Purchased for $39 million in December 06 according to their website's project pdf.

Apparently 'vacant' for almost as long as i've been alive. :)

So I was close?:lol: Happy to be corrected.

Building 4's floorplate is flexible enough to accommodate a range of uses and the height should remain the same regardless of the specific programmes, the only change would be the number of floors.

Also Eureka perfectly illustrates how a residential tower can appear to look like a commercial tower, so in terms of the quality of finishes and consistency of facade treatment I wouldn't think it was to great an issue.

I agree with the Eureka example. But the apartments are gonna have to be top notch to justify the expense of designing and building something to the standard of Eureka. Can melbourne really sustain two such huge, top-end apartment buildings? Especially in the current market?
My fear is that Building 4 becomes a glorified student accommodation building, like all the other towers that have gone up in that neck of the woods. An office building is far less likely to have it's design and finishes compromised than an apartment tower. Also, I believe the area needs more workers to make it a more vibrant 'mix' of population in that area. it already has students, and there will be a fair few residents by the time the other towers are built. A bunch of suits is what's needed to make this area look and feel like an extension of the city's business district.

^^
Grocon have built some of Melbournes most iconic buildings, CUB is there most iconic site and i belive that they will make it work.....

There are also plenty of other high-end apartment towers in Melbourne apart from Eureka as well, so I hardly think the luxury apartment market is saturated.

Thank God, say Melbourne tower protesters

THE world’s financial woes have been branded “divine intervention” by a group of CBD residents fighting to block Uniting Church plans for a skyscraper.

The church last week blamed the economic downturn for a decision to walk away from plans for an 83-metre office tower beside Wesley Uniting Church near the corner of Exhibition and Lonsdale streets.

It was welcome news for nearby residents, who had earlier branded the proposed building ugly and accused the church of trying to rob them of light and air.

Uniting Church director of communications the Reverend Kim Cain said the church was disappointed the redevelopment had been put on hold indefinitely.

“The developer (Hamptons) has concerns due to the global financial crisis and consequently the redevelopment is not going ahead,” Mr Cain said.

As well as providing office space for commercial tenants, the building would have become the headquarters for the Uniting Church Synod and Wesley Mission.

But Mr Cain said the site would definitely be redeveloped in future.

“I don’t believe that selling the site is being considered but I can confirm that we are exploring alternative options,” he said.

Opponent Maureen Capp issued a guarded welcome to news the project had been shelved.

“It does seem like divine intervention ... but we would still call on the minister to use his good sense and reject the application in any event to stop it from going ahead in the future,” Ms Capp said.

Ms Capp lives in neighbouring apartment building Regency Towers and is chair of residents’ group Residents Rights.

“How can people behind the Wesley proposed development call themselves Christians when they are denying light and air to their neighbours,” Ms Capp said, before being told the project had been put on ice.

A spokesman for Planning Minister Justin Madden confirmed the application was withdrawn.

And the good news just keeps rollin' in !!:ohno:

Bugger.

If Hamptons is not progressing with this project then there are going to be many other projects that will hit the dust soon.

What a shame :(

so she lives in the CBD and expects that there would be no other developments around her... ultimate NIMBY dickhead.

^^pretty much.:weird:

so she lives in the CBD and expects that there would be no other developments around her... ultimate NIMBY dickhead.

That is definitely an accurate expression of nimbyism (unlike some I've seen around here). However I don't think nimbies are a threat to you. They can't claim it as any victory however and probably never will. Lets not get our wires crossed or go witchunting. Despite the media beat up to get a rise out of you, because they know its what you want to think, the major story here is the financial crisis.

But the nimbyism in the CBD is to be expected. In this case, I don't think you can have your cake and eat it. Wanting to residentialise the CBD to get new apartment towers is at the same time pushing the door wide open for the nimby ... these forces will only get stronger as generations call the CBD home. Whether it would push hi-rise development out of the CBD is another thing ... mixed use "activity centres" doesn't necessarily mean each user is automatically tolerant of the others. In reality it will take many decades for harmony and balance to be achieved. Remember that the reason the residents moved out of the city decades ago was because it was becoming rapidly overdeveloped for them and they actually had the option to move to quarter acre blocks.

One of the reasons that Docklands is a popular idea in that most of the residential towers can't be built out and there is plenty of undeveloped land for new office towers. But don't expect it to stay that way forever. There are already people in the apartment towers at Docklands complaining about the giant ferris wheel and the fact that people from the wheel can see into their apartments. I can't blame them though. What sort of country is this where you can't walk around your own home in your undies ;) lol

Uniting Church of Australia Shelves Plans For Lonsdale Street Office

Written by Marc Pallisco
Wednesday, 29 April 2009

THE UNITING Church of Australia has shelved plans to develop a 20-level, $100 million office building on the grounds of its Wesley Uniting Church site in Lonsdale Street.

Reverend Kim Cain said a change in the global economic environment would make it a challenge to sell office suites within the glass tower it planned to build on the site.

Funds from the sale of office suites would have been used to restore other buildings on the site including the Church, Nicholas Hall, a manse, schoolhouse and caretakers cottage.

Reverend Cain told The Age the Church plans to propose a new development which may include more residential and retail space, but less offices.

He expects the revised development to be similar in height to the previous proposal, and is still hoping to start construction by mid-2010.

Any revised plan is still expected to see the demolition of the historic Princess Mary building, at 118 Lonsdale Street.

^^

God bless them...:)

The Uniting Church needs a new HQ and the Church itself needs to be restored, and this is one good way of doing that, and that is redevelop the site as per St Michael's Church and St Francis' Church did in the 1990s. All we need is Scots to do their redevelopment and all will be ok.

http://www.realestatesource.com.au/Victoria/Two-New-Office-Towers-Set-For-Behind-Church-of-Christ.html

Two New Office Towers Set For Behind Church of Christ
Written by Marc Pallisco
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
TWO NEW buildings, one rising as high as 10-levels, will be developed opposite the State Library of Victoria, and abutting Melbourne Central.

After twelve years and three development applications, the Church of Christ Trustees was this week granted approval to construct the buildings on land behind the Church of Christ at 333 Swanston Street.

The existing Knox House building at 194 – 196 Little Lonsdale Street will be redeveloped into a 10-storey building with ground floor retail, offices and apartments, all of which are to be retained and used by the Church.

The Price Hall building at the rear of 329 – 333 Swanston Street will be part demolished to make way for a 5-storey building, to be used for church activities and assemblies.

A Church of Trustees spokesman said a small retail building across the road at 277 Little Lonsdale Street, which the Church bought 18 months ago for $1.9 million, is likely to be sold to fund the newly approved development.

just like the times of old, it seesm teh church is where the money is at!

Sorry about the quality...
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/ExhibitionStreet.jpg

Turns out this is actually the winning design for 44 Exhibition St which includes Architext and the Vic Chapter of the AIA, and not for the hotel @ 80 Collins Street. Lyons beat ARM (horrible design), Design Inc (interesting design) and John Wardle (same old, same old). It features a rooftop cafe/bar.

oh..my bad. lol
any details on when it will start?

No worries. There's some more info in this month's edition of Architecture Australia including the other shortlisted designs. I only had a quick flick through.

Some more renders from the Lyons website:

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/co.asp?itemID=co\co13#

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-02.jpg http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-01.jpg

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-06.jpg http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-07.jpg

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-09.jpg

^^ Looks a bit like Godzilla got to that building.

Muchos awesome!

Australian Institute of Architecture (proposal)
41 Exhibition Street, north-west corner of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane.

This project is for the Australian Institute of Architects to redevelop their central city site, a central city location in Melbourne to create a centre for Victorian architecture. Lyons were appointed following a design competition process, with the concept which explores ideas about the hybrid public/commercial building, engagement of the AIA with the public, and then creating a benchmark sustainability project.

More renders from Lyons website:

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-03.jpg

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-04.jpg

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-05.jpg

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-08.jpg

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/co.asp?itemID=co\co13#

This is the kind of development we should have a lot more of. :yes:

But is this going to be built, or is it just a competition and speculation?

^^I -love- the wave effects on that

i love that it looks damaged, like woozoo said, looks as if godzilla has taken a swipe at it. if its built, i really hope thats the desired effect.

http://www.lyonsarch.com.au/projects/co/co13/larges/CO13-09.jpg

I love the roof top cinema.
I agree we need more of this kind of development, in this day and age the smaller buildings are more likely to go ahead.

It reminds me of a taller Monaco House, just a little.....:)

But is this going to be built, or is it just a competition and speculation?

It will go ahead.

Very interesting renders.

One could only hope that a finished product (if it eventuates) hits the mark.

citadines
http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/dbh200905.jpg

goldstar or whatever its called. hotel complete while apartment tower up to L3

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/glr200905.jpg

Bank Sells Naval & Military Club City Headquarters, Little Collins Street

Written by Marc Pallisco
Sunday, 10 May 2009

THE property developer that thwarted the sale of the Naval and Military Club's headquarters last year has quietly bought the 1960s city building for what is believed to be a big discount to its original offer.

Sources say developer Southraw has agreed to pay between $7.5 million and $8 million for the building at 27 Little Collins Street, which is likely to become a high rise apartment building and luxury hotel.

SOuthraw had agreed to pay $9.3 million for the site last Apriland paid a $500,000 deposit, but failed to settle after contract variations and extensions. The 128-year old Naval & Military Club went into administration in February.


Prior to its collapse, the Naval & Military CLub was unsuccessful in an attempt to remove a caveat Southraw had over the property's title, that prevented it from resale.

Under development plans for the site, the Naval & Military Club would occupy a small portion of a new 24-level apartment and hotel development. Funds used from the sale of the property would pay bank debt.

Representatives for Southraw and NAB were unavailable for comment. Romanis Cant's Simon Nelson is administrator for the Naval & Military Club.

Thanks for the updates boss. The Devine hotel has an interesting shape.

this looks great :)

Thanks for the pics silvermb....the ford parked out front really makes a big statement about the era........memories.......

