From today's Mercury:

HOBART'S 12 aldermen held a hush-hush meeting with Myer's most senior executives yesterday at which it is believed the retail giant's plans to rebuild in the city centre were on display.
Myer is planning to move into a new four or five-storey building in Liverpool St and occupy the first two floors, with a hotel above the store.

The ground floor in Myer's Murray St building would become an arcade of speciality shops but Myer would retain a presence in Murray St.

The company would have 10,000 square metres of floor space, allowing it to attract more brands such as Mac and Estee Lauder.

^^ Cheers Pearcey.

Let's hope something official gets announced before Christmas!

Now this is more like it - hopefully we can use Pearcey's thread to post photos as actual plans and construction proceeds. Great news and the combined 6 storey buildings will add mightly to Hobart's density. From the Hobart Mercury today...:banana:

MYER will rebuild its burnt-out Hobart store bigger and better than ever.

The new store will span at least five or six storeys on both the former Liverpool St and Murray St sites in Hobart.

The development, expected to cost about $100 million, will include a rooftop hotel, 20 new speciality stores and an upmarket food court.

It is scheduled to open by Christmas next year.

Although the final details of the proposal have not been officially released by property magnate Emmanuel Kalis, the Mercury can reveal the popular department store that was destroyed by fire in September, 2007, will be returned to its former glory.

Hobart City Council is set to give Mr Kalis rates relief for an undisclosed period of time.

The rates package will potentially eventuate in millions of dollars in rates offered for free.

It is understood the development will be constructed over two stages, with the first due for completion by December next year and the second pencilled in for December 2013.

Although the development has not officially been signed off and plans submitted to council, Myer chief executive Bernie Brookes revealed this week that a deal was on the brink of being completed.

The first stage will be constructed on the barren Liverpool St site that has been vacant for more than 3 1/2 years.

It is expected to include up to six storeys completely for use by Myer, with a rooftop hotel that will provide commanding views over the CBD, out over the River Derwent, and up to Mt Wellington.

Once that development is completed by Christmas next year, the current Murray St site that has crammed Myer into its floors since the fire, will be slowly moved into the new building.

Work will then begin on stage two at the Murray St site.

It is expected this will include the construction of a further six storeys with all but the ground floor used by Myer.

The historic Murray St frontage will be preserved.

That level will house 20 "specialty" stores, which are not present in Hobart now, and an upmarket food court.

The development is also expected to include an underground carpark.

The price tag for the development has not been revealed but it is expected to be about $100 million.

Alderman Marti Zucco said the council made no apologies for offering the rates incentive to Mr Kalis, saying the financial implications of losing Myer from the central business district would far outweigh the discount.

A report obtained by the Mercury under Right to Information laws last year showed that if Myer pulled out of Hobart's city centre it would cost up to 500 jobs and annual turnover in the city would drop by more than $80 million.

The economic report said a subsequent drop in property values and a flow-on loss of inner-city retailers would cost the council $1 million directly in rates if Myer packed its bags and left.

"In actual fact, we are not losing rates but in fact protecting the CBD and greater Hobart from what can only be described as the death of the city," Ald Zucco said.

"Losing Myer would result in greater losses, jobs and property valuations and by keeping it here the growth in revenue from the wider community will far offset the incentive offered to Myer."

After the 2007 fire, Myer and the property owner, the Retirement Benefits Fund, seemed keen to get on with a redevelopment.

The RBF and Centro Property Group, owner of Cat and Fiddle Arcade, planned a massive $200 million development but in late-2008 a cash-strapped Centro pulled out of the deal.

In late 2009, the RBF sold the site, and the store tenanted by Myer in Murray St, for $16 million to Mr Kalis.

glad it looks like something is finally going to happen on this site. shame it is only 6 storeys though, bit of a waste of space!

glad it looks like something is finally going to happen on this site. shame it is only 6 storeys though, bit of a waste of space!

Yes Ordex - a missed opportunity there, I think. The Liverpool Street site could carry a 10 storey building no problem. Still, the 6 storey building proposed for the Murray Street component will lift density there by a significant margin, so its not all bad. :)

From todays Mercury newspaper. I wonder what the 'twist' is, they are talking about? Anyway, we should all know sometime later this week.

