Less than five months after submitting plans to redevelop the former Cadbury office on St Kilda Road into a luxury apartment tower, development giant <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dexus-property-group">Dexus</a>&nbsp;has been given ministerial approval to push on with the project.

Apartments.com.au <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/first-look-dexus-joins-st-kilda-road-apartment-ranks-with-gateway-tower-proposal">revealed the plans in October last year</a>.

The approved project will see the 19-storey office building at 636 St Kilda Road replaced with a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a>-designed tower delivering more than 400 new apartments at the prominent intersection of St Kilda Road and Queens Road.&nbsp;

The design responds to the site’s gateway position at St Kilda Junction, with Bates Smart describing the tower as a “refined and sculptural built form that mediates between the scale of St Kilda Road and Queens Road,” reinforcing a civic presence at the key intersection.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Dexus joins St Kilda Road apartment ranks with gateway tower proposal" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-10-06%20at%2012.52.37%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=Tq3yyOWe0e0klvy5j4TIjiZT7yd3f1Xk" />

The development will comprise 402 apartments, including 40 studios, 87 one-bedroom, 203 two-bedroom, and 66 three-bedroom residences, alongside six penthouses. The project will also incorporate active frontages, new pedestrian through-links and a landscape strategy designed to integrate with the boulevard character of St Kilda Road.&nbsp;

Public realm improvements form part of the approved scheme, including a 138 square metre linear park, extensive landscaping and approximately 188 metres of active street frontage intended to improve permeability and safety at ground level. Four basement levels will provide 449 car spaces and 120 bicycle spaces.&nbsp;

The project includes a $9.6 million contribution to the Social Housing Growth Fund, equivalent to three per cent of the project’s estimated development cost, supporting broader affordable housing initiatives across Victoria.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Dexus joins St Kilda Road apartment ranks with gateway tower proposal" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/St%20kilda%20rd%20site.png?VersionId=m_ZioKYhwkvekE3ZUF6y7bz.5_5yFPnZ" />

Wholesale Australian Property Fund (DWAPF) Fund Manager Chris Davitt said the residences are intended to appeal to a broad mix of buyers seeking proximity to the CBD and surrounding amenities.

“We’re excited about the potential of the project to contribute new residential supply to one of Melbourne’s most sought-after areas,” Davitt previously said. “The landmark site at 636 St Kilda Road is at the gateway to Melbourne’s CBD, offering sweeping views and exceptional connectivity.”&nbsp;

The site’s three street frontages, St Kilda Road, Queens Road and Queens Lane, allow for generous setbacks and a flexible built form, while its proximity to the ANZAC Station tram-rail interchange and the St Kilda Road cycling corridor positions it within one of Melbourne’s most connected inner-city precincts.&nbsp;

St Kilda Road has become one of Melbourne’s most active apartment corridors in recent years, with projects such as Victoriana, The Muse and St Boulevard already completed overlooking Albert Park Lake, while Gamuda Land continues construction on Fareham and several other developments are planned nearby.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Dexus secures ministerial approval for St Kilda Road apartment tower

Just a few months after launching to the market,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gold-partners-australia">Gold Partners Australia</a>&nbsp;has sold 75 per cent of the apartments at&nbsp;Harmony on Broadbeach, its debut Gold Coast apartment development.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harmony-on-broadbeach-2797-gold-coast-highway-broadbeach-qld-4218">Harmony on Broadbeach</a>, which will rise 33 storeys on the corner of First Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway about 400 metres from the beach, will deliver a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments designed to appeal to a mix of local owner-occupiers, interstate buyers, and investors seeking newer stock in the tightly held Broadbeach market.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI Architects</a>, Harmony will home just over 100 apartments, with a typical floorplate limited to four apartments per level. The configuration allows for larger layouts and greater privacy compared to many higher-density coastal towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113098 project_image_fid=355608]

The residences comprise generous two and three-bedroom apartments with open-plan living areas, large balconies and floor-to-ceiling glazing designed to maximise natural light and capture views across the ocean, hinterland and Broadbeach skyline. Interiors feature natural stone benchtops, engineered timber flooring and Miele appliances, with finishes intended to reflect the coastal character of the surrounding area.&nbsp;

Amenities are centred on a dedicated wellness offering, including a 20-metre swimming pool, spa, sauna, gymnasium and yoga lawn, alongside communal lounges, private dining areas and outdoor barbecue spaces for residents. The building will also include a hospitality venue at street level, activating the ground plane along the Gold Coast Highway.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113098 project_image_fid=355611]

Olympus Property Group is handling sales for the development. Director Deanna Lockett said the project has resonated with a wide buyer pool drawn to the combination of location and pricing.

