i've come to the conclusion this is one seroiusly impressive project deserving of a Docklands address. If Eureka's the 'Big E' or 'Big Easy,' we should call Vic Point 'Golden Boy'. Devine have done a good job to date

Here it is - i'd say the right mix between glass and precast/balcony with a great shape. Also like the silver on the right, nice contrast
http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/vp9.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/vp8.jpg

the small office component to the left, glass and sky blue
http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/vp7.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/vp3.jpg

the long small building to its right contains serviced apartments
http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/vp2.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/vp15.jpg

http://users.bigpond.net.au/tayser/markspics/vp13.jpg


Also for anyone wanting a better look at Village Docklands get this weeks 'The City Weekly'. It's full of model pictures and project profiles including architects Marchese & partners.

Wow... it goes so well with the stadium!!!
And btw, would you know the height details of that stadium?

Is that it's final colour? Gold? Hence the Golden Boy?

Has it started construction?

when i saw the "Victoria Point Docklands" project logo on the devine site i thougght they were talking about a project being built in the seaside suburb of Brisbane called Victoria Point. There is alot of development goin on in the area and i thought it was a new development there, LOL. I clicked on this thread thinking it was about the "Victoria Point" in Brisbane, How wrong i was, hehe. As soon as i saw the pics and text i went, AH, The Docklands in Melbourne.
Is that the docklands official name is it, Victoria Point Docklands?

Well, that golden tower looks awesome, it looks classy without goin overboard with the gold to the point it was tacky. Good the different shades of gold.
When will it be finished roughly? 2004? 2005?

I think the lethal tower is going to look superb. :)

It doesn't look too bad in the model, but beware, Devine is well known for making their buildings look a lot worse upon completion.

The AFR actually said '308 units' they needed to sell.. but maybe it was a typo.

Grrr.. usually apartment towers only need 50%. I guess at the end of the day it depends on how much money they get, so if they sell a lot of the more expensive ones they wont need 70%.

300+ by March. Hmmm.

Its doable, but it will be line ball. Hopefully the opening of Collins St extension and the NewQuay marina opening for summer will pull in big crowds and a lot of attention. It *could* be the deciding factor.

All fingers and toes crossed !!!!

This is one of the most striking 'mid rise' apartment towers around. Here's hoping it gets the green light.

this has been around for a while, I'd really hate to see this one canned, but I don't think they will, don't see it happening.

good pics silver, I can see why you guys were going on about it at the last Melb meet!

Really nice tower, how tall is it?
The cone thing on top is a bit like the one on Q1, or gonna be rather.
Now that i look at it again, on vicpoint there are actually floors most of the way up the cone.

One of the directors of Devine was on radio in Melbourne this morning and said he was very confident of selling the required number of units to get the building started.

He would, wouldn't he...

"davo devine" has a mad limo ;)

when myself, silvermb & dean were in the display suite, it rocked up as we were leaving, was the night of the last meet at the Duke Of wellington, I went for a walk down to the 7 11 on Swanston street ot buy some smokes and low and behold he's cruising down Swanston et al.

good stuff re: seeing people sign up, I think none of us on here who've seen the display suite could really turn down an apartment in Vic Harbour or Vic Point ;)

tays

Originally posted by A-brain
I went down there today.. out of curiosity initially but I must say I left seriously considering buying one!

$295 gets you a reasonable 1-bedroom 10 levels up, but no carpark. The corner 1-bed apartment for $450 inc. carpark looks just sensational! You literally would be able to watch the footy from there too..


Gee, those apartments must be very cheap. :D

just to verify. Apartments in the tower need to be sold, not the whole complex which has about 540. So of the 438 in the tower, 172 have been sold unconditionally, with 136 left for the 308 target which was correct in the AFR. A-brain said they sold 25 in the last couple of days so it sounds like this tower will get 70% fairly comfortably.

Go you good thing!

A-Brain...

I have to ask... not to take this post in another direction... but, I have always picture Devine looking like that Devine guy off the ad who has the balet school. :lol:
And by the sound of his apartment buildings, he seems pretty shoddy. Did he look anything like that?

