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The <a href="/buildings/australia-108-southbank-70-southbank-boulevard-southbank">core of the skyscraper</a> which will take the title from Eureka as Melbourne's tallest building is approaching 50% of its eventual height.

Images posted on the <a href="/news">Urban.com.au Projects &amp; Construction</a> forum by stalwart member redden show that <a href="/builders/multiplex">Multiplex</a> are now working on the 50th level within the core box. 

Australia 108 will eventually have 99 floors, rising to 317 metres above the intersection of City Road and Southbank Boulevard.

With well over 1000 apartments, Australia 108 will eclipse Eureka Tower, completed last decade, by 20 metres in the height stakes.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/p4081425.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Australia 108 looking westward along City Road - image: redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/p4081425.jpg?itok=ZDYNNqnB" title="Australia 108 looking westward along City Road - image: redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Australia 108 looking westward along City Road - image: redden</figcaption></figure>In <a href="/news/brookfield-multiplex-appointed-builder-for-australia-108-piling-to-commence-in-october">September 2015</a> when Multiplex was awarded the construction contract valued at $500 million, the construction milestones which included the number of apartments to be completed were:

<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Stage 1: up to level 40, 491 apartments, to be completed late 2018</li>
	<li>Stage 2: up to level 56, 252 apartments, to be completed mid 2019</li>
	<li>Stage 3: up to level 66, 162 apartments, to be completed mid 2019</li>
	<li>Stage 4: up to level 86, 120 apartments, to be completed early 2020</li>
	<li>Stage 5: up to final level, 80 apartments, to be completed mid 2020</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

The only other tower taller than Australia 108 which has received planning approval is One Queensbridge Street which the current Planning Minister Richard Wynne signed off on in <a href="/news/one-queensbridge-street-approved">February 2017</a>.

Australia 108 was approved by then-Planning Minister and now Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy, in 2014.
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Alastair Taylor

Australia 108 approaches 50% of its height

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The State Government has earmarked another $75million for the <a href="/new-townhouses/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc </a>bypass this morning and announced the road, unveiled during the 2017 budget season, will now no longer have at-grade road intersections.

The Mordialloc Freeway, née bypass, was unveiled in 2017 and geotechnical investigations kicked off not long after the May 2017 budget was published.  The original cost of the bypass road was $300 million.

What were to be intersections when the project was first unveiled will be grade separated freeway interchanges located at Springvale Road, Governor Road, Lower Dandenong Road and Centre Dandenong Road with the freeway terminating at the Dingley bypass.

Thames Promenade in Chelsea Heights will have northern entry and exit ramps added to its existing set of Frankston-bound southern entry and exit ramps.  The Frankston Freeway will now, in effect, extend from Cranbourne Road in Frankston to the Dingley Bypass in Clayton South.

The announcement of the project's upgrade to a freeway-standard road is occurring two days before submissions close on the <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/planning-and-projects/melbourne-road-projects/mordialloc-bypass">scoping requirements</a> for the <a href="https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/environment-assessment/browse-projects/projects/mordialloc-bypass#overview">environmental effects statement</a> which the planning minister deemed necessary in September 2017.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/nelink.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Another large freeway/tollway project, the North East Link"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="360" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nelink.jpg?itok=DNQCGjm-" title="Another large freeway/tollway project, the North East Link" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Another large freeway/tollway project, the North East Link</figcaption></figure>On the 24th of November, Victorians head back to the polls and this project is located in one of the four marginal electorates that won the election for the Andrews Government at the last state election.

The electorate of Mordialloc is held only by 2.1% and it is in the top 5 most marginal seats in the State's Legislative Assembly for the government.  The project also travels through the electorates of Keysborough and Clarinda which are considered safer for the Andrews Government.

Among other announcements along the line of sandbelt electorates in recent weeks have included the removal of the Skye/Overton Road level crossing which is located on the boundary of the Frankston &amp; Carrum electorates (the most marginal and the second most marginal electorates for the government respectively).

