Construction is now underway at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/cumulus-grand-villas-carrara-17-baltimore-court-carrara-qld-4211">Cumulus Grand Villas</a> in Carrara, with all stages fully funded as <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/venturecrowd-property-projects">VentureCrowd</a> progresses its 59-residence gated community on an elevated ridgeline overlooking 100 hectares of natural savanna.

The commencement marks a key milestone for the Gold Coast project, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a> and being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/devcon">Devcon Property Group</a>, at a time when buyers are placing greater emphasis on delivery certainty and builder track record.

With Devcon active in South East Queensland since 1993 and having delivered more than 1,000 homes, the team is positioning Cumulus as a fully financed, under-construction offering in a market where risk mitigation has become a central consideration for off-the-plan purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360496]

Located at 17 Baltimore Court, Cumulus Grand Villas comprises 59 three- and four-bedroom villas across four collections, Skyline, Canopy, Savanna and Broadview. Pricing starts from $1,455,000, with completion of the first stage targeted for Q4 2026.

Across the four collections, each design represents an expansive and thoughtfully considered offering. The Broadview provides additional flexibility within its floorplan, incorporating a multipurpose room or optional additional bedroom, and is priced from $1,895,000.&nbsp;

Configured across two levels, the four-bedroom villas feature two master bedrooms with private ensuites, as well as a multipurpose room (MPR), supporting intergenerational living, guest accommodation, or the creation of a dedicated retreat space.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360497]

The main living areas are positioned on the ground floor, while the bedrooms are located upstairs, a configuration that promotes both family separation and connected living. All villas include a second master suite on the ground floor, reinforcing the project’s focus on flexibility and long-term adaptability.

That adaptability was central to BDA Architecture’s design approach. The team sought to create a sophisticated, low-maintenance product that makes the most of the site’s elevation and outlook while responding to evolving household needs. Expansive glazing, open-plan interiors and private outdoor areas draw in natural light and frame views towards the savanna, hinterland and Broadbeach skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360470]

VentureCrowd Director of Property David Whitting said the project responds to a growing group of buyers reassessing what premium living on the Gold Coast looks like.

Flexible floorplans have proven particularly relevant for purchasers aged between 40 and 65, including next home buyers, downsizers and investors. The inclusion of dual master suites in the Broadview design, along with options for a downstairs MPR or guest bedroom, allows homes to adapt as family dynamics shift, whether accommodating older parents, adult children, or extended stays.

Across the community, villas are specified with European appliances and premium fixtures and fittings, alongside double garages and landscaped private areas. The gated enclave includes number plate recognition entry, reinforcing a focus on security and exclusivity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360474]

Lifestyle amenity is anchored by the Infinity Terrace, an elevated communal space incorporating a 20m heated pool, alfresco zones and barbecue facilities, designed as a shared retreat within the neighbourhood. A two-acre private nature reserve with walking trails and rehabilitated bushland further integrates the development with its savanna-edge setting, reflecting a broader masterplan initiative to restore native vegetation and habitat corridors.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/carrara-qld-4211">Carrara</a>’s positioning continues to attract attention from prestige buyers seeking proximity to the coast without beachfront pricing. The suburb offers access to major retail centres including Pacific Fair and Robina Town Centre, is around 15 minutes from Broadbeach, and benefits from connectivity via the M1 to Brisbane and the Gold Coast Airport.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135663]

Joel Robinson

VentureCrowd’s Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara advances with construction underway

Joint venture partners <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/abadeen">Abadeen</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">PERIFA</a> are officially launching the third and final residential stage at their landmark $350 million harbourfront precinct, Putney Wharf, with The Residences representing the final opportunity to secure a new home within this rare waterfront destination.

Strong demand has already been established across the earlier stages of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/putney-wharf-residences-20-waterview-street-putney-nsw-2112">Putney Wharf</a>, with more than 50 per cent sold ahead of this final release. The Residences will introduce a selection of the precinct’s most premium apartments, many of which were deliberately reserved for this concluding stage.

Located at 20 Waterview Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/putney-nsw-2112">Putney</a> NSW, the completed precinct will comprise 67 residences, including 18 terraces and 49 apartments, alongside five retail tenancies and a 36-berth marina.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=1338]

Developed alongside partners Phoenix Property Investors and Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Putney Wharf occupies a prized 300-metre stretch of absolute waterfront and incorporates the historic former Halvorsen’s Boatshed. The precinct connects directly to surrounding parklands via a landscaped foreshore walkway and a large, landscaped podium linking both sides of the development to the adjoining foreshore parklands.

The Residences comprise two newly built, three-storey apartment buildings delivering a boutique collection of 30 generously proportioned waterfront apartments. Designed to capture harbour outlooks, natural light and cooling breezes, The Residences balance architectural refinement with relaxed, low-maintenance living.

Architecturally designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the apartments continue the cohesive design language seen across the broader precinct. A refined palette of light and dark materials, softer-toned stone and neutral, earthy finishes reflect the surrounding landscape and harbour setting. Interiors feature painted timber veneers, tactile joinery, timber flooring to living spaces and 100 per cent natural wool carpets in bedrooms, creating warm and sophisticated homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362525]

Justin Brown, Executive Chairman and Founder of Abadeen, said the release of the final residential stage marks an important milestone for the project.

“Putney Wharf brings together everything we’ve learned over more than 25 years of development,” Mr Brown said. “It respects the site’s extraordinary maritime history while delivering contemporary homes that connect people directly to the harbour.

The Residences offer the rare combination of low-maintenance apartment living, waterfront outlooks with beautiful sunset views, and the convenience of retail and amenity at your doorstep. For boating enthusiasts, the opportunity to secure a private marina berth completes a truly unique Sydney harbourfront lifestyle.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=291197]

PERIFA Managing Director and Co-Founder Fabrizio Perilli added that the diversity of housing across the precinct has been central to the project’s success.