“There’s been nothing new come to the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> at this price point for nearly a year,” Lockett said. “It hits the sweet spot of affordability, good sized apartments, in a great location.”&nbsp;

Broadbeach remains one of the Gold Coast’s most established lifestyle precincts, with residents within walking distance of the beach, dining along Surf Parade, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The suburb has seen limited new apartment supply over the past year, contributing to strong early demand for Harmony.&nbsp;

Construction is due to commence in Q2 2026, with completion targeted for late 2028, as Gold Partners Australia expands into the Gold Coast market alongside its established pipeline in New South Wales.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113098]

Harmony on Broadbeach races to 75 per cent sold as Gold Partners Australia target construction commencement

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is bringing some of the largest apartments ever delivered to the sought-after Domain Precinct, directly facing Albert Park Lake.

H&amp;F has recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-queensbury-melbourne-71-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">The Queensbury</a>, inspired by London’s Queens Club, the historic home of the prestigious Wimbledon, the world’s oldest tennis tournament. The opportunity for apartment buyers is as rare as securing a ticket to the finals at the All England Club, with the site being one of the very few remaining positions offering uninterrupted, never-to-be-built-out views across Albert Park Lake.

The building has been designed to maximise the unique nature of the site and its prominent parkside position. Architecture firm Forum has crafted a design that responds directly to its setting. Its façade is defined by strong vertical elements and expansive glazing, oriented to capture the unrepeatable views over Albert Park Lake, the city and the bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359764]

There will be 141 two- and three-bedroom apartments in The Queensbury, many of which have already been snapped up during the early marketing stage.

The apartments have been planned to maximise natural light and visual connection to the surrounding landscape. Living areas extend to private balconies, reinforcing the relationship between interior spaces and the lake or city beyond. Bedrooms are oriented to draw in daylight, while material selections focus on natural stone, porcelain tiles and brushed nickel fixtures.

Purchasers can choose between two interior schemes, Augusta and Ascot, which interpret neutral and earth-toned palettes across kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens incorporate natural stone benchtops, integrated Miele appliances and panelled cabinetry, with detailing designed to balance durability and everyday functionality.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359771]

Much like the private clubs that define Wimbledon’s tradition and prestige, The Queensbury has been designed to embody an exclusive, club-style way of living.

Its resident amenities are curated to mirror the refined atmosphere of a members’ club, with spaces to gather, unwind and entertain, delivering an elevated lifestyle that feels both rare and enduring.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359772]

“The ground level is designed as an open lounge that brings the outdoors in,” says David Harrap, Director at Forum.

“The wellness centre is a sanctuary and spills out towards the garden, creating a sense of calm.”

The wellness centre comprises a fully equipped gym, spa, cold plunge pool and sauna. A resident lounge and dining space opens to an outdoor pickleball court, aligned with the sporting culture of London’s Queens Club and a first for a Melbourne multi-residential apartment development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359748]

While the proximity and orientation of the site and building are unmatched, future residents will also be within walking distance of ANZAC Station and multiple tram connections along St Kilda Road. The development is also close to the NGV, Arts Centre Melbourne and major sporting venues including the MCG and Rod Laver Arena.

St Kilda Beach, along with the hospitality venues that line the foreshore, is just over two kilometres from the front door.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151832 project_image_fid=359764]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has been developing a mix of commercial and residential projects since it was founded in 2014 by Daniel Faigen and backed by Eddie Hirsch, co-founder of United Petroleum.

After recently launching its fourth Gold Coast project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has also delivered local developments including Central Park in Box Hill and 107 Darling Road in Malvern East.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151832]

The Queensbury brings Wimbledon-inspired living to Albert Park Lake

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG Corporation</a> has been appointed by the Victorian Government and Development Victoria to transform a long-unused infrastructure site in Ivanhoe into a new residential precinct, delivering 275 homes alongside a 2,000 sqm public park.

The project will redevelop the former water tank site on Upper Heidelberg Road, which has been unused since 2004. The appointment follows an eight-year planning process and marks the start of detailed design, with a planning application expected to be lodged in mid-2026.

