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Flinders Street Station occupies the equivalent of two city blocks, occupying the site bordered by Flinders Street to the north and the Yarra River to the south. The site extends from Swanston Street on its eastern ground level border all the way to Queen Street in the west.

The first train station on the current Flinders Street Station site was called Melbourne Terminus. The original station was comprised of a collection of weatherboard sheds. Melbourne Terminus opened on the 12 of September 1854 and was the first steam railway station in Australia. Thousands of people attended the opening day to see not only Victoria’s, but also Australia’s, first public steam train, which travelled from Sandridge (now Port Melbourne) to the Melbourne Terminus station at Flinders Street.

In 1889 a worldwide design competition was held for a new railway station to be built. The new building, planned to replace the old sheds, was to be a grand edifice befitting marvelous Melbourne, which was then the largest city in Australia. Two Victorian Railway Officials, JW Fawcett and HPC Ashworth who entered under the syndicate name ‘Green Light’, were awarded the first prize of £500 in 1900. Their French renaissance style station included a large domed entrance and a clock tower.

Construction commenced in 1900, while the final design of station building was still in development. The foundations of the main building were completed in 1903. In 1904 the Railway Commissioners made changes to the original design, leading to the construction of individual roofs over each platform instead of a series of arched roofs over the concourse as originally planned. Additionally to increase office space, a fourth storey was added to the main building.

In 1905 work began on the massive station building itself, starting at the west end and progressing towards the grand entrance and dome at the south-west corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets. The grand edifice was designed to have a stone facade, however cost cutting led to use of red brick with cement render details (blood and bandage). Grey granite from Harcourt, Victoria was used on the Flinders Street side at ground level "in view of the importance of this great public work". Design changes that omitted the concourse roof as previously described, saw the southern facade of the main building above ground level constructed of a lightweight timber frame, clad with zinc sheets scored into large blocks and painted red, giving the appearance of large bricks to replace what would have been open balconies under the roof.

Work on the dome started in 1906. Eleven platforms were completed in 1907 with another two added (Platforms 12 and 13) east of Swanston Street in 1909. Completion and the official opening of the station took place in 1910.

The building is three storeys high at the higher concourse/Swanston Street end, and four at the lower Elizabeth Street/platform end.

A number of ticket windows were located at each entry point, with services such as a restaurant, a country booking office, lost luggage and a visitors help booth at concourse or platform level.

A number of shops and leasable spaces were provided. Some of these shops were on the concourse, and many were along the Flinders Street frontage, some were lower than street level and were accessible by stairs, creating a fifth/basement level. The basement store beside the main entrance has been occupied by a hat store since 1910, known as 'City Hatters', since 1933.

The top three storeys of the main building contain a large number of rooms, particularly along the Flinders Street frontage, with the majority designated for use by the railway, although some were leasable spaces. Most of the top floor of the station was purpose built and occupied by the Victorian Railway Institute. This area included a library, a gym and a lecture hall, which was later used as a ballroom. In recent times, these rooms have been abandoned and have been slowly decaying for decades.

Electric trains were introduced in 1919. By 1926 Flinders Street Station was the world's busiest suburban railway station and it still is in the southern hemisphere. Infrastructure such as the Degraves Street subway, which is part of Flinders Street Station, was extended to the north side of Flinders Street in 1954. In March 1966 platform one was extended to reach a length of 708 metres, making it the fourth longest railway station platform in the world.

Flinders Street Station has over time become Melbourne’s most recognizable landmark and perhaps Melbourne’s most definitive icon. Not surprisingly, it has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Act and by the National Trust.

In 2011 the former Victorian Liberal Government launched an <a href="/news/public-transport-architecture-seagull-on-a-hot-chip-thoughts-on-flinders-street-station-competition-entries">international design competition</a> to rejuvenate and restore this grand edifice. In 2013 architects HASSELL + Herzog &amp; de Meuron were chosen as the winners.

Let’s hope that the Melbourne catchphrase, ‘meet me under the clocks’ under the grand entrance at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, continues for many more years, and that the station restoration and rejuvenation starts sooner rather than later.