Davo devine:

http://www.devine.com.au/images/daviddevine2.jpg

and yep, he's definitely the one I saw when at the Display suite (just after the launch) :d

tays

I looked at this one recently - don't reckon it will get up but it probably should - it does look nice. But it is a bit too close to the stadium for my liking. Imagine trying to get home past all those Collingwood yobbo's on a Friday night or Sat arvo!!!

I only hear bad things about DEvine- are they like the CE of the Sunshine state or something??

EDDIE

Originally posted by A-brain
$295 gets you a reasonable 1-bedroom 10 levels up, but no carpark. The corner 1-bed apartment for $450 inc. carpark looks just sensational! You literally would be able to watch the footy from there too..


Doubt it, most time you will just see a closed roof - that's the way the footy has to be played due to AFL rules.

If this project doesn't go ahead, Devine's name in this city will be mud with all the advertising they've been shoving down our throats.

Those full page colour newspaper ads are a bit tacky with the ornate wooden frame around them.

Still, they can't detract from the nice design of the tower.........

Cheers,

Adam

DrDan - what the ??

There is no rule the roof *has* to be closed.. it just tends to be quite a bit if the weather is threatening or even if there is too much sunlight..

Originally posted by WÆROM
sounds like the geogian cancellation was not due to a collapse in the brisbane boom but a collapse in divine itself. I hope this goes ahead, it might but if Devine dont get themselves out of this rut they "seem" to be in i dont think this will go up either.

I don't think there is any collapse in Devine. They have River City fully sold and under construction and Casino Towers fully sold and due to start this month.

My take on The Georgian is that they preferred to get out of a small rut as you called it at this stage rather than having to dig themselves out of a large hole at a later stage when the loss of company funds would be much larger. Basically a bit of belt tightening now to prevent possible large future financial pain!

Their deal as reported for Victoria Point is quite advantageous for Devine. If the market does slow and they don't achieve required presales they have only wasted their marketing and development costs.

I was told that Devine is very mass market with their apartments and therefor are very 'crappy' and are not as nice as other apartments where there is less apartments in the one building.

Is this the case in Brisbane where they already have devine apartments? or is Vic point going to be one of Devine's prestige buildings

LK

Originally posted by kasperluke
I was told that Devine is very mass market with their apartments and therefor are very 'crappy' and are not as nice as other apartments where there is less apartments in the one building.

Is this the case in Brisbane where they already have devine apartments? or is Vic point going to be one of Devine's prestige buildings

LK

The word 'crappy' is probably a bit unfortunate! Devine started at the lower end of the market with Cathedral Place (a medium/lowrise development) and River Place is certainly fairly high density compared to other Brisbane riverfront developments.

It is all very well to have low apartment density but this requires that the individual apartment prices must be higher - thus reducing the potential market. This was the case with Devine's shortly to commence project Casino Towers which was originally marketed (not by Devine) as Llama Apartments with some 120 apartments in a 40 storey tower. They couldn't sell them and Devine took over the external design and reconfigured the inside to fit in around 210 apartments. They have sold them all.

The Aurora in Brisbane has been strongly marketed on the basis of its high tech features and has many fans in this forum however IMO the floor plans are quite ordinary (they are also unavailable on the website unless you are a registered user!)

Originally posted by duke


The word 'crappy' is probably a bit unfortunate! Devine started at the lower end of the market with Cathedral Place (a medium/lowrise development) and River Place is certainly fairly high density compared to other Brisbane riverfront developments.

It is all very well to have low apartment density but this requires that the individual apartment prices must be higher - thus reducing the potential market. This was the case with Devine's shortly to commence project Casino Towers which was originally marketed (not by Devine) as Llama Apartments with some 120 apartments in a 40 storey tower. They couldn't sell them and Devine took over the external design and reconfigured the inside to fit in around 210 apartments. They have sold them all.

The Aurora in Brisbane has been strongly marketed on the basis of its high tech features and has many fans in this forum however IMO the floor plans are quite ordinary (they are also unavailable on the website unless you are a registered user!)