RETAIL giant Myer is expected to make a major announcement about its future in Hobart this week.

It is understood the official announcement will reveal a twist in the popular department store's return to its former glory at the Liverpool St and Murray St site.

Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to include six storeys, 20 new speciality stores, a rooftop hotel and an upmarket food court.

The multi-million-dollar redevelopment, expected to occur in two stages, could bring much-needed good news for Hobart's inner-city retailers, who have suffered since the retailer's Liverpool St store was destroyed by fire in 2007.

Hobart City Council alderman and mayoral candidate Jeff Briscoe said Myer's return would take years, and in the meantime more immediate action was needed.

"Myer is not a quick fix. If they do commit to rebuild, it could be two years until it's completed," Ald Briscoe said.

"While it will be very important to build confidence in the city, I also don't believe that that alone is sufficient to revitalise the CBD."

The first stage of the Myer redevelopment, expected to include construction on the barren Liverpool St site, was initially expected to be completed by December next year, with the second stage pencilled in for December 2013.

Property magnate Emmanuel Kalis heads the project, having bought the Liverpool St site and the store tenanted by Myer in Murray St from RBF for $16 million in 2009.

From the Mercury website today
DEPARTMENT store giant Myer is set to build a new retail and hotel development for Hobart's "hole in the ground".

The new five-storey development – on the site of Myer's former Liverpool St store – will include a rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline, a hotel, up to 40 specialty stores and access to the Cat and Fiddle Arcade.

It will also have a food court on the lower ground floor.

The development will see the site grow by more than 50 per cent – from 8000 square metres to 12,450 square metres.

Stage one of the project is set to be completed by the end of 2013.

Myer CEO Bernie Brookes, Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine and site owner Emmanuel Kalis announced the development today.

The announcement comes three and a half years after Myer's Liverpool St department store was destroyed by fire.

Mr Valentine congratulated Mr Kalis and Myer for coming to an agreement on the redevelopment.

Great news Ordex!

Hopefully, we will see some plans in the next day or so. I saw that the story was about the Liverpool Street site - I wonder if it includes Murray Street as well?

Story and renders here:

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/07/20/246735_tasmania-news.html

about time!

Further up-date from the Hobart Mercury plus a couple of artists impressions. Construction work is scheduled to start in April next year.

DEPARTMENT store giant Myer yesterday announced an exciting new retail, hotel and restaurant development for Hobart's CBD with the first stage to be completed by Christmas 2013.

The long-awaited announcement, foreshadowed by the Mercury in April, will be bigger and better than expected at a cost of about $100 million.

The new five-storey redevelopment will include a rooftop bar overlooking the city, a hotel, 40 speciality stores, access to the Cat and Fiddle Arcade and a ground-floor food court.

Construction will begin in autumn next year and the entire project is expected to be completed by December 2015.

The first stage will include a new store fronting Liverpool St that is expected to be completed for Christmas 2013.

The new store will be much larger than the shop destroyed by fire in 2007. It will occupy five levels, increasing floor space from 8000sqm to 12,450sqm.

Work on the second stage will include the refurbishment of the Murray St store, which will retain its current facade.

Site owner and developer Emmanuel Kalis said he was exceptionally pleased with the design team and their concepts for the new site.

"A new hotel will be constructed behind and above the new store with a rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline," Mr Kalis said. "The Liverpool St frontage will be new but the facade will be sympathetic with the original building."

Myer chief executive officer Bernie Brookes said the development had taken "too long" to get to the announcement stage but he was delighted to be in Hobart for the news yesterday.

"Four years is a long time to wait for an announcement," he said. "But at least it is one, we believe, worth waiting for."

Mr Brookes said the development would be a world-class department store equivalent to Myer's flagship stores across the country.

"It will not be a shortened or smaller version department store," he said. "It will be a full-lined department store."

Mr Brookes said negotiation with Mr Kalis was made more difficult because of a tough retail environment worldwide.

"It has been a difficult development, negotiating a deal that was commercially viable for Mr Kalis and also Myer and the 40-odd retailers that will come into the centre," he said.

"On that basis, we think it is a win for small retailers, a win for the area and a win for the people of Hobart."