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/premier/chinatown-lights-up-with-$3.7-million-in-funding.html
CHINATOWN LIGHTS UP WITH $3.7 MILLION IN FUNDING
Monday, 18 May 2009
The Premier John Brumby today announced $2.7 million to reinvigorate Melbourne’s iconic Chinatown precinct in Little Bourke Street.
In Chinatown today, Mr Brumby said the funding towards the $3.7 million project would provide an important boost to revamp the precinct’s vibrancy, ensuring its status as a renowned district for locals and tourists to the city.

“Melbourne Chinatown precinct is the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world and our Government is taking action to ensure this iconic part of our rich heritage remains a world-class destination for Victorians and visitors to our state,” Mr Brumby said.

“Dating back to the Gold Rush era of the 1850s, Chinatown is a distinctive and vibrant part of Melbourne and this funding boost will help to attract even more visitors to this great area and to educate even more people about the rich influence of Chinese cultural here in Victoria. “

Mr Brumby was joined by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to unveil the first of the infrastructure projects for the area: two contemporary metal lighting poles which create a decorative gateway to the famous Chinatown precinct.

The Victorian Government is contributing more than $1.5 million towards the revamp of the Chinatown precinct with the Melbourne City Council to contribute $970,000.

In addition, the Government will also invest $1.2 million to transform the Chinese Museum to enhance community space, install air conditioning to protect the invaluable exhibits as well as install a Chinatown Visitor Centre.

“The Victorian Government’s funding will facilitate refurbishment of the four Chinese archways that adorn Chinatown, widening of the footpaths to enable alfresco dining and the installation of catenary lighting with Chinese lanterns and down lights to enhance the authentic ambience of Chinatown,” Mr Brumby said.

“It will also involve the upgrading of Heffernan Lane, which connects the Chinese and Greek precincts.”

Mr Brumby said Little Bourke Street works would be funded under the Victorian Government’s $10 million Cultural Precinct Enhancement Fund which is revitalising three culturally significant cultural precincts – Lonsdale, Little Bourke and Lygon Streets.

Melbourne Lord Mayor of Melbourne Robert Doyle said the reinvigoration of Chinatown would boost its status as one of the city’s most renowned cultural attractions.

“Chinatown is already such a great place to visit for locals and visitors alike with fantastic food, genuine Chinese architecture and offering a dynamic cultural experience,” Mr Doyle said.

“The Melbourne City Council is delighted to be contributing funding towards this important project to make Chinatown an even more vibrant place to visit.”

Small article about 41 Exhibition Street in todays HUN.

- Is expected to begin mid next year.
- 18 floors
- Plan to lease out 3 floors and lease the rest of the space out
- Rooftop bar/cafe

from today
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P5290022.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P5290020.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P5290019.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P5290023.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P5290025.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P5290012.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P5290011.jpg

^^ Thanks melbournee12 for your marathon stint across so many threads. :applause: :okay:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/anger-at-windsor-hotel-tower-20090530-br3z.html

Anger at Windsor Hotel tower
Cameron Houston
May 31, 2009

PLANS for a 15-storey tower behind Melbourne's historic Windsor Hotel have sparked concerns among heritage groups about inappropriate development on the site opposite Parliament House.

The Sunday Age has learnt the Windsor Hotel's owners have appointed prominent architects Denton Corker Marshall to design the building, which would include 150 new hotel rooms.

The proposal by Indonesian-owned Halim Group would also include the partial demolition of the former Hard Rock Cafe on Bourke Street as part of a $150 million refurbishment of the heritage-listed hotel.

The Halim Group has spoken with the State Government and Heritage Victoria about the development and is expected to submit plans to the Melbourne City Council by July, property sources say.

Windsor Hotel chief executive David Perry conceded a large-scale tower was under consideration, but said: "I can tell you categorically that no decision has been made on putting plans through to a planning authority."

He said the owners had worked closely with Heritage Victoria over the past three years and were committed to restoring the 126-year-old hotel to its former grandeur.

But National Trust chief executive Martin Purslow slammed the plan for a 15-storey tower on one of Melbourne's most historic sites.

"This proposal is over twice the statutory height limit under Melbourne's planning scheme. It says the statutory height limit is to preserve the scale of the Bourke Hill precinct, and that's the bloody reason we have these limits," Mr Purslow said.

The National Trust has thwarted two previous attempts to redevelop the iconic hotel known as the "Duchess of Spring Street".

The Hamer government was forced to buy the hotel in 1976 after businessman Gordon Barton planned Melbourne's first casino on the site. In 1990, the Cain government rejected plans by a Cayman Islands syndicate to transform the hotel into a boutique department store.

In 2005, the Halim Group and local developer Andrew Garrisson paid $37 million for the hotel. Mr Garrisson was recently bought out by Halim.

I think htat end of Bourke Shoudl be protected.... obviously the Windsor is a prised heritage asset in of itself, through in Parliament, Her Majesties and views to St Patricks Cathedral and you'd want a very smartly designed tower to avoid fvcking up the area.

>>>flying in under the radar today


http://www.realestatesource.com.au/images/stories/171%20collins%20street%20skyline.jpg


Written by Marc Pallisco
Thursday, 04 June 2009 07:52

MELBOURNE builder Grocon is expected to unveil itself as the owner of two prominent city development sites, one in Melbourne and one in Sydney.

Grocon is expected to confirm it will pay between $35 million and $40 million for the former "shop of shops" experiment at 171 Collins Street, in the Melbourne CBD. That site is earmarked for a controversial 17-level, $260 million office building which needed to be approved by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last year.

VCAT's approval ended a long-serving Melbourne CBD planning arrangement, whereby buildings around the Swanston Street core would be height restricted.

Grocon's tower (artist impression pictured, right behind St Paul's Cathedral) is expected to soar about 88 metres, against a previous planning maximum height of 40 metres, for the streets between Elizabeth and Russell.

Macquarie Office Trust has been trying to offload the site for more than a year and was originally hoping for up to $42 million last year, the Australian Financial Review reports today. Macquarie, which leases space at 101 Collins Street in Melbourne as its offices, could relocate to the 171 Collins Street building, upon completion, it is reported.

I never knew that that low rise restriction between Elizabeth and Russell was removed. This is the famous/infamous "gap" yeah? If so, this could have massive implications for the CBD.

I never knew that that low rise restriction between Elizabeth and Russell was removed. This is the famous/infamous "gap" yeah? If so, this could have massive implications for the CBD.

Correct. Hopefully, once this gets off the ground, more high rise will be allowed to be built there, leading to a much denser, taller cbd, especially if Swanston street scores a few big projects:):). I think the height limit between elizabeth and russell streets was 45m.

What Swanston St needs is just development of sites occupied low rise buildings to heights closer to the height limit instead of big towers. Sites set back from Swanston St I don't mind, but it's good to have a street which can be brightened by the sun.

That whole area up till the town hall on swanston st doesn't have many sites that I could see getting developed. As a kid I spent most of my time in the city on swanston street thinking melbourne was a small city because swanston street is all low rise. Dumb, I know, but I think putting a couple of 200m + towers just beyond cnr of collins and swanston would have a huge impact on both the skyline and the impression that say a tourist arriving in melbourne, going to "main street" gets.

groan.

That whole area up till the town hall on swanston st doesn't have many sites that I could see getting developed. As a kid I spent most of my time in the city on swanston street thinking melbourne was a small city because swanston street is all low rise. Dumb, I know, but I think putting a couple of 200m + towers just beyond cnr of collins and swanston would have a huge impact on both the skyline and the impression that say a tourist arriving in melbourne, going to "main street" gets.

I must say that I like the gap as is as it is something that actually has a positive effect on the city (limited overshadowiing in the central spine). Cities are not all about skyscrapers and ground level interaction is vital for any city to be successful. I would have loved to have had the entire hoddkle street grid left with only older buildings (old town), following on from European cities, and build with the taller buildings in another location (eg. La defence in Paris). That would have made the Central area much more desirable to many.

They just need to rip down the horrible awnings on Swanston street AFAIK.
Plus a few more quality mid-rise buildings, such as CH2 and this proposal.

So what are the height limits between russell and elizabeth streets now that the previous height has been removed, or has only grcons 88m building been pardoned from the height limit? The article is slightly ambiguous with regard to the height limits for that region of the CBD.

groan.

Could you elaborate? I'm sorry I don't speak caveman....:lol:

it's another way of please think before posting.

it's another way of please think before posting.

...and please read what you've just typed before posting...

Not sure if this is east or west end, but ithink i read something bout it in here so..

Real Estate Source
National Australia Bank to Sell Naval & Military Club as Mortgagee in Possession
Sunday, 07 June 2009 10:03
THE ON-again, off-again campaign to sell the vacant Naval & Military Club headquarters in Little Collins Street, is on again, and expected to reap some $8.5 million.

The National Australia Bank, as mortagee in possession, is putting the property to auction after a failed attempt to settle the property with developer Southraw last month.

The bank has removed an inhibiting caveat Southraw had on the property’s title, selling agent Jones Lang LaSalle told The Age. This clears the way for any new owner to build a 24-level hotel and apartment project upon settlement.

The NMC obtained development approval for this tower before collapsing earlier this year. JLL’s Andrew Wood and Lachlan Thompson will auction the NMC building on July 8th

yep it's East End.

citadines

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/dbh200906.jpg

Citadines, taken by petesphotos off flikr.
Facade is starting to look awesome.
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/petesphotos.jpg

^^ Thanks for all the updates melbournee12, you're a champ! :okay:

anyone been past Nauru House recently??

Plannign Permit application signs up stating 'development of two multi story towers' or similar.

The two must fill in the 80 Collins Street frontage and also at the car park entry on Little Collins Street.

^ it's got its own thread as it's not a small project: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=737936

cheers.

Citadines, yesterday

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m401/pouinetoksenodohio/IMG_5014.jpg?t=1245882057

Noticed 171 Collins is all boarded up.

