Steam: Train Carriage, c. 1926
Sleeps 6 | Bedrooms 3 | Bathrooms 1
Welcome to the Great Age of Steam…a time when life was simpler and slower. You’ve carefully packed a leather trunk, perhaps with some playing cards and homemade slice for the journey, snapped its brass clips shut, donned your Sunday best, and at Flinders Street Station, climb aboard a steam train filled with a sense of excitement for new adventures that lie ahead.
Steam: Train Carriage is a unique historic stay with a wonderful past that will appeal to train enthusiasts and history lovers alike. It was built in 1926 at the Newport Railway Workshop in Melbourne as First Class carriage 61 AW and transported travellers throughout regional Victoria. In 1937, it was converted to Second Class carriage 72 BW, before being converted back to a First Class carriage in 1956. In 1972, it was converted again, to Second Class carriage 2 VFW for use on trains between Melbourne & Sydney. Finally in 1980, it was converted back to Second Class carriage 72 BW for use once again in Victoria. It was retired to a rail yard in Collingwood in 1983 - and was soon afterwards sold, put on a truck from Melbourne to Forrest, a small township in the Otway Ranges.
Hosts Mike & Fleur spent over nine months restoring the carriage, including careful use of salvaged materials to create an original interior. Accommodation is suitable for couples and families, and pets are also welcome. It can sleep up to six guests, but given it’s a converted carriage, this a cosy space - so a couple or family of 4 may be more comfortable. There are three bedrooms, a master with queen bed; and two smaller compartments with a double & two singles. Your well-behaved furry friend is also welcome (unsuitable for young or larger dogs, due to the delicate furnishings through the carriage).
The master bedroom also features twin vintage mahogany armchairs - the perfect spot for a nightcap - and open the sliding door to your own private outdoor bath with polished brass tapware, surrounded by lush greenery and climbing vines. For couples, this as romantic as it gets! The main bathroom in the carriage has a shower, art deco washstand, and luxury Grampian Goods Co. amenities.
All rooms have been richly decorated with the late Victorian period and the steampunk movement in mind. Warm wooden antique furniture, ornate chandeliers, pressed metal and wood panelling; deep red velvet curtains, leather lounge, exposed piping and gloss black floors, all create an interior that evokes feelings of nostalgic happiness.
The small but fully-functional kitchen with stove & oven is a delight to cook in. Basic provisions such as olive oil, spices, tea & coffee are provided…and enjoy your morning coffee from the Italian stove-top coffee maker or French press. The wood fire in the living room will keep you toasty of an evening, and there’s also split-system air-conditioning for warmer months.
There’s no TV, but WiFi is available, along with a stereo and selection of books & board games. Outside, it’s quiet and peaceful, with leafy trees, bird life, and garden with outdoor setting to relax in. Stay in this charming and truly unique carriage with its strong sense of a bygone era, and you may never want to depart.
Special Features
Outdoor Bath
Al Fresco Dining
Wood Fire
Bird Life
Things To Do
Forrest is a tiny, picturesque town nestled deep in the Otway Ranges and the gateway to the Great Otway National Park. Nature here is at her best, with towering eucalyptus and redwood trees, pristine rainforest, and clean, crisp air. Bring your own bikes, and explore the many hiking and mountain bike trails that start in Forrest. Sampling handcrafted chocolates at Platypi Chocolate is a must, and visit local small-scale brewing company Forrest Brewery. A half hour drive sees you at the Great Ocean Road, where the towns of Lorne, Wye River and Apollo Bay are waiting to be explored. In summer, spend the day relaxing at one of stunning beaches dotted along the coastline.