Mr Brookes thanked Hobart residents and Hobart City Council aldermen for their patience.

Lord Mayor Rob Valentine said the new store would give the city a much needed boost.

"This is just what we need to boost the confidence of retailers in our city centre," Alderman Valentine said.

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/271/myer1b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/myer1b.jpg/)

Story and renders here:

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/07/20/246735_tasmania-news.html

about time!

^^Sorry Pearcey...while I was pasting the story and renders, you up-dated the thread as well!

I must be missing something, but I don't know why this is being referred to as a 5 storey re-development. Looking at the renders, the hotel is 5 stories alone and it seems to sit on 4 storey storey podium. This is especially evident if you look at the render for Murray Street. Also, no 5 storey building I know is going to cost $100 million to build. It must be that the Myer component is 5 stories high alone which, if true, makes it twice the size of the old store.

The new building itself has got to be 10 stories overall - which is higher than the new Hadley's Hotel development, which is about 28 metres or so.

It will be interesting to look at the actual plans when they are lodged with the Council to work out the true height.

Density wise, it is great too. :)

thanks for the updates guys!
yep op1 the first thing I thought when I looked at the image was "that's more than 5 stories" - which makes me hopefully we won't get stuck with another groundscraper!

lol. Are Mercury writers known for their counting prowess? Alternatively, perhaps they are deliberately understating the number of levels in surrepticios support of the project so that nimbys won't oppose it so much...?

lol. Are Mercury writers known for their counting prowess? Alternatively, perhaps they are deliberately understating the number of levels in surrepticios support of the project so that nimbys won't oppose it so much...?

^^:lol: Actually today's Mercury has some comments which seem to have come from people in the know. The building will be apparently 12 stories tall, the hotel will be over 200 rooms and it will also contain a 700 seat convention centre - so a 5 storey shop it certainly aint!

I can start to see the 100 million dolar price tag now, which, incidentally, is the same amount Ali Sultan will be spending on his Montpelieor Retreat development - it seems we have a bit of a race developing between Hobart's two largest developers to see who can build the biggest....:)

It's a very exciting project. Just in time given that most other projects that have been earmarked for a while are either underway or now complete. This will bring the CBD to life visually.

Well a bit of a false start. The plans for the new Myer Complex have now been lodged with the Hobart City Council and were supposed to be up on its website for public comment. But there is a gremlin and the link is not working - also the description is wrong as well. :nuts:

Hopefully, the HCC tech heads will sort the website and we will all see the new plans sometime later today!! :)

I can't imagine anyone will object (except for the loser Green aldermen possibly), so hopefully approval will come through in a couple of months and construction underway by April next year. :banana::banana:

^^ Link fixed.

Here's the text of the proposal.

Full Details


Description
The proposal is for a Partial demolition, Redevelopment and Partial Change of Use for Shops, Restaurants, Take Away Food Shops, Unlisted use (Visitor Accommodation) and Unlisted Use (Bar), Signage and Subdivision.

In general terms the development comprises a five storey ‘shop’ and six to seven storey 200 room hotel above. The Liverpool Street part of the site would be redeveloped, while the Murray Street part of the site would be partially demolished, the facade retained, and redeveloped.
At basement level would be the Myer department store (Myer) to the Liverpool Street frontage, and a shopping arcade and food court to the Murray Street frontage.
A ground floor level would be Myer facing Liverpool Street, and a shopping arcade facing Murray Street. There would be access at this level to Cat and Fiddle Arcade. The hotel lobby at this level would front Liverpool Street.
A first floor level would be Myer facing Liverpool Street, and a shopping arcade with restaurant facing Murray Street.
At second and third floor levels would be Myer.
At fourth floor level would be hotel foyer and reception, conference and dining rooms and outdoor seating areas.
The fifth to ninth levels would be typical hotel floors in two wings, the first side on to Liverpool Street, the second end on to Murray Street.
The tenth floor would be the ‘skybar’ with ‘outdoor lounge’ atop the Liverpool Street wing. The adjacent northern end of the Murray Street wing would have two levels of plant, comprising levels 10 and 11.

