Best for
- Couples seeking an ultra-intimate art hotel experience
- Architecture and design enthusiasts drawn to Art Deco restoration
- Travellers exploring The Murray region who want a genuinely exceptional base
Circa 1928
Art Deco grandeur in a restored Commonwealth Bank, where The Murray meets considered luxury
Intimate, curated, and quietly extraordinary
- Just 3-4 suites in a meticulously restored 1928 Art Deco Commonwealth Bank building
- Booking.com 9.6/10 rating with personalised service compared to Raffles Singapore
- Sister property to Circa 1936 in Corowa, by the same visionary owners
Heritage Hotel · Albury
The luxury case for Circa 1928.
A five-star boutique art hotel housed in a meticulously restored 1928 Commonwealth Bank building in the heart of Albury, Circa 1928 offers just three to four uniquely designed suites, a day spa, and a cocktail bar, and serves as the sister property to Circa 1936 in Corowa.
The mood
Intimate, curated, and quietly extraordinary
Ideal stay
2 to 3 nights
Why it earns the rate
With only three to four suites in a building this significant, you are essentially staying in a private art gallery with world-class service. The 9.6 Booking.com rating is earned, not inflated.
Kevin and Ririn Yaxley have made a quiet art of finding abandoned heritage bank buildings in regional NSW and turning them into some of the country's most intimate luxury hotels. Circa 1936 in Corowa was the first; Circa 1928 in Albury is the sibling. Housed in a meticulously restored 1928 Commonwealth Bank building on Dean Street, it offers just three to four individually designed suites in a building whose Art Deco bones provide a framework for something genuinely special.
The suites are each unique. No two share the same layout, colour palette, or art selection. What they share is quality: deep soaking bathtubs built for two, walk-in showers, Hunter Lab skincare, and curated artworks that the Yaxleys have collected with the same care they bring to the architecture. The Art Deco details, original tiling, arched doorways, the proportions of a building designed to impress, have been preserved and enhanced rather than papered over.
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The in-house cocktail bar occupies what was once the banking chamber, serving considered drinks in a glamorous, unhurried setting. The day spa offers treatments that match the property's intimate scale: personal, unhurried, and set within the heritage building. Everything at Circa 1928 is scaled to three or four rooms, which means every interaction feels personal in a way that larger hotels cannot replicate.
Albury sits on the Murray River at the NSW–Victoria border, a regional city with a surprisingly developed dining scene, the respected Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), and easy access to the Rutherglen wine region. The Murray River foreshore offers walking and cycling trails within minutes of the hotel. And for guests who want to experience both Circa properties, Circa 1936 in Corowa is a 45-minute drive away.
A 9.6 rating on Booking.com does not happen by accident, and guests consistently describe the service at Circa 1928 in the same breath as international luxury benchmarks. One reviewer compared it to Raffles Singapore, not for the scale, obviously, but for the quality of personal attention. With just three to four suites, the Yaxleys have created a hotel where every guest matters individually, and the building provides a setting that most capital-city boutique hotels would envy.
For travellers passing through The Murray who want something far beyond a highway motel, or for anyone seeking an art-hotel experience in regional Australia, Circa 1928 is one of the country's most remarkable small hotels.
Is It For You?
Is Circa 1928 right for you?
Less ideal if
- Guests wanting resort-scale facilities or a pool
- Families needing multiple rooms and kid-friendly spaces
Atmosphere
Hushed and curated. The kind of place where three suites means the owners know your name, and the building's history seeps into every detail.
Ideal stay
Weekend (2-3 nights)
Why splurge
With only three to four suites in a building this significant, you are essentially staying in a private art gallery with world-class service. The 9.6 Booking.com rating is earned, not inflated.
Rooms
Rooms & suites
Editorial pickEach suite is unique, so ask the hosts which one best suits your preferences. All feature deep soaking bathtubs and curated art.