/\/\ what is at 171 collins street?

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/2110/171montagefe5.jpg

thank you...

so its going ahead???

That should be nice I would umagine there would be room for more luxury stores to open?

^^
Yes, its nice but small.
I love the texture and look of it.
Flinders Ln is going to loose a fugly brick box for this.
Grollo have a hand in this so it will come out looking fantastic. :)

171 collins street will add some more BAM ! to to the Flinders Laneway, even though it has heaps but i think this building would be fantastic :):)

melbourne keeps getting better and better dont you think?

Real estate source

Macquarie Office Trust Shuts 171 Collins Street

Monday, 27 July 2009 09:20
MACQUARIE Office Trust has closed pedestrian access to its 171 Collins Street shopping centre and office building, a year after setting a landmark planning precedent that more than doubled the regulated height of a building in the Central Business District’s “Swanston Street spine”.

The building, which includes several ground floor shops, is expected to remain boarded up and vacant for however long it takes for the site to be developed.

Speculation Melbourne-based developer Grocon is close to buying the site for between $35 million and $40 million was not confirmed by either party.

MOT paid $27.6 million for the building in 2006, before battling for a permit to develop a 17-level, 33,000 s
quare metre glass office building which would rise about 88 metres against a previous height restriction of 40 metres

Iconic Hotel Windsor set for massive overhaul (http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/iconic-hotel-windsor-set-for-massive-overhaul-20090729-e0lj.html)

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/07/29/654093/New-Windsor-Hotel-1-600x400.jpg

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/07/29/654094/New-Windsor-Hotel-2.jpg

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/07/29/654097/New-Windsor-Hotel-3.jpg

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/07/29/654096/New-Windsor-Hotel-4.jpg

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/07/29/654095/New-Windsor-Hotel-5.jpg

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/07/29/654098/New-Windsor-Hotel-6.jpg


The Windsor redevelopment, worth $260 million, will include a 25-storey tower adjoining the heritage-listed 1883 hotel.

By Kate Lahey
29 July 2009 - 9:36AM

Owners of the Hotel Windsor have lodged plans for a massive redevelopment of the historic Spring Street site, fuelling concerns from the National Trust about the future of the landmark Melbourne building.

The redevelopment, worth $260 million, will include a 25-storey tower adjoining the heritage-listed 1883 hotel and a major restoration of the original building, including the reinstatement of the Spring Street colonnade.

The tower will house guest rooms and suites, meeting rooms and health and leisure facilities. In the Windsor's publicity material, it is described as a "slim and elegant" backdrop for the hotel.

A new corner building will also be built to replace the 1960s north wing addition as part of the hotel's plans to add 152 rooms to the 180-room five-star hotel.

The National Trust is concerned about the scale of the proposed tower, which could breach height limits for the Bourke Hill precinct and alter the views of the building.

However, Trust chief executive Martin Purslow said he would wait until the plans are revealed this morning before commenting.

Windsor chief executive David Perry said the hotel’s owner, the Halim Group, was committed to returning the Windsor ‘‘to her position of glory as one of the world’s great grand hotels’’.

Mr Perry said the redevelopment would restore the hotel’s status as one of the great grand hotels of the world - not just a good place for afternoon tea.

‘‘The Hotel Windsor has no peer, it is the only choice for afternoon tea in Melbourne. If you have afternoon tea, you have it at the Windsor - or you’re not having it at the best establishment,’’ Mr Perry said.

‘‘But when it comes to hotel accommodation, we used to be the choice for royalty, we used to be the choice for the legends of the screen, politics, the world stage, and we now have competition.’’

Afternoon tea at the Windsor is booked out three weeks in advance and costs $65 per person on weekends.

A deluxe room this Saturday night was available on the accommodation website wotif last night for $600.

The Halim family bought the hotel in a partnership in 2005 and became sole owners in 2008.

The plans were given to Heritage Victoria and the Department of Planning and Community Development late yesterday.

The Age understands the Spring Street frontage will be reopened to create walking space between the windows and exterior columns, while the 1960s Bourke Street corner is marked for bigger changes.

_____________________________

Looks ok, but I still want to see other perspectives, especially from the south-east.

oooh yeah.....

Reminds me of the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon - and that's a great development IMHO

I too see it as a win win win

i reckon getting rid of the ugly north wing makes the hotel look even better... like a hot chick having her ugly conjoined twin removed.

agree. People hear 'demolish part of the hotel' and automatically enter NIMBY mode but that wing was rebuilt in the 1960's and was never part of the original building. removing it is a great result and lets teh true heritage part of the hotel stand out better.

I also like the tall building at the rear and the architects explanation of it as a curtain 'backdrop' to the hotel.

not convinced about the look of hte new north wing building but will wait to see more pics to really make up my mind.

I like the tall behind the hotel. I think it'll do a nice job of framing the building. I don't like the look of the building on the corner though. Is totally unsympathetic of it's prime position on the street in front of Parliament.

I have mixed feelings about this plan. I see it being of great commercial and architectural merit today but will it become the next Gas & Fuel towers type structure in the future and people will say, "Why did they knock the old building down to put this up?"

The same argument was made in the Collins Place thread yet we continue to do the same thing today. Its all about economics at the end of the day. The same issue that developers made in the 60's and 70's to demolish so many old buildings and replace with "Modern" buildings that were "state of the art" and "iconic" at the time.

but this will not be a demolition in the old sense.

it isn't even Facadism. they are keeping most of hte original Windsor Hotel. demolishing a 1960's addition that detracts from the existing building and presumably demolishing part of hte rear of the existing building to make way for the new tower.

seems like a fair compromise between allowing the developer a true commerical return which then allows the developer to retain much of the heritage value in the building.

Wish the tower looked a bit more like Crown 3. Curves, glass.....

^^
I dont think it would be a good idea to have a building with to much shape other than ''slender & slick''.
I need more time to take it in.
The hotel tower and corner building needs to has to have a VERY HIGH QUALITY finnish for it to work, otherwise whats the point ??

This looks fantastic but we need to wait for more details/detailed renders. 5 star hotels typically have the highest quality finishes and materials because of the luxe factor. Restoring the Windsor to its prime is highly commendable, and we should be thankful that someone is willing to finance it, particularly in this economic climate! Let's admit it, the Windsor is not quite the place to be, especially when you consider that the competition is from the likes of Crown Towers and the Langham (rated Australia's best hotels recently).

Love the idea/concept; i (like many others here) am always fond for striking a balance between the preservation of such wonderful heritage yet adding a modern touch right in behind it, so provided careful respect is paid to the surrounds, it's a great proposal for me. The building supposedly 'needs' the development to continue operating, so the alternative is pretty grim.

i really love the idea of bringing this hotel up to standard and making it iconic again. when watching the film from the link within the first post it struck me that building is more than simply fantastic looking and prominently placed, it really is apart of the history of Melbourne. haven't been inside - but sounds like their afternoon tea is the business, might have to check it out (has anyone been, what's it like, am thinking $65 is pretty full on for tea and scones though) i went to a conference recently in the vibe savoy on the cnr of lt collins and king, and they have the history of the place detailed in the foyer - these old buildings have such great histories, is cool to think this restoration would add a whole new chapter.

i don't think a 'slender and inoffensive' glass tower of 25 levels would become a future eyesore, and agree that from front on (spring st) it would probably provide a simply clean back drop or frame.

my concern, along with shumway, is that the corner building looks well out of place. the renders don't show it any detail, but what looks like an attempt at some kind of 'concrete lace' effect just doesn't work at all for me. fingers crossed that like lots of other projects going up at the moment, this corner building turns out nothing like the renders.

.....enter William Pitt......

atleast we know its height
from todays fin rev
Towering plan for historic hotel site
12:00AM | Nick Lenaghan and Mathew Dunckley | The Australian Financial Review

The Indonesian owners of Melbourne's landmark Windsor Hotel have disclosed plans for a $260 million overhaul that is to include a 92-metre tower behind the historic building.

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6764895,00.jpg

Citadines
http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m401/pouinetoksenodohio/IMG_5406.jpg?t=1249051512

not sure where to put this...

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m401/pouinetoksenodohio/IMG_5404.jpg?t=1249055888

Taken by wilko
It's a shame it couldn't fully cover that awful core from SX2. Wonder if they'll leave it or put some signage on top of it or something?

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9569/p8290519.jpg (http://img82.imageshack.us/i/p8290519.jpg/)

^^ The council should have encouraged them to do so, with incentives even!

^^ The council should have encouraged them to do so, with incentives even!

Melbourne City Council gets a big fat F for its efforts in planning in recent years.

Not only does this tower look bad at ground level (alas Eastern Arcade), but it carries its ordinariness upwards over 30 storeys.

.....enter William Pitt......

^^ ... and cue the snarkiness .... :ohno:

how do you know it will look bad at ground level?? I really like the tower actually the curved effect of the tower looks great on the upper levels and I'll hold my judgement on the lower levels until they no longer need to drive concrete trucks into the future hotel foyer. --> but yes it'll want to be good to replace the Eastern Arcade.

agreed that it is disgraceful that it doesn't cover the whole SX2 core. (which shouldn't have been allowed to be so poor in the first place). very poor indeed.

imagine paying $500 a night for a hotel room and your balcony literally abuts a concrete wall!!

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/article/Parliament-of-Victoria-master-plan-architect-revealed/493471.aspx

Parliament of Victoria master plan architect revealed

6 August 2009 | by Gemma Battenbough

Woodhead is working on a precinct master plan for the Parliament of Victoria, Architecture & Design has learned.

Parliament House is a historically significant Melbourne landmark and the surrounding gardens are fundamental to the site.

The west facade of the building faces the intersection of Spring and Bourke streets, and bears sweeping steps, elegant lamps and a grand colonnade.

The master plan profess will allow the Parliament of Victoria with to review all accommodation within the precinct and to enable strategic decisions to be made on the provision and standard of accommodation, facilities and infrastructure.