The redevelopment will introduce a new residential community in one of Melbourne’s established inner-north suburbs, with at least 10 per cent of the homes allocated as affordable housing. In addition to new housing supply, the project will expand local open space through the delivery of the public park, which will be accessible to the broader community.

PDG Managing Director and Founder Vince Giuliano said the partnership with Development Victoria presented an opportunity to deliver a housing outcome aligned with the character of the area.

“PDG is thrilled to partner with Development Victoria to bring new housing options to this popular part of Melbourne,” Giuliano said.

“This exceptional location offers a rare opportunity to create a vibrant, connected community, and we look forward to working closely with Development Victoria and other stakeholders to bring their vision to life.”

The Ivanhoe project continues PDG’s track record of delivering mixed-use and community-focused developments in Melbourne.

PDG has just sought to upscale its plans for its prime Southbank site on Queens Bridge Street. They are seeking to developer 637 apartments across a 71-storey tower.

PDG appointed to develop Ivanhoe water tank site by Development Victoria

National developer Fortis has received development approval for Crest &amp; Walker, its Newstead apartment development on Kyabra Street.

Construction by Binah is expected to commence on the 20-storey, Bureau^Proberts-designed building soon. There will be 65 two- and three-bedroom apartments on offer, starting at $1.8 million.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> marks the fourth active development to be delivered by Fortis in Brisbane, following River House, now nearing completion, a residential project in New Farm, and a mixed-use development in Hamilton. Several additional projects remain in the pipeline as the development manager continues to grow its footprint across South-East Queensland.

Dan Boman, General Manager – Development, Queensland, said the continued expansion in Brisbane projects managed by Fortis reflects the company’s commitment to design-led development and thoughtful placemaking.

“We’re proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such lifestyle destination as Newstead," Bonman says.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves."

Bonman believes Crest &amp; Walker will&nbsp;attract a discerning buyer who values design, thoughtful amenity and a lifestyle that captures the best of contemporary Brisbane.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane’s most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

The building’s design features a contemporary brick podium softened by vertical greenery, creating a distinctive architectural expression within the Newstead streetscape. Positioned between Gasworks and James Street, the project sits within one of Brisbane’s most coveted lifestyle precincts, surrounded by dining, retail and cultural destinations.

A communal rooftop will feature a sun lounge and pool, BBQ facilities and a sauna, all set against panoramic views across Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

Slaite Projects will handle the sales campaign, which will kick off in May.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis to launch Crest & Walker, Newstead following development approval

Flemington Racecourse

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There's set to be a new apartment development opposite Melbourne's landmark Flemington Racecourse.
Parkside, a boutique complex of just 23 apartments, sits on the location of the Flemington Landing, where boats use to dock and deposit punters to Flemington Racecourse back in the day.
<div>The Parkside apartments, which will be developed by Montalto Properties and designed by Karen Alcock of architecture firm MA Architecture, have never to be built out views of the 1600 metre start mark.</div>
<div>
They sit beside the neighbouring Footscray Park and overlook the Maribynong River.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/11/7/flem2.jpg" alt="">
The one bedroom apartments, with a minimum floor space of 54 sqm, start from $395,000.
Two bedrooms are priced from $630,000 for their minimum 71sqm space and the three bedrooms start from $930,000.
The apartments are designed for entertaining, with the large kitchen with bench flowing to the living and balcony space. The bedrooms are designed to be private with tree top views.
Set behind a modernist facade, Parkside will be surrounded by sculptural gumtrees, rolling parklands, and scenic cycle routes.
 
</div>
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Parkside apartments to overlook Flemington Racecourse

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The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and its project partners have achieved a significant milestone with practical completion of its new $128 million Club Stand at Flemington Racecourse.

The eye catching five-level Club Stand designed by Bates Smart represents the 10th grandstand to be built at Flemington since 1865 and was completed by Multiplex on schedule, in time for this year's Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The ‘petal’ projections which form the perimeter of the Club Stand at each floor are the defining feature of Bates Smart's design and were constructed using 90 precast panels each weighing up to 30 tonnes.

Bates Smart also completed the interiors of each of the 17 spaces within the Club Stand with a timeless palette applied to offer the venues a unique and diverse personality for all Members’ to enjoy while respecting the heritage and the spirit of the famed race track and its festivities during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

<blockquote>
The completion of The Club Stand marks one of the most exciting times in the VRC’s history and we look forward to officially opening it to VRC Members and their guests in full for the first time on AAMI Victoria Derby Day.