The Liverpool Street facade of the retail section would rise four storeys above street level, with a large glazed canopy, and pattern of steel fins, concrete panels with textured finish, and compressed sheet panels. At around the fourth storey the facade would be recessed with vertical steel decorative sections.
Beginning at the fifth floor the hotel would be substantially setback, and would have a primarily glazed facade framed by ‘pre finished compressed sheet facade panels’.
The tenth floor ‘skybar’ would be further recessed from the frontage, as would the levels 10 and 11 plant area.
The three storey Murray Street facade would be retained. Recessed behind it would be a fourth above street level, with facade (similar to that facing Liverpool Street) of vertical steel decorative sections. Above this would be the conference areas of the hotel, and the five level of the hotel proper, positioned end on to the street, above that.

Part of the site from ground level up would bridge the Hobart Rivulet. A substation is also proposed beneath the end of Arnold’s Lane.

A loading dock with roller door access is proposed fronting Liverpool Street at the northeastern end of the site.

Signage is proposed for the Liverpool Street facade as follows.
Three ‘Myer’ signs, one projecting high on the facade, one a wall sign above the entrance, and one an under awning sign.
A single hotel sign projecting above the lobby entrance is proposed.

A ‘vertical’ subdivision is proposed involving land over the Hobart Rivulet to the rear of the site.

A total of 100 part time and 250 full time staff are anticipated.

Lots of plans with renders too!! :banana:

wow wow wow. that all looks really good. just skimmed though everything, but some interesting stuff in there about previous use of the site, etc. as well.
here's the link to the advertised applications section of the HCC website (http://www.hobartcity.com.au/Development/Planning/Advertised_Applications)

^^ Cheers Ordex.

I remember seeing one view of the proposal imaged from West Hobart - the new building really fills in the gap in the skyline and makes Hobart look much denser...all good news! :) Its in the section headed Plans P4 - Long View perspectives. I also liked the mention of the need for early installation of tower cranes in the construction proposal.

A great day for us Hobart SSC members!

Looking really good guys:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh260/SEanll/2-10.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh260/SEanll/3-10.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh260/SEanll/1-8.jpg

Go Hobart!

Looks very swish

From the Hobart Mercury 27/9/2011.

THE statutory 14-day period for public comment on the $100 million Myer Hobart redevelopment finished last Friday with just six representations received.

The development application is likely to go before the October 17 meeting of the Hobart City Council's development and environmental services committee and then go before a meeting of the full council on October 24.

The proposed development, with frontages to Liverpool St and Murray St, would have several major components a food court and speciality shopping arcade (levels one to three), a Myer department store (levels one to five), hotel rooms and a conference centre, restaurants and bars (levels six to 12).

The owner, Kalis CBD Development Pty Ltd, planned the project in two stages. The first would be on Liverpool St. The Murray St building, which escaped destruction in the Myer fire of 2007, would be partially demolished, with the facade retained.

Looking forward to approval being granted on 24 October 2011...:):)

From today's Hobart Mercury. Things are still moving forward....:)

HOBART City Council staff have recommended approval of the $100 million Myer redevelopment.

The application is to be considered by the development and environmental services committee on Monday and then goes to a full meeting of council on October 24.

The proposal is for a partial demolition and redevelopment for shops, restaurants, takeaway food outlets, accommodation and bar.

It comprises a five-storey "shop" and six to seven-storey, 200-room hotel.

The Liverpool St part of the site, destroyed in a fire in 2007, would be redeveloped. The Murray St part of the site would be partially demolished and redeveloped but retain its existing street facade.

A planning report says the site development would be high density with activity likely to be intensive and 24-hour.

It says the development "substantially exceeded" the maximum plot ratio with the retail and related parts alone approaching the maximum.

But the applicant, Architects Designhaus for owner Kalis CBD Development Pty Ltd, said there was an economic imperative to develop a hotel in conjunction with the retail component.

The staff report said independent urban design consultant Peter Curtis said the proposal presented "as a vibrant, diverse and intense retail development with potentially considerable economic benefits to the city".

Mr Curtis said: "The addition of a hotel use is to be encouraged."

He said the scale and extent of this proposal would rejuvenate the central retail precinct.