Woodhead is working with other firms, including civil engineering firms, on the project which is valued at a total of $50,000,000. Work is slated to be completed in December 2011.

Melbourne’s Parliament House is the largest 19th century building in Australia that is still functioning as a public building. Government architect Charles Pasley designed the building in 1853 after the results of a design competition were judged as inadequate. The building is said to have borrowed heavily from Leeds Town Hall, which is widely considered among the finest civic buildings in the world.

The design was later modified by another architect, Peter Kerr, a partner of John Knight.

^^
Build the bloody dome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes!!! build it!! surely the can find money somewhere amongst teh $50,000,000 they will be spending! how much could a dome bloody cost???

I think this project is more about refurbsihing the exisitng spaces and making better use of them, especially the basement.

Leeds Town Hall
http://www.mcbeathpatmore.co.uk/images/leeds_town_hall.jpg

Victorian State Parliament House
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/history1.jpg



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Leeds_Town_Hall.jpg

http://img2.allposters.com/images/RHPOD/114-3793.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Leeds_Rathaus.jpg

http://images.zoomandgo.com/D/PAC/AS/DPACAS00ML0902-1100040205VV.jpg

Leeds Town Hall looks like Parliament House should.

Notice Leeds has the lion statues that Vic Parliament is supposed to have. I heard a couple of years back that our lion statues were finally going to be built. But then nothing. Anyone know what happened to the lion statue proposal.

they got placed outside Wesley College Glen Waverley instead??

haha

no wasn't the last time all this talk came up in 1999 when Jeff Kennett suggested building the dome in the run up to the election in which he was voted out?

I doubt this government would engage in such 'folly' as building the dome. it'll probably pay for a clean and an update of all the internal offices.

Still - hopefully at some point somebody forks out the money for it - would be awesome as evidenced by the photos of Leeds.

just read the article a bit more and it talks about the parliament precinct master plan

That includes all the crappy buildings to the rear that various departments offices are in etc. $50 million would barely cover a nice fitout for all those very old offices so unlikely to see any particular external differences...

I doubt this government would engage in such 'folly' as building the dome. it'll probably pay for a clean and an update of all the internal offices.

I don't see it as a folly.
It should have been done for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Successful completion projects have gone on in Sydney and Brisbane (St Marys and St John's respectively) which cost a lot but are now real cultural and tourism assets to those respective cities.

http://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/HDMS-HTML/CCOMS194.htm

If the government doesn't want to bite the bullet then a public appeal should be run. Those abovementioned projects raised public funds from citizens outside of the church so I can't see why similar couldn't be done to complete Parliament House. It is one of the most magnificent Victorian neoclassical buildings in the world, surely we can do better.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IlHFucD7C9Q/Sc4NHuKjqsI/AAAAAAAAG2w/mYBY7589wsU/s400/007.JPG

just read the article a bit more and it talks about the parliament precinct master plan

That includes all the crappy buildings to the rear that various departments offices are in etc. $50 million would barely cover a nice fitout for all those very old offices so unlikely to see any particular external differences...

There are a few small awful additionas at the back of Parliament House, but nothing big that would consume $50m.

If you are talking about the Treasury Precinct, well, all those buildings have been restored and refurbished and are all in excellent shape thanks to Jeff who started the redevelopment project when he was Premier.

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/article/Parliament-of-Victoria-master-plan-architect-revealed/493471.aspx

Parliament of Victoria master plan architect revealed

6 August 2009 | by Gemma Battenbough

Woodhead is working on a precinct master plan for the Parliament of Victoria, Architecture & Design has learned.

Parliament House is a historically significant Melbourne landmark and the surrounding gardens are fundamental to the site.

The west facade of the building faces the intersection of Spring and Bourke streets, and bears sweeping steps, elegant lamps and a grand colonnade.

The master plan profess will allow the Parliament of Victoria with to review all accommodation within the precinct and to enable strategic decisions to be made on the provision and standard of accommodation, facilities and infrastructure.

Woodhead is working with other firms, including civil engineering firms, on the project which is valued at a total of $50,000,000. Work is slated to be completed in December 2011.

Melbourne’s Parliament House is the largest 19th century building in Australia that is still functioning as a public building. Government architect Charles Pasley designed the building in 1853 after the results of a design competition were judged as inadequate. The building is said to have borrowed heavily from Leeds Town Hall, which is widely considered among the finest civic buildings in the world.

The design was later modified by another architect, Peter Kerr, a partner of John Knight.

might explain the recent student ideas competition for Parliament House held through heritage victoria. they were given a similar brief

http://www.architecture.com.au/i-cms?page=1.18.3148.3509.13145

http://www.architecture.com.au/files/1/18/3148/3509/13145/13160/kitinan2.jpg

William I put 'folly' in inverted commas because that is how the government would see it. It would be viewed as funding something completely 'pointless' at hte expense of putting $50 million into a health/transport/police/education budget.

I think it would be an awesome project and I'd gladly pledge $1000 to see it built.

thanks for the clarification too Aussie Steve - was mainly thinking of the treasury precinct. I think the only offices really remaining in Parliament House itself are for politicians?

I think it would be an awesome project and I'd gladly pledge $1000 to see it built.

Me too, probably more even.

I'd really like to know how much it would cost, so I could crunch the number on how many Victorians would need to also pledge and how much to get it to happen. But I'm not aware of an exact cost from the Kennett investigation.

Not to get too political, but the cost of a feasibility study would have to be less than some of the moneywasting reports I've seen come out of this government.

Myki, for example, could have bought us at least three or four domes for parliament house ....

I'd rather see flinders st renovated than parliament house tbh...sure parliament would be enhanced by the dome, but the roof on flinders is rotten green...2c

the roof is copper isnt it??? copper goes green when ecposed to the elements, just like the statue of liberty, that green "rotting" is the beauty of it.

the roof is copper isnt it??? copper goes green when ecposed to the elements, just like the statue of liberty, that green "rotting" is the beauty of it.

yep. love it the way it is...and should be.

I don't see it as a folly.
It should have been done for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Successful completion projects have gone on in Sydney and Brisbane (St Marys and St John's respectively) which cost a lot but are now real cultural and tourism assets to those respective cities.

http://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/HDMS-HTML/CCOMS194.htm

If the government doesn't want to bite the bullet then a public appeal should be run. Those abovementioned projects raised public funds from citizens outside of the church so I can't see why similar couldn't be done to complete Parliament House. It is one of the most magnificent Victorian neoclassical buildings in the world, surely we can do better.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IlHFucD7C9Q/Sc4NHuKjqsI/AAAAAAAAG2w/mYBY7589wsU/s400/007.JPG


i agree, it could easily be built now

If Oklahoma can do it so can Victoria.

Oklahoma State Capitol building. Started in 1914 and completed in 1919 but missing its originally designed dome because of the same reasons ours weren't built. Supply shortages, low on cash, WWI etc. 82 years later dome construction commences in August 2001 to original design and is completed in November 2002 for a total of $20.8m. $17.5m of that raised from public donations. Aesthetically it's gone from zero to hero. The dome interior is also beautifully finished and open to the public. Win-Win result.

Late '90s.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/455608138_ff525697c1.jpg

Dedication Ceremony.
http://vaughngallery.com/images/DomeDedication/CapDomeFireworks.JPG

As it stands today.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2405586212_87afdb371e.jpg

http://vaughngallery.com/images/DomeDedication/CapitolDome.jpg


how glorious it would be
I would have to agree with that.

Under the dome:
http://www.thecollectormm.com/private/ParlInterior1.jpghttp://www.slv.vic.gov.au/miscpics/0/0/9/im/mp009221.jpg

Me too, probably more even.

But I'm not aware of an exact cost from the Kennett investigation.



i've seen about 5 seperate sources saying that Kennett's review found it would cost 30 million to complete the dome and 80 million to complete the sides and back. This was back in 96 so inflation and what not would be an issue

[QUOTE=redbaron_012;23391938]I hope one day this building will be completed to it's original design. Todays Herald-Sun article.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7840/2008731029largegv4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

i'm just waiting for auswankin to chime in, call me stupid, and insist that it will cost several billion to complete (with no factual basis)

here's an interesting article about Kennett’s efforts to build the dome
http://www.kitezh.com/texts/stoneparl.html

yep. love it the way it is...and should be.

thats what i was thinking! the last thing they should change at FSS is the roof, there are the toilets, covering the platforms, fixing the swanston st side! there si SOOOO much to be done before teh roof!

thats what i was thinking! the last thing they should change at FSS is the roof, there are the toilets, covering the platforms, fixing the swanston st side! there si SOOOO much to be done before teh roof!

i agree...the roof looks much better aged. don't touch it until they've finished all the other things that should be done to fss

[QUOTE=williampitt;43059858]Me too, probably more even.

But I'm not aware of an exact cost from the Kennett investigation.



i've seen about 5 seperate sources saying that Kennett's review found it would cost 30 million to complete the dome and 80 million to complete the sides and back. This was back in 96 so inflation and what not would be an issue



i'm just waiting for auswankin to chime in, call me stupid, and insist that it will cost several billion to complete (with no factual basis)

here's an interesting article about Kennett’s efforts to build the dome
http://www.kitezh.com/texts/stoneparl.html

$30 million to complete the dome ? is that all.

Thats like $1,000 pledged each from 30,000 Victorians. I'm sure you could find that many if you sold them a plaque on a wall.

FFS St Pauls Cathedral restoration cost $20 million and that was done in time for the Commonwealth Games. And Bracks chimed in a couple of million at most. Most of that was raised by private donation. I personally pledged $250 toward it.

C'mon Victoria - we can do better!

^^
What a great idea, i would pledge 1 or 2000 dollars if it meant we would see a dome on parliment house in our lifetime :)

I was thinking about FSS the other day and that it'd be great if they built the platform cover as proposed and the Swanston Street frontage.

would be a great project to do now and have a nicer front to both the river/southbank and federation square. not to mention the 20 million passenger (or whatever the real number is) passengers that go through there every year.