Signature Suite
Each suite is a one-off, with deep soaking bathtubs built for two, walk-in showers, Hunter Lab skincare, and curated art throughout. The Art Deco bones of the 1928 building provide the framework; the interiors layer colour, texture, and personality.
- Sleeps
- 2 adults
- Best for
- Every guest, as each suite is individually designed
- Deep soaking bathtub for two
- Curated art collection
- Hunter Lab skincare
- Unique design per suite
- Walk-in shower
- Art Deco architectural details
Eat and Drink
Dining
The restaurants, bars, and rituals that shape how the hotel feels after the room itself.
Start here
Cocktail Bar
An intimate cocktail bar within the hotel, serving considered drinks in a setting that matches the building's Art Deco character. The bar doubles as a social space for the hotel's small number of guests.
- Go here for
- Intimate cocktail bar in an Art Deco banking chamber
- Expect
- Glamorous, intimate, and unhurried
Reset
Wellness
The parts of the property that slow the pace, restore energy, or justify spending more time on-site.
For recovery
Day Spa
An in-house day spa offering treatments in a setting that blends the building's heritage character with contemporary wellness. The scale is intimate; like everything at Circa 1928, it feels personal rather than institutional.
- Best for
- Personalised spa treatments in an Art Deco heritage setting
What to Do
Signature Experiences
The on-property or destination moments that justify choosing this hotel over a generic luxury base.
On arrival or over cocktails
Art Deco building tour
The hosts are passionate about the building's history and the restoration process. A conversation about the 1928 Commonwealth Bank architecture and the art collection is one of the stay's highlights.
Any evening
Explore Albury's dining scene
Albury has developed a surprisingly strong dining and café scene for a regional city, with options ranging from modern Australian to wine bars and bakeries.
Morning or late afternoon
Murray River walk
The Murray River foreshore in Albury is well maintained with walking and cycling trails, river beaches, and mature parkland.
Any day
Day trip to Circa 1936 in Corowa
Visit the sister property in Corowa, about 45 minutes away, for a different perspective on the same heritage-bank-to-art-hotel concept.
Location
Getting to Circa 1928
Located on Dean Street in the centre of Albury, the hotel is easy to find. Albury is served by a regional airport with daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne, and is on the Sydney–Melbourne train line.
Albury CBD restaurants
2 min
WalkMurray River foreshore
10 min
WalkCirca 1936, Corowa
45 min
CarMelbourne
3 hrs
CarCanberra
3.5 hrs
CarAlbury dining precinct
DiningA growing collection of restaurants, cafes, and wine bars along Dean Street and surrounds.
Walking distanceMurray River foreshore
NatureWalking trails, river beaches, and parkland along the Murray.
10 min walkMurray Art Museum Albury (MAMA)
CultureA respected regional gallery with rotating exhibitions and permanent collection.
5 min walkRutherglen wine region
WineOne of Australia's great fortified wine regions, with cellar doors and historic wineries.
45 min driveWhat to Know
Before you book
How does Circa 1928 relate to Circa 1936?
Both are created by Kevin and Ririn Yaxley, who specialise in transforming heritage bank buildings into intimate art hotels. Circa 1928 is in Albury (a larger regional city), while Circa 1936 is in the smaller town of Corowa. Both share the same philosophy but each building has its own character.
Is the hotel still operating?
Yes. The property was listed for sale in late 2024 but continues to operate and accept bookings. The experience and service remain consistent.
When is the best time to visit?
Autumn for the Murray region's golden landscapes and harvest festivals. Spring is lovely. Winter is cosy and the fireside cocktails come into their own. Summer can be hot but the building stays cool.
Editorial Verdict
The verdict on Circa 1928
Why book it
- Exceptional 9.6 Booking.com rating backed by genuinely personalised service
- Art Deco architecture and curated art make every corner photogenic
- Ultra-intimate scale, where three to four suites means you are never a room number
Know the trade-offs
- Very limited availability due to tiny room count
- No pool or extensive facilities; the experience is the building, the art, and the service
If this sells out
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