“Whether it’s the heritage Halvorsen’s apartments, the Waterview Terraces or now The Residences, Putney Wharf offers a range of homes that respond to different lifestyles, all united by an unrivalled harbourfront setting,” Perilli said. “This is a precinct that will add lasting value to the Putney community.”

Managing project marketing and sales, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Partner Tim Rees said the final release has already attracted strong demand reflecting the project’s unique harbourfront position and the success of earlier stages.

“Following the strong response to both the Halvorsen’s Boatshed residences and the Waterview Terraces, The Residences represent the final chance to secure a new home within this tightly held waterfront precinct,” Rees said. “Buyers are drawn to the rare combination of absolute harbour frontage, parkside living and genuine architectural quality.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=13962 project_image_fid=362240]

Putney Wharf is a one-of-a-kind mixed-use destination, delivering an exclusive residential offering alongside waterfront dining, retail and a 36-berth marina designed to the latest Australian Standards, accommodating vessels up to 18 metres and helping address Sydney Harbour’s ongoing marina shortage.

The precinct will include five retail tenancies and a prominent waterfront jetty area fronting the retail village, creating an activated harbourfront destination for residents and visitors alike.

Residents will enjoy direct access to lush harbourfront parklands, a public foreshore walkway and landscaped podium gardens connecting the development to the surrounding waterfront reserve. Construction across the Putney Wharf precinct is expected to be completed by Q2 2027.

Sales of The Residences officially launch this weekend, with the display suite open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 12pm at Putney Wharf. Visitors are invited to enjoy a complimentary coffee while touring The Residences and experiencing the Putney Wharf lifestyle firsthand.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=13962]

Final Harbourfront release in Putney Wharf launches this weekend

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/draycon">Draycon Building</a> is nearing completion of Boutique Chevron Island, a 42-apartment development on the northern end of Chevron Island at 17–19 Parneno Street, with a limited-time offer of fully furnished apartments available.

Now more than 90 per cent complete, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/boutique-chevron-island-17-19-parneno-chevron-island-qld-4217">Boutique</a> has been shaped by one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held island addresses, where riverfront outlooks and walkable access to Surfers Paradise converge.

For Draycon Building Managing Director Howard Dabit, the appeal of the site was immediate.

“I knew it was a good site as soon as I saw it,” Dabit said.

“The position and location on the north end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chevron-island-qld-4217">Chevron Island</a>, the way the river swirls around the site basically from the north to the east, it feels like the site is surrounded by the water. The height that we’ve got and the aspect looking north is beautiful. Eighty per cent of the apartments are looking north so they get that drenching sunlight coming in.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89709 project_image_fid=360922]

That northern orientation places the development within a stretch of Chevron Island defined by open river aspects and skyline views, while remaining embedded in the suburb’s established village setting.

Chevron Island has increasingly drawn owner-occupiers seeking centrality without the intensity of high-rise beachfront living. Positioned at the geographical centre of the Gold Coast, the island offers direct access to both the beach and key cultural infrastructure while retaining a neighbourhood-scale character.

Connected by bridge to Surfers Paradise, Chevron Island offers walkable access to beaches, riverfront parklands and a revitalised foreshore boulevard animated by walkers and cyclists throughout the day. The Pacific Ocean is only minutes away, reinforcing the suburb’s dual river-and-surf identity.

At the same time, Thomas Drive forms the spine of the island’s village life, delivering cafés, wine bars, casual dining and everyday services within easy reach. Independent grocers, wellness operators and neighbourhood retailers contribute to a community atmosphere that remains distinct from the vertical scale of the beachfront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89709 project_image_fid=360915]

In the opposite direction, the Green Bridge links directly to HOTA – Home of the Arts – placing galleries, performance venues and parklands within walking distance. Weekly markets and major exhibitions draw visitors from across the region, while residents return to a quieter residential pocket at day’s end.

Public transport, including nearby bus routes and the G:link light rail corridor along the coastal spine, strengthens connectivity north and south. Griffith University, the Gold Coast University Hospital precinct and established private schools such as The Southport School are all within a short drive.

Ongoing investment across Surfers Paradise, HOTA and the broader Southport corridor has elevated amenity while preserving Chevron Island’s comparatively low-rise residential character. It is this balance, walkable village atmosphere paired with metropolitan-scale infrastructure, that continues to differentiate the suburb from higher-density beachfront precincts.

Boutique comprises just 42 residences, designed to maximise river and skyline outlooks within this tightly held island setting.

Boutique Chevron Island is slated for completion in April 2026, with prices starting from $1,220,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=89709]

Draycon Building’s Boutique Chevron Island places 42 residences at the heart of the Gold Coast

Sydney developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/deicorp">Deicorp</a> has secured planning approval for a $300 million residential development in Lindfield, marking the company’s second project on Sydney’s North Shore and its first on the Upper North Shore.

Located on Beaconsfield Parade and designed by DKO Architecture, the state significant development comprises three buildings of up to 10 storeys and will include 399 residences, including 59 affordable homes and 40 adaptable homes.

Residences will range in size from one, two and three bedrooms, with two-bedroom apartments accounting for over 60 per cent of the product make-up. Residents will have access to a broad suite of amenities, including a wellness area, indoor and outdoor recreational spaces, a pool, a gym, a community room and a golf simulator.

In line with Deicorp’s long-standing focus on creating transit-oriented communities, the project is located just 260 metres from the Lindfield Train Station, reinforcing its role in delivering well-connected housing close to established infrastructure, retail and local services.

The inclusion of affordable and adaptable housing supports greater diversity within the local market, while the mix of apartment types responds to demand from downsizers, young professionals and families seeking access to the Upper North Shore.