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/flinders-st-station-project-going-off-the-rails/story-fni0fit3-1227174184017?sv=d402b598f81dab90d9ba8480c074803c&amp;utm_source=Herald%20Sun&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=editorial&amp;net_sub_uid=6353763">The current situation (government assesses redevelopment).</a>

Peter Maltezos operates <a href="http://thecollectormm.com.au/">The Collector's Marvellous Melbourne</a>, a website dedicated to Melbourne's built environment which maintains a vast image collection of Melbourne, both past and present.
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thecollector

Flinders Street Station: Melbourne's most popular iconic landmark

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249 Bourke Street.
1901 William Pitt.
Before the Tivoli Theatre was built, the site it stood on what was home to a business consisting of a timber yard and stables in the mid 19th Century.  In the 1860's the Australian and New York Letting and Livery Stables replaced the older business and interestingly the business also included a hall on the upper level.  During 1866 the hall was known as The Varieties and then later as the Opera Comique; the first Australian performance of the Can Can was staged in The Varieties hall.
In 1872 it became The Prince of Wales Opera House (or just The Opera House) and a syndicate calling themselves the Opera House Company presented a wide variety of popular entertainment, including the first Melbourne performance of The Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore.
Some years later in 1894, the walls of the building were leaning and The Opera House was described as the most dangerous theatre in Melbourne.  The building which housed a capacity audience of 2127 people, was deemed a fire risk and a health hazard.
A year later an English singer and comedian named Harry Rickards took a three-year lease on the risky theatre.  On the 22nd of August 1896, the magician Carl Hertz projected the first motion pictures to be seen by the Australian public.  In 1897, the city council objected to the theatre still being used.  Harry, who still had 3 years left on his lease, asked for a delay in the closure and finally during 1899, a month after the lease expired, the city council closed the theatre.
The optimistic Harry Rickards then negotiated a new 50-year lease with the owners that included the condition that the old theatre be demolished and replaced with a new one.
The New Opera House was completed on the 18th of May 1901 and was designed in a Moorish style by William Pitt who had also designed the Princess Theatre on Spring Street.  It was made of red brick with marble columns and embellished with coloured tiles and ornate cast-iron work with the roof featuring a huge illuminated globe.
Inside two highly decorated corridors led from the street to the main foyer, which included a rockery with palms, ferns and a water feature while a marble stairways swept you up to the dress circle.  A three level auditorium, with its décor dominated by red and gold colours throughout, had a capacity of 1539, and the three tiers of seating created an intimate relationship between the performer(s) and the audience.  The Tivoli Theatre underwent renovations over the years and was rebuilt significantly in 1956.
In 1912, the New Opera House was renamed the Tivoli Theatre by Harry Rickards’ successor, Hugh D. McIntosh.  The Tivoli was the home of Melbourne vaudeville for 65 years until it closed on the 2nd of April 1966.  During its 65 years as a theatre it hosted stars like the escapologist Houdini, comedian W.C. Fields, illusionist Chung Ling Soo, entertainer George Formby, actor and singer Tommy Steele, singer Shirley Bassey and comedian Chico Marx amongst many others.
Lavish revues were introduced in the 1930's and became the Tivoli's standard fare, with pantomimes at Christmas and in the later years, the occasional musical. In the early 1950s the Folies Bergere Revue encouraged controversy about the amount of bare flesh on show for publicity.  In truth, what was on show was only a little more than a typical Tivoli show, but the audience ‘bought it’ and the revue ran for nearly fifteen consecutive months.  English actor and comedian Jimmy Edwards starred in the final live show in 1966.
A month after the closure of the theatre, the Tivoli Cinema opened, although round midnight on the 4th of April 1967, a fierce fire badly damaged the Tivoli.  What was left of the theatre/cinema was demolished and a new office building with the aptly named Tivoli Arcade on the ground level was built on the site, which is now home to the RMIT University's Business School.
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The Titillating Tivoli Theatre

