First look: Antipodean plots mid-rise, mixed-use development on Thornbury's High Street
The quiet suburb of Thornbury is set for a rare new injection of new apartments, with plans to convert a prominent corner site on High Street into a seven-storey, mixed-use development that combines modern apartment living with an activated street frontage.
Positioned at the intersection of High Street and Rossmoyne Street, the proposal reflects a broader trend of mid-rise intensification across Darebin’s key tram corridors.
Lodged by Antipodean Land Developments under the VIC Development Facilitation Program, the application proposes a mix of commercial, retail and food and drink tenancies at ground level, with 71 apartments above, and a basement level below.
Antipodean Land Developments brings a track record of design-led, sustainable projects, with their recent collaborations including Balfe Park Lane and Neighbourhood, delivered alongside Kerstin Thompson Architects and Breathe Architecture.
For the Thornbury site, the team has partnered with award-winning studio Austin Maynard Architects, whose design approach continues their commitment to socially responsive, climate-conscious urban infill.
The architectural scheme introduces a mid-rise built form articulated by low street walls and upper level setbacks, aiming to create a human-scaled interface along both High and Rossmoyne Streets. The Design Report prepared by Global South highlights suggested a key design feature is the chamfered corner treatment, which "marks a civic corner at a significant local intersection."
The building form tapers toward the sensitive eastern boundary, responding to neighbouring residential properties and local heritage elements including St Mary’s Church and the adjacent Salvation Army Hall.
The development will deliver 71 apartments across a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations, including 10 dwellings dedicated to affordable housing. Residents will have access to communal rooftop and podium-level terraces, along with improved pedestrian access through widened verges and landscaped zones.
The proposal for seven storeys exceeds the recommended five-storey height limit, however Ratio Consultants argues in its Town Planning Report the high degree of articulation and context responsive design of the building ensures that there is no excessive visual bulk. They add that there are various examples of mixed-use development north-south of the subject site which demonstrate overall development height in excess of five storeys.
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Apartments.com.au, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country’s most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the off the plan property market. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia’s evolving development landscape.
He holds a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, and has developed a particular expertise in off the plan apartment space. Joel’s editorial lens spans the full lifecycle of a project—from site acquisition and planning approvals through to new launches, construction completions, and final sell-out—delivering trusted, buyer-focused content that supports informed decision-making across the property journey