Antipodean breaks ground on Thornbury House as Melbourne pipeline gathers pace

Antipodean Land Developments has moved from planning to construction on one of its growing collection of design-led Melbourne apartment projects, breaking ground on Thornbury House on High Street.

The family-owned Melb​ourne developer has appointed Manresa as head contractor for the 44-apartment development at 712-716 High Street, on the prominent corner of Rossmoyne Street, with completion targeted for 2028.

It is significant progress for Antipodean, who first filed plans for Thornbury House last year. Those plans secured approval through Victoria's Development Facilitation Program in November 2025.

The start of construction comes as Antipodean becomes increasingly active across Melbou​rne's established inner and middle-ring suburbs, with major proposals currently progressing in Surrey Hills, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North and Deepdene.

Thorn​bury House is one of the first of that emerging pipeline to make the jump into construction.

Austin Maynard Architects has designed the project, which will bring 44 one, two and three-bedroom apartments to a stretch of High Street that has seen comparatively little new apartment development despite its established retail, hospitality and tram connections.

The architecture has been heavily influenced by its immediate neighbours, particularly St Mary's Church and the Salvation Army Hall.

Around 2,000 sqm of hand-laid red brick will wrap the building, responding to the materiality of the surrounding heritage buildings rather than trying to introduce an entirely new architectural language to the corner.

A planted central lightwell has been cut through the building to bring natural light and greenery deeper into the apartments and common areas, while the High Street corner pulls away from the boundary to create a sheltered colonnade at street level.

A single retail tenancy will sit beneath the apartments, continuing the commercial frontage along High Street.

Sustainability has also been pushed considerably further than minimum requirements.

Tho​rnbury House will be fully electric and fossil-fuel-free, with the apartments achieving an average 7.8-star NatHERS rating and the project recording a 70 per cent BESS Excellence score.

At least 12.1 kWp of rooftop solar is proposed, alongside 10,000 litres of rainwater storage, double glazing, natural cross-ventilation, induction cooking and instantaneous electric hot water. Antipodean is also targeting an 80 per cent diversion of construction waste from landfill.

Construction starting at Thorn​bury comes at an increasingly busy time for Antipodean.

Earlier this year, the developer lodged one of its most ambitious proposals to date in Surrey Hills, where it is seeking to transform the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road.

The 9,158 sqm site is one of Surrey Hills' largest privately held residential landholdings and would be transformed into a 76-residence community under plans by Woods Bagot and Kerstin Thompson Architects.

Rather than clearing the historic Surrey Hills site, Antipodean's proposal centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of several significant buildings dating back to the late 19th century, including the original St Joseph's building and chapel.

Two new four-storey buildings would then be inserted into the landscaped grounds, with OCULUS leading the landscape architecture.

Antipodean also has plans for a boutique 13-apartment project at 11-13 Spring Street in Fitzroy. Edition Office is behind the design that is being assessed through Victoria's Great Design Fast Track pathway. The developer also has an apartment project at 290 Park Street in Fitzroy North.

Its next project to launch to the market however is Centennial Deepdene, 76 apartments on Whitehorse Road.

The developer is working with Kerstin Thompson Architects and landscape architects Openwork on the project, with one, two, three and four-bedroom residences planned.