Deicorp Founder Fouad Deiri OAM said the approval represents an important milestone for both the company and the suburb

“This approval allows us to deliver well-designed homes in a location that is already supported by strong transport and community infrastructure," Deiri said.

"Our focus is on creating places that integrate into their surroundings and provide long-term value for residents, and the broader Lindfield community. Being within walking distance of the station ensures this project supports sustainable growth in the right locations."

Across its portfolio, Deicorp currently has 4,703 apartments under construction, playing a leading role in shaping connected, liveable communities across Sydney.

Its expanding portfolio of Metro-linked developments includes Tallawong Village, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> in Five Dock, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/hyde-metropolitan-sydney-133-141-liverpool-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Hyde Metropolitan</a> in Sydney CBD, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/falcon-alexander-crows-nest-8-alexander-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Falcon &amp; Alexander</a> in Crows Nest and Showground Village, Castle Hill.

Deicorp purchased the Beaconsfield Paradise site last year. Construction is scheduled to commence in Q2 of 2026 and will be completed in 2029.

Deicorp expands portfolio to nearly 5,000 apartments with Lindfield project

In a joint venture with The Trump Organization, Australia developer Altus Property Group has announced plans to bring a Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower to the Gold Coast, marking the first Trump-branded project in Australia.

"Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower, Gold Coast is our first official project in Australia and reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering world-class luxury experiences in iconic locations around the world," Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, said.

"This development exemplifies the Trump brand’s dedication to quality, sophistication, and unmatched service, and we are thrilled to bring this vision to the vibrant Gold Coast community."

The 91-storey building, which will become the tallest in Australia at 335 metres, will feature a&nbsp;285-room luxury hotel bearing the trademark Trump logo. It will also include 272 luxury residential apartments, a three-level podium with an exclusive Beach Club, and over 3,400 sqm of premium commercial, retail, and dining space, revitalizing the central Surfers Paradise precinct.

“Trump International Hotel &amp; Tower, Gold Coast will be a truly unique offering in the Australian market, bringing the prestige and allure of a world-class luxury brand,"&nbsp;Altus founder and chief executive David Young said.

"Altus Property Group is proud of its track record in delivering landmark developments across Australia, and our expertise ensures this project will be an outstanding success."

Trump Hotel heads for the Gold Coast to become Australia's tallest building

Retrospective

<html><body>
Is Melbourne a boom city? Indeed, but this was also the case during 2005, when the CBD and surrounds well and truly shrugged of the doldrums of the late 1990s with a rash of high-profile projects under construction.

The CBD saw an influx of new commercial space while Southbank capably led by Eureka Tower came into its own for the first time. While dozens of notable residential and commercial builds were underway, important civic projects such as the MCG's Great Northern Stand and the rebirth of Spencer Street Station also aided in giving the Melbourne a renewed vigour.

Here is an overview of what was being built in Melbourne a decade ago.

<h2>Commercial in from the cold</h2>

<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/image146_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The commercial sector was at its peak during 2005"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="434" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image146_0.jpg?itok=dUJeffkq" title="The commercial sector was at its peak during 2005" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The commercial sector was at its peak during 2005</figcaption></figure>Following years of inactivity, the commercial sector finally roared back into life with a string of prestigious projects with premium anchor tenants to boot. 2005 delivered 11 Exhibition Street, PwC Australia at 2 Southbank Boulevard and the RACV Centre on Bourke Street.

In the CBD's eastern end Council House 2, Urban Workshop, Southern Cross Tower 1 and 8 Exhibition Street were midway through construction in a surge of commercial activity that has not been matched since. All in all beyond 300,000sqm of commercial space was under construction during 2005, as compared to today where major commercial builds are confined to Collins Quarter in Docklands and PwC Australia's new home at 2 Riverside Quay.

<h2>Residential living on the rise</h2>

<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/image148.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Eureka, Freshwater Place, Victoria Point and Yve"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image148.jpg?itok=DtcV0c2z" title="Eureka, Freshwater Place, Victoria Point and Yve" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Eureka, Freshwater Place, Victoria Point and Yve</figcaption></figure>The list of residential towers under construction during 2005 was immense; the sheer number of residential projects truly cemented apartment living as a viable alternative to 'The Australian Dream' in Melbourne for the first time. Docklands and Southbank accounted for many residential projects, with the CBD's time in the sun some years away from fruition.

Premium projects that are considered landmarks today which were under construction during 2005 included Eureka Tower, its neighbour Feshwater Place and Yve on St Kilda Road; the latter would later win the Victorian Architecture Medal at the 2006 Royal Institute of Architects awards.

A notable mention also goes to Royal Domain Tower which not only became (and remains) St Kilda Road's tallest addition during 2005, but also remains one of the city's most exclusive apartment projects.

<h2>Tertiary projects</h2>

<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/image144.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Brookes Gillsepie House, Monash Caulfield and Swinburne's Hawthorn expansion"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image144.jpg?itok=ZYq3Wotw" title="Brookes Gillsepie House, Monash Caulfield and Swinburne's Hawthorn expansion" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Brookes Gillsepie House, Monash Caulfield and Swinburne's Hawthorn expansion</figcaption></figure>Four notable projects were on the go over the course of 2005. Brookes Gillespie House and Melbourne University's Eastern Precinct created hundreds of new student apartments in Carlton, although the quality of architecture for both was more than debatable.

Swinburne created dual buildings, aptly named x_change @ Swinburne which would be precursors to multiple new builds at the Hawthorn campus in the proceeding years to come. Monash University's Caulfield campus also delivered two new builds during 2005, considered the first buildings within the 'Western Precinct' that has seen many proposals since, but little construction thereafter.

<h2>Ancillary builds</h2>

<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/image147.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="MCG, health projects and Southern Cross Station"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="433" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image147.jpg?itok=cQxDaT79" title="MCG, health projects and Southern Cross Station" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>MCG, health projects and Southern Cross Station</figcaption></figure>Some other memorable projects are approaching their tenth anniversary. Southern Cross Station and the MCG's Northern Stand are the most recognisable; construction of both projects was stretched over a number of years in order to keep both facilities operating during their builds.