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Melbourne in the late 1840s through to the 1860s was affected by a coinage crisis. The crisis mainly related to a shortage of small change in circulation. At this time, British coinage was in use, however not enough coins were being supplied for Melbourne’s booming population and economy.
Out of necessity, savvy entrepreneurial businesses of the day began issuing trade tokens. These tokens, which were mainly made of copper, were most often the size of a penny or a half penny. The tokens promoted the businesses that produced them, thus providing free advertising and helped to create awareness of their business names within the community.
Like the British pennies circulating in Melbourne, tokens often showed the figure of Britannia or symbols of Australia and Melbourne on the reverse side. These unofficial coins proudly promoted the various businesses, such as grocers, drapers and hoteliers, which issued them. While other businesses and clients alike happily accepted them, they were barely tolerated by the government of the day, even though they provided a practical solution to the coinage crisis.
<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/Token6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One penny token, minted in 1862. Issued by Fenwick Brothers, Importers &amp; Clothiers. It features Observatory House and the Flagstaff in Flagstaff Gardens, giving prospective customers an idea of where to find the store. In November 1852 Orlando Fenwick arrived in Melbourne, he brought goods out from England with him to found a drapery business. In 1857, Orlando was joined by his brother Pascoe and had his store located in King Street. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Token6.jpg?itok=MXRE0spj" title="One penny token, minted in 1862. Issued by Fenwick Brothers, Importers &amp; Clothiers. It features Observatory House and the Flagstaff in Flagstaff Gardens, giving prospective customers an idea of where to find the store. In November 1852 Orlando Fenwick arrived in Melbourne, he brought goods out from England with him to found a drapery business. In 1857, Orlando was joined by his brother Pascoe and had his store located in King Street. " typeof="Image"></a>
The first tokens that circulated in Melbourne and throughout Australia were imported from Birmingham, England in 1849 by the Collins Street business, Annand, Smith &amp; Co. Family Grocers. The importation of a coinage press and blank pennies in 1854 enabled other businesses to also issue tokens. By the late 1860s after enough British pennies had been imported for circulation in Melbourne, tokens were declared illegal in Victoria, but continued to be used elsewhere in Australia.
The most prolific issuer and maker of tokens in Melbourne and Australia wide was Thomas Stoke. He was an apprenticed diesinker from Birmingham who arrived in Melbourne in 1854. In the 1860s, his company Thomas Stokes was based at 100 Collins Street East. The business became a proprietary company under the name Stokes &amp; Son Pty Ltd in 1911. In 1962 Stokes became a public company, renamed Stokes (Australasia) Pty Ltd, with offices in Ringwood and throughout Australasia. Today the business is still thriving, making medals/tokens and has become Australia’s major manufacturer of electrical elements and a distributor of appliance spare parts.
About twenty years ago, I came across my first Melbourne traders’ token and have been fascinated with these little windows of history ever since. Often I find myself trying to locate addresses on tokens, (difficult since the street numbering has changed in the city), to see what has replaced the savvy little businesses that once issued tokens.
The enhanced photos in this article are of my own collection of Melbourne tokens - click for a larger view.
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Melbourne Traders Tokens - History in your palm

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280-318 William Street (south east-corner of William and Latrobe Streets)
1871-1872 John James Clarke
Commenced in 1871 and completed in 1872, on the site of the first Melbourne Exhibition Building, the former Royal Mint is considered one of the finest renaissance revival buildings in Australia. Design work by JJ Clarke of the administration building, which remains today, began in 1869 when Victoria was given permission by the Royal British Mint to establish a Melbourne branch office. The design was based on Raphael’s Palazzo Vidoni-Caffarelli in Rome (1515) and before cost cutting took place, a much grander structure was designed that was three storeys and 55 metres wide, contrasting somewhat from the two storeys, 31 metres wide building that was finally built.
<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/RoyalMint1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Royal Melbourne Mint (2005)"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/RoyalMint1.jpg?itok=17fZ69LT" title="The Royal Melbourne Mint (2005)" typeof="Image"></a>
The Mint complex with the main freestanding administration building, residence, two corner guardhouses, palisading and tall perimeter wall, originally also contained additional buildings. These were a coining hall, a melting department and an assay department that were demolished in 1968.
The Royal Melbourne Mint was authorized from the start to strike full British gold sovereign and half sovereign denominations, with the mintmark M to designate their Melbourne mintage. The first gold coins were struck in Melbourne in 1872 and were minted until 1931.
Australian coins were minted from 1916 with the first coins being the silver threepences, sixpences, shillings and florins. This was followed in 1919 by bronze pennies, bronze halfpennies in 1923, silver crowns in 1937, and finally copper one and two cent pieces in 1966. Production of coins ceased in 1967.
It is important to note that the architect JJ Clarke also designed, or had a hand in designing other noteworthy buildings such as the old Treasury Building, the original Richmond Town Hall, the City Baths and Government House.
The Former Royal Melbourne Mint is now home to a number of private enterprises. These include Melbourne Mint Pty Ltd who deal in gold and silver bullion. It also houses the cultural institution the Hellenic Museum, founded in 2007 and established with the aim to promote understanding and appreciation for the rich cultural traditions of ancient and contemporary Greece.
 