Someone start the website for pledging and I'll pledge some money. I'm sure there'd be rich people who'd donate $10,000 or even someone who'd go $1 million to get it done.

I think it is far more importnat to finish the northern and southern wings of the building rather than build the dome.

It is really a sad that the main part of the building has been left unfinished for so long, the dome is really just the icing on the cake.

^^
True, but ive lost faith that Parliment House will ever get finished, i would'nt be surprised that Melbournes history of its non completion of major buildings would justify the NIMBYs into protests about the cost. Not only that, but how sure are we that we would get the original design outcome and not some cheaper stupid modern interpretation ??
Just look at FSS, all the problems with the concorse over the years, all they needed to do was finish it as originaly planned, but noooooo. :(

9-11 Exploration Lane

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9193/911explorationlane.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/911explorationlane.jpg/)

^^ wow. great find archi. i like this one.

hot!

How tall is it? I like skinny ones like this. the skinnier they are the taller they look. looks good.

nice one thanks archi!

^^ I count 31 levels from the ground up.
My question is what does this look like from the sides?
If the sides would be blank concrete walls, this building will look hideous if built.

What ever happened to that proposed Gaza look-alike building?

9-11 Exploration Lane

That is pretty amazing seeing as Exploration Lane is a service lane of one of the small streets. I've seen the site and it's miniscule, definitely will have a blank wall to the north.

Actually on second thoughts that smaller building that's just gone up might cover a fair bit of the Northern facade. It's amazing that this'll be directly across from Eastend apartments.

Lol at Qantas743's new avatar. Feering ronery?

http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/PA100096-1.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/PA100097-1.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/PA100098-1.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/PA100099-1.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/PA100100-1.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/PA100101-1.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/PA100102-1.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/PA100103-1.jpg

^^ 8/10, nice, I do like this tower, just could have been a 10/10 if they had completely covered the concrete SX2 west wall and they had also preserved the facade of the Former Eastern Arcade.

Is anything gonna happen with SX2's blank wall there? It looks absolutely terrible, Especially with the two different shades of grey :|.

I have a feeling they're waiting for construction next door to finish then they might paint it and put some Australia Post signage up? I hope?

Collector not sure this particular tower would have worked if they'd kept the Eastern Arcade... a redesign perhaps.

still I love this tower, agree soemthing needs to be done about that SX2 wall - white paint would be a starting point.

^^ They could have easily left this (facade and a bit)......

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/private/EasternArcade2.jpg

.....in the ground level of this new building, replacing the new entry levels.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/Muse11/DevineFinRevRender.jpg

The design of the new building with its setbacks could have easily accommodated the retention of the Former Eastern Arcade.
Imagine how nice it would have looked fully restored with a beautiful modernist building behind it. :)
We could have had the best of both worlds much like The Rialto complex.

Architectural render of the former Eastern Arcade, what it could have looked like again if it was fully restored.

http://www.thecollectormm.com.au/private/EasternArcade1.jpg

The redevelopment of 206 Bourke Street is nearing completion, a couple of shops on street level are open.

From The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26236935-5010800,00.html):

Shanghai tang for Melbourne

DARWIN is not the only city trying to lure diners with a glitzy overhaul. It is hoped a $110 million revamp of a former cinema complex on Melbourne's Bourke Street will reinvigorate the city's Chinatown precinct.

Among international restaurant ventures due to open next month in the five-storey 206 Bourke complex are a 600-seat outpost of the Shanghai Dynasty Chinese restaurant chain plus a second Shanghai-run venture, The Bund, which will seat 120.

Colourful former Melbourne lord mayor John So, meanwhile, will expand his Dragon Boat restaurant, a previous tenant in the old Village City Centre building, across two levels, including a large open-air balcony on the second floor. The ambitious project is aimed at revitalising the heart of one of Melbourne's prime cultural districts and further plans are afoot to create a neon lane linking Bourke and Little Bourke streets, with more than 38 individual light boxes along the western wall of 206Bourke St creating an art installation effect. An external lift would provide access to a potential rooftop bar and cinema.

Several images available from the following website:
http://www.realcommercial.com.au/commercial-real-estate/5455271

The redevelopment of 206 Bourke Street is nearing completion, a couple of shops on street level are open.

From The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26236935-5010800,00.html):



Several images available from the following website:
http://www.realcommercial.com.au/commercial-real-estate/5455271

Bourke St is in such a sorry state nowadays. I remember when i was a teenager, most of the activity in the city was concentrated around Bourke/Russell, at least as far as entertainment was concerned. It was full of theatres, arcades etc. Now it just feels dead.

The redevelopment of 206 Bourke Street is nearing completion, a couple of shops on street level are open.

From The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26236935-5010800,00.html):



Several images available from the following website:
http://www.realcommercial.com.au/commercial-real-estate/5455271

Oh. I never knew that area was being redeveloped. Is that where the Target center is?

Oh. I never knew that area was being redeveloped. Is that where the Target center is?


Oh wait, I got the Target Center mixed up with the Village cinemas area, which is being developed.

I knew it was being redeveloped.

^^they should have turned that Village into a V-Max centre or something:bash:

That place was never performing that well and IMO in terms of facilities was too dated to compete with the new cinemas at Melbourne Central and Crown. A redevelopment would have to be pretty substantial.

Just a question on 171 Collins Street... Did Grocon end up purchasing the site? I remember reading about it happenening but i don't think it was ever confirmed... anyone know what the deal with it is :?

9-11 Exploration Lane

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9193/911explorationlane.jpg (http://img22.imageshack.us/i/911explorationlane.jpg/)

Some more:

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8809/exploration.jpg (http://img265.imageshack.us/i/exploration.jpg/)

30-storeys designed by Rothe Lowman architects.

:yes:

^^ :cheers: Thanks for sharing Archi.

Street level

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m401/pouinetoksenodohio/exploration.jpg?t=1257569032
google maps

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8809/exploration.jpg

good work archi. looks good. :)

Looks very good, great space filler for the inner city. Do we ideas on dates/timeframes for this one Archi? Can't believe it is almost directly opposite EastEnd though.... lol @ people who have bought a facing apartment in that development, doubt they were expecting that.

Sorry I shouldn't laugh, it's not nice...;)

Also appears like it might exceed 100m, with over 30 stories - should it be in this thread or is it just under?

:)
Great little building that is ^^
Exploration Ln is fireing up, like it alot :)

Wow, that is one sexy scraper. So slim and elegant!

reminds me of the defunct Savoy Tower...RIP :-(

Looks too.... tall... for lack of a better word. like a bit out of proportion.

Looks too.... tall... for lack of a better word. like a bit out of proportion.

Does look tall for it's width, but I think it gives it a unique style when included in the skyline.

Looking forward to this going up.

i love these skinny towers.... skinny means your city is dense and you've reached a point where you're squeezing towers in. go Melbs!

Yup skinny towers are great in amongst the fatter ones. If you think about it, Eureka is really a skinny tower.

More than anything, to me it looks like a quality design. From the treatment of the balconies, to the wood and concrete entrance. Great to see. Two thumbs up

yeah pretty good design. tiny site.

was this approved??? it went through planning process about 3-4 months ago and I wasn't sure council would have approved of the carpark access (for about 30-40 cars using a car lift) which is from Exploration Lane and directly abuts the pedestrian access. not much the developer could do about it though given the tight constrains of the site.

Snippet from Capital Gain

Business - Commercial Property
MARC PALLISCO
14 November 2009
The Age

CAPITAL GAIN

Macquarie Office exit

MACQUARIE Office Trust is believed to be selling a half-interest in a proposed $260 million office building at Collins Street's "Paris end" to CBus Property.

Sources say Macquarie will reap between $15 million and $20 million for a half-stake in the 171 Collins Street office proposal, which set a landmark planning precedent last July by more than doubling the regulated height of a building in the "Swanston Street spine".

Earlier this year, Macquarie lodged an application to add an 18th level to the proposed glass building, bringing the total lettable commercial and retail area to about 42,329 square metres.

Macquarie paid $27.6 million for the property in 2006, before seeking a permit to replace the former retail arcade with an office.

The proposed new development is believed to hinge on snaring a major office tenant, of which there are now several in the Melbourne market.

Representatives from Macquarie and CBus declined to comment about any joint-venture arrangement.

Earlier in the year it was speculated that Grocon was interested in buying the office site.

Chinese development group Dahu Holdings has submitted an application for a 32 storey tower on the former Naval and Military Club site in Little Collins Street.

A 24 storey tower was approved for the site last year.

This will be a super premium residential tower and will probably be just over 100m high.

Chinese development group Dahu Holdings has submitted an application for a 32 storey tower on the former Naval and Military Club site in Little Collins Street.

A 24 storey tower was approved for the site last year.

This will be a super premium residential tower and will probably be just over 100m high.

Does super premium also mean super sexy?

Grollo what is the address of this site? I'm not familiar with the Naval/Military site. Thanks

^^
Its near the back of The Melbourne Club :)

it'll be 99m high without plant.

nothing special in the design but not bad.

Adress is about 10 Little Collins Street. right up near the Windsor Hotel (but on the south side of Little Collins). abutting Coates Lane

sounds promising. Be nice to see a high quality apartment building go in - lots of lower grade apartment buildings with studio/1 bed/2 bed's going in. City needs another republic tower type development...

actually it isn't really a 'high grade apartment building'

12 levels hotel 12 level studio/1 bedroom servied apartments top 8 levels 2 and 3 bedroom 'high grade' apartments and bottom 2 levels lobby and restaurants/function space.

actually it isn't really a 'high grade apartment building'

12 levels hotel 12 level studio/1 bedroom servied apartments top 8 levels 2 and 3 bedroom 'high grade' apartments and bottom 2 levels lobby and restaurants/function space.

Oh dear never mind. Dynasty looks a lot better - maybe this will fill the gap.