Lesser heralded medical projects also features during 2005 with the massive Austin and Mercy Hospital in Heidelberg reaching completion under the guidance of then contractor Baulderstone Hornibrook. Closer to the CBD and Baulderstone Hornibrook also undertook construction of The Alfred Centre, with initial works commencing during 2005.

In years to come the famed Baulderstone Hornibrook name would disappear, yet their legacy remains as do the many builds of 2005, which in many ways are the precursor to the boom times in construction that Melbourne enjoys today.
</body></html>

silvermb

Melbourne under construction in 2005

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With the release of X-Men: Days of Future upon us we once again find ourselves delving deep into the Apartments.com.au archives, this time perusing the various incarnations of <a href="http://www.grocon.com/gallery/current/">Grocon's</a> <a href="http://www.swanstonsquare.com.au/">Swanston Square</a> project at the top end of Swanston Street. Like the film's impressive roll call of big name actors, the site is similarly playing host to an all-star cast of local architects.

<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/swanstonsquare_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Swanston Sqaure prior to the sale of Building 4. © Grocon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="384" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/swanstonsquare_0.jpg?itok=e26YEvtK" title="Swanston Sqaure prior to the sale of Building 4. © Grocon" width="580"></a>

It's difficult to comprehend that 8 years have passed since Grocon first acquired the site (save for the south-east corner now housing the Design Hub) from RMIT back in late 2006. In that time only RMIT's Design Hub &amp; the Pixel building have been completed with the 30-storey Portrait on the cusp of topping out.

<h2>A brief 'recent' history</h2>

<ul>
<li>Grocon purchases site from RMIT for approximately $40 million during 2006.</li>
	<li>NH Architecture are appointed to oversee the master plan and urban design aspects of the former brewery with a brief that called for 120,000sq m of commercial space and 600 apartments, plus 150 underground parking spaces. Heritage fragments such as the old Malthouse building and bluestone facades fronting Bouverie Street are to be retained and incorporated into the new development while the Swanston Street vista towards the Shrine of Remembrance is to be preserved and extended into the site.</li>
	<li>A design ideas competition is run for each of the five buildings, encouraging a diversity of architecture. Ten architects are invited to submit proposals for the site based on the master plan developed by NH.</li>
	<li>The successful architectural firms are announced in mid-2007 - ARM, DCM, MCR, MVS &amp; NH.</li>
</ul>
<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/CUB_PLAN.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Carlton Brewery Development Plan."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="281" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/CUB_PLAN.jpg?itok=dnPnWXSD" title="Carlton Brewery Development Plan." width="580"></a>

Over a two part article we discuss the history of each land parcel of the former CUB Carlton site:

<h2>BUILDING #8 - Pixel - Studio 505 Pty Ltd</h2>

<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/PIXEL.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Pixel Building. © Studio 505"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="242" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/PIXEL.jpg?itok=lh0kDxEU" title="Pixel Building. © Studio 505" width="580"></a>

Completed in July 2010, the 1,100 sq.m Pixel building was the first building constructed on-site and was to act as Grocon's site office for the duration of the construction phase at The Brewery. It is most notable for being the first carbon neutral office building in Australia, generating its own power and water on-site. Most striking is its colourful facade comprising a random assortment of recycled panels of various shapes, sizes and colours which help shade the interior spaces and reduce glare.

<blockquote>
Pixel has achieved a perfect score of 100 under the Greenstar rating system, with 75 points the benchmark for 6 Star Greenstar. It gained an extra five points for innovation, equating to world leadership. Included in Pixel's five innovation points were points for carbon neutrality, a vacuum toilet system, the anaerobic digestion system and reduced car parking.

Pixel has also achieved a perfect 105 points under the US LEED rating scheme making it the highest rating building of any yet certified for LEED anywhere in the world. It is aiming to exceed the highest score yet achieved under the UK BREEAM rating systems. To put that into context, there are approximately 40,000 buildings registered worldwide under those three rating schemes, and Pixel would be at the forefront of all of them.
</blockquote>

For more info visit:<a href="http://www.pixelbuilding.com.au/"> http://www.pixelbuilding.com.au/</a>

<h2>RMIT Design Hub - Sean Godsell + Peddle Thorp</h2>

<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/Design%20Hub.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="RMIT Design Hub © Sean Godsell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="263" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Design%20Hub.jpg?itok=WlwTjELu" title="RMIT Design Hub © Sean Godsell" width="580"></a>

The 10-storey design, research and education facility on the corner of Victoria and Swanston Streets opened in late 2012. Comprising a series of large flexible indoor 'warehouse' style spaces running the length of the building, the complex is designed to promote collaborative learning and research amongst various disciplines. The Design Hub houses the Design Archives, a Virtual Reality Centre, a workshop, Multipurpose Room, Lecture Theatre, and four rooftop Pavilions with a cafe at lower ground level.

More than 1700 sq.m is dedicated to exhibition spaces with an exhibition corridor running the length of the building along Swanston Street. A cascading public forecourt links the Design Hub and the RMIT Design Archives.

<blockquote>
The purpose of the Design Hub is to provide accommodation in one building for a diverse range of design research and post graduate education. RMIT is a world leader in design research however post graduates are currently dissipated across various campuses and facilities. The Hub will provide a collegial research base where post graduates in fields such as fabric and fashion design will work alongside those involved in architecture, aeronautical engineering, industrial design, landscape architecture, urban design and so on.