The electorate and suburb of Carrum is also set to see level crossings removed and a new elevated station built in place of the existing Carrum station.  Station Street in Bonbeach and Edithvale Road in Edithvale (in Carrum and Mordialloc electorates respectively) are also on the original list of 50 level crossings to be removed over 8 years.

Planning and consultation on the Bonbeach and Edithvale level crossing removals are ongoing with only the Carrum and the Seaford-Frankston area see any significant work or announcements that work will begin before the end of the year.

In 2015, Infrastructure Victoria was set up and lauded as an agency to 'take the politics out of planning'.  The <a href="/new-townhouses/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc </a>bypass, now freeway, did not get a mention in Infrastructure Victoria's 30-year strategy - it only appears in the <a href="https://www.vic.gov.au/system/user_files/Documents/vip/Victorian%20Infrastructure%20Plan~Chapter%202~Transport.pdf">5-year plan</a> which the government was required to create after Infrastructure Victoria unveiled the first run of the 30-year strategy.

The State Government has not publicly announced any changes to the heavy rail network development plan that was released under the previous government nor provided any meaningful direction on how our tram and bus networks will evolve over time in the context of a rapidly growing metropolitan area.
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Mordialloc bypass now a freeway

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Australia is in the middle of a rooftop solar boom with news last week that in the March quarter 351 megawatts (MW) of new capacity was installed including 127MW for the month of March alone.  <a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/australian-rooftop-solar-boom-rolls-on-351mw-in-first-quarter-26595/">According to </a><a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/australian-rooftop-solar-boom-rolls-on-351mw-in-first-quarter-26595/">SunWiz</a>, the uptake is accelerating.

The acceleration has been attributed to high prices from electricity retailers and the consistent cost reductions in photovoltaic technology that has created an environment where many house-owners and businesses have increasingly greater access to technology that allows them to thumb their noses at electricity retailers.

Those lucky enough to own a house or business premise and have the budget to install a rooftop solar system, especially one combined with a battery, are also starting to see shorter payback times.

Booming solar installations throughout Australia's suburbs, one would think, should be seen as a great achievement of those politicians and groups who believe in greater self-determination and less state intervention - regardless if state subsidies helped us get to the point where we are. Alas, it's not the case with the merry 'Monash forum' rabble.

Much like moving to 100% electric vehicles would solve the emissions challenge of cars, a 1 for 1 replacement doesn't solve the physics/congestion challenge in cities; increased solar rooftop &amp; battery package purchases by households and business adds significant weight to tackling the electricity generation emissions problem, however, it won't be available to every household - in a financial sense, but more importantly in a physical sense.

The issue of unchecked low-density growth at the fringe of cities is well understood - increased urban densities in the inner and middle rings of our cities are a direct antidote to it - but those who will probably live a significant proportion of their lives in multi-dwelling buildings won't be able to participate in the generation side of a distributed energy grid to the same extent as those who own houses.

Apartment buildings and higher-density workplaces will, of course, be able to install electricity generation infrastructure on their roofs but at best this local generation will cover the electricity required to light, heat and cool common areas plus a bit more, at worst there will be a negligible impact.

If we accept there will be an energy production divide at the household level - those who live in houses which can install a PV system on the roof versus those who live in apartments/units - then in the interests of equity, apartments and the higher-density parts of our cities will need specific policy treatment.

'The grid' is the machine that includes generation (thermal power stations, wind turbines, solar arrays, dams with hydro turbines located at the base of them), transmission (the 'big' power powerlines), distribution (the 'small' powerlines in your street) and substations which are the bridges between generation and transmission as well as between transmission and distribution.

Our grid mainly operates in one direction - from generation through the transmission network to the distribution network to the power outlet in your home/business to the device or appliance that's plugged into the power outlet.  Those appliances/devices plugged in are considered 'behind the meter', everything else is considered 'in front of the meter'.

