Inside the Flemington Birdcage 0:46
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We go inside the famous Birdcage at Flemington ahead of Derby Day.
- Herald Sun
- 30 Oct 2014
IT was the calm before the storm at Flemington’s rowdy rails and lawn areas today, but the Birdcage was buzzing with the exclusive marquees giving us a glimpse of their glamorous spaces.
And you don’t need to be a VIP or a celebrity to know exactly what the elite enclosure has planned for the Melbourne Cup Carnival; we take you on a guided virtual tour of what the A-listers will be eating, drinking and celebrating during Melbourne’s most extravagant four-day party.
The unveiling of the Birdcage proved it will be the hottest ticket in town over the coming week at Flemington.
The first glimpse of the Birdcage Marquees at Flemington Racecourse, Kris Smith at the Myer Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Colour, stylish design, dancing, champagne and modern cuisine are all on offer in the exclusive marquees which will host celebrity and VIP guests from Derby Day on Saturday.
Brodie Harper with Ringo the Parrot in The Hilton Hotel and Resorts Marquee in the Birdcage. Picture :Andrew Tauber Source: News Corp Australia
Johnnie Walker’s House of Walker will be a popular spot, with live entertainment and colour changing wall lighting as well as a strong supply of unique drinks and cocktails.
The G.H Mumm Cote D’Azur marquee will turn into a Cannes-inspired nightclub in the evening and features a celebration crew including model Bambi Northwood-Blyth.
The Swisse garden marquee contains a paleo inspired menu and a liver detox shot each race day afternoon for guests.
Tabcorp’s marquee has a chocolate Melbourne Cup made by pastry chef, Deniz Karaca, and a menu by chef Teage Ezard.
The stylish Lexus Design Pavilion will also be a hub for food and entertainment with Jamie Durie and Emma Freedman among the marquee’s key celebrities. Myer’s colourful and creative marquee is themed around the department store’s new slogan ‘find wonderful’.
James Boag’s House of Boags will celebrate sporting legends along with brand ambassador Daniel MacPherson.
Among this year’s international guests are Wolf of Wall Street star Margot Robbie, Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, singer Solange Knowles, model Gigi Hadid and Mad Men star Rich Sommer.
Now read on for the tour.
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SWISSE
A surprising oasis against the hustle and bustle of the Birdcage, this garden inspired oasis is a juxtaposition of the brand’s wellness message combined with a carnival spirit. Celebs trying to watch their weight won’t need to worry either with the menu providing paleo inspired delicacies.
The first glimpse of the Birdcage Marquees at Flemington Racecourse. The interior of Swisse Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Theme: Garden conservatory
Menu: Chef MKRs Karen Martini has overseen the menu giving it her tick of approval; paleo food and ingredients in Swisse products such as fish and lime
Guests: Margot Robbie, Lleyton and Bec Hewitt, Cadel Evans, hosts Ashley Hart and Megan Gale
Features:
■1,000 liver detox shots
■Plants that will be donated to schools at the conclusion of the carnival
■Sun house-inspired balcony
EMIRATES
Emirates maintain their prime position in 2014, their deep balcony the perfect spot to try and catch a glimpse of a celebrity mingling in the sunshine. Before the main race VIPs race to get their spot, one of the few you can actually see a horse from within the birdcage.
Finishing touches on the Emirates Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Theme: Germany
Menu: Chef Tony Cimmino; potato pancake, apple strudel, beetroot cured kingfish
Guests: Sports Illustrated model Gigi Hadid, Ronn Moss, German soccer WAG Ann-Kathrin Brömmel
Features:
■Schchplattler ‘slap dance’
German Slap Dancers at the Emirates Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
■A ‘charge-bar’ for mobile phones
■Lancome make-up room
■Melbourne celebrity hairstylist Joey Scandizzo providing hair touch ups
■Commissioned racing painting by artist Mark Schaller
Artist Mark Schaller’s mural at Emirates. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
JOHNNIE WALKER
Dark and luxurious, the House of Walker will be a sensory tour treating stars to the sights, tastes and sounds of the brand, inspired by the defined characteristics of their signature whiskeys.