Research groups have the ability to locate and fine tune their accommodation within ‘warehouses’ - open plan spaces where research teams can set up and tailor their work environment to suit their particular needs. Teams may stay for anywhere from six months to three years depending on the nature of and funding limits to their research and education programs. Research may include the need for workshops to make physical models to be located alongside computer studios, three dimensional printing, virtual reality modelling and so on.

Given the time frames associated with research projects all the warehouses require a high level of adaptability and flexibility. In that sense these spaces are designed to accommodate the organic nature of research - ever evolving, adapting, changing and growing.
<cite>Sean Godsell, Architect</cite>
</blockquote>

The Design Hub won the Victorian Architecture Medal and the William Wardell Award at the 2013 Victorian Architecture Awards.

<a href="http://www.designhub.rmit.edu.au/about/the-building">http://www.designhub.rmit.edu.au/about/the-building</a>

<h2>BUILDING #5 - Portrait - ARM Architecture</h2>

<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/Portrait%20progression.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Design Progression. © ARM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="230" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Portrait%20progression.jpg?itok=NJjZhbQ0" title="Design Progression. © ARM" width="580"></a>

The one constant throughout various design proposals over the years is ARM, who first developed a winning scheme for a $300m development on the site in the 1995, but which was never built.

<blockquote>
ARM won an invited competition for a $300 million redevelopment of the former CUB site in 1995. This project included student housing, two towers, multimedia centre, residential apartments, commercial offices, a hotel, cinemas, retail and carparking. This scheme at the termination of the Shrine of Remembrance axis made a provocative urban and formal response by deflecting to create a spectacular anti-monumental void. This development did not go ahead, but the concept for this proposal informs the new scheme for the ARM designed office building in the current CUB master plan.
</blockquote>

<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/ARM%20Brewery%201995_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="ARM proposal for $300m mixed-use development circa 1995. © ARM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ARM%20Brewery%201995_0.jpg?itok=DwcV3UG7" title="ARM proposal for $300m mixed-use development circa 1995. © ARM" width="580"></a>

The office finally see one of their designs come to fruition in the form of the building formerly known as Portrait. Originally conceived as a 20-storey office building the development forms the first stage of the rebranded Swanston Square:

<blockquote>
This 20-storey office tower faces down the Swanston Street axis towards the Shrine of Remembrance in St Kilda Road. Architect Howard Raggatt said the building would be a new gateway to Melbourne, akin to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The Shrine of Remembrance was a "profoundly symbolic element" of Melbourne's city centre, Mr Raggatt said, and it was crucial a significant building at the other end of the city faced the Shrine.
</blockquote>

The design has since evolved into a literal interpretation of the building facing the shrine, in the form of William Barak's face across it's 32-storeys. Currently under construction, the face will be partly obscured by the Design Hub with only views from close proximity affording pedestrians a glimpse of it in full.

<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/jPcKH.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image © Ryan Seychell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="715" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/jPcKH.jpg?itok=y_gRco9V" title="Image © Ryan Seychell" width="580"></a>

<a href="/news/days-of-future-past-cub-site-carlton-continued">In part two tomorrow</a>, we highlight those land parcels not yet constructed, including CEL Australia's 156-172 Victoria Street proposal at 253 metres.
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Laurence Dragomir

Days of Future Past: CUB Site Carlton

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This afternoon we delve into the Apartments.com.au archives and take a look back at the evolution of <a href="/new-apartments/docklands-vic-3008">Docklands</a>' Stadium Precinct over the better part of a decade. Through various newspaper clippings and renders, we ponder what may have been for the precinct that envelopes Etihad Stadium.

<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/Stadium%20village.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Stadium Village Article. © Herald Sun 14 November 2000."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="810" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Stadium%20village.jpg?itok=iwhjWPyb" title="Stadium Village Article. © Herald Sun 14 November 2000." width="580"></a>

It all began when I recently decided to trawl through old newspaper clippings I had accumulated over the course of 15 years. The above article appeared near 14 years ago at a time when Colonial Stadium was marking it's first full year of operation and <a href="/new-apartments/essendon-vic-3040">Essendon</a> had claimed a record equaling 16th flag. The strategy sought a hive of activity at the interface between city and harbour, at all hours of the day.

Remarkably (or depressingly) we are only beginning see the early framework for a precinct, which after a number of false starts is finally beginning to come together in a manner not too dissimilar to the image depicted above.

<h2>South-West Stadium Precinct (SWSP) / Victoria Point</h2>

<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/Victoria_Point_reduced.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Victoria Point Article. © Herald Sun "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="799" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Victoria_Point_reduced.jpg?itok=ykDw1DId" title="Victoria Point Article. © Herald Sun " width="580"></a>

Delivered by Devine, Victoria Point has stayed true to form, being built more-or-less as depicted in the articles above, with a further level of refinement. In addition to the 42-storey apartment tower the site also features Quest Serviced apartments along Bourke Street and a 9-storey office building along Harbour Esplanade that is home to Bendigo Bank.

<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/vic_point_8_fauxwindow.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Victoria Point. © Australian Aluminium Finishing"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="434" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/vic_point_8_fauxwindow.jpg?itok=4HVh9OA5" title="Victoria Point. © Australian Aluminium Finishing" width="580"></a>

<h2>South-East Stadium Precinct (SESP) / Bourke Junction / NAB @ 700 Bourke / Medibank @ 720 Bourke</h2>

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Outrigger-drops-anchor-at-Docklands/2005/04/06/1112489558726">Outrigger proposal circa 2005</a>:

<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/outrigger_combo.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Outrigger Docklands. Circa 2005."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="359" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/outrigger_combo.jpg?itok=Zw43jWJX" title="Outrigger Docklands. Circa 2005." width="580"></a>

Proposed to be 35-storeys and over 100m in height, Outrigger's first foray into Melbourne would have delivered a new 350 hotel rooms with 17 floors of apartments above. Conceived jointly between Outrigger and RIA Property Group, the <a href="/architects/peddle-thorp-architects">Peddle Thorp</a>-designed project fell through leading to Vic Urban running another Expressions of Interest campaign which resulted in...

