March 22nd, 2026Rex ready to roll with ‘nicest street’
“The nicest street” in Daylesford is about to be unveiled.
At a cost of $2-$3 million Eddy and Malinka Comelli, and business partners and artists David and Yuge Bromley, are transforming the Rex Shopping Arcade into an avenue resembling the relaxed and colour-filled lanes of Eddy’s Italian childhood.
Today a visitor is met by the sound of 15 workers drilling, sawing and hammering as the place takes shape two weeks before opening day.
Much of this design came from the partnership’s imaginations. With some help, they designed the “street”.
What cannot be denied is the apparent craftsmanship and attention to detail. Handsome Australian oak frames the doors and windows of the shops and businesses.
Stepping inside, a visitor first sees Spanish tiles that echo those of the historic facade on the Stockdale & Leggo office next door, as does the nearby leadlight.
Moving down the now narrowed stretch, Eddy describes the tenants new to the building: a jeweller, chocolate maker and florist, plus a health and beauty specialist, and a children’s clothes maker, including country and western style.
The aim is for17 shops, with space remaining for six or seven, possibly including a street café.
Light floods in from the rear windows, with steps below leading to a mezzanine floor for Bromley’s works and a door to his external sculpture gallery.
Yuge Bromley says that at the end of Easter the Bromley Gallery at 45a Vincent Street will close after 12 years, the longest it has been in one space. Ten days later, on April 17, it will reopen in the Rex building.
“All going well we will have a launch event at the end of May.” Tiles from Italy are still being awaited, she says.
“Up to 30 tradespeople worked here at any one time and the glass installer said it was the best site he had seen in 30 years.”
An internationally renowned muralist raised in Hepburn Springs has completed 80 per cent of the rear wall, replacing graffiti and broken glass. Visitors arriving at the carpark will see a handsome work by Kitt Bennett, now based in Melbourne, and who has 160,000 Instagram followers. He recently finished a work in Qatar (with luck it may survive the war).
The attention to detail even extends to the cinema toilet, with its handsome frosted glass. The nearby first floor beauty salon of about 120 square metres has a fine view through four large restored sash windows.
In a shire where many hard words are said against the council it’s a little refreshing to hear Eddy’s view. “The council has been very good,” he says. “They helped, from the top down.”
Talking of his Italian background and inspiration for the place, Eddy goes on to explain what he gets from annual visits to his birthplace in northern Italy. He plans to return there with his family in October for his 70th birthday.
Beyond the Rex work, the Bromleys have been flat-out planning an Easter egg hunt. Fifty hand-painted timber eggs will be hidden around town on Thursday, half of them with special prizes including five golden eggs with valuable art works as prizes.
Clues will be on the Bromley & Co website and their gallery will display a map showing the “hot” and “warm” spots as a guide to where eggs are hidden. Egg hunters will have a week to find them.
Words: Kevin Childs | Images: Kye Barnes (More images at tlnews.com.au)