The leadership at the Australia Energy Market Operator, which oversees transmission planning in Victoria's case but overall it monitors the operations of the electricity network around the country, has begun talking about the need for access to the behind-the-meter infrastructure that is rapidly deploying in Australian households and businesses.

"At the moment there is no framework for moderating the feed into the grid from rooftop PV systems,” Jenny Riesz, principal at AEMO, quoted in <a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-australias-greatest-opportunity-greatest-risk-86420/">RenewEconomy</a>, said. “We can turn down the large-scale wind and PV if we have to, but there is no way at the moment to control rooftop PV systems".

<blockquote>
As AEMO chief Audrey Zibelman has repeatedly asserted, this behind the meter energy generation and storage resource has enormous potential to be harnessed by the market operator, in any number of ways, to help provide crucial grid balancing and particularly peak shaving services.

And extensive modelling by Energy Networks Australia has supported this view.

It showed that by orchestrating the nation’s distributed energy resource (DER), and coordinating the dispatch of it in a sensible way, network charges could be reduced by 30 per cent, annual savings delivered to households, and up to $1.4 billion in network investment avoided.
<cite>Rooftop solar: Australia's greatest opportunity and its greatest risk, <a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-australias-greatest-opportunity-greatest-risk-86420/">RenewEconomy</a></cite>
</blockquote>

The are multiple solutions to the impending problem of excess generation and not being able to control it.

<blockquote>
“There is a huge amount that we can do about this,” Riesz told the conference on Thursday. “It’s just that we have to get on and do it. Now. Now is the time.

Key among the possible solutions is increasing daytime demand. This can be done a number of ways, such as shifting hot water clocks from night into the daytime; coordinating the distributed storage “that’s coming in at a rate of notts”; or using electric vehicle charging to mop up excess generation.

“Electric vehicles coming in could enormously help, And we could have other sorts of flexible loads like water pumping, and so on; if we provide the right tariffs and incentives, a lot more of that can be done during the day, to suck up this energy,” Riesz said.
<cite>Rooftop solar: Australia's greatest opportunity and its greatest risk, <a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/rooftop-solar-australias-greatest-opportunity-greatest-risk-86420/">RenewEconomy</a></cite>
</blockquote>

Australia's rooftop solar boom is happening in an energy policy environment that's been stuck in a rut for a decade. The former South Australian government went out of its way to facilitate a batter for the grid based on a twitter conversation - this is what an inept and paralysed federal government looks like.

Helped along early on in the piece by high feed-in tariffs set at the state level, solar PV + batteries is now at the stage where house-owners wield significant power (pardon the pun) and <a href="https://www.thefifthestate.com.au/energy-lead/energy/solar-and-storage-could-soon-be-the-standard-for-new-homes">developers foresee including systems as standard</a> in house and land packages in the not too distant future.

Apartment-dwellers won't have the same access to generation participation opportunities that house-dwellings currently do, but they could very much play a massive part in the need for the country to invest in storage.  If they're given an incentive package similar to the one early adopters of solar PV systems received.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://sonnenbatterie.de/en-gb/sonnenbatterie">sonnenbatterie.de</a>
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Houses & early feed-in tariffs helped reduced rooftop solar costs, it's time to focus on apartments and the impending storage boom

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This week Laurence &amp; I sit down with Stuart Moseley, the CEO of the Victorian Planning Authority.

We talk about the role the Victorian Planning Authority plays in the state, the challenges Victoria may face and where consultation is heading in the context of new ways to undertake it.   We also chat about Melbourne's employment clusters and how the VPA interfaces with other government departments and authorities.

You can also subscribe to the podcast through <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/urban-melbournes-weekly-podcast/id1356864009?mt=2">iTunes</a>!

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/425516658&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true&amp;visual=true" width="100%"></iframe>

 

 

 
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Weekly Podcast: Episode 9 - Special guest Stuart Moseley, CEO of the Victorian Planning Authority

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In the merry-go-round of construction blitzes produced by the ongoing level crossing removal project, it's the Frankston line's turn with multiple rail line shutdowns to occur within May and June.