Bourke Junction. Designed by <a href="/architects/hassell-studio">Hassell</a> and <a href="/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> for project partners <a href="/developers/cbus-property">CBUS Property</a>, <a href="/developers/ispt">ISPT</a> and EPC Partners the three tower complex would have become the new home for <a href="http://www.suncorp.com.au/">Suncorp Metway</a> and <a href="https://www.mebank.com.au/">ME Bank</a>, along with a Saville Hotel.

<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/Bourke%20Junction_HUN_reduced.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Bourke Junction. © Herald Sun 8 April 2008."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="685" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Bourke%20Junction_HUN_reduced.jpg?itok=UBOXlaKj" title="Bourke Junction. © Herald Sun 8 April 2008." width="580"></a>

<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/Bourke%20Junction_AGE_reduced.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Bourke Junction. © The Age 8 April 2008."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="464" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Bourke%20Junction_AGE_reduced.jpg?itok=u5VC4kv7" title="Bourke Junction. © The Age 8 April 2008." width="580"></a>

Following the Global Financial Crisis, the project was shelved and ISPT sold its share to CBUS. 720 Bourke was redesigned in an attempt to lure an anchor tenant but ultimately required further reconfiguring and refinement.

The project was eventually rebranded as 700 Bourke leading to a second Docklands address for NAB, whilst Medibank has since joined with their new HQ @ 720 Bourke Street - forming a dynamic duo of sorts.

<img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="185" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Bourke%20Junction%20%2B%20700%26%20720%20bourke.jpg?itok=eQw5Ym_Y" title="What was to be and what is there today." width="580">

<h2>North-East Stadium Precinct (NESP) / Lacrosse + M Docklands</h2>

At one stage NESP was to be the site of a 19-storey, $70m glazed office building. Not all that interesting except that each facade would act as a 40m x 40m screen for motion projections.

Proposed by Pan Urban there was once talk of the Bureau of Meteorology anchoring the development and projecting live feeds of the weather radar - handy for our southern capital.

<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/pan%20urban%2070mill%2019L%2040mx40m.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Pan Urban NESP proposal. © Pan Urban"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="227" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/pan%20urban%2070mill%2019L%2040mx40m.jpg?itok=ISHMrEZl" title="Pan Urban NESP proposal. © Pan Urban" width="580"></a>

The development would ultimately become the Elenberg Fraser designed Lacrosse (Stages 1 &amp; 2). To date only Stage 1 has been delivered (by Charter Hall) with Stage 2 now being developed by <a href="/developers/capital-alliance-investment-group">Capital Alliance</a> and known as <a href="/buildings/m-docklands-679-la-trobe-street-docklands">M Docklands</a>.

<img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="203" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Lacrosse%2BM%20Docklands.jpg?itok=somKnLgS" title="Lacrosse Docklands + M Docklands. © Elenberg Fraser" width="580">

<h2>North-West Stadium Precinct (NWSP) / Docklands Gateway / Channel 7 / Salta</h2>

Once owned entirely by Channel 7, the site save for C7's digital broadcast centre is now under the control of <a href="/developers/salta-properties">Salta</a> having seen a host of development proposals including:

<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/Channel%207_reduced.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Channel 7 HQ / Docklands Gateway."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="250" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Channel%207_reduced.jpg?itok=LKqImgxU" title="Channel 7 HQ / Docklands Gateway." width="580"></a>

Pacific Harbour's squat 12,000sqm campus proposal (below left) came and went, as did a Woods Bagot-designed office complex known as 360 Degrees. Salta currently have approval in place for a commercial development of this <a href="/architects/fk-australia">Fender Kataslidis</a> designed apartment building:

<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/Image76.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Images © Merchant Pacific and FK Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="308" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Image76.jpg?itok=H-io71c-" title="Images © Merchant Pacific and FK Architects" width="580"></a>

<h2>North Stadium Precinct / 685 LaTrobe Street</h2>

Originally forming part of the NWSP parcel, this <a href="http://www.685latrobe.com.au/">37,000sqm proposal</a> by <a href="/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a> is targeting a 5 star Green Star &amp; NABERS Energy rating. Joint venture partners Charter Hall and <a href="/developers/premier-capital-developments">Premier Capital Developments</a> are currently seeking a pre-commitment from an anchor tenant before commencing construction with <a href="/builders/watpac">Watpac</a> the preferred head contractor.

<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/685LExt_Hero.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="685 LaTrobe Street. © Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="487" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/685LExt_Hero.jpg?itok=tUHK4Bje" title="685 LaTrobe Street. © Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

15 years later, Stadium Precinct still marches on. Whether the end product is capable of becoming the hive of activity during all hours remains to be seen.
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Days of Future Past: Stadium Precinct

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How the face of Melbourne has changed over the last decade, and digital camera technology for that matter. Today will the first in a semi-regular look back at Melbourne's biggest and best projects which were under construction this month 10 years ago.

A selection of 2004's under construction projects that helped reshape Melbourne include:

<h2>Southbank hits the heights</h2>

The soon to be Melbourne's tallest had just reached its level 55 jump form reconfiguration, on the way to becoming the city's tallest residential tower and subsequently tallest building by year's end. Eureka was ably supported by Australand's Freshwater Place development next door which commenced with PwC's 2 Southbank Boulevard and Freshwater Tower.

Elsewhere Southbank Central was under construction, adding to Central Equity's incredible architectural repertoire... well at least it was a step in the right direction.