The website:
http://www.hellenic.org.au/
Click an image for a larger view of the gallery.
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Former Royal Melbourne Mint - A rich history

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There has been a well-documented and longstanding call for Melbourne to build its own internationally recognisable landmark. While in my opinion we can always live without one, it is widely acknowledged that easily recognisable landmarks help to promote cities wordwide.
Test yourself: when you think of New York, which images automatically come to mind?  For me it's The Empire State Building, The Chrysler Building and The Statue of Liberty. For Sydney it's The Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Harbour Bridge. These are all iconic landmarks that clearly identify the cities they are from.
It’s not that Melbourne doesn’t have landmarks; it’s just that the landmarks that we have could be considered local or national landmarks at best.  Even though the Royal Exhibition Building (REB) has been given World Heritage listing by UNESCO, the fact remains it’s still recognised by most as a national landmark. Other national landmarks include the MCG, Flinders Street Station, Federation Square, Eureka Tower and the Arts Centre Spire. Melbourne’s W class trams and the Royal Botanic Gardens can probably also be included in the list of national landmarks. The Shrine of Remembrance, Parliament House, Luna Park and the NGV are more than anything else, local landmarks. If one was to judge by the sheer volume and variety of postcards, badges and fridge magnets sold in tourist shops, then Flinders Street Station could easily be our definitive national landmark.
Numerous people would argue that Melbourne is a city of many cultures and various architectural styles, which combine to offer constantly changing aesthetic experiences. Any attempts to reduce it to being represented by a single landmark will damage the very thing that makes this city great.
It is my personal view that, whether by default or by design, Melbourne will probably one day have an internationally recognisable landmark. The city has a great design culture and the prospects of a single landmark lie more in design than just monumental domination, but could be both, as long as distinctive design is the dominant feature.
If a tourist was to ask me today, “Which is Melbourne’s landmark?” I would answer, it’s the whole city, with its many interesting streets and lanes sprinkled with impressive buildings of many styles.  Although this may not register internationally, Melbourne’s streets, lanes, buildings and trams together make up a very special place that the locals love and that many visitors enjoy!
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The Melbourne landmark question

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331-339 Bourke Street

1869-1870 Charles Webb (original north-south Bourke to Lt Collins Street arcade)

1902-1923 Hyndman and Bates (east-west Elizabeth Street addition)

2002-2004 Allom Lovell &amp; Associates (restoration)

 

<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/RoyalArcade3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Royal Arcade is one of the oldest surviving shopping arcades in the world."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/RoyalArcade3.jpg?itok=fw16xs2w" title="The Royal Arcade is one of the oldest surviving shopping arcades in the world." typeof="Image"></a>

The Royal Arcade was the second shopping arcade built in <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne</a> with the first being the Queen’s Arcade, which was built in 1853. The Queen’s Arcade did not last long and was demolished long ago, leaving The Royal Arcade to claim the honour of being both Melbourne’s and Australia’s oldest surviving shopping arcade.

 

In 1868, Charles Webb won a design competition for The Royal Arcade with a renaissance revival design. Construction started a year later in June of 1869 and was completed in May 1870. The design of the arcade was probably inspired by arcades typical of that time found in Paris and London, which were long, straight, and had high glass roofs, with arched windowed storerooms above each shop. The Bourke Street façade also features a coat of arms at the centre of a balustraded roofline.

 

Erected in 1892 and found in the southern end of the original structure is probably the most enticing feature of the arcade, the mechanized statues of Gog and Magog. These statues of mythical giants were copied from those in the Guildhall in London.  Gog and Magog flank a large clock designed by a former local watchmaker Gaunt and the two statues have struck chimes every hour, on the hour, ever since their introduction over one hundred and twenty years ago!

 

In 1890 at least two of the original shop fronts to the arcade were replaced with new bay windows, splayed entrances and mirrored pilasters between each shop entrance. The remaining shop fronts were replaced in 1894 under the guidance of architect Nahum Barnett.

 

In 1902, a decision was made to begin to build an annex from the centre of the arcade through to Elizabeth Street, allowing for the opening of further businesses and construction of a new Elizabeth Street façade for the arcade. An arched verandah was added to the Bourke Street façade around the same time.

