Latest Developments in the Greater Melbourne Commercial Construction and Property Sector
Singaporean firm HThree City buys Melbourne office tower for $236M
The purchase of 330 Collins Street was made with City Developments, another Singaporean firm. It’s a sign that despite anecdotal reports that demand for CBD office spaces is waning, global investors think otherwise.
Located at the intersection of Collins Street and Elizabeth Street, the building boasts a 90% occupancy rate. NAB and CyberX are the most prominent tenants, occupying some 31% of office space between them.
Image credit: HThree City Australia
The building has over 18,000 sqm of net lettable area spread over 17 floors, with retail occupying the ground floor and basement. It also has 43 car parks.
“We are pleased to acquire 330 Collins Street, an iconic asset on a prime Collins Street corner”, CEO of HThree, Kevin Kang, said.
We believe that Melbourne’s CBD will continue to bounce back strongly, and that 330 Collins Street is well placed to benefit from the increasing demand for well-located, quality office space.”
It marks the second Melbourne purchase for HThree, with their first purchase being a 12-storey office tower at 446 Collins Street in 2021, at the cost of $72 million.
Gurner Wins Approval for $40m Club Maison Project
Situated at 145 – 151 High Street Prahran, the former bluestone church and Sunday school hall will be transformed into private residences under the Gurner club concept.
Warren and Mahoney Architects have collaborated with John Patrick Landscapes to design 45 luxury residences in a build that will remain respectful to the building’s 1870s heritage. The development will also feature a rooftop bar, hospitality venue and infinity pool.
Image credit: Gurner Group
“This Club Maison project will bring everything for which GURNER™ is so well known – amenity, service, concierge, impeccable design and quality – together and recreate it for a new market,” said Gurner General Manager of Boutique, Brooke Formosa.
We have a passion and proven track record for reinvigorating heritage sites and this project will be no different. We are incredibly happy that Council shares our affinity for this site and our plans to breathe it back to life as part of the vibrant Chapel Street precinct.”
Piccolo approved for $120M Fitzroy development
Boutique developer Piccolo has received the seal of approval to build their $120-million apartment project in Melbourne’s inner north.
Located on Gore Street in Fitzroy, the project will feature 49 apartments designed by long-time collaborator, Woods Bagot. The two firms previously worked together on Carlton’s award-winning Garden House development and the Elwood House project.
The eight-storey development features a triple-fronted façade looking out onto leafy neighbourhood streets. Composed of generous two and three-bedroom homes, the architecture of 385 Gore Street draws inspiration from Fitzroy’s quintessential Victorian and Edwardian terrace houses.
Pomeroy Pacific appointed to deliver 11 new government schools
The firm continues to grow from strength to strength with this latest project after its appointment by the Victorian School Building Authority.
All schools will be delivered in time for term 1, 2024 and include early learning centres, primary, secondary, specialist and supported inclusion schools.
Image Credit: Pomeroy Pacific
The appointment represents one of the most extensive packages of works released by The Department of Education in recent history.
We interviewed Mark Pomeroy on our podcast last month. Listen to hear more about how Mark chooses the right builder and provides an update on the 12 Apostles Hot Springs Resort Project.
Kane Construction appointed to deliver $90 million Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre
The world-class facility has been named after Paula Fox of the Fox family, who donated ‘a significant amount’ to the project. Kane Construction will deliver the project under a Design and Construct contract.
The striking new building is designed to resemble a skin graft, which is a common treatment used for skin cancers. It will feature gold-standard facilities, including research laboratories, day oncology services, consulting suites, procedural spaces, multidisciplinary meeting rooms, a clinical trials centre, offices for staff, clinical imaging, a wellness centre, wellness garden and two levels of basement car parking.
Image Credit: Kane Construction
“We are humbled that we can be part of a project that, when complete, will positively impact the lives of many Australians and help further the national and international cancer research effort,” said Will Gullifer, Construction Manager at Kane Constructions.
The development is due for completion at the end of 2023.
Momentum continues for Pace with plans for $100M Brunswick project lodged
Melbourne developer Pace has joined the 2500sq m site between 251 and 265 Lygon Street to deliver a 110-apartment development. The transaction occurred off-market.
The development will feature ground-floor retail and basement parking and offer one, two and three-bedroom residences targeted at owner-occupiers.
“Right now, there is strong demand from single and coupled white-collared professionals who are looking for a diverse lifestyle that suburbs like Brunswick East can provide,” said Pace Marketing Director Ashley Bramich in an interview with The Urban Developer.
The project solidifies a strong bill of projects for Pace, which includes:
- A 200-townhouse development on the Maribyrnong Trail in Sunshine
- A 200-apartment project in Frankston
- A 250-apartment development in Blackburn
- A 300-apartment project in the old Pentridge Gaol development, titled Pace 3130
Primeland partners with Pelligra to deliver $80M luxury Melbourne apartments
Located in leafy North Melbourne at 83-91 Albert Street, the development will include 12 three-bedroom residences and two four-bedroom penthouses spread over four storeys.
An individual wine cellar for each home is one of the property’s perks, accompanying 30 private garages and electric charging stations. Designed by Carr, each penthouse will also have a private staircase leading to a roof-top garden.
Image Credit: The Urban Developer
Located a stones throw from the Fitzroy Gardens and bustling Smith Street, this development’s location will be tough to beat.
Completion is scheduled for 2025.
Awards and accolades:
Highest Honour awarded to Noxon Giffen Architects with McGregor Coxall at the 2022 Victorian Architecture Awards
The Victorian Architecture Medal was awarded for work on the Grampians Peaks Trail Stage 2, which offers a series of diverse hiker shelters lining 160km of track in the pristine Gariwerd wilderness of the Grampians National Park.
Image Credit: McGregor Coxall
The project was commended for its 18-year process of consultation and site selection by an empowered Traditional Owners group. This modest but powerful design approach avoided overshadowing the beauty and narrative of the landscape.
Congratulations to everyone involved in the project! We can’t wait to get out to The Grampians National Park to see the development for ourselves.
Looking for something to do?
Open House Melbourne Returns
Melbourne’s most intriguing and inspiring venues are opening their doors to the public to experience in-person for the first time since 2019. There are over 218 events to participate in, including:
- 57 buildings
- 14 exhibitions
- two film screenings
- three online events
- 13 talks
- 94 building tours
- 21 walking tours
- three workshops
- seven self-guided tours
Image Credit: Open House Melbourne
The event runs from July 28th-31st. This year, tickets will be available to participants on the day. See the program.
Words that got us …
“Here was a client that actually used us, come right through our whole ecosystem in our business and gone out, and was a success – and we didn’t touch it. And that’s when we knew we created a business that could work and grow, because we weren’t the bottleneck.”
— Marty Sadlier from MCG Quantity Surveyors on the importance of giving staff trust.
Top talent:
We have a number of exceptional candidates looking for their next move, including:
- A Construction Manager with 14 years of residential construction experience with a leading national homebuilder, overseeing the delivery of 60+ homes at any given time
- A Site Manager/Foreman specialising in Medium Density townhouse units, delivering up to 46 on a given site at any given time – or in excess of 60 at any given time.
Want more?
Did you know that 75%-100% of Foreman and Site Managers report that they ‘Usually’ or ‘Always’ work weekends? It’s one of the key findings in our 2022 Building Environs Commercial Construction Salary Report. To get the full report, contact Martin Preece.
Are you looking for a new Construction Manager or Site Manager/Foreman?
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Have a vacancy to fill? Check out our available candidates today or submit a CV today.