On a highway running through the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, there stands a building that draws the attention of nearly everyone passing by. A large red sign reading “Hotel” hangs from the structure, leading many to believe it is a hotel.
Building a hotel along a busy highway seems like a smart business idea. However, this is exactly “a spectacular hoax” that many have fallen for!
This hotel is actually a work of art.
It is named Hotel EastLink. The building is designed to resemble a real hotel, but it turns out to be a sculpture.
In November 2007, Canadian artist Callum Morton unveiled this artwork at a construction cost of £655,000 (over 19 billion VND at current exchange rates).
It has confused many drivers passing by, with numerous people attempting to book a room at this model hotel—despite the fact that it has no rooms inside and cannot be entered.
The Hotel EastLink website reveals: “You would be surprised at the number of inquiries we receive from people wanting to know room rates, availability, and parking information.”
Regarding his work, artist Callum Morton stated: “Drivers look from their cars and mistake it for a real hotel.”
He further added that the structure is “really a quirky idea”—the building is designed solely for decorative purposes.
This hotel confuses many drivers passing by.
Measuring 12 meters wide, 20 meters tall, and 5 meters deep, it features a steel and concrete structure with glass panels. Some windows even have lights that illuminate at night, further leading people to believe it is completely real. This giant model hotel can be seen from the northern route in the Dandenong area of Melbourne.
Reviewing the site on Tripadvisor, a user with the nickname Jeffry B remarked that it looked like something from a “parallel universe.” He wrote: “Don’t try to book a bed at this fake hotel… Hotel EastLink does not accept guests, and never has.”
Hotel EastLink does not accept guests, and never has.
Today, EastLink has become a popular landmark in Melbourne. It even appeared on the cover of the 2019 album Hotel Last Resort by the American punk band Violent Femmes.
EastLink is one of several giant installation artworks located in the area known as the “largest sculpture park in Australia.”
Other notable artworks include a steel structure by artist Simeon Nelson designed to resemble a fallen tree by the roadside, and a sculpture by artist Emily Floyd in the form of a giant bird.
