the boutique cottages.
Article Herald Sun 14 June 2009
Herald Sun Writer/Review Catherine Lambert
Check - IN finding the perfect place to stay
Winter is a great time to
visit the Dandenongs,
writes Catherine Lambert
A CHILDHOOD in Melbourne usually involves regular Sunday drives to the Dandenongs. The trip is not always received well.
There are possibilities of car sickness on the windy climb up the mountain and long waits while the adults look in bric-a-brac shops. For adults, the trip makes more sense.
Only an hour from Melbourne is this little piece of Europe where the air is clean, the ground moist, the colours are glorious and the shops are fun. It is possible to miss autumn in many parts of Melbourne now, but in the Dandenongs the autumn colours still shines brightly as winter takes hold.
The gullies and slopes are ablaze with red, orange and rust.
This is the perfect season to visit the Dandenongs, and Monreale Estate in Sassafras is only a short drive down Burwood Highway to Melbourne. The 2.5ha property, featuring four self contained cottages and two apartments, was built 11 years ago and has been winning the major Victorian and Australian tourism awards for some years.
Each cottage is positioned for maximum privacy and has a special feature. Ours, “Oakbrook Cottage” has a large veranda overlooking a trout pond and trees hug all the windows.
There are tree ferns seen from the spa corner, Japanese maples from the living room. Manchurian pear trees from the kitchen and a 40m-high pin oak dominates the veranda view.
But what really sets Monreale apart are the in room dinner hampers.
For only $118 for two, we were handed a hamper at the door with a single red rose and were left alone for a blissfully romantic evening.
Co-owner Cheryl Johnston is a magnificent cook. Her kitchen produces 12 different hampers. We chose soup, roast chicken with macadamia nut stuffing, organic greens and potato gratin. Followed by sticky date pudding and baked cheesecake. It included the bottle of wine, crusty baguettes and candles.
After dinner there was nothing left but to watch my husband tackle the male science of fire stoking and settle on the black leather three seater to watch some DVD’s.
The open plan cottage makes for easy living and communication. The entire apartment can be viewed from the king-sized bed. Breakfast is a struggle after such a big dinner the previous night but a quick walk to the nearby Alfred Nicholas gardens opens the appetite.
There is a back entrance to the 80-year old gardens only 300m from Monreale and is a breathtaking display. The reflection of the liquid ambers and maples in the ornamental lake is so pretty it could have a movie set.
Even a walk through Monreale is pleasant because such attention to detail has been devoted to its design.
That it lies so close to Melbourne makes it all the more special.
EDITORIAL - MAGAZINE ARTICLES
Written by Jan Morgan Editorial Manager - Melbourne City Weekly
"It's luxurious and romantic. It's everything you could dream of in a spring weekend retreat"
"...... it is the attention to detail at Monreale that makes you feel special, the chocolates on the pillow, the freshly laundered fluffy bathrobes and slippers in the wardrobe, the mini bar well stocked with local reds, whites and sparkling wines for your indulgence. All is designed with enjoyment in mind,...."
Written by Jane Mclean travel writer - Weekends for Two
"If privacy, luxury and sensual delight are high on the list, Monreale Estate may well be your perfect destination...." "Each of the charming cottages ha a cosy wood fire (as well as central heating and cooling) and an open plan design that's perfect for lovers, the bed (king or queen), spa and fire are in the same visual space".
".....From every window there's a superb garden/forest outlook. Each cottage also has a comfy lounge area and fully equipped kitchen ....."