We congratulate Multiplex on its success in bringing Bates Smart’s vision for The Club Stand to life. The Club Stand is a statement venue that will change event experiences forever and become the setting for the next generation of racegoers to enjoy racing differently.

- Amanda Elliott, VRC Chairman
</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/the_club_stand_july_2018_credit_pat_scala_for_racing_photos_3_crop.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The VRC's new Club Stand is now completed save for a few finishing touches. Image: Pat Scala"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="355" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/the_club_stand_july_2018_credit_pat_scala_for_racing_photos_3_crop.jpg?itok=Xsj024oz" title="The VRC's new Club Stand is now completed save for a few finishing touches. Image: Pat Scala" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The VRC's new Club Stand has achieved practical completion. Image: Pat Scala</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au spoke to Bates Smart's Kristen Whittle and Jeff Copolov on the various aspects of the design and some of the key driver which have influenced the final outcome.

Urban.com.au: What was the brief from the VRC for the design of the new Club Stand?

Kristen Whittle: Before it became a detailed brief, the fundamental brief was to create a new type of grand stand for the VRC which would greatly enhance the hospitality offer at Flemington but also to provide a flagship building that would celebrate both the heritage and beauty of Flemington and create an icon for the VRC. 

U: Good quality architecture often draws on its context to produce a site specific response. The new VRC Club Stand achieves this by drawing inspiration from Flemington's rose garden beds. How do you take a simple idea and produce an architectural response that has an elegant quality without the novelty or kitsch-ness?

KW: The thoughtful and elegant design takes inspiration from Flemington’s iconic rose garden beds creating a very strong sense of place and one which is very particular to the gardens. When you see the Spring Racing Carnival it's the people that make the place, so the gardens provide the frame within which the people move.

We studied people movement, membership movement, back-of-house, front-of-house movement to understand how it all works. What became immediately obvious through that analysis was that people at the Spring Racing Carnival are so resplendent that they deserve to have a place to frame themselves and so they became the exhibit and are almost as important as the horses when it comes to defining the event both nationally and globally. 

We wanted the grandstand to celebrate the movement, the promenading of the people during the course of the day - the horse racing itself only accounts for a small percentage of time - so we analysed what people do before and after, and the (food and beverage offering) and outside activities are very important in creating pockets of space where people can congregate, intermingle and celebrate the races.

So the grandstand brief that eventuated out of the analysis was for a far greater amount of indoor space. The indoor space should open out to all the outdoor space and interact with it. There should be flexibility in the seating, so we chose bench seating as opposed to single seating, and from within the stand there should be an ability to stand up and see the race unfold in front of you.

As a result, the cross-section of the stadium became fundamentally important so that the indoor venues were higher than the outdoor seating. Each bar and restaurant has an outdoor deck which is very particular to those venues, and the building slopes inwards like a hill in cross-section so that each tier as you move up the building, becomes more prestigious. This is then finished off with a roof deck which is serviced by two outdoor bars and two kitchens which will provide outdoor food and beverage opportunities. In the middle of all that there is a large scale indoor-outdoor exhibition-esque flexible restaurant which means that it can be used throughout the year not just on racing day. 

What is also pertinent as to why we have shaped the building in the way that we have is it forms a front door entry statement and is in your line of sight as you're coming in from the train station, so it really forms the centrepiece for the whole track.

U: The new Club Stand is both impressive in its architectural expression, and provides a contrast to the existing stand yet is still in many ways very restrained and has a timeless quality about it. Does this type architectural approach ensure that the building doesn't date and will still be very much relevant 20-30 years from now? 

KW: That's a good question and an important question which is very central to our thinking, that we needed to have a building that functionally speaking was flexible and moving forward was adaptable and provided an armature or structure that allowed for any change in circumstance. 

The 10 metre column grid set in from the outdoor glazing was critical to providing sight lines and also produces a very horizontal expression to the building. The white horizontal bands which sit below the glazing are the areas which accommodate the services, and the large scale shades also project from there.

The idea of the white was to contrast against the gardens. White architecture works very well against a garden backdrop and we always wanted to bring the garden up into the grandstand and so what you have on the ground and first floors is the gardens literally wrap up and around the building. 