Aurora is quite clever in some ways. They do not have any 1 bed apartments, but the whole tower almost entirely consists of very, very small 2 bed units which are about the same size as 1 beds......but 1 bed units in the CBD do not get car parks under the town plan. So, Aurora is seen as a more prestige development, but it is really a big tower with lots of very small units - much like devine, but it avoids the "stigma" of 1 bed units that devine crams into its projects

@fountainhead

I agree about the 1 bedders. They seem to be fairly limited in their appeal to renters - students only? Can't imagine that anyone who could buy one would actually live in it themselves. I don't know that there are many city dwellers (particularly in Brisbane) who would not own a car.

It's unfortunate that the city plan imposes all these artificial constraints. In Milton where I work, and where parking space is at a premium, I understand there is an office building with chained off parking spaces which are not able to be used because of planning requirements!

Well keep in mind all the way that Victoria Point was designed by *credible* architects *way* before Devine came on the scene.. so its a quality buildings.

The floorplans are awesome! No two apartments are the same and my gosh some of the upper penthouse apartments have balconies twice as big as my whole apartment!

What remains to be seen is if Devine employ a crappy builder to build it cheaply, but I think this design of tower necessitates a good builder.

SO, that maybe be why they have such a high requirement on # of units sold. Most typical developments only require 50% of units sold to go ahead, but maybe Devine is trying to recoup costs with having such an expensive building..

Devine use Multiplex for their Brisbane buildings. River Place was built by Multiplex, River City is currently being built by them and I undestand that they will be building Casino Towers as well.

Hi Guys,

Just to give you some further information on Victoria Point - since Saturday 2pm there has been another 82 apartments sold.
Majority were sold by us and a few by Devine themeselves.
We have exclusivity on some apartments that Devine are not to sell themeselves. These are under the $500k mark.
And yes I bought one! All I payed is $6,500 until settlement in 2006. Cant wait to check the view!
There are now only roughly about 70 to 80 apartments to be sold.
There are 42 levels and 440 residential apartments in total.
We had a lady from Singapore buy one of the $3Mill plus apartment on two levels.
I will also have the key to the display centre after hours.
I might just sleep overnight too - hehehe.
And I can tell you the quality of the apartments are great.

Culwalla, how about making me a model with a bit more detail?
I know this will cost me a bit more - let me know.

Mannie.

So does that mean that they have already sold over 70% of the tower with only 80 apartments left??

Constuction early? That would be nice for a change!

Yo! Mannie.

I wanted a 2 bed 1 bath, unit on the Victoria harbour view side at about level 15-20 but Devine said they were sold out already.

Does your company have any left at around $450-500K

I would be interested if there is. Please let me know dude, im very serious with a possibilty for more than one purchace.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

congrats on a good buy Mannie.

Deano make sure you wear something better than trackie pants next time you go to the display and have a shave man.:laugh:

hah sweet, an insider! ;)

and you could very well sleep at the display suite, the mock apartment looks pretty schmick ;)

tays

Hi Dean,

Unfortunately you left it a little bit too late.

The cheapest apartment with a harbour view is $644,275. This is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 kitchen on the 24th floor. (same floor plan as the one I purchased) you can live in one and rent the other - or rent both!

The cheapest apartment with city views is $443,000. This is a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom on the 7th floor.

Divine has given us a discount - any client paying a 10% deposit or bank guarantee gets a $7,500 discount of the purchase price plus the 10% deposit will be put into a term deposit until settlement (2006) and the interest will be paid to you.

Not bad ha!

Never seen anything like it before.

If you any further help - call me on 0414 364084.

Mannie.

isnt a hilton hotel here as well?

There's an article in today's Fin Review saying that Devine have sold most of the units in Victoria Point. Anyone got access to article?

I dont, but Vic Point is pretty much gone

meaning it's pretty much sold out - "most definitely" will get constructed rofl that's all I wanna know! hah :D

tays

That means that construction will probably start in May! Brilliant!

The agent there told me if they sold the amount that is when construction would start! Sweet! Another tower about to start. (more cranes)! woot!:D

That article explains that 90% of the 440 apartments are sold with only about 46 remaining. (there was an artcle recently in Melbourne which said 406 were sold, which pretty much confirms the Devine statement)

They had until March 2003 to get at least 70% sold so they have done it easily. Finance will now be approved for construction to comence soon after March 2003.

Perfect

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Yee har!!!!