<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/comp6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="PwC, Freshwater Place and Eureka Tower circa 2004"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/comp6.jpg?itok=MQLUc8wi" title="PwC, Freshwater Place and Eureka Tower circa 2004" width="580"></a>
<figcaption>PwC, Freshwater Place and Eureka Tower circa 2004</figcaption></figure><h2>One wasteland for another?</h2>

Depending upon who you ask that's what Docklands was in the process of becoming. Southern Cross Station's roof was taking shape while 700 Collins was found guilty for crimes against architecture even before completion. The Conder at Newquay was in its formative stages as was Victoria Point, with Lonsdale Street's chimney still in tact.

Lower left is Watergate Apartments, with V1 Docklands and Victoria Point either side for company. Watergate was arguably the first project to showcase Elenberg Fraser's flair, and of course their trademark bronze facade.

<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/comp4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Construction images of 2004"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="719" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/comp4.jpg?itok=EwF2Z0ov" title="Construction images of 2004" width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Construction images of 2004</figcaption></figure><h2>Into the burbs</h2>

Mondo Tower was soon to become the tallest tower outside the inner city at 17 levels, and was joined in construction by Foxtel Moonee Ponds... both would subsequently be found guilty of crimes against architecture.

The mammoth Austin and Mercy Heidelberg was still chugging along under Baulderstone's $270 million build contract while the 14 level Barrett Apartments in Hawthorn became that suburb's vanguard development... much would change.

<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/comp1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" style="font-size: 12px;" title="Construction images of 2004"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="474" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/comp1.jpg?itok=nW9LtM6T" title="Construction images of 2004" width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Construction images of 2004</figcaption></figure><h2>Inner city</h2>

The comparatively huge Royal Domain Tower had just broken the car park levels and was into the first floor of apartments while once of Melbourne's signature buildings, Yve, was little more than a twisted mess as site demolition progressed. Demolition was word of the week at the MCG as the world's biggest tower crane (Favelle Favco M2480D) worked above the Northern Stand.

Even in 2005 Hayball has a fascination with precast... some kids never grow up! And Mirvac was continuing with Beacon Cove in Port Melbourne... anyone found any retail in Beacon Cove as yet? Notable mentions to Gateway on Queens Road which at 20 levels was built without a tower crane and Bio21 on Flemington Road. Time has and will continue to be kind to this newly completed ripper from Designinc.

<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/comp5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Construction images of 2004"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="554" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/comp5.jpg?itok=hiUOtTO5" title="Construction images of 2004" width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Construction images of 2004</figcaption></figure><h2>Big city build</h2>

2004 in general was a massive year with a clear upswing in apartment living leading to a new rash of apartment projects such as QV, Mondriane, Concept Blue within the CBD along with many others. April 2004 also saw a group of commercial office towers under construction, the first such grouping since the boom and bust of the early 1990's.

380 La Trobe Street was receiving its final touches and Herald Weekly Times was beginning its transformation. 11 Exhibition, Southern Cross, RACV - 501 Bourke Street and Urban Workshop (all pictured below) would add a mass of office space upon completion, while all having sizeable tenant commitments - once bitten, twice shy!

<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/comp7.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Best of the CBD"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="755" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/comp7.jpg?itok=qUY92eQx" title="Best of the CBD" width="580"></a>
<figcaption>Best of the CBD</figcaption></figure>
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Melbourne under construction > April 2004

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Today's content comes directly from the vault; dusted off and ready for inspection. During the late 1990's the then Docklands Authority published an irregular newsletter that although now yellow, worn and stained gives a fair indication as to the expectations maintained by those in charge of delivering Melbourne's new waterfront during that time. Dated November 1998 the fold-out newsletter provides a fantastic glimpse of Melbourne prior to the new millennium.

What immediately stands out is the lack of infrastructure throughout the area. Traversing Docklands over the last twelve years with trusty camera in tow and having no recollection of Docklands prior to its current metamorphosis, it's truly disturbing and impressive that such a large area of land so close to a major metropolis was underutilised for so long. With the Bolte Bridge and La Trobe Street / Collins Street extensions not yet constructed, it truly resembled a wasteland.

Cast your view to the second image below and you'll see a very lonely Crown Casino dominating Southbank's panorama; how times have changed! For Docklands at least the land parcels had at this point been defined, although time would subsume the names Yarranova, Entertainment City and Commonwealth Technology Port, replaced by NewQuay, Waterfront City and Digital Harbour.

<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/Img_0089.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Infrastructure works prior to Docklands commencing. Images © Docklands Authority"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_0089.jpg?itok=NHEcxjLT" title="Infrastructure works prior to Docklands commencing. Images © Docklands Authority" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

See below the official Docklands render of the day, a concept far more advanced than earlier ghastly visions which bore an uncanny resemblance to a Mulgrave office park. For the countless articles of diatribe against Docklands over the years, the precinct has managed to stay true to the render in certain respects. The general height, bulk and density of realised buildings is fairly similar to the image below. NewQuay and Yarra's Edge in particular have delivered to date basically what is seen below. Whilst the central precinct, Victoria Harbour, has in reality a denser built form, Batman's Hill was at the time the exception.

<a href="/news/grollo-tower-one-mans-vision-unrealised" target="_blank">Covered by Urban.com.au previously</a>, Bruno Grollo's then world's tallest Grollo Tower was one of two parties vying for the right to develop the Batman's Hill precinct. History shows that neither gained the right to develop the whole precinct, rather it was portioned off to separate developers with the last slice recently <a href="/news/batmans-hill-collins-street-the-missing-piece-of-the-docklands-jigsaw" target="_blank">granted to Lend Lease</a>, and now subject to further planning. Whilst many think that Docklands struggles on a micro level, it will never be known whether a better outcome could have been achieved by development plot by plot, rather than precinct by precinct.

Would the urban realm have been enhanced by each individual site being subject to a tender process? Docklands may have therefore followed a more organic growth, slowly expanding westwards whilst maintaining the feel of the CBD rather than a large master planned enclave. Gone would be the pockets of development surrounded by vast tracts of empty land which has only in recent years been corrected as the suburb continues its expansion.