We saw the building as a future heritage building rather than just a mere piece of architecture, and we acknowledged that we were demolishing a nationally heritage listed building and so the big argument we put to the Heritage Council was that we were producing a future heritage and so the building needed to be strong, appropriate and of a high quality. Rather than stylistically overtly denoting today's style or fashion.

I think what distinguishes it is the function of the building, the heightened functionality of the building that generated the form as opposed to being an artificial gesture. It is very much the result of a functionally driven form making exercise.

U: The new club stand has a very light and transparent quality about it, but how do you balance the need for natural daylight and ensuring maximum outlook while also balancing the needs of sustainable design?

KW: It's a very environmentally conscious building and we used the horizontal sun shades to be able to employ very clear glazing - which is a triple laminated glazing which means that it's very transparent and open in its appearance and provides very clear colour rendition of the horses out on the track. 

The challenge technically speaking is that you have a very tall floor to floor in the grandstand and it's very difficult to get long pieces of glass which are triple laminated without having what's called 'rollaway' which occurs when the glass itself warps through the cooling process. So we had to ensure the manufacturing process removed all from the glass and more particularly the edges of the glass which are prone to wobbling. The last thing you want is to be looking out towards the finishing line and all of a sudden the horse disappears due to rollaway. 

U: Are there any particular aspects of the design or spaces which really excite you or have a special quality?

KW: There's two things which I think will really shout out to people. The first is the rooftop experience and the fact that there's not really many places in Australia where you can be right at the top of a building for a sporting event, which is really driven by hospitality and customer experience. I think the roof top garden will become very precious in the same way that the member's lawn has become arguably the most precious element of the current members' experience.

The other one is and I think everyone would understand that during the Spring Racing Carnival, the importance of the Melbourne Cup means there's often an aerial shot of the VRC and Flemington in relation to the Melbourne skyline. And I think what people are going to see in the future is a very strong and interesting shapely building with a big VRC logo ontop of the canvas roof which will form a new iconic statement.  

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/284085972" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://vimeo.com/284085972">The new Club Stand, Victoria Racing Club</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/batessmart">Bates Smart</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.

Urban.com.au: The success of a building's interior relies heavily on a well designed shell, particularly when discussing the longevity of a building. A good shell generally remains largely unchanged while the interiors often tend to change in response to trends over time. What consideration was given to the idea of longevity in the interior design of the spaces and choice of materials? 

Jeff Copolov: That's a really good question because it was very much the defining starting point - the strategic approach to how you dealt with what is primarily a series of food and beverage offerings, and as we know food and beverage trends change, the Club's needs change and we're hoping the Club Stand is around for another 100 years and so we were very mindful of allowing elements to change over time.

Our approach was to ensure the architectural language of the exterior was very clearly defined and so internally the approach was to treat the fit out or the elements within those fit outs almost like a stage set that could be inserted into the preceding shell - if you think about a theatre within the shell - and therefore they had some significant rules about that.

The principle ceilings which are the curved white ceiling planes that flow from the outside in, needed to be retained and needed to be totally legible. Any decorative elements that were unique to any specific interior needed to float or be disengaged from those ceilings .

All of the perimeter columns were always to be left white and never treated in a different finish and if they were incorporated into any of the food and beverage elements, their legibility needed to remain intact. Sometimes we wrapped seating around them but the columns still remained white. 

We very much created a shell that was legible and that the base building materials were consistent across all levels such as lift lobbies, toilets, core linings, escalator linings and all had a simple and unique palette.  

So common areas were clearly defined as one unique palette, base building shell was another and then our interior fit out could have a range of quirky and unique personalities which is what the client's response was.

U: Light is often spoken about in the design of interior spaces as a material in and of itself. How important was natural daylight in the design of the spaces and how did it inform the design?

JC: First and foremost the spaces are there on race day and unlike a lot of food and beverage outlets where you design predominantly for day and night, that was equally important but even moreso daylight was fundamental because  race days at Flemington are day time events, but we were conscious that one day there might be night racing but we ensured that day light  was the principle driver for selecting colour and that we used warm light for our artificial lighting.

Because of the very nature of maximising views and due to our floor to ceiling full height glazing and the panorama and outlook across the track that it provides, we knew we were going to have an enormous amount of daylight and that our interiors would be formed by that bright light quality and there are no window coverings. In most food and beverage outlets you would need to be very conscious of that, so although it provided us with some beautiful ambience it also created some technical requirements with sun shading, window shading, fade resistance and all of those issues.   

