I wasn't expecting luxury and I got just what I was looking for and more : a simple, peaceful private room with my own fridge and sink and electric kettle (hooray) and even my own little balcony (a huge plus!!) set in the shade if tropical plants. The communal kitchen was very clean and tidy, shared bathroom likewise, staff were amazing, mattress was super comfortable and the whole place just oozed historic charm. Only downside was that my room had no air conditioning. But I decided to take that as part of the charm, and it was actually very bearable thanks to my ceiling fan, the out-of-the-sun position of my room and the fact that the neighbouring rooms often used their air conditioning.
Due to the general humidity combined with the old build with plenty of heavily varnished wood, there was a weird smell in the room (another guest also mentioned this to me about her room), but it was easy to ignore after the first few minutes. In fact, it reminded me of some sailing experiences.
If you want luxury, this is not the place for you. But if you don't mind a bit of adventure and are looking for an affordable stay and a glimpse if Australia's past, go for this place!!