Spring Street announced that between the 4th and 27th of May buses will replace trains between Frankston &amp; Carrum as well as the entire Stony Point railway line.

Between the 28th of May and the 17th of June, buses will replace trains between Frankston and Kananook station and between Leawarra and Frankston on the Stony Point line.

The shutdowns in May and June are linked to works required to complete the new Frankston Station and the Skye/Overton Road level crossing removal project.

Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, referred to the 'out-of-the-box thinking' which is going into the Skye/Overton Road removal project - viaduct components will be built and transported to site from Kilmore outside of peak times.

"It's exciting to see the project team thinking outside the box with this unique bridge design, which will be part of delivering more trains more often for Frankston line passengers".

According to a Spring Street media release, the new rail bridge will comprise "24 u-shaped viaducts - each bigger than a blue whale and weighing 280 tonnes each - will be transported on a 72 metre-long truck from a Kilmore factory to the work site in Frankston."

The segments of the viaduct will then be prepared on site and specialist heavy-lifting machinery will jack them into place.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bIeTvC81xho" width="100%"></iframe>

Frankston station is being overhauled as <a href="/news/construction-kicks-off-on-new-frankston-station">we reported back in February</a> when construction commenced.  The Genton Architecture-designed proposal was selected as part of an architectural competition which was overseen by the Office of Victorian Government Architect.

The May-June shutdowns also co-ordinate all the level crossing removal and station removal projects at the southern end of the line and focus then shifts northwards.

The Premier and Minister for Public Transport on the same day as announcing the May-June construction blitz also visited Carrum where works have begun on the extension of the new Station Street bridge across the Patterson River.

Carrum will see a new elevated station and its existing train stabling facilities are being moved to a site right near Kananook &amp; the Skye Road/Overton Road level crossing removal project.

At Carrum, Macleod Road will be extended directly under the new elevated track and connect with the Nepean Highway which allows the existing 'dog's leg' level crossing connecting Station Street and the Nepean Highway to be removed and according to the Level Crossing Removal Authority, the traffic research done to inform the design will negate the need to replace the Eel Race Road level crossing.

The Eel Race Road level crossing will simply be closed and a new pedestrian connection under the rail line will be built.
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Frankston station rebuild and Skye Road level crossing removal to be complete by mid June

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<h2>Comment</h2>

“Every hour during the morning peak, 15,000 pedestrians cross the Spencer and Collins Street intersection outside Southern Cross Station which is five times the number of people in cars, yet cars are given twice the amount of time as pedestrians to pass through.”

That's Cr Nicolas Frances Gilley from the City of Melbourne. It goes right to the heart of an issue that, for the moment, is a focus for the City of Melbourne but should be a question that councils beyond the centre of the city should be pondering.

In the context of population predictions of a metropolitan area of 8 million people, why do we allocate so much space to a transport mode which consumes a heck of a lot more public space per capita compared to more efficient modes?

For a few decades now, the City of Melbourne has led where others have decided business-as-usual is the best course of action and it's resulted in a centre-of-Melbourne which attracts, feels, and is radically different to other areas in the metropolitan area.

The City of Melbourne has begun publishing discussion papers which the council seeks to use to inform the draft transport refresh it hopes to release toward the end of 2018.  The first two of eight papers focus on walking and city space.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/com_transport_fresh_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="The most important transport mode in the City of Melbourne - walking"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="933" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/com_transport_fresh_1.png?itok=8KFYLlcF" title="The most important transport mode in the City of Melbourne - walking" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The most important transport mode in the City of Melbourne - walking</figcaption></figure>Both discussion papers outline relevant data - such as the mode share of transport trips within the Hoddle Grid and in the wider municipal area - and point to examples overseas where other cities are facing similar issues.

