HONOUR THE HEYDAY OF FREEDOM

With its archetypal layout, neon sign, prime position and accents of mid-century modernism, the Gold Coast’s Mysa Motel taps into the original motel culture of the 1960s, presenting travellers from that iconic road trip generation an opportunity to indulge their nostalgia and pay tribute to the heyday of freedom. 

Located in the heart of Palm Beach, right off the Gold Coast highway and within walking distance of the beach and a plethora of eateries, the boutique motel is the perfect stop on any road trip, including weekend revellers from drive-to destinations such as Brisbane and Byron Bay. But it is also so much more than that.

The seven-bedroom motel was once – during the height of the ‘great Australian motel movement’ – known as Palm Trees Motel, a stereotypical, single-level brick beauty with a carpark and kidney-shaped pool out the front. Throughout the course of its vibrant lifetime, it became a well-known part of the Gold Coast’s architectural history. Due to its location, it was often used as a landmark reference point with locals, and in its prime, operated a heaving trade.

In 2020 a local couple, Jase and Eliza, bought the motel with the intention of refurbishing it by hand and preserving its essence, rather than demolishing a rich slice of history and building something new.

“In a city that has lost so much of its architectural heritage to new development, it was important to us to keep the DNA of the original building by preserving the motel’s façade. We never considered converting the property into something else – we always wanted to keep running it as a motel. The layout of the building and the rooms worked; it just needed some TLC and some modern tweaks,” they said.

After an exhaustive revamp, which included a roof replacement, increase to the ceiling height in all rooms, expansion of windows and doors, addition of sustainable elements such as solar panels, and a conversion of the old manager’s living quarters into a two-bedroom suite, what they ended up with was an improved and modernised version of the old, much-loved motel.

“The Mysa of today offers seven renovated rooms with added courtyards, a revitalised pool area, and a new carport that doubles as an outdoor function area. Making new of something old, it acknowledges that nostalgia is an important design participant because it allows our favourite experiences and stories to be relived and retold,” Jase and Eliza said.

“We welcome guests of any era, but we love having people from that iconic motel generation stay with us and revel in their memories of holidays on the road.”

In a land where the car has provided us with the ultimate freedom to hit the road and explore, it is no surprise that Australians wholeheartedly embraced the American concept of the motel. When motels began springing up in the 1950s, they represented a new, stylish, and sophisticated way to travel. By the following decade, they had firmly established themselves in the nation’s psyche as a favourite, must-do holiday experience. The great Australian motel movement reached its peak in the late 60s and early 70s at a time when road trips were popular, freedom was a big vibe, and the convenience of rolling right on into roadside accommodation was a novelty.

The word ‘motel’ is a play on words, where ‘mo’ stands for ‘motor vehicles’ and ‘tel’ references ‘hotel’. Drive-to destinations were a big deal and motels were perfectly primed to capitalise on the trend.  

According to Jase and Eliza, the Mysa Motel offers all the convenience, accessibility, and excitement of its revered predecessors, with modern luxuries.

“While we incorporated plenty of nods to the old-school motel mentality, we wanted to create something that transcends a pitstop on a road trip, so we brought the Mysa Motel into the 21st Century with contemporary features such as blackout blinds, USB charging points, LED strip lighting, filtered water, Australian Asthma Foundation approved beds, smart TVs, and silent fridges. The motel is entirely self-serviced, which means upon booking, guests receive a unique code that grants them access the property and their room with keyless entry via keypad,” they explained.