The first glimpse of the Birdcage Marquees at Flemington Racecourse. Casey, Jess, JR Reyne [son of James Reyne, Maxima and Rose at the Johnny Walker Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Theme: House of Walker
Menu: Chef, MasterChef contestant Sean Baxter; coconut infused organic quinoa, chai latte and chocolate tart
Guests: Chris Hemsworth, Gillon and Laura McLachlan, Grant Smilie, Tom and Hoda Waterhouse, David Jones ambassadors Montana Cox & Jason Dundas, Roger Corser, Melanie Vellejo, Tom Wren, Gyton Grantely.
Features:
■A sensory journey of intense flavours and surprising signature cocktails including the ‘Johnnie Ginger Apple’ which is a red label spiked cider
■LED lighting through the roof, walls and floor that changes colour
■A smoke cannon
The catering at Johnny Walker Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
MYER
Myer’s new television campaign comes to life this spring racing carnival with the department store adding elements of surprise and touches of luxury to their space. This year marks ten years since Jennifer Hawkins made her first foray into Flemington and she is sure to steal the sartorial spotlight again.
Myer Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Theme: Find Wonderful
Menu: Big Group catering, more than 4000 canapés, 3000 desserts and 4000 cocktails
Guests: Jennifer Hawkins, Kris Smith, Hamish and Andy, Alex Perry
Features:
■10-metre long bar
■A hidden desert bar behind the media wall that will open up in the afternoons
■Imported, hand painted orchids adorning the marquee
■A perfumery where ladies can spritz themselves with pretty scents
■Waterford crystal art-deco champagne glasses
G.H. MUMM
Home of the carnival’s champagne sponsor, the Mumm marquee are keen to take the party from day to night with blackout curtains that will be drawn after the last race, transforming the space into a nightclub inspired enclosure with a large dancefloor.
The interior of Mumm. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Theme: Cote d’Azur By Day/By Night
Menu: Caviar air freighted in from overseas 24 hours before served, champagne inspired ice cream
Guests: Bambi Northwood-Blythe and husband Dan Single, Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich
Features:
■Custom made 12Lt and 15Lt bottles of G.H. Mumm
■Yasa caviar flown in from Abu Dhabi
■Black curtains that will block out all sunlight, turning the marquee from day to night after the last race
Bambi Northwood-Blyth at Mumm. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
LAVAZZA
Lavazza have literally raised their roof this year creating a huge open space, and as always they are tipped to raise the roof figuratively too with their ‘party marquee’ reputation.
Lavazza Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Theme: Caffe Lavazza
Menu: Egg yolk carbonara with croutons, pulled lamb sliders
Guests: Erykah Badu, DJ Nick Cohen, Margherita Maccapani Missoni
Feature:
■Coffee cocktails
■Huge help-yourself antipasto platters
LEXUS
This triple-storey marquee is cementing itself as the Birdcage hotspot, offering VIPs changing experiences the more stairs they climb.
The Lexus Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Theme: Modern luxe
Menu: Chef, Neil Perry; freshly churned gelato, burgers
Guests: Emma Freedman, Jamie Durie, Karl Stefanovic, Lisa Wilkinson
Feature:
■Award winning chef Ben Shewry’s pop-up Attica restaurant upstairs
■ Hundreds of light bulb vases hanging from the ceiling on the second level
■Sky deck rooftop space designed by Jamie Durie
Jamie Durie with the herb wall at the Lexus Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
JAMES BOAG
The two-storey marquee with optimum views down the straight, the James Boags marquee has become a must see for sporting purists among racegoers, with the marquee playing host to a series of our sporting legends.
The first glimpse of the Birdcage Marquees at Flemington Racecourse. Boags Marquee. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Theme: ‘House of Boags’
Menu: Tucker source form Boag; s Tasmanian homeland including trout, salmon and Angus beef.
Guests: Racing’s Lee Freedman and David Hayes, Daniel MacPherson and Mark Taylor
Features:
■ An original 1881 malt kiln brewery facade
■ Brewery memorabilia and Boags chevrolet
■ Guests drink from black glasses engraved with ten famous Melbourne Cup wining horses
The first glimpse of the Birdcage Marquees at Flemington Racecourse. Daniel MacPherson and Lee Freedman in the James Boags truck. Picture: Alex Coppel. Source: News Corp Australia
Originally published as FLEMINGTON MARQUEES: Take a tour of the Birdcage