For instance in Auckland, the CoM discussion paper tells the story of how pedestrian delay at traffic lights has been quantified ($2.2 million NZD per annum) and how Oslo will make its centre of the city car-free by 2019.

Barcelona's 'superblock' treatment where the Catalan capital has enacted major change: previously, the blocks in Eixample had 75% of public space allocated to private vehicles, 75% of public space is now allocated to pedestrian uses.

The discussion papers can be found on the <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/transportstrategy">Participate Melbourne website</a>.

It should not go unnoticed that it is a municipality that is driving change forward.  The City of Melbourne is unique within the metropolitan area as it is the historic commercial centre which has always had a high concentration of activity and our rail network connects us all to it.

The story of central Melbourne's change from the dark, car-filled street days of the 80s is well documented and we are all the beneficiaries of the progressive change however it's unfortunate that this wonderful revitalised central Melbourne, for the most part, stops at the municipal boundary.

The tram network is what the City of Melbourne and other adjoining councils have in common - much of the network is located on streets where trams are slowed down (and therefore their capacity to transport people more efficiently is curtailed) by on-street car parking and the misallocation of road-space to private vehicles is rife.  

Other councils do have transport strategies that would see progressive change over time, but there is nothing uniform across municipal boundaries that could inform the mainly state-based agencies who make the decisions on where to invest capital to create new or improve existing public transport routes.

While we give major kudos to the City of Melbourne for taking the lead - again - on showing Melburnians how change can happen for the better, what we really should be asking is why can the same prioritisation of people over cars not be applied firstly to other parts of Melbourne the tram network touches and then the emerging nodes beyond the tram network.
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City of Melbourne's transport strategy refresh - should it not apply to other municipalities?

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Pace Development Group are expanding northwards into the City of Moonee Valley with a recently acquired site located at 327-357 Mt Alexander Road currently at advertising.

Not afraid of developing in Melbourne's middle ring suburbs as well as the inner-city, the Ascot Vale proposal sits on a 3,846 square metre site which has three frontages, the largest of which is to Mt Alexander Road.

Pace has employed Carr Design Group as the project lead, seeking permission for 89 apartments and 4 townhouses.

The project is located on the current site of the Ascot Vale garden centre and includes 4 heritage properties on the corner of Mt Alexander Road and Moonee Street - two of the heritage properties are to be retained as part of the proposal.

The ground floor contains four retail tenancies, one of which will be large enough for a local supermarket, and the 3 levels of basement car parking cater for both private residents, visitors and customers in the building's proposed retail tenancies.

Contained within the proposal are 17 x 1 bedroom apartments, 62 x 2 bedroom apartments and 10 x 3 bedroom apartments.  All four townhouses are 3 bedroom with 2 bathrooms.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/pace_ascot_vale_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Looking south down Mt Alexander Road. Planning image: Carr Design &amp; Pace"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="338" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/pace_ascot_vale_1.png?itok=om_fH5p5" title="Looking south down Mt Alexander Road. Planning image: Carr Design &amp; Pace" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Looking south down Mt Alexander Road. Planning image: Carr Design &amp; Pace</figcaption></figure>All 1 bedroom apartments are a minimum of 51 square metres and can range up to 58 square metres with 8 square metres of private outdoor space.  Some apartments on the first level above the retail tenancies and on the same level as the internal courtyard have upwards of 61 square metres of private outdoor space.

2 Bedroom apartments have a minimum of 68 square metres and the range goes up to over 100 square metres of internal space. The three bedroom apartments have a minimum of 105 square metres of internal space.

The main apartment building sits on the site in a reverse L shape (when viewed from the south) which creates a private space away from the street-fronts. Landscape plans now with Moonee Valley council show a mixture of rain gardens, raised garden beds and gazebos expected to adorn the communal courtyard.