 

In 1934, the original Castlemaine flag floor was replaced with black and white square concrete floor tiles, which in turn were later replaced by better quality black and white terrazzo tiles. In the 1950s a cantilevered verandah was added to the Little Collins Street façade and in 2002 work began to refurbish and restore the arcade back to its original glory by Allom Lovell &amp; Associates.

 

The original arcade consisted of 29 shops of various distinctive trades offering mainly luxury goods. At the southern end of the arcade facing Little Collins Street were two or three shops of larger dimensions, including Turkish Baths. There are now 32 shops and the entire arcade is currently owned by The Royal Arcade Pty Ltd, a company with 32 separate shareholders, each owning a head lease over their respective shops, which are either owner-occupied or tenanted out.

 

The Royal Arcade remains one of Melbourne’s favourite ‘must visit’ destinations, offering extravagant boutique wares and refined delights through its many elegant and distinctive shops.

 

http://www.royalarcade.com.au/
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The Royal Arcade - A Golden Oldie

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299 Bourke Street (second store and current street number) opened in 1883

Collins Street extension in 1906

Closed in 1929

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728]

Edward William Cole opened his first book arcade near the former Eastern Market in 1873. On the 27 January 1883 he opened his famous second store on the site of the current David Jones Men’s Store, on what is now called the Bourke Street Mall.

With around two million books on its shelves, the extraordinary Cole’s Book Arcade, also known as the Palace of Intellect, was reputedly the largest bookstore in the world. It was one of the iconic ‘must visit’ Melbourne stores in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In fact, it was so well known, that both Rudyard Kipling and Mark Twain visited it during their travels to Australia.

In 1906, the Coles’ Book Arcade was extended all the way through to Collins Street alongside Howey Place.  E. W. Cole paved and built a beautiful glass and iron ornamental roof for Howey Place, at his own cost, which still stands proudly today. When the Cole’s Book Arcade was two-block lengths in size, it was spacious enough to include a menagerie featuring a monkey house, a fernery, a toyland, a stationary department, a second-hand book department, a glass and china department, a refreshment room, and a confectionery department.  If that wasn’t enough, customers of all ages were also enticed with a string band, a symphonion powered by a clockwork mechanism and other mechanical devices, such as a hen that clucked and laid tin eggs containing either a sweet or a toy, when a penny was dropped into a slot. There were also comfortable chairs to sit in and read books, people were encouraged to do so by a sign that read: Read As Long As You Like – Nobody Asked To Buy.

E. W. Cole was an idealist. He believed passionately in the power of education to deliver a peaceful united (federated) world without borders before the year 2000. He expounded his views in pamphlets, books and medallions.  E. W. Coles’ most famous book was the self-produced publication, Cole’s Funny Picture Book, which had many reprints and sold over a million copies, making it perhaps one of the most popular children’s books ever published in Australia.

E. W. Cole issued medallions that were either sold for three pence each or given as change, to be spent on other arcade purchases up to their 3d value. While many people kept them as souvenirs, others also had them pierced to wear on a necklace.  Around 300,000 medallions were minted and 97 different types were issued. They were usually made of copper, brass or aluminium and were often gilded, silvered or bronzed. Creating highly desirable and valued collectibles was a great marketing idea then, as it is today.

While E. W. Cole passed away in 1918, the business continued after his death. In 1929, the executors of his will decided to wind down the business and sell the land on which it stood, which was at that time, as now, highly desired and valuable real estate. A family member purchased the goodwill and a shop, bearing the name Cole’s Book Arcade, was opened at the new address of 255 Swanston Street. The new venture lasted for an additional 10 years, but failed to survive the 1930s depression.

The Melbourne Museum has a Cole’s Book Arcade collection acquired over many decades. Items such as a mechanical hen, the symphonion and many of the variety of medallions issued can be seen there.

See them on the museum website:

http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/1900/cole-s-book-arcade-collection
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The incredible Cole's Book Arcade

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304–328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
 
1854-1856 Joseph Reed; 1870 Reed and Barnes; 1906–11 Bates, Peebles and Smart;
1951 Percy Everett, Public Works Department; 1990-98 Ancher, Mortlock and Woolley
<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/Library2pc.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The State Library of Victoria as it looked soon after the completion of the Domed Reading Room."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Library2pc.jpg?itok=MDoy1B8c" title="The State Library of Victoria as it looked soon after the completion of the Domed Reading Room." typeof="Image"></a>
The decision to build a state library for Victoria was made in 1853 by Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe and Mr Justice Redmond Barry. An architectural competition was held and a local architect, Joseph Reed was declared the winner with his submission of an academic classical design.
 