It's good news to see that there is support for this project. I personally think that Hobart can only benefit from another large(ish) hotel in the CBD. It would certainly break the 'close every store by 5:00pm' mentality; which can be quite frustrating for out-of-towners :)

From today's ABC Hobart News website....

The $100 million redevelopment of the Myer site in Hobart's CBD is set for formal council approval next Monday night.

The Hobart City Council's development committee last night recommended approval.

The new Myer will be 12 storeys high with the department store, specialty shops, a food arcade and restaurants occupying the first five floors and a 200-room hotel the upper levels.

There are more than 50 conditions, some relating to the 'shadow' and 'wind tunnel' effects of the building.

The committee's chairman, Alderman Helen Burnet, says once there is council approval, work will start on the Liverpool Street section which should be completed in the first 18 months.

The complex would be finished by Christmas 2013, more than six years after fire burnt down Myer's Liverpool Street store.

:-) Do they mean that the whole complex will be finished in only two years, or just stage one?

:-) Do they mean that the whole complex will be finished in only two years, or just stage one?

From the following article in today's Hobart Mercury, it looks like just stage one by Dec 2013 so an 18 month build if a start is made in around May next year and then another 12 months for stage two....a bit slow, I know, but main thing is Hobart will be getting effectively another 2 12 storey in-fill buildings so cannot complain about that too much. :banana:

THE proposed $100 million Myer redevelopment got the green light from the full Hobart City Council last night.

It received overwhelming support and the approval was passed unanimously.

The five-storey shopping centre with 50 per cent more floor space than the old Myer, 40 speciality shops, a food court and a stylish department store, plus a rooftop bar overlooking the city and a 200-room hotel tower, will be completed in two stages.

Myer hopes stage one, a new store fronting Liverpool St, will be finished by Christmas 2013.

Hobart aldermen agreed the development was the first step to revitalise the flagging city centre. Alderman Marti Zucco called for a CBD traders group to be formed to facilitate communication between all parties during construction.

just saw this as well. great news for hobart!

Myer might be getting some competition....The Hobart Mercury again.

RETAIL giant David Jones is looking to set up shop in Hobart.

The arch competitor of Myer, which has already unveiled its massive city redevelopment, has shown keen interest in potential city sites.

A DJs department store in the heart of Hobart would provide a massive boost to retailing and bring new competition to a market traditionally dominated by Myer and its Collins St competitor Harris Scarfe.

It would also challenge Tasmania's smallest specialist fashion retailers which stock some of the traditional DJ brands.

DJs is renowned for its high-end, international fashion labels such as Armani, Burberry, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana and Givency.

Its range of Christian Louboutin shoes retail for as much as $1400 a pair while its Jimmy Choo handbags fetch more than $3000.

The store is not only Australia's oldest department store, it is also the oldest department store in the world still trading under its original name.

It's also known for its fierce rivalry with Myer even down to the duelling catwalk queens, Miranda Kerr (DJs) and Jennifer Hawkins (Myer).

The company did not return calls from the Mercury yesterday but local real estate industry sources confirmed that the retailer has inspected or made inquiries about four potential CBD properties.

DJs, which has key stores in every state and territory except Tasmania and the Northern Territory, has shown an interest in establishing itself in Hobart on and off for the past 10 to 15 years.

But the latest investigation is believed to be its most intensive and it has peaked in the past few weeks.

"The company is always casting around and their interest is triggered every so often by real estate opportunities or a hole in the market such as Myer's long-term absence," one real estate industry observer said yesterday.

Myer's proposed $100 million redevelopment of its Liverpool St site has now been approved by the Hobart City Council and a new store is expected to be open for business by Christmas 2013.

There is now more than $1 billion worth of development under way or in the pipeline in Hobart and a massive shopping complex planned for Hobart airport.

Whether David Jones thinks it is ready to go head to head with Myer in Hobart is the big question.

David Jones did not have a great trading year in 2010-2011 in a tough retail environment.

However, Australia's oldest department store still invested $81.5 million in capital projects including building a new store in Claremont, Western Australia.

