Battista

If the walls at Battista could talk, we bet they’d have some pretty colourful stories to tell about this former Baptist church-turned-nightclub on Dawon Street.

The once grand building sat decrepit and infested with pigeons for more than 10 years before owner Michael Whitehead took over and undertook a mammoth $2 million renovation. Whitehead pulled it off – Battista is now a luxury one-bedroom apartment for couples seeking something truly one of a kind.

The striking column facades were retained, as were the beautiful arch windows, but the classic-looking shell belies the ultra-contemporary inside. Downstairs there’s an open-plan living space and a kitchen. The upstairs level is an architectural marvel; it’s built on a floating box because heritage regulations wouldn’t allow anything to touch the walls.

Glass walls and a vaulted ceiling let in light and give a sense of space. The bedroom (with a lush, king-sized bed) has sliding glass doors looking out to the original church window, and an ensuite with a walk-in shower and a deep, free-standing bath to sink into.

If you’d rather sink into a book you’ll love the reading nook in the blue-lit upstairs sitting room. Original artworks line the walls and all the mod-cons are waiting for you in the modern kitchen.

Expect a hamper on arrival, courtesy of Eat Drink West, and breakfast at L’espresso Ballarat comes complimentary.