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15 April, 2021

“There was a knife in the pool”: Melbourne’s worst motel hits the market

Melbourne’s most notorious motel is up for sale, and its owners are hoping to get a few million for it.

Coburg’s the Stay Inn on Sydney Road was rated as Melbourne’s worst accommodation on Tripadvisor before it closed in 2019, and now it’s on the market for a cool $4.5 million.

The motel is so notorious, Vice produced a documentary about it as part of its Australiana series.

According to Vice, the Stay Inn received most of its clientele through prisons and homeless services.

“Arrests and fights between residents are a common occurrence and everyone here has a past that involves tragedy, mental illness, drug abuse or incarceration,” the documentary’s bio said.

As expected, the reviews are colourful.

“Such false advertising, front boarded up, druggies and deals going down,” one reviewer wrote on Tripadvisor.

“The scariest motel experience me and my family have ever had, left after an hour or so. Rooms are filthy and not fit for animals. There was a knife in the pool!”

Image source: YouTube/Vice

Another review complains of boarded-up windows, bullet holes in glass and drug deals going on outside.

“I was so afraid I packed the room furniture against the door. The other ‘guests’ were up ALL night. It’s a dodgy, dodgy place in a seedy part of town!” the reviewer said.

Though not all reviewers were as quick to judge.

“Had expected much worse place reading the reviews but surprisingly staff were helpful [and] room was clean,” said a third review.

“Yes, some services use the motel for crisis housing but as a society, what is the alternative solution to house people left homeless?

“I say all the power to you staff of Stay Inn and the work that you do…”

Image source: YouTube/Vice

Colliers’ Joe Kairouz, who is marketing the property, told Commercial Real Estate that the site must be treated as a blank canvas.

“Coburg has certainly experienced growth and gentrification, it’s known as an old industrial area,” Kairouz said.

“From the viewpoint of the residents, I’m sure they’d love to see a development on the site.”

Kairouz said he expects the motel will be turned into apartments or townhouses.

Featured image source: YouTube/Vice

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