The Outrigger Restaurant was a fine dining establishment at the Motel Palm Lake, which was designed by well known local architect Mordechai Benshemesh who also came up with Edgewater Towers on Marine Parade.

The Motel Palm Lake was located at 50-52 Queens Road, facing Albert Park. It was opened on 13 December 1962 by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Maurice Nathan, and it was one of Melbourne's most prestigious motels at the time. It originally had 84 suits with open balconies facing the park on one side, and a popular swimming pool terrace to the north. Facilities included on site parking, conference facilities, a nightly dinner dance and The Outrigger Restaurant.

For a time, the motel remained in operation under a new name, Noah's Palm Lake Motel. In later years, two more stories and a multi-level car park surrounding the swimming pool terrace were added in phases, and the open balconies on both sides were enclosed, completely changing the appearance. Only the two Canary Island Palm trees that represented the Motel's name that were planted at the entry in 1961 on the opening day by the Lord Mayor still remained.

The Outrigger's decor was Polynesian, but the food was described as Australian. It remained open and with its original decor, including the eponymous outrigger hanging from the ceiling, masks in the dining area, and tikis at the entrance, from 1962 to at least 1977.

The building was demolished and trees removed in 2023.

This space is now home to the We Are Living Queens Apartments as of 2026.

Details

Type

Bar & Restaurant

Address

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Closed?

Yes (Permanently)