<h2>Development Team Summary</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Pace Development Group</li>
	<li>Architect: Carr Design Group</li>
	<li>Urban Planner: Urbis</li>
	<li>Traffic Management: Ratio</li>
	<li>Waste Management: Leigh Design</li>
	<li>Heritage Consultant: Bryce Raworth</li>
</ul>
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Pace seeks to build mixed-use development in Ascot Vale

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Parkside Constructions is seeking planning approval from the City of Moonee Valley for a 6 level, 28-unit apartment building on the palm-tree laden strip of Mt Alexander Road in Essendon.

MAP Architecture head up the design team for the proposal located at 1032-1036 Mt Alexander Road which would see near 50% of the units in the development have 3 bedrooms - there are only 2 x 1 bedroom apartments accounted for in the plans currently advertised.

In fact, the entire project is heavily weighted toward large to very large apartments - there are 13 x 3 bedrooms and 13 x 2 bedrooms.

The smallest of the 2 bedroom configurations weighs in at 89 square metres in total with the majority designed to have more than 100 square metres.  All 3 bedroom apartments have been designed to have over 100 square metres of space in them with many in the 115-135 square metre range.

The 1133 square metre site has a single frontage of 26.22 metres to Mt Alexander Road and the scale of the proposal has good company with this stretch of Mt Alexander Road covered on Apartments.com.au many times in the past.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/1032-mt_rd_essendon1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="1032-1036 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon. Planning image: MAP Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="215" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/1032-mt_rd_essendon1.png?itok=59m4BWCZ" title="1032-1036 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon. Planning image: MAP Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>1032-1036 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon. Planning image: MAP Architecture</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
The proposal provides for a contemporary building with a high level of architectural appeal that will enhance the appearance of the Mount Alexander Road Corridor.

This will be achieved through the use of varied design details, high levels of glazing, curvilinear wall forms for upper levels and high quality finishes.

Despite not incorporating commercial land uses at ground level, the proposal provides an active interface with Mount Alexander Road as a result providing various balconies and windows facing the public realm coupled with low level front fencing and vegetation across the front elevation. Further it is submitted that apartment LG.01 has been designed to allow easy conversion into a home office. The building will be well articulated and responds to the adjoining style and form of development in the area.

The siting, massing and appearance of the buildings and works is consistent with the evolving streetscape of Mount Alexander Road. The proposed development will not be adjacent to any heritage buildings
<cite>1032-1036 Mt Alexander Road, Essendon, Urban Context Report</cite>
</blockquote>

The proposal would see many apartments have views over Allison Park which sits is located to the rear of the site with architectural plans showing the two rear ground floor apartments having gated access to the park.

1032-1036 Mt Alexander Road like many other projects along the same stretch of Mt Alexander Road benefit from the 59 tram line running past the front door.  Essendon station is a 900 metre / 10 minute walk.

The project joins Sturt Street Parque on the Apartments.com.au project database in this specific area.  South of the railway line &amp; Essendon station there are six further projects, two of which are under construction.

1032-1036 Mt Alexander Road is being assessed by the City of Moonee Valley.

<h2>Development Team List:</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Parkside Constructions Pty Ltd</li>
	<li>Architect: MAP Architecture</li>
	<li>Urban Planning: A.R.G. Planning</li>
	<li>Sustainability: SDC</li>
	<li>Traffic Assessment: Traffix Group</li>
	<li>Waste Management: Leigh Design</li>
</ul>
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Three bedrooms aplenty in new middle ring Essendon development

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The City of Casey is seeking submissions on the draft Cranbourne town centre structure plan which is currently on public exhibition.

Cranbourne's draft town centre structure plan covers an area which includes the land from the north of Cranbourne Station, down the South Gippsland Highway; it encompasses the original town centre and the existing light industrial area opposite the Cranbourne racecourse.