Other new stores at Port Macquarie (New South Wales), Whitford (WA) and Sunshine Plaza and Pacific Fair (Queensland) are expected to open in 2014-16

A lot of local landlords will be watching this story with interest. :)

People always ask me where the local david jones is when they first move and hopefully I will be able to tell them soon enough, $1b of investment, nice one hobart!

The courtyard area and paving has now been removed.

Fences have gone up on the Liverpool street side.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/s6828s/general/3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/s6828s/general/1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/s6828s/general/2.jpg

Great to see this project about to get underway!

Archeological work has now started on the site. So far the researchers have found evidence of a very early colonial bakery.

I reckon we will see some heavy excavation machinery just after Easter and a tower crane - the one from the Wellington Centre - on site before Christmas....:)

thanks for the update guys. good to see things progressing!

Isn't stage 1 supposed to be finished before Christmas 2013? surely it would have to be well underway by mid 2012.

Archeological work has now started on the site. So far the researchers have found evidence of a very early colonial bakery.

I reckon we will see some heavy excavation machinery just after Easter and a tower crane - the one from the Wellington Centre - on site before Christmas....:)

Finds included foundations of shops from the 1840's and beneath them a mill - possibly from the Collins period.

In Sydney 5 years ago we visited a recent complex in the Rocks that overlaid very early structures there - mainly small cottages, and once found the development had to be amended to preserve as much as the find as possible and allow access to the site. Does anyone know if Hobart has any such provision similar to this?

Finds included foundations of shops from the 1840's and beneath them a mill - possibly from the Collins period.

In Sydney 5 years ago we visited a recent complex in the Rocks that overlaid very early structures there - mainly small cottages, and once found the development had to be amended to preserve as much as the find as possible and allow access to the site. Does anyone know if Hobart has any such provision similar to this?

There is some displayed stuff down at the Menzies Centre - exposed foundations and glass viewing portals. Would be a big job to do it on the Myer site ...hopefully they haven't found anything to stuff up the development!

Plenty of stuff being found by the archeologists....

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/5990/myer001.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/myer001.jpg/)

wow it's kinda crazy to think all that old stuff was just sitting there under the surface whilst we all shopped around in myer...

The plans for the new Myer store and hotel have been altered to allow more shopping space, requiring a new building adjacent. What the article below basically means is that the hotel entrance and offices will be located in a new building behind the facade of the Fletcher Jones store next door. The originally proposed hotel entrance, foyer and offices in the new Myer building will now be 'next door'. There is no change to the external structure of the new Myer complex. It will just be a bit bigger.

From the HCC website below:

'No.110 Liverpool Street is the ‘Fletcher Jones’ shop adjacent to the ‘Myer’ site.
The proposal is for a partial demolition, alterations, extensions and partial change of use to shop, offices and hotel.

The front section of the building would be retained in its present form. The rear section would be demolished and rebuilt as a four level structure (including basement) with roof plant above. The new rear floor levels would match those of the building frontage. The rooftop plant would be setback 12 metres from the building frontage.
The basement would be used for hotel storage.
The ground floor would comprise a hotel lobby and rear hotel office.
Levels 1 and 2 would comprise office use.
The proposal would form part of the ‘Myer’ redevelopment which includes a hotel, approved by Council dated 24/10/2011 under DA 11-00826. The proposed hotel lobby would serve that development with access to lifts on the adjacent site. Upper levels 1 and 2 would rely on stair access within the adjacent site. The rooftop plant would serve the Myer site.

The previously approved hotel lobby adjacent at No.108 Liverpool Street, forming part of the Myer redevelopment, would change to use as a shop. The approved ‘void’ above, forming an atrium space above the lobby, is proposed to form a new level 1 office which would access from the proposed level 1 office at No.110 Liverpool Street.'

Thanks for the update Pearcey!

Although, it seems like little has changed at 'ground zero' since the archaelogical finds back in Feb, these things take time I'm sure.

A spokesperson for the developer Kallis Central Hobart Developments said that while there has been a delay caused by the archeological work it is now expected to be finished by Easter after which work will comence on the development proper. So that to me suggests we should see some heavy equipment moving on site in early May. :)

The sooner the better. I wonder if the extension next door to the Fletcher Jones building is to allow some access or viewing of the archaeological discoveries.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/s6828s/general/ScreenShot2012-04-25at105656AM.jpg

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I'm not sure why I couldn't type in the last post.

