Overlooked ’70s townhouses transformed into style Orange accommodation

Orange in central NSW has long been synonymous with food and wine. Like its Central Tablelands’ mate (or rival), Mudgee, it’s home to some of Australia’s oldest vineyards and lovely old architecture, attracting gourmet travellers since the first cellar doors began opening in the mid-1980s.

Autumn has long been peak time, when vineyards turn and the region’s produce is at its best, but winter has developed its own appeal; think misty mornings, open fireplaces, long lunches and red wine. Even spring and summer, once quieter periods, are drawing travellers looking for space, fresh air and a more relaxed take on a country break.

But there’s something of a revolution afoot in Orange, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney, that transcends seasonality, says local Pip Brett.

“That real energy in Orange right now is hard to define, but you feel it the moment you arrive,” she says. “So many people here are doing what they love, and that passion is contagious.”

While food and wine remain central to the region’s appeal, they are supported by an ever-strengthening cohort of boutique shopping, galleries, eateries and considered accommodation.

It’s within this trend that Brett has launched Bon Bon, a new collection of five short-stay townhouses in the centre of Orange.

The project has transformed a row of once-overlooked 1970s brick apartments into a design-led stay, created by Brett – founder of local homewares destination Jumbled – alongside her builder husband, Nick Luelf, and architect Felicity Slattery.

(They also created and own Sona Molong, a stylish stay in a former bank building in Molong, 25 minutes from Orange.)

While the bones remain the same, each of the five two-bedroom apartments now carries its own identity, anchored in colour and layered interiors.

Brett says it’s a wonderful time to be offering something unique in Orange.

“There’s a shared pride here,” Brett says. “Everyone is genuinely invested in offering incredible service and authentic hospitality. We’re no longer the poor country cousin to the city. If anything, we’ve become the cool aunty – effortless, welcoming, and a lot of fun to be around.”

Bon Bon’s origin story is one of untapped potential. The apartments themselves had long gone unnoticed, despite their central location.

“They were five identical two-bedroom townhouses in a row. Tired, overlooked, and honestly not being used to their potential,” Brett says. “I’d lived here my whole life and had barely noticed them.”

What they offered, however, was natural light, north-facing backyards and what Brett describes as “great bones”. Rather than renovate one at a time, the decision was made to tackle all five simultaneously.

“Each apartment has its own distinct personality, so the stay becomes part of the experience, not just a place to sleep,” Brett says. “It’s about creating spaces that feel joyful, expressive, and a little unexpected.”

Brett says that’s a character profile that fits her guests: “Someone who finds joy in colour, pattern, good company, and a glass of bubbles,” she says, though the apartments are designed to suit a range of travellers, from couples and families to groups of friends – with some guests booking all five for weddings or group getaways.

That flexibility, combined with the individuality of each apartment, also creates a reason to return. Guests might choose a different space on their next visit, experiencing Orange – and Bon Bon – from a slightly different perspective, and perhaps at a different time of year.

“Accommodation is not just a backdrop any more,” Brett says. “It’s a key part of the experience, sometimes even the highlight.”

See bonbonorange.com.au