I worked at the Naval & Military Club part time til it closed this January after 126 years running. It's 27 little Collins street.

citadines is quite good

http://www.alamarav.com/mark/dbh200912.jpg

http://www.alamarav.com/mark/dbh2009121.jpg

ub1 apartments, aka unitised building. new method of construction. will be interesting to see how this progresses, crane to be mounted other side of the road

http://www.alamarav.com/mark/ubo200912.jpg

love citadines hate the exposed concrete of SX2 - couldn't they have painted the concrete so it was at least 1 colour???

citadines is quite good

ub1 apartments, aka unitised building. new method of construction. will be interesting to see how this progresses, crane to be mounted other side of the road

http://www.alamarav.com/mark/ubo200912.jpg




I like Citadines too, even thoough it is not actually part of the SX development it complements and improves the west elevation of SX.




That UB1 hoarding gives me a sense of dejavu;

I can't remember a two faced concertina hoarding since the St Kilda Road hoarding at the Arts Centre development in the early 1980s.

UB1 is Little Hero

Citadines covers SX blank wall brilliantly. No doubt the remainder will probably end up being covered, may be solar panels on Citadines roof?

For those interested here's an article in which Karl Fender discusses the unitised building system:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/modular-solution-to-urban-sprawl-20090623-cvel.html

Sorry to be a pest, but what's happed to that proposed residential tower on Lonsdale St opposite the State Library? Is it dead in the water? :(

http://www.theage.com.au/national/rmit-green-brain-makes-you-think-20091221-la69.html

RMIT green brain makes you think
KATE LAHEY
December 22, 2009

The $7.5 million RMIT "brain pavilion" will link Storey Hall to the old Singer Building and extend the university's conference facilities.
THE symbolism wasn't entirely deliberate but with the failure of the Copenhagen talks, it is strangely pertinent. This is RMIT's new addition, a "green brain" watching over Melbourne.

Due to open early next year, the extra (head) space is part of the university's $600 million capital works program and was designed by Ashton Raggatt McDougall architects, the firm behind the award-winning redesign of neighbouring Storey Hall in 1995.

RMIT vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner said she hoped Melburnians would find the brain intriguing, and thought the city was ready for it.

"What could be more apt at this time than that we embrace the symbolism of having a green brain?" Professor Gardner said.

The brain links Storey Hall to the old Singer Building on the corner of La Trobe and Swanston streets. "It extends all the conference facilities and seminar rooms in Storey Hall," Professor Gardner said.

The canopy design is based on Storey Hall's geometric Penrose tiles, two geometric shapes, 54 and 72-degree rhombuses, covering an infinite surface in non-periodic patterns.

Adjunct professor of architecture at RMIT, Howard Raggatt, said he wanted to create "a kind of primordial Penrose" with his roof-top brain. The fibreglass surfaces will have a painted finish.

The refurbishment and brain pavilion cost $7.5 million.

On the other side of Swanston Street, RMIT is building a $62 million design hub, designed by Sean Godsell. It will have a facade of translucent, sandblasted glass cells, with the capacity for solar technology to be incorporated in them, which the university says will be a first.

RMIT failed to get federal stimulus funding for its planned Swanston Academic Building, which will wrap around the Oxford Scholar Hotel. But it plans to start work on it soon using its own and borrowed money.

Work on the 1927 Emily McPherson Building is due to be finished by the middle of next year.

Professor Gardner said the big capital works program, about 30 projects in total, would transform existing learning spaces and increase informal social areas, as well as add purpose-designed buildings. "There's a level of respect and valuing of people in giving them good quality spaces, well designed," she said.



Sorry didn't know how to get the pic on here. its on the link attached. cheers

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/12/22/993039/svGREENBRAIN-420x0.jpg

^So thats what there doing.. looks ok, atleast the facade looks like its getting a good clean atm :)

Another render from RMIT:

http://rmit.org.au/browse;ID=4g9qe3lqgw0yz;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Rebecca%20Hill;SECTION=1;

http://prodmams.rmit.edu.au/j9xdfe6m5mkv1.jpg

What is so significant about that red brick building on the corner, that RMIT felt the need to retain it, rather then demolish and rebuild?

^^ Are you serious?

^^i agree not a bad old building. Worth retaining

An application has been submitted for a 40 storey apartment tower at 276 Russell Street.

The site is teh corner of Russell and Little Lonsdale across from QV and just down from the proposed Barton Tower.

Sweet. Be great getting some bulk down there. Thanks Grollo

^^:lol: Makes me think the city is some sort of body builder, presumably with steroids! Need some bulk...

Thanks Grollo, look forward to seeing some proposed renders for this - good spot, will add greatly to the area. Building on the corner is a wasted space. Fingers crossed, I think 2010/11 is going to be year for bulking te skyline up, ready for some landmark scrapers in 2011-14?

Why would this go up - they can't even get Barton Tower up.

Why would this go up - they can't even get Barton Tower up.

Im sure Barton Tower will start one day, but when ??

And as for the other one on Russell St, that would be good too !! Thanks Grollo :bow:

Had to lough at Eco-rats comment ''cities as body builders on steroids'' loven the bulk :lol:

Little Hero apartments, 16-34 Russell Place, designed by Fender Katsalidis are well into construction with the first floor already in place.

Tower crane has been assembled on the opposte site in Russell Place.

To be built in a modular fashion, wth rooms/modules built offsite and lowered in by crane.

Expected to be completed very quickly.

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/2262/105372262mm1226972652.jpg

http://www.realestateview.com.au/pics/213/1484213a.jpg

thanks collector was looking around recently for decent pics of this.

I think I might wander up there at some point in the next few weeks nad watch it in constructino - maybe try to find out a time when one of the pre-fab bits will be going up.

It's actually a bit more colourful:

http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/5844/lilhero.jpg (http://img121.imageshack.us/i/lilhero.jpg/)

^^ Wonder if it's the final design, they seem to be tinkering with it a bit.

Dunno, but it's the same as the one on the hoarding.

ub1. still getting the first floor concrete deck in place

http://www.alamarav.com/mark/ubo201001.jpg

http://www.unitisedbuilding.com.au/ seems completion is due mid year

^^ For those that don't know, UB1 and Little Hero are one and the same.....

UB1 is the latest Nonda Katsalidis designed retail and residential development in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. UB1 is currently under construction by Hickory Developments Pty Ltd for completion in mid 2010.

This boutique laneway development will consist of sixty three one- and two- bedroom city apartments and duplex penthouse residences. A cornerstone of the re-development of this emerging laneway, the new residences will sit atop seven new up-market retail shops, cafes and restaurants.

Fender Katsalidis Architects (Aust) Pty Ltd and Hickory Developments Pty Ltd are employing Unitised™Building’s UB™ System for the construction of this developments, utilising a parallel on- and off-site construction programme which aims to reduce construction time by more than 6 months from a conventional build.

8 East End has topped out by the way.

Citadines signage is up...

http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P1240007.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P1240006-1.jpg
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/P1240008.jpg

25-35 LITTLE COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE (http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/7489/5.6.pdf)

Proposal: Demolition of the existing building, buildings and works for the construction of a 32 level building to be used for the purpose of retail (shop and food and drink premises), and accommodation (residential hotel, serviced apartments and dwellings).

The overall height of the building is proposed to be 104.7 metres.

The building will comprise parking and services in the basement levels and retail and a hotel lobby at ground floor.

The upper floors of the building are proposed to be used for conference facilities (first floor), a restaurant and recreational facilities (second floor), hotel suites (levels three to 14), serviced apartments (levels 15 - 25) and dwellings (levels 26-32).

The subject site is located on the south side of Little Collins Street between Coates Lane and Ridgway Place at 25-35 Little Collins, Melbourne (see Attachment 3).

The site has an area of 1173 sqm and is rectangular in shape with a frontage to Little Collins Street of 20.43m and a depth along Coates Lane of 57.82m.

The site contains a three storey brick and concrete building with a roof terrace towards the rear. The building includes a range of uses including accommodation and retail, with the Naval and Military Club being the former occupier.

114-128 FLINDERS STREET, MELBOURNE (http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/7490/5.7.pdf)

Proposal: The application proposes to extend the existing building by adding an additional 6 levels to allow for an increase the number of car and motor cycle park spaces; use of part of levels 1 – 8 as office, level nine as a restricted recreation facility (gymnasium) and to provide bicycle parking and facilities (showers and lockers) at ground level.

Four additional levels (Levels 10-14) on the Flinders Street frontage with no street setback;
and six additional levels which have no setback from Flinders Lane. The top two levels (levels 15 and 16) are setback 13 metres from the Flinders Street frontage.

The application proposes an overall building height of approximately 38 metres from Flinders Street and 39 metres from Flinders Lane.

The site area is approximately 3,153 square metres and is currently occupied by a nine storey commercial car park with approximately 110 square metres of retail at ground level and 1,375 square metres of office space over five levels at the south side of the building. The commercial carpark is currently operated by Secure Parking and has 864 spaces. Access to the carpark is via Flinders Street and Flinders Lane.


The land is also affected by a registered restrictive covenant, Covenant AB765353R, which limits the development of the subject land. The covenant was applied to the land to protect southerly views from 101 Collins Street by prohibiting any building (and associated infrastructure) encroaching above RL60.07 at Flinders Lane to RL52.31 at Flinders Street.

Render of 25-35 Little Collins from the pdf Aussie Steve posted:

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8160/225lilcol.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/i/225lilcol.jpg/)

^^
That looks elegant from that angle, i like it :)

^^ Elegant indeed, we need more like this! :banana:

Is it a Katsilidis? It looks like it. If it is, then = quality!

Buchan Group.

^^
What else has the Buchan Group built in town ??
More Buchan and less CE apartments please :)

Reminds me a little of Dock 5. I like it.

^^
What else has the Buchan Group built in town ??
More Buchan and less CE apartments please :)

Buchan designed Victoria Point and Bendigo Bank (in association with dKO), Lucient as well as all the recent additions to Chadstone plus what I consider to be a fairly ordinary scheme for 447 Collins Street. They also designed Vision up in Brisbane.