The foundation stone was laid in 1854 and in 1856 the library was officially opened with a collection of 3,800 books chosen by Mr Justice Redmond Barry.
 
In 1859 the first reading room, the barrel-vaulted Queen’s Reading Room (now Queen’s Hall) was opened.  Additional temporary structures were built in the rear facing Russell Street in 1866 for the Inter-colonial Exhibition and were in use until 1909.
 
Construction of the landmark Domed Reading Room begun in 1906 and was completed in 1911. The dome sits on a classically composed polygonal drum that rises over four levels and is punctuated by arched entrances/exits. It was designed by Bates, Peebles and Smart, and a for a short time after its completion, the Domed Reading Room was the world’s largest reinforced concrete dome. In 1959 the Domed Reading Room’s skylights were modified and covered in copper to stop water leaking into the room.
 
The library’s original grand plans made provision for inclusion of a museum and an art gallery. A museum of grand proportions was to be built facing Russell Street, however due to funding shortages a scaled back version was gradually built over the interwar years in a more austere restrained classical style. In the 1990s, the museum was moved to the Carlton Gardens in a new purpose built structure.  The State Library complex was also home to the National Gallery of Victoria until it was moved to its St Kilda Road address in the late 1960s.
 
Between 1990 and 2004 the State Library underwent a $200 million major refurbishment and redevelopment. The most notable of these refurbishments was the restoration of the Domed Reading Room, to allow the return of natural light into the space. It was renamed the La Trobe Reading Room when it was completed in 2003. Other developments included the construction of exhibition rooms and spaces that are used to house permanent and temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibitions include, The Mirror of the World: Books and Ideas and The Changing Face of Victoria, both of which are on display in the upper level galleries of the La Trobe Reading Room. Other permanent exhibition rooms are the Cowen Gallery, along with the Stawell Gallery rooms on level 2a, which house a collection of oil paintings and portrait sculptures drawn from the Library’s Pictures Collection. Temporary exhibitions are held in the Keith Murdoch Gallery, which is entered from the foyer of the main entry on Swanston Street and like the Cowen and Stawell Galleries, used to be a former museum space. The construction of these exhibition spaces has made the Victorian State Library one of the largest exhibiting libraries in the world.
 
The library has moved into the twenty first century with the inclusion of exciting new visitor facilities. This includes Mr Tulk Café, named after the first librarian, Augustus H. Tulk, with its main entrance on La Trobe Street. A Readings Bookshop, is situated next to the library foyer and in 2010, the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas, was set up, with its entrance on Little Lonsdale Street. The Wheeler Centre was named after the Lonely Planet founders, Tony and Maureen Wheeler, who donated funds for its establishment.
 
The State Library of Victoria was the first public library in Australia and one of the first in the world. The library currently holds over two million books, hundreds of thousands of pictures, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts, and has also amassed a large collection of audio, video and digital material. These collections reflect the culture of Victoria over the past 160 years, making the State Library of Victoria one of Melbourne’s greatest cultural icons! 
 
The website:
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/
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State Library of Victoria - a cultural icon

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Corner Queen and La Trobe Streets, Melbourne, 3000. 1997-2001 Katsalidis Architects (Nonda Katsalidis).

<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/Republic1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Rising 122m, The Republic Tower is very prominent on Latrobe Street."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Republic1.jpg?itok=NBiVyNV_" title="Rising 122m, The Republic Tower is very prominent on Latrobe Street." typeof="Image"></a>

<figcaption>Rising 122m, The Republic Tower is very prominent on Latrobe Street.</figcaption></figure>The Republic Tower is a very striking 35 storey brutalist styled skyscraper with the sculptural shape of an armour-clad samurai warrior.

Built from off-form concrete, stainless steel and glass, this building consists of mainly apartments and some retail space. Most of the units were originally sold off as enclosed functional shells to be fitted out as purchasers desired. The building also includes a gymnasium and an impressive 25 metre lap pool with equally impressive views east and west.

