Crystalbrook Collection unveils hotel name and offers sneak peek inside its first ACT property

Crystalbrook Collection, one of Australia’s leading sustainably-led luxury hospitality companies, has revealed the name of its new-build Canberra hotel - Crystalbrook Aurora - as construction ramps up, with hoarding now in place and groundwork underway in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Inspired by the idea of a new dawn, the name Crystalbrook Aurora reflects a fresh chapter for Canberra’s hospitality scene - one that honours the city’s visionary beginnings while embracing its future as a modern, connected, and creative destination. The name also holds historical significance, having once been among the proposed names for the city itself.

Crystalbrook Aurora’s design draws from Canberra’s rich architectural heritage and iconic civic style, with a curved facade that takes cues from nearby parliamentary buildings. The interiors also pay homage to the capital’s origins, particularly the influence of Marion Mahony Griffin, one of the world’s first licensed female architects and a vital - though often overlooked - figure in the city’s founding story. 

Marion, alongside her husband and collaborator, Walter Burley Griffin, helped shape Canberra’s unique integration of natural landscape and concrete architecture. Her pioneering spirit is reflected in the hotel’s light-filled central skylight atrium and abundant greenery, seamlessly blending indoors and outdoors.

Guests can also look forward to thoughtfully designed rooms with timeless appeal, immersive wellness spaces, and elevated dining and entertainment offerings, all crafted to reflect Canberra’s cultural depth and contemporary spirit.

Ghassan Aboud, Founder of Crystalbrook Collection said: “Crystalbrook Aurora's identity reveal and development progress marks an exciting next chapter in our Canberra journey. This project reflects our commitment to investing in high-growth, culturally significant locations and delivering properties that reflect the future of responsible luxury.” 

Canberran developer, Tony Pan, Founder of TP Dynamics, said: “Located opposite the iconic Canberra Centre on Garema Place, Crystalbrook Aurora is set to become a new landmark on the city skyline. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Crystalbrook Collection and together we are delighted to build a legacy for the city as part of central Canberra’s revitalisation.”

The 10-storey hotel will feature 225 rooms and suites, a modern European rooftop restaurant, ground floor dining and luxury retail offerings, flexible meeting and event spaces, and a dedicated wellness precinct including Crystalbrook’s signature Eléme Day Spa, sauna, pool, and gym facilities.

Geoff York, CEO of Crystalbrook Collection added: “As we continue to expand Crystalbrook Collection’s national footprint, Canberra represents both a strategic investment and an opportunity to help shape the next era of Australian hospitality.”

“With visitor expenditure in the ACT reaching $3.6 billion in the year to December 2024, and projected to reach $5 billion by 2030, Canberra remains a significant tourism market. Alongside our local partners, TP Dynamics, led by Tony Pan, we’re proud to be delivering a hospitality offering that supports the city’s long-term growth, providing new world-class dining, meeting, and event spaces for both visitors and the local community.”

As part of Crystalbrook’s industry-leading approach to responsible luxury - which saw the group secure Australia’s first Sustainability-Linked Loan with CBA, and several of its properties ranked in the 100th percentile under global sustainability certification platform, EarthCheck’s benchmarking - Crystalbrook Aurora will contribute to group-wide targets across emissions, energy, water, and waste. Onsite, guests can also expect 100% waste-free bathrooms, recycled timber key cards and coat hangers, zero-waste coffee capsules via TerraCycle, and ‘Climate Calories’ labelling to support more mindful dining.

Crystalbrook Aurora is set to open in early 2027, with further details to be announced as development progresses.

Crystalbrook Collection Hotels & Resorts, 20^th May 2025