The structure plan has 4 precincts which are linked to specific land use - Community uses in the Casey complex located on the eastern side of Cameron Street, residential intensification on the western side of Cameron Street, a Mixed-use commercial core which runs the length of the South Gippsland Highway and employment and service precincts located either side of the main residential intensification precinct on between Cameron Street and the commercial core.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/cranbourne_precincts.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Proposed precinct map of Cranbourne - image: City of Casey"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="430" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/cranbourne_precincts.png?itok=pI_76idl" title="Proposed precinct map of Cranbourne - image: City of Casey" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Proposed precinct map of Cranbourne - image: City of Casey</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
The built form of the Cranbourne Town Centre tells the story of how it has grown and changed over time with distinct areas of commercial, industrial and residential buildings, consistent with a rural township becoming an outer suburb of Melbourne transitioning into a significant activity centre in the region.

Existing buildings throughout the town centre are primarily 1-2 storey, with some larger commercial buildings throughout. It is expected that residential and commercial development will be concentrated in the Cranbourne Town Centre in order to support the expected future demand. These building types are still apparent throughout Cranbourne, and it is expected that growth and development will contribute positively to the centre’s image.

Land around the Cranbourne Railway Station should encourage transit-oriented development and contribute to making the station a more attractive area. Higher density residential and mixed-use development in this location together with commercial development in the High street north area should positively contribute to the image of the centre, creating an attractive public environment which draws people down through to the High Street area. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.caseyconversations.com.au/33609/documents/73770"><cite>Draft Cranbourne town centre structure plan</cite></a>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/cranbourne_indicative.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Indicative built-form near Cranbourne station - image: City of Casey"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="213" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/cranbourne_indicative.png?itok=n8RFVms4" title="Indicative built-form near Cranbourne station - image: City of Casey" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Indicative built-form near Cranbourne station - image: City of Casey</figcaption></figure>The mixed-use commercial core calls for any new development over 1000sqm at the Cranbourne Park shopping centre must include streetscape improvements, facade activation and an enhanced pedestrian environment.  The preferred height limit for the commercial core is 17-20 metres with street-wall heights of 11 metres and upper-level setbacks of 5 metres - perhaps most importantly, new car parking will not be allowed at the front of the building.

In the residential intensification precincts, the Residential Growth Zone will be used and amalgamation of blocks will be encouraged to allow higher-density development to occur.  13.5 metres with a setback of 5 metres is proposed throughout the precinct.

To view the draft structure plan and to make a submission, see the City of Casey <a href="https://www.caseyconversations.com.au/cranbourne-town-centre">website</a>.  Submissions close on Monday 23rd of April 2018.
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City of Casey seeks submissions on Cranbourne's town centre structure plan

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The day after Apartments.com.au took a look at the swathe of construction images for the South Morang to Mernda railway line extension project, Spring Street has announced the project is running 6 months ahead of schedule and that test trains will be running on the extension by September said the Mernda rail extension project will be operating by September.

At the same time, local MLAs Danielle Green and Lily D'ambrosio who also holds the suburban development ministerial portfolio joined the Minister for Public Transport to confirm the new station names - Hawkestowe, Middle Gorge and Mernda. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
We’re getting it done – Mernda Rail Extension is ahead of schedule, creating thousands of jobs and giving people in our fastest growing suburbs the transport they deserve. <a href="https://t.co/tWWNIqEKgQ">https://t.co/tWWNIqEKgQ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/springst?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#springst</a> <a href="https://t.co/xhqAKkWa0h">pic.twitter.com/xhqAKkWa0h</a>
— Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/JacintaAllanMP/status/980641504321392643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a>
</blockquote>

Middle Gorge has previously been referred to as Marymede on Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) website.

The LXRA are also running construction bus tours between Thursday 12th of April and Saturday 14th of April at 10am and 2pm each day - the tours last for 1.5 hours and interested parties need to register <a href="https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/events/mernda-rail-project-free-bus-tour">here</a>.

The final introduction of the new timetable to allow South Morang trains to run to the new terminus at Merna will be confirmed over the next few months according to a Spring Street media release.

<h2>Clayton Road now level crossing free</h2>

The Premier and Minister for Public Transport also made a trip to Clayton on Tuesday to inspect works on the new station at Clayton where work on the station's new canopy is complete.