^^
Thanks A r c h i :)
Vision would be the best out of that crop imo, Lucient is great from the St Kilda Rd front but from the side and rear its very ordinary, same for the VicPoint tower..

Vogue is also one of theirs.

For Sale

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/4250/5614250ml1264983333.jpg

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/4250/5614250,20100201111535,p,600x800,ImageA.jpg

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/4250/5614250bl1264113806.jpg

Ideal CBD Development OpportunityA huge CBD site of 1,857 sqm* with Plans and Permit in place for a 32 level residential tower comprising 372 apartments and ground level retail space. A fantastic location close to RMIT, Melbourne Central, QV and abundant public transport.

27-39 MacKenzie Street, Melbourne

- A large CBD site primed for development
- Land area of 1,857 square metres*
- Subject to short-term car park lease
- A fantastic eastern CBD location close to RMIT, Melbourne University, QV Complex, Melbourne Central and abundant public transport
- Outstanding natural light and views
- Plans and permit in place for a 32 level residential tower with 372 apartments

For Sale by Expressions of Interest closing Wednesday 10 March at 2pm.

God I hope the purchaser can do better than that proposal...

They look very similar to some towers i've seen on the corner of Gertrude St and Brunswick St....

It's replacing this design isn't it?
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/north1.jpg

^^ Jeez, that looks like a Russian social housing block with holes blown through the sides, or the concrete crumbling away..

^^ Jeez, that looks like a Russian social housing block with holes blown through the sides, or the concrete crumbling away..

"Sarajevo Plaza"

Perfect location though. If the internal fitout was good, I'd live there.

thats one of the worst proposed buildings i have seen

For Sale

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/4250/5614250ml1264983333.jpg



Good to see those car parks are finally going. No city should have open air car parks taking up valuable space. From memory, isn't that site the last remaining open air carpark in the CBD?

^^ I guess it depends what you define the CBD as. Queen Vic Market still has open air car parking, which is apparently an 1800s-vintage cemetery that's tarred over.

About the proposal - apart from the architecture does anybody else wish we got more than cheap apartment towers for overseas students being built in the CBD?

There were a few smaller ones dotted about the CBD when I was last there, down laneways and stuff. Surely they haven't all gone within the last 15 months?

does anybody else wish we got more than cheap apartment towers for overseas students being built in the CBD?

Wish - yeah sure. Expect? No. Developers are businesses not public art charities. Its all about turning over as a big a profit as possible once the project's complete. Overseas students are one of the biggest demographics contributing to population growth in the inner city. If rich entrepreneurs with great taste in apartment buildings start flocking to the CBD in their tens of thousands for years on end then maybe there'll be a market for something else.

It's replacing this design isn't it?
http://i318.photobucket.com/albums/mm410/raz188/north1.jpg

^^ Jeez, that looks like a Russian social housing block with holes blown through the sides, or the concrete crumbling away..

"Sarajevo Plaza"

More Grozny Chechnya...:nuts:

Prime location really deserves something special

I gues I'm on my own in loving this one /\/\ like a new brutalism and if they are green plants groing over the top...even better.

Good to see those car parks are finally going. No city should have open air car parks taking up valuable space. From memory, isn't that site the last remaining open air carpark in the CBD?

Actually technically that location is not in the CBD as it's north of La Trobe St. City fringe our Brisbane forumers would call it.

Tower threatens slum-era 'Little Lon' terraces LARISSA HAM (http://www.theage.com.au/national/tower-threatens-slumera-little-lon-terraces-20100207-nkt7.html)
8 February 2010

http://images.theage.com.au/2010/02/07/1100206/terraces_main-420x0.jpg
The Little Lonsdale terraces facing demolition. Photo: Jason South

A PAIR of historic terrace houses in Melbourne's former Little Lonsdale slum district are facing demolition to make way for a 30-storey apartment tower.

The National Trust has objected to a planning application under which the two 155-year-old Victorian houses - among the last surviving buildings from the infamous ''Little Lon'' era - would be destroyed.

Urban Design Architects have lodged plans with Melbourne City Council for a residential development at 120-122 Little Lonsdale, which would include an eatery at ground level.

The move comes as art deco lovers lament the demolition of the 1930s Lonsdale House to widen a lane for Myer delivery vehicles.

The National Trust said the terrace was built in 1854 and part of a remnant row of ''Little Lon'' buildings that also includes the neighbouring Leitrim Hotel built in 1888, a 1907 workshop and another corner building.

The Little Lonsdale Street district was notorious for a century from about 1850 for crime, poverty, opium dens and prostitution, including at least four brothels run by the infamous Madame Brussels.

In 2002, Victoria's biggest archaeological dig yielded thousands of artefacts from the lives of slum dwellers near Casselden Place, a block east of the threatened terrace houses. National Trust architectural historian, Rohan Storey, said the terrace frontage had remained almost unchanged since it was built.

''They're among the few terraces left in city'' Mr Storey said. ''It's virtually all that's left of the fabric of that area, and it's a complete row. So really, we are asking the council for heritage protection for the whole row.''

A Melbourne City spokesman said the terrace was not protected by a heritage overlay, but council officers were speaking to the National Trust on the matter. Council officers are believed to be sceptical about the proposal.

Urban Design Architects declined to comment.

_________________________________________________

I do hope these buildings are saved.

114-128 FLINDERS STREET, MELBOURNE (http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutCouncil/Meetings/Lists/CouncilMeetingAgendaItems/Attachments/7490/5.7.pdf)



The land is also affected by a registered restrictive covenant, Covenant AB765353R, which limits the development of the subject land. The covenant was applied to the land to protect southerly views from 101 Collins Street by prohibiting any building (and associated infrastructure) encroaching above RL60.07 at Flinders Lane to RL52.31 at Flinders Street.

many building aroudn 101 Collins Street have a covenant like this. when 101 was built and surplus land sold off it included the covenant and some surrounding land agreed to the government for presumably cash payments at the time.

I hear 101 Collins isn't too pleased about the rumblings of development at the Architects/Design building on corner LIttle Collins/Exhibition Street because it doesn't have covenants and could block views to the east.

its all about retaining 101 Collins premium price.

Tower threatens slum-era 'Little Lon' terraces LARISSA HAM (http://www.theage.com.au/national/tower-threatens-slumera-little-lon-terraces-20100207-nkt7.html)
8 February 2010

http://images.theage.com.au/2010/02/07/1100206/terraces_main-420x0.jpg
The Little Lonsdale terraces facing demolition. Photo: Jason South

A PAIR of historic terrace houses in Melbourne's former Little Lonsdale slum district are facing demolition to make way for a 30-storey apartment tower.

The National Trust has objected to a planning application under which the two 155-year-old Victorian houses - among the last surviving buildings from the infamous ''Little Lon'' era - would be destroyed.

Urban Design Architects have lodged plans with Melbourne City Council for a residential development at 120-122 Little Lonsdale, which would include an eatery at ground level.

The move comes as art deco lovers lament the demolition of the 1930s Lonsdale House to widen a lane for Myer delivery vehicles.

The National Trust said the terrace was built in 1854 and part of a remnant row of ''Little Lon'' buildings that also includes the neighbouring Leitrim Hotel built in 1888, a 1907 workshop and another corner building.

The Little Lonsdale Street district was notorious for a century from about 1850 for crime, poverty, opium dens and prostitution, including at least four brothels run by the infamous Madame Brussels.

In 2002, Victoria's biggest archaeological dig yielded thousands of artefacts from the lives of slum dwellers near Casselden Place, a block east of the threatened terrace houses. National Trust architectural historian, Rohan Storey, said the terrace frontage had remained almost unchanged since it was built.

''They're among the few terraces left in city'' Mr Storey said. ''It's virtually all that's left of the fabric of that area, and it's a complete row. So really, we are asking the council for heritage protection for the whole row.''

A Melbourne City spokesman said the terrace was not protected by a heritage overlay, but council officers were speaking to the National Trust on the matter. Council officers are believed to be sceptical about the proposal.

Urban Design Architects declined to comment.

_________________________________________________

I do hope these buildings are saved.

this is one of the very few times i do believe they shouldnt build on this site. 155 years old! it would be a crime to remove them

many building aroudn 101 Collins Street have a covenant like this. when 101 was built and surplus land sold off it included the covenant and some surrounding land agreed to the government for presumably cash payments at the time.

I hear 101 Collins isn't too pleased about the rumblings of development at the Architects/Design building on corner LIttle Collins/Exhibition Street because it doesn't have covenants and could block views to the east.

its all about retaining 101 Collins premium price.

Is this the only city in the world that has significant CBD block redevelopment controlled and effectively denied by the owners of 1 building?

Sorry but I find just ludicrous that CBD development appears to be dictated by someone who doesn't want to lose a view? We all suffer, the city suffers with undeveloped, shitty buildings around the city because one building needs a view? Come on, surely this needs to be addressed.

this is one of the very few times i do believe they shouldnt build on this site. 155 years old! it would be a crime to remove them

Agree - but let's do something with the bloody things! Leaving them as they are is also a crime. People get to walk past and say - "look, that's over 150 years old" then walk on again.

Paint peeling off, no current relevance to the city. No-one would know the history of these buildings if you walked past.

Why not have them opened up for public viewing? Turn them into a museum showcasing this unique part of Melbourne and it's history? Build them into the base of a tower, and use these buildings as interesting retail spaces?

I was in Sydney yesterday and while I don't like the CBD, I love how they've opened up buildings around the rocks and used them well. I find it mad that we shout and jump up and down when we might lose these buildings, but have done f**k all with them for the last decades, and no-one even knows what they are or their significance until they are threatened with demolition.

:bash::bash::bash::bash:

Agree 100% with ooh. I also get annoyed that the council don't seem interested in our own history at all.

^^
I agree, but also it has only 1 small door, its use would be very limited without a major renovation imo. If the apartment building is just anouther generic building then this site should be left alone..