U: The views from within the Club Stand are one of its greatest assets. How did the idea of views manifest in terms of the internal planning of program and the design of the spaces themselves?

JC: If you take a typical cross-section and let's say the glass is on the left and the core is on the right, we transition from floor to ceiling glass with limited amount of built environment up against the glass so that if people are standing up against the glass at the most exciting part of the race, they'll be drawn towards that, so we needed to ensure that lines of sight are retained.

Often we would place low lounge seating in corners where the diagonal view, because if you're looking at the track the horses come from the left and move to the right - we race in an anti-clockwise direction here in Victoria - so the finishing post is always on the right of the venue as you face out. We made sure that our seating to the right hand side was kept generally low - so that if you were within the food and beverage portion of the restaurant, the lower dining tables would be to the right and the higher bar seating would be located to the left side. 

In the case of the members dining area, where we have a large number of people to seat, we used the extra ceiling height to in fact ramp up a portion of the dining room, so that if you were further to the back, you were sitting the equivalent of two steps higher than the immediately adjacent dining area.

We created deliberate tiering and in Kristen's design of the architecture of the building, the interior is always a good height above its corresponding external circulation and seating. So that even if you had people seated inside and then outside on the bleachers, you're actually looking out over people's heads. 

U: And finally, are there any particular aspects of the design or spaces which really excite you? 

JC: I think the biggest challenge for us was the demolition of what was a much loved stand, that served the club well for nearly 100 years and in doing so, we're mindful of the destruction of some of the history of that club.  

At the same time, the club and ourselves wanted a very contemporary building that was forward looking and would take the club forward for the next 100 years but without losing some of the qualities.  

The challenge then became how do you maintain and ensure the history of a club that is founded on a rich tradition isn't lost while creating new built form? The memories of members are associated largely with the old stand and I thought we had a responsibility to craft a new memory, but take along some of the aspects of the past without it being cheesy, but was also contemporary. And I think we achieved that.  

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/281718499" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://vimeo.com/281718499">The new Club Stand, Victoria Racing Club</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/batessmart">Bates Smart</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.

Lead Image Credit: Pat Scala. (L-R) Graham Cottam (Multiplex), Kristen Whittle (Bates Smart), Amanda Elliott (VRC Chariman), Jeff Copolov (Bates Smart)
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Laurence Dragomir

Bates Smart celebrates the completion of the new Club Stand for the Victorian Racing Club 

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Multiplex, a global contractor, has completed the Victoria Racing Club’s (VRC) new $128 million Club Stand at the Flemington Racecourse.
Designed by Bates Smart Architects, the five-level Club Stand (pictured above) is the 10th grandstand to be built at Flemington since 1865.
VRC Chairman Amanda Elliott said the Club is delighted to reach this significant milestone ahead of its hallmark events in the spring racing season.
According to Multiplex, construction of The Club Stand generated an estimated 350 full-time equivalent jobs over the 18-month construction period with a peak workforce of 435 workers on site.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/3/Flem%202.jpg" alt="">
 
Approximately 1,500 tonnes of steel were used during construction with one tower crane and up to six mobile cranes on-site each day during the main structural steel construction period.
It offers 360-degree views of the Mounting Yard, race track, Members Lawn, Parade Ring, Betting Ring and Winning Post.
Multiplex recently completed a similar project, the redevelopment of Randwick Racecourse (pictured below) for Australian Turf Club in 2013.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/8/3/Randy%20race.JPG" alt="">
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New Flemington racecourse club stand has been completed

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The Victoria Racing Club has appointed Multiplex to build a new stand at Flemington Racecourse to the value of $128 million.
The five level Club Stand, designed by Bates Smart Architects is the 10th grandstand to be build at Flemington since 1865. Construction is slated to begin after the 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The new Club Stand will feature 360 degree views of the Mounting Yard, race track, Members Lawn, Parade Ring, Betting Ring and Winning Post. 
A first floor walkway will connect the Club Stand t to the existing Members Stand and Parade Ring. A new north-south corridor will form the heart of the new Club Stand and will also link the Betting Ring with the Members Lawn and Mounting Yard. 
The Members Lawn will also be enlarged as part of the project and seamlessly linked to function spaces on Level One by a grand sloping tier of seating encompassing viewing platforms and gardens.
A rooftop garden will be built on level five.
Graham Cottam, regional managing director at Multiplex said the new Club Stand is world-class and will deliver a completely new experience for racing patrons.
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