The boom gates at Centre Road are set to be removed today and the level crossing will be removed with boomgates to be removed at Clayton Road within days as well.

The Clayton section of the level crossing removal project will be the second to open after the Noble Park elevated track and the new station opened in February.

Rail services will resume at the new Clayton station on Monday April 16th.
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Mernda rail extension to open six months ahead of schedule, station names updated

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Joel Robinson

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

The long-planned transformation of Brisbane's historic Shafston Estate has taken another major step, with Capella Hotel Group announced as the luxury hospitality partner behind what will become Brisbane's first branded residences.

The project, to be known as Capella Residences Brisbane, is being delivered by Verso Projects at the landmark Kangaroo Point riverfront estate, with completion targeted for 2029.

The announcement follows a series of planning changes to the project over recent years. The site was originally approved in 2023 for a 15-level, 37-apartment development designed by Rothelowman for Burgundy Group before Verso Projects took over the 10,070 sqm riverfront holding and lodged revised plans with Kerry Hill Architects to increase the development to a 25-level tower with 51 apartments.

The latest announcement confirms Capella Hotel Group will bring its branded residential offering to the project, marking just the second Capella Residences development globally after Seoul, and the group's first branded residential project in Australia.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/23-castlebar-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Castlebar Street development</a> will centre around the restoration of the heritage-listed Shafston House, one of Brisbane's oldest residences, originally constructed in 1851 by Reverend Robert Creyke as a single-storey cottage known as Ravenscott.

<img alt="Capella" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b9f4ce5-638f-4d6b-8082-3ca7e4b75fca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-09%20at%207.20.41%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=f7aeqsW_DzOJI4FymWb3lD8NptSfsP7q" />

Capella said the project aligns with its focus on heritage-led developments, with the Brisbane estate combining the restored historic residence with a new luxury apartment tower and hospitality-inspired resident amenities.

Residents will have access to the Capella Living Room, a concierge-led communal space inspired by the group's luxury hotels, alongside landscaped gardens, six swimming pools, wellness and recreation facilities.

The broader estate will also include two riverfront homes, a six-berth private marina, porte cochère arrival experience, secure basement parking and a new section of public riverwalk along the Brisbane River frontage.

The heritage Postal Depot Building will also be retained and repurposed as a guest house, in line with the revised development plans.

The project represents another evolution for the site, which Kerry Hill Architects previously described as a rare opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's most significant heritage estates while creating a new benchmark for apartment living.

"The Shafston Estate provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's finest heritage precincts and to reinstate residential use as a unique site perched on the edge of Kangaroo Point," Kerry Hill Architects said in its Urban Context Report accompanying the planning submission.

"The project will celebrate excellence in sub-tropical residential design, setting a new benchmark for vertical living in Brisbane."

Verso Projects, which now has an $8.5 billion development pipeline spanning more than 6,000 dwellings across apartments, townhouses, retail and commercial projects, said the partnership with Capella would elevate the development beyond a traditional residential project.

"We feel honoured to be restoring Shafston Estate to its former glory, elevating it to new heights of luxury and excellence underpinned by Capella's distinctive service ethos and design philosophy, and making it a standout landmark in Brisbane," Verso Projects CEO Steve Laffey said.

"By partnering with Capella, globally recognised for its refined approach to luxury hospitality and deep respect for cultural and historical context, we will elevate this project beyond a residential offering into a world-class destination."

Capella Hotel Group President Roland Fasel said Brisbane's emergence as a global city made it the right location for the company's Australian residential debut.

"Brisbane is a city on the cusp of something remarkable, and Capella Residences is our commitment to being part of that story," Fasel said.

"The Capella residential experience is more than luxury. It is about a sense of belonging to a place with deep meaning."

Private appointments have now opened for the project, with a display suite expected to open in late 2026 ahead of the planned 2029 completion.

Alastair Taylor

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