Nestled in the mineral-rich hills of Victoria’s Central Highlands, the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa is more than a wellness destination - it’s a living archive of Australia’s therapeutic heritage. Fabian Ferri, head therapist and longtime steward of this sanctuary, has dedicated over two decades to preserving its spirit while gently ushering it into the future.

“I moved up here in 2003,” Ferri says, reclining with the quiet gravity of someone who knows the land beneath his feet. “I was at the old bathhouse… then it was being renovated. I came back when it reopened in 2008. So in this capacity, sixteen and a half years.”

The bathhouse is a “jewel in the crown,” he tells me - a phrase he returns to with reverence. “It just keeps getting better every year. The principals put a lot of time and effort into expansion programs… making sure we have a facility that’s up to scratch.”

That facility rests atop a subterranean treasure. “We utilise the mineral water - 80% of Australia’s mineral water is under us,” he says, gesturing to the soil with a kind of proprietary awe. “The private bathing is 100% mineral water… rich in magnesium and manganese. People get an instant buzz. They get out of the water feeling like new people.”

But it’s not just about the water. “We won’t be a wellness center much longer unless our therapists are feeling well also,” Ferri explains. “We create an environment of empathy, if someone’s got 10-15 minutes up their sleeve, we help each other. That’s the culture.”

At the heart of this ethos is mentorship. “I have 30 years of experience in massage,” he says. “Worked in Hong Kong, clinical practice, massage colleges. So I mentor the therapists, constantly adding, improving, sharpening the knife.”

Massage is the backbone, but the offerings have evolved. “Facials have become quite popular. All natural products. But massage is what we’re known for. Always has been.”

And there’s more to come. “We’re upgrading everything - change rooms, the vibe, the feel. It’s about improving the guest’s journey every day. That’s our direction.”

Ferri speaks of balneotherapy - an ancient European practice - as if it were second nature. “It’s essentially water therapy. It relaxes the nervous system. Takes us out of sixth gear and into neutral.” He recounts a personal revelation at a 2,000-year-old Italian spa. “I had terrible migraines, that sulphuric water released it. It works. We’re lucky to have that here.”

So what makes Hepburn different? “It’s the history. The land. You don’t get places like this everywhere. Swiss Italians came here in the 1850s. You walk in and you feel it.” He describes the rolling hills and the lavender farms nearby. “Feels like the south of France. It’s rich.”

Every morning, Ferri enters the bathhouse with a smile. “I’m a very lucky person. If I can make other people feel good that way too, I’ll do it - with the staff, with the guests. It’s a celebration of life.”

And that’s what Hepburn is, in the end - a celebration. Quiet, volcanic, and profoundly human.

HEPBURN BATHHOUSE & SPA
FABIAN FERRI
STORY BY MAHMOOD FAZAL
PHOTOS BY PETER TARASIUK

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa
Fabian Ferri
Mineral Springs Reserve Rd, Hepburn Springs
@hepburnbathhousespa
hepburnbathhouse.com