I read the reviews after booking and was preparing for the worst. What I found was a great, quiet stay that was centrally located, easy to get in and out of, with all the features I needed. The people at the front desk were helpful and friendly, the location was sensational, and I found my apartment was super good value for the price. I had no issue with noise, no weird people popping in my room, no problems with the shower, found my room clean, didn't face any of the issues others had described.
TBH, what bothered me most about my stay is listening to the way some of the older Australians spoke to people at reception and the way they carried on. It was embarrassing at times to hear people berating a solid 3 to 3.5 star hotel for not being more like some upper echelon hotel, and hearing people having orders barked at them. And the casual racism I saw and heard was really gross, especially when people tried to get me to join in on their eyerolls and carry on in the elevator.
The hotel has been around a while, so it's not fancy or super modern. But it's incredibly reasonably priced, the staff work hard, and the location is sensational. You can't expect a balcony overlooking Lygon street to be quiet, nor can you choose to have a week in Melbourne at this price while also having the fanciest joint in town. As a traveler, it sometimes comes down to picking and choosing what you want from the experience, and not being a jerk about stuff when a little patience would do.