Seems if I use the words "M-o-b-i-l-e" and "C-r-a-n-e" my message gets blocked from posting.

Anyway the "non-stationary lifting device" has been arriving each night at around 4:30pm and then removed before morning.

Monday night it stayed throughout the day but wasn't operated.

Great update 6828!
The work crews filled that hole very fast.
I guess the archaeological site to the left is what is being preserved?

Great work 6828!! :cheers:

I wonder what they are actually doing? Service diversions, more engineering studies or perhaps getting a crane base ready?

Anyway, its great to see some proper work finally underway and what a fantastic place to be able to take photos from!

Also if you look closely at the back of the site you can see where VOS constructions have taken the roof off the old Cat and Fiddle Arcade building as part of the redevelopment.

It looks like the current work is only on the roof of Cat and Fiddle. From a distance it looks like the roof is being raised by 3 meters. Possibly enough for another level on top of the existing top level of C and F ?

It looks like the current work is only on the roof of Cat and Fiddle. From a distance it looks like the roof is being raised by 3 meters. Possibly enough for another level on top of the existing top level of C and F ?

Extract from a press storey in the Retail Thread....seems to explain it.

Other stages will include a new roof, including skylights allowing for more natural light, new facades and awnings on all entrances, the demolishing and rebuilding of the upper level and new lifts and escalators from the mall

That is a mammoth crane... When fully extended it makes the vehicle itself look tiny.

This Myer/C&F redevelopment is very exciting. I walked past the Murray Street entrance this evening and noticed the contractors left a product packaging cover on one of the awning panels outside Cue. Quite funny... Have a look when you walk by next.

Mmm...went for a walk past the site at lunchtime today.

You know what? I am not sure the work we have seen so far is for the Myer re-build at all.

I think VOS are using the site for access for the Cat and Fiddle Arcade development at the back of the site because there is no storage or access space in Collins Street. Just my theory.

In which case, perhaps the Myer contractors are holding off starting work until the CF project has reached the point where access is no longer required...

Mmm...went for a walk past the site at lunchtime today.

You know what? I am not sure the work we have seen so far is for the Myer re-build at all.

I think VOS are using the site for access for the Cat and Fiddle Arcade development at the back of the site because there is no storage or access space in Collins Street. Just my theory.

In which case, perhaps the Myer contractors are holding off starting work until the CF project has reached the point where access is no longer required...

This is only the Cat & Fiddle works. The site was used previously by Centro for access when some upgrades were done to replace roofing & guttering about two years ago.

Expect to possibly see some more archeological surveying as there should be the remains of the old water driven flour mill underneath what remains of the council constructed temporary access (the old Ellison Hawker shop). The race for the water mill originally came across what is now Murray St as an overhead aquaduct and the remains of this access (easment) can be seen via the laneway at the side of Myer (the delivery dock).

The old EH building had a back-filled basement which hasn't yet been revealed.

All of the old footings need to come out to provide for the basement food court and a bit of underpinning needs to be done around the boundary and for the protection of the rivulet structure.

It was fortunate with the demise of Fletcher Jones that this site became available to provide a separate entrance for the hotel side of things, as this will enhance the Myer offer.

Also of interest is that the Rivulet was diverted towards C&F many years ago - it was originally closer to Liverpool St by several meters.

Mmm...went for a walk past the site at lunchtime today.

You know what? I am not sure the work we have seen so far is for the Myer re-build at all.

I think VOS are using the site for access for the Cat and Fiddle Arcade development at the back of the site because there is no storage or access space in Collins Street. Just my theory.

In which case, perhaps the Myer contractors are holding off starting work until the CF project has reached the point where access is no longer required...

That's a really interesting theory OptomistOne, if that is indeed true does anyone know who the contractors are for the main Myer redeveolpments? I've never heard of two separate companies agreeing to an arrangement like this if it is not mutually in both their interests.

EDIT: Also, welcome to SSC On Y Va!

welcome to the forums On Y Va and thanks for the very interesting post!
actually thanks everyone for the great updates, don't forget to keep the pictures rolling in for those of us who can't walk down to the site anymore :(