^^I come back to my point - how did these terraces end up in such poor condition? 'Owning' property ie holding the title, but without the money to maintain it, is morally a crime.

Sadly, it isn't legally a crime, and tens of thousands of blocks around Melbourne are poorly kept by the 'asset rich but cash poor' including pensioners.

Maybe they should look at offering tax breaks to owners who keep facades of heritage buildings in good condition like they do in NYC.

Do we do anything like that in Victoria at the moment?

ooh - am with you. love the history of melbourne (worked in 50 lonsdale st for 3 months last year and they have many pieces that came out of the dig mentioned in the article, very cool) but this building as is does sweet FA, that's not to say demolish it, but like we said in the school yard 'either step up or step off' letting it just hang around has significant opportunity cost

what ever happened to moving important buildings??? why not put these on the roof of the new tower:lol:
but seriously if they moved cooks cottage from Engaland to the Fitzroy Gardens and the old london Bridge to where ever in the USA (yes the whole bridge) why cant we simply just move what ever building that's in the way now, Lonsdale house included, to say docklands?

YES, I say it everytime I go there, they just need to move some old buildings form the city centre down to docklands, along Bourke or Collins... it would help the whole area.

^^
Nooooo, that would look silly, what connection would they have to Docklands????

YES, I say it everytime I go there, they just need to move some old buildings form the city centre down to docklands, along Bourke or Collins... it would help the whole area.

I've gotta say that's the shittest idea ever. That would be so kitsch and tacky. Docklands is a new area. We should preserve what we have there but shouldn't go building old buildings there

I'm all for rebuilding some of Melbourne's lost old buildings in congruent areas of the CBD but in the docklands would be the worst

What about a town hall with a clock tower, I just reackon it needs a big heavy stone building to "ground" the atmosphere.
And if it had a big stone town hall, it would feel like there was a centre point. I'm hanging to see what they do with collins bourke intersection.

cooks cottage and london bridge are MUCH more hisorically significant than 2 deteriorating houses. its worth moving such things, not these houses.

What about a town hall with a clock tower, I just reackon it needs a big heavy stone building to "ground" the atmosphere.
And if it had a big stone town hall, it would feel like there was a centre point. I'm hanging to see what they do with collins bourke intersection.

why would they have a new town hall in dockalnds when its now part of melbourne city council... bourke and collins intersection will be sweet!... hopefully! anything built on that intersection would have to be iconic. none of this BS where developers stick up some shitty appartments... i read an article anout the "iconic intersection of bourke and collins st" govt HAS to make sure whatever is built here is good... no GREAT!

i should add, ive been watching big moves on fox... they move entire buildings like theatres and such... the yanks crack me up.
These buildings on Lonsdale could easily be built into the new building... of course that would require an architect with imagination. However moving the buildings slightly down the road or into a new suburb is not kitsch... if it is, then building Gothic revival buildings in the late 1800's was kitsch. In the scheme of things two little buildings in a new area would be a focal point, where as they are always going to be forgotten where they are now.

Docklands does need more stone buildings tho, with only the fox car collection, goods shed, and the mission to seamen, they whole area is overwhelmed by concrete. Large complex brick work is sorely missed and a modern design building of stone (like say the NGV) would fit in well somewhere or anywhere in docklands.
There is too much Concrete and Glass!!!

Maybe they should look at offering tax breaks to owners who keep facades of heritage buildings in good condition like they do in NYC.

Do we do anything like that in Victoria at the moment?

THe short answer is no

The long answer is no

http://www.melbourneheritage.com/2009/08/28/demolition-by-neglect-laws-in-victoria

you know, I wouldn't be against them moving this terrace to another, developing part of the city.

If you moved them to somewhere with space like Docklands or EGate, made a large bluestone paved area around them, turned the interior into a museum of this era showcasing the architectural dig pieces (and subsequent additional finds upon moving the buildings and digging beneath them), maybe in-set brass plaques around the buildings into the floor with notes on the history, a timeline etc, I think it could be a real tourist attraction, and put some history and relevance to the "sleazy" history of Melbourne.

In a strange way, it kind of works for the London Dungeons - I know it's a different kettle of fish, but you know what I mean, attracting people by the seeing the less glossy side of history?

I envisage it as something similar to the Cadman's Cottage in Sydney - this was moved (albeit 100 metres) and serves a similar purpose.

Yep, I don't mind moving old buildings.

People have commercial uses for them - faux Irish pubs, classy colleges attached to Law schools and so on.

If the old building is unlikely to survive in its old home, give it a new one.

There's no way you could move those other than brick by brick - which just means you'll be building a copy out of second hand bricks. They don't look to me like they are built of stone (other than the foundations). The common walls are probably keyed into each other and lime mortar turns to dust at the slightest vibration. Not to mention the impossibility of undercutting the foundations without undermining neighbouring buildings or maneuvering the thing down little Lonsdale St.

Cadmans cottage hasn't moved - the waterline has with the construction of Circular Quay.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4360164219_a5976e75ff_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pics-or-it-didnt-happen/4360164219/)

There's no way you could move those other than brick by brick - which just means you'll be building a copy out of second hand bricks. They don't look to me like they are built of stone (other than the foundations). The common walls are probably keyed into each other and lime mortar turns to dust at the slightest vibration. Not to mention the impossibility of undercutting the foundations without undermining neighbouring buildings or maneuvering the thing down little Lonsdale St.

Cadmans cottage hasn't moved - the waterline has with the construction of Circular Quay.

Weren't the Kiwis going to put the Beehive up on rollers and roll it down the street? :banana:

I've gotta say that's the shittest idea ever. That would be so kitsch and tacky. Docklands is a new area. We should preserve what we have there but shouldn't go building old buildings there

I'm all for rebuilding some of Melbourne's lost old buildings in congruent areas of the CBD but in the docklands would be the worst

Agree

I've gotta say that's the shittest idea ever. That would be so kitsch and tacky. Docklands is a new area. We should preserve what we have there but shouldn't go building old buildings there

I'm all for rebuilding some of Melbourne's lost old buildings in congruent areas of the CBD but in the docklands would be the worst

Well they should at least vary the building styles they've got down there. Docklands needs variation and a lot of it.

From Capital Gain:

Business - Commercial Property
CBD eyesore to go
Marc Pallisco
27 February 2010
The Age

CAPITAL GAIN

LOCK the date into your diary: 2015 should see the demolition of one of the CBD's more prominent eyesores.

The spectacularly located, mission brown, 35 Spring Street office building, opposite Treasury Gardens, may cease functioning as an office, 41 years after it was built.

The vendor, the Over Fifty Direct Property Trust, will sell the building with plans for a predominantly glass, 39-level, 165-unit apartment complex.

That tower is expected to rob parkland and eastern-suburbs views enjoyed by tenants at AMP's Collins Place buildings at 35 and 55 Collins Street, until now the tallest buildings along the south-eastern rim of the CBD.

The 35 Spring Street office is fully leased to the state Finance Department, which pays annual rent of $4.1 million to occupy the 12,984-square-metre office on a lease with no renewal options.

The building was one of several offloaded by the state government in a 2003 sell-off that also included a car park at 522 Flinders Lane and 555, 567 and 595 Collins Street.

Over Fifty paid $35.4 million for 35 Spring Street.

Even at the time of sale — and before the concept of CBD living was as accepted as it is now — sources speculated that 35 Spring Street, on the corner of Flinders Lane, would be best suited as apartments.

Immediately across the road, at 31 Spring Street, a former 12-level Telstra office was converted into a 25-level luxury apartment tower in about 2000, while one of Melbourne's earliest high-rise apartment buildings was developed in the 1980s at 99 Spring Street.

CB Richard Ellis and Colliers International are marketing 35 Spring Street, which is expected to fetch about $45 million.

normally when sites sell the new owner wants there own design etc. so I doubt the image that was in the age or the description above will be built. The only good thing is that in that location it really is a premium building and premium prices on the apartment (parkland views) so no chance of Central Equity or Brady buying it and building boring stuff.

the building in the print version of the age proposed for the site is great. would love it to get built.

anyone got a scan of that article?

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/mps-fought-windsor-plan-20100227-paeq.html

From The Sunday Age

MPs fought Windsor plan
MELISSA FYFE
February 28, 2010

A GROUP of Brumby government MPs wrote a passionate joint submission against the $260 million Hotel Windsor redevelopment and raised concerns with embattled Planning Minister Justin Madden, deepening political controversy over the project.

The Opposition says the revelation undermines the government's position that there was no broad plan to scuttle the project ahead of proper planning processes.

The government is in damage control after a media plan drawn up by Mr Madden's media adviser - and accidentally sent to the ABC - suggested releasing the Windsor panel's report for comment, then using responses to justify rejecting the redevelopment proposal ''as we have listened to community views''.

Developers and community groups claim the media plan reveals a government prepared to usurp proper consultation and planning processes.

Under pressure to resign, Mr Madden has blamed his staffer, Peta Duke, for the document, saying she acted alone in assuming he had already taken a position on the project. Mr Madden insists neither he nor his other staff hatched a plot for a sham public consultation to halt the development.

But The Sunday Age has learned that Mr Madden was last year approached by four concerned government MPs: member for Brunswick Carlo Carli, former speaker Judy Maddigan, parliamentary secretary to the Premier on national reform Rob Hudson and parliamentary secretary for education Steve Herbert.

Mr Carli said Mr Madden had told them to express their concerns through the planning process. The group wrote to Heritage Victoria and the advisory committee appointed to hear the Windsor's case, stating the project would dominate the area.

The MPs' submission said the proposed 92-metre glass tower behind the historic Windsor would breach height limits and overshadow Parliament.

overshadow parlliament... what at 5pm in winter months and 8pm during the summer when all teh pollies have gone home! that is a joke! its a city CBD you they cant honestly say a 92m tower will dominate the area when there are 180m towers ~40m down the road!

sack the fuck head and get someone in who will actually approve GOOD designs and not just shitloads of CE crap on every vacant city block!