<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/IMG_0094_0.JPG" rel="gallery-all" title="The envisaged Docklands. Images © Docklands Authority"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/IMG_0094_0.JPG?itok=us5g6YZA" title="The envisaged Docklands. Images © Docklands Authority" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>

In isolation the 1998 Docklands vision seemed to provide a fair balance between the practical expansion of Melbourne's CBD whilst taking into account the desire for open space, density and height considerations. The mind boggles at what would be proposed for the precinct if Docklands were a blank canvas today. Fifteen years ago Melbourne had yet to experience its shift toward apartment living, Southbank was yet to boom and Fishermans Bend, E-Gate and the CBD North/Arden Structure Plan were foreign concepts.

I'd suggest the 1998 vision provided a decent platform for Docklands to base itself upon. Consider now that the precinct is approximately 60% complete; it has been a long haul with many years to come and I can't help but think that one day into the distant future when Docklands is near ringed by far larger developments that public sentiment will shift more and more in favour of the precinct.
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The Docklands vision - circa 1998

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It's amazing to think Grollo Tower which was to be located in Melbourne's Docklands was proposed fifteen years ago this year. The dream of Bruno Grollo, son of an Italian migrant who settled in Australia during 1928 was remarkably close to being realised, only to be stymied at the last moment. Over their stretch "The Grollos have changed city skylines and revolutionised Australia’s construction industry, through innovative practices, project success and fair treatment of workers," according to the <a href="http://www.grocon.com/" target="_blank">Grocon Group</a>'s website.

Yet Grollo Tower at 560m was the one that got away. Bruno seen below describing the Grollo Tower model during a press conference, was representative of a time where there were more overt characters in Melbourne's property industry, not so much the clean cut business it is today. Seldom seen in a suit and with the recognisable bushy eyebrows and moustache, Bruno Grollo was a man who knew how to get it done, exerting a passion and enthusiasm when speaking in public about any one of his given projects, an enthusiasm that filtered down through the company.

<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/Img_6237.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Bruno Grollo standing beside Grollo Tower, albeit a model"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_6237.jpg?itok=WdarSZXW" title="Bruno Grollo standing beside Grollo Tower, albeit a model" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
<figcaption>Bruno Grollo standing beside Grollo Tower, albeit a model</figcaption></figure>As seen below, the Denton Corker Marshall designed Grollo Tower would have contained up to eleven sub ground levels catering for car parking, retail/supermarket facilities plus a 500-seat auditorium/ballroom. A six month program placing 30m deep piles would have been required to support the tower's immense weight, and the hole catering for the car park would have been the largest excavated in Melbourne. The soft clays, sands and Coode Island silt that dominate Dockland's subterranean conditions would have had to have been displaced prior to reaching bedrock.

A mix of uses within the tower followed, consisting of 30 levels of commercial space, roughly 450 residential apartments and a hotel of 20 levels. A double-level foyer would have segregated Grollo Tower's commercial and living spaces which would have seen a grand lobby approximately 40 levels high catering for both residential and hotel guests where upon checked-in hotel guests would have taken to the elevators once more only to be greeted with an open full hotel length atrium when decamping the elevator.

As with a tower this size eight levels were seemingly set aside just below the towers pinnacle for hotel guests, the public and residents alike. At 450m above ground the tourist area would have included shops and restaurants, an enclosed observation deck, interactive displays and a variety of other tourist driven facilities. Grollo Tower's crowning glory was to be its 110m light pinnacle that would have shot a beam of light skyward which would have been visible from all parts of metropolitan Melbourne. For the adventurous few, an open air observation deck at the tower's summit would have provided views as far as Mornington Peninsula and beyond; Melbourne's fickle weather permitting of course.

<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/Img_6240.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Cross section of Grollo Tower as appeared in the Herald Sun Dcember 8th 1998"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Img_6240.jpg?itok=2VPRP-qi" title="Cross section of Grollo Tower as appeared in the Herald Sun Dcember 8th 1998" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
<figcaption>Cross section of Grollo Tower as appeared in the Herald Sun Dcember 8th 1998</figcaption></figure>So where did Grollo Tower falter? The scheme first stumbled during April 1999 where, after negotiations with relevant bodies, Grocon failed to make a required payment of $30 million to the Docklands Authority. Parallel to this was community concern relating to the massive shadow the tower would cast. As seen below, shadows cast in the morning and evening would be cast an amazing 10 kilometres from the tower itself.

Coming back for another bite of the apple, Grocon tried once more to deliver the tower after expressions of interest for the Batmans Hill parcel was reopened during 2000. Although Grollo Tower held deposits from 200 potential apartment buyers after a registration of interest campaign (below right), the scheme was officially ruled out of contention for the parcel of Batmans Hill by the Docklands Authority during April 2001. Chief concerns reported through the media were funding issues and the fact that Grollo Tower would have covered the entire Batmans Hill precinct, seen as a less favourable outcome to separating the precinct into smaller development lots.

<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/Image952.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Expected shadow cast by Grollo Tower &amp; early sales campaign advert"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/Image952.jpg?itok=0M3cMmNb" title="Expected shadow cast by Grollo Tower &amp; early sales campaign advert" typeof="foaf:Image"></a>
<figcaption>Expected shadow cast by Grollo Tower &amp; early sales campaign advert</figcaption></figure>It would have been fascinating to study Grollo Tower and its effects upon the still-young Melbourne apartment market at the time. Some news articles of the day suggested it would have put an impost upon Melbourne for years to come, yet others saw it as an economic/investment boon capable if luring further investment to Melbourne. Ultimately though Grollo Tower didn't proceed and in its place Grocon delivered Eureka Tower - Melbourne's current tallest skyscraper. Regardless Grollo Tower will forever remain one man's vision unrealised.
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