The five-storey podium is designed to fit within the streetscape. It includes two street level shops, a café facing La Trobe Street located under a large timber pergola and on Queen Street, rough-cut bluestone blocks lead to an entry into an underground restaurant. Another Katsalidis signature, a large curved billboard acting as an art space on the ground street corner, features a constantly changing display of public art, which is currently sponsored by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Hobart.

I would consider The Republic Tower an underrated gem in Melbourne’s architectural landscape, Katsalidis at his best! (Not to be mistaken with <a href="/buildings/gem-25-windsor-terrace-williamstown">Gem Apartments</a>)
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Republic Tower, the underrated gem

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St. Kilda Road, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne
Built 1927-34
Designed by Hudson and Wardrop
World War 2 Memorial Forecourt
Built 1950-54
Designed by Ernest E. Milston
Undercroft redevelopment
Built 2002-03
Designed by Ashton Raggat McDougall (ARM).
 
<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/Shrine1p.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Shrine of Remembrance as it looks today."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Shrine1p.jpg?itok=67UR59DN" title="The Shrine of Remembrance as it looks today." typeof="Image"></a>
The Shrine of Remembrance, arguably Melbourne’s most important iconic public monument, which is located in Kings Domain, St Kilda Road, was originally built as a memorial to the men and women who served in World War 1.  It later became a monument for all Australians who have served in wars. It provides a place where Victorians can grieve and where they can honour and preserve the memories of loved ones lost in wars.
 
The Shrine is located on the southern continuation of Swanston Street as St Kilda Road and appears from a distance to sit on the central axis of Melbourne’s Hoddle grid. The central elevated site it sits on was chosen in 1922, so that the memorial could be visible from all around the city, its suburbs and bay.
 
The design of the Shrine resulted from a world-wide architectural competition, won by Victorian returned soldiers, Philip Hudson and James Wardrop. Their entry was influenced by details from classical Greek monuments like the Parthenon, with the cubic form stepped pyramid roof derived from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. 
 
 
Built from Tynong granite, the Shrine originally consisted only of the central structure surrounded by the ambulatory. The central structure or sanctuary contains the marble Stone of Remembrance, which has the engraved inscription “Greater love hath no man”.  Once a year, on Remembrance Day (November 11, 11:00 am), a ray of sunlight beaming through an aperture in the roof illuminates the word “Love” in the inscription.  Above marble columns in the sanctuary, we also find panels listing every unit of the Australian Imperial Force of World War 1.  Beneath the sanctuary lies the crypt, which contains a bronze statue of a soldier father and son.  The exterior of the structure has four buttress sculptural groups representing Justice, Sacrifice, Patriotism, Peace and Goodwill. In the pediments on top of the two porticoes, the northern one depicts the call to arms and the southern one, the homecoming.
 
The dedication ceremony for the Shrine of Remembrance was on Remembrance Day, 1934 and for many it was considered the crowning glory of Victoria and Melbourne’s Centenary celebrations.
 
In the 1950s the Shrine was expanded to commemorate those who died in World War 2.  The architect Ernest E Milston was declared the winner of a competition to design a memorial to World War 2 in 1950. A reflecting pool was removed to allow for the construction of the World War 2 Forecourt, which consists of a large expanse of stone in front of the Shrine’s north face in the shape of a giant cross. It also includes three flagpoles, the Eternal Flame and the World War 2 Memorial, which is a cenotaph 12.5 metres high. Inscriptions recording conflict from other wars following World War 2 were added to the foreground areas surrounding the Shrine. A Remembrance Garden was also constructed, beneath the western face, to honour those who served in post-World War 2 combat zones.
 
Additional work was undertaken in 2002. ARM’s designed redevelopment took advantage of the unused space under the Shrine, the undercroft (hollow artificial hill). The redevelopment consisted of construction of a visitor’s centre, administrative facilities and provision for improved access to the Shrine’s crypt through two new courtyards. The later additions were deemed necessary because many veterans found the stairs, in front of the original front entrance, difficult to climb.
 
Most recently in 2013, The Galleries of Remembrance project commenced, which will focus on further redevelopment of the Shrine’s undercroft space. This will lead to the construction of a southern extension beneath the hill doubling the size of the Visitor Centre, completed in 2003. 
</body></html>

Shrine of Remembrance

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

Peter Maltezos

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