116 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy Tram 96 Tel (03) 9419 8637 or 1800 032 635 Websitewww.nunnery.com.au
BUG Review
The Nunnery consists of four grand old Victorian terrace houses that were once used as a nunnery. The buildings are beautiful with hardwood floors, tall ceilings and antique trimmings such as stained glass windows. Facilities include a small fully-equipped kitchen, a laundry and a nice TV lounge with leather sofas and a fireplace. Internet access costs $4 per hour and Wi-Fi is also available ($4 per hour, $15 per day, $50 per week). It is a really nice atmosphere and can be a fun place to stay. It has a good location across the road from Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Buildings and it's within walking distance of the city centre and Lygon Street in Carlton and Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
Price Dorm bed $28-32 Single room $70-80 Double room $95-115 Twin room $85-115 Prices are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit Cards MasterCard,Visa
Reception Open 8am-10.30pm daily; late check in with prior arrangement
Pros:
Lovely building in a good location, with friendly staff
Cons:
The kitchen is far too small
ukulelemaybe
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The Nunnery is housed in a lovely building in a good location to access the city centre, Fitzroy, Carlton, Lygon Street etc. However, if you have a room facing the main road you will be woken up by the trams. The place is well run and clean with good security (swipe card access to front door and rooms) and the staff are very friendly but the kitchen is far too small for the number of guests staying there. A large proportion of the guests seem to be staying there long term and the overall atmosphere suffers as a result.
Pros:
looks enchanting
Cons:
after a night with little sleep...
Sydney travels
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I am afraid that whilst I was enchanted by the internet images and my initial impressions of the Nunnery, my stay there was appalling. I booked the single room in the Guest House and was not only surprised to see that it was on the main road (Nicholson Street) which means that the trams wake you up at dawn, but that it smelt of stale tobacco smoke and had the unpleasant addition of bed bugs!
Breakfast consists of a roll and jam. "Free coffee and tea" really doesn't make up for a sleepless night and the after effects of being fed on by nasty small bugs.
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(Review ID: 11337)
Where is the love?, December 30, 2005
Reviewer:
montytherabbit@hotmail.com
Pros:
n/a
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Great location. Nice and quite but just a stroll to the city, and a very confortable bed are big plusses. What lets the place down is the lack of attention to detail and the horrible disinterested attitude of the staff, which began when skinny little Nick on reception wanted to argue with me on arrivial. We paid $110 for a double in the next door guest house. It could have been so good, but sharing one dirty run down bathroom with 20 other guests which was so poorly laid out I had to step over a females pad dispenser to have a shower took my sense of humour away. THE OWNER OBIVIUOSLY DOES NOT CARE WHO HE EMPLOYS OR HOW RUN DOWN HE LETS HIS BUILDING BECOME. Shame. Our stay could have easily been much better. If the owner replaced the staff and spend a week and some money repairing this building it would be lovely
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(Review ID: 11338)
Mind the Bed Bugs Dont Bite!!!!, December 7, 2004
Reviewer:
thebungles
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Stayed here in twin room accomodation and were extrememely disapointed with the place. Its nothing like the fantastic web page they have. The showers are communal and dirty, hair in plugs, damp & rott on walls/ceilings, aged soap stains clinging on - definately an idea to wear thongs at all times! After 2 nights stay, our arms and legs were covered in bites which were so bad we had to leave! What a shame, as this place, under the right management, could be fantastic! Great location and lots of features hiding beneath the dirt.
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(Review ID: 11339)
If they CLEANED it more it would rock!, March 19, 2004
Reviewer:
Lou (who loves Melbourne)
Pros:
n/a
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n/a
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I actually stayed in the place Oct 02, so it was a good while ago. My mum actually stayed here about 2 weeks before me and she thought it was awesome! But then shes a bit mad....I stayed in a twin room with my mate- nice room which was reasonbly clean.The sheets were really scratchy. I liked the kitchen facilites and it was a fantastic location too. The only thing I didnt like was the state of the bathrooms, they were all pretty grotty and while we were there someone threw up in one of the sinks and it stayed like that for 3 days! Thats really gross. But if the cleaning is up to standard now, then STAY, by all means. The staff were lovely. The breakfast very very basic but it does the job.
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(Review ID: 11340)
Disappointing!, February 20, 2004
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Anonymous
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Stayed at the Nunnery for two days. Was surprised that the 4-person room was co-ed. Being a young woman, I felt a little uncomfortable sleeping in a locked room with three unkown males. Breakfast consisted of 6 buns for the entire hostel. I cannot see how this was meant to be an adequate meal. The bathrooms were very dirty. I would definitely not return.
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(Review ID: 11341)
Cozy, clean comfortable - the nuns would be proud, February 6, 2004
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n/a
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Anonymous
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We stayed in the Guesthouse part of it. Its nicely decorated (wooden floors, big windows, a nice verandah), clean and well-supplied. The kitchen is the best I came across in Australia. V. Central - across the road from the Carlton Gardens, a short stroll to Brunswick Street with its funky cafes and pubs and its also withing walking distance of Federation Square.
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(Review ID: 11342)
Unique boutique budget accommodation, January 5, 2004
Reviewer:
Lenka Hazenlova
( lenka_cenyavic81@hotmail.com)
from Slovakia
Pros:
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Fantastic location close to Brunswick St, tram at the door goes to the city and St Kilda, funky communal kitchen, clean cosy rooms, substantial breakfast and plenty of freebie nights (wine & cheese, pancakes, soup, bbq's)All staff are locals, very friendly!I loved it because it's not like other rooty tooty, spewy, noisy, boozy backpackers I've stayed at... the best value backpackers I've stayed at, heaps of fun with no sleaze
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(Review ID: 11344)
Funky and Convenient, August 17, 2003
Reviewer:
Shona
Pros:
n/a
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n/a
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Overall, I liked this place. The building has heaps of character, the rooms are comfy (I stayed in a 4-bed dorm), It has free breakfast, and it's very convenient for the tram. I do agree with one of the previous reviewers, though. Many of the guests are long-term, and while the other girls in my room were nice, the common room had an unfriendly feel. I'd definitely stay here again, but in the guesthouse rather than the main building, which seemed to have more short-term and local guests. Also, watch out for the opening times of the office, and make sure someone will be there if you need to get your bags out of the storeroom.
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(Review ID: 11345)
Wish we could have stayed longer, July 31, 2003
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Anonymous
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We were only in Melbourne one night, but we really enjoyed our stay at the Nunnery. Free pumpkin soup for dinner was tasty and warming on a chilly winter evening. Free breakfast, as well. The rooms are being renovated, but are really charming. Lots of character here. We were able to easily stow our baggage after checkout until our departure that evening. The staff were always friendly, giving directions, making change for the laundry, calling a cab for the ferry, whatever was needed.