A *HUGE* boost for Docklands that is.. such an iconic looking tower going up .. it will be a monster !!

I have to hand it to Devine for some great aggresive marketing on their part.. even if some of it seemed a little 'QLD tacky' for Melbourne.. but then maybe that was the key - being a little bit more direct and downhome than some of these obsure and hifolutin ads for schmick towers these days..

I know this is not the place to post this but due to Waterfront City being approved and the big Ferris Wheel to go up, I'm wondering whether anyone has any information or links to websites that I can check on the London Ferris Wheel?

Thanks,
Mannie.

http://www.londoneye.com/

Part of a Devine press release yesterday:

The company's first venture into the
Melbourne apartment market is also enjoying success, with 390 of the
440 apartments at its Victoria Point Docklands project sold and 40%
of the commercial/retail space also sold. With strong Interest being
shown in the 99 Serviced Apartments, the company is now pursuing
funding options for the project and looking towards construction
starting mid-year.

Thats great news as that area does need to have some development to complement Telstra dome.

We are actually having the launch on Saturday - in regards to the Victoria Point serviced apartments.
We are expecting all 99 units sold on the day.

In regards to the Victoria Point tower - it seems like there are more units for sale now than what I had earlier said. This is because some of the crest units (high floors) have been split into two separate apartments now. So in fact there will be more than the first original total of 440 apartments in the development.
A lot of the units have been changed into a dual key floor plan design, which became very popular after I was the first to buy one. :)

Regards,
Mannie.

As at 26 February there were (according to Devine's report to the Stock Exchange) 333 units at unconditional contract status with a 10% deposit paid, a further 61 units under contract and the balance of 44 units unsold. 38% of the commercial and retail space had also been sold.

Procurement of funding is reported to be well advanced and construction is expected to start mid 2003.

Just an update on the Victoria Point serviced apartments.
There are 99 of these units, we were only allowed to sell 79 of them.

Well last saturday week we launched it and sold 62 of these in 81 minutes.

Go Victoria Point!

Regards,
Mannie.

lol!

Wonder what else Brisbane's prodigal son (Mr. Devine himself :D) has in store for Melbourne ;)

tays

A hotel in Docklands in 2006 - 2007
Currently looking at a prominent site in St. Kilda but I can't talk about it here.

:guns1:

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Property Investor </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>A hotel in Docklands in 2006 - 2007
Currently looking at a prominent site in St. Kilda but I can't talk about it here.

:guns1:</td></tr>
</table>


Sounds good! ;)

Docklands Hotel? Maybe the planned hotel on the South eastern stadium site next to Victoria Point? This was supposed to be built as a Hilton about a year ago, but I haven't heard anything since.

Any progress/updates on Victoria Point?

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by duke </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Any progress/updates on Victoria Point?</td></tr>
</table>

Won't be long until we see some constuction... they did say May! So won't be long!

Is there an official Victoria Point thread? If not, I think this one should be renamed to keep it all neat.

yeah I'll merged and convert this and other Vic point threads when it goes U/C :D

@silvermb, could you do us a favour and repost those model photos??

Cheers,

Adam

Construction has been sceduled for May/June...

MG2

a few of the best
http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/vic_point02.JPG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/vic_point03.JPG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/vic_point09.JPG

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/vic_point13.JPG

and the first rendering of what the Quest serviced apartments will look like

http://home.iprimus.com.au/revlis81/questvicpoint.JPG

Just like Vic Point itself, there have been a few different pics of the serviced apartments section but they generally look fairly similar; but with the shape of the building shown in the model (last pic).

Thank you, silvermb. :D

Cheers,

Adam

Latest update from Devine to the Stock Exchange yesterday.

VICTORIA POINT DOCKLANDS - MELBOURNE

Devine has been granted an extension by the Docklands Authority to
enable it to satisfactorily finalise a number of issues. The company
is currently in negotiations with prospective builders for the
project and is also progressing the procurement of funding for the
development.

Further information will be provided to the market when these
milestones are achieved.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by duke </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Latest update from Devine to the Stock Exchange yesterday.

VICTORIA POINT DOCKLANDS - MELBOURNE

Devine has been granted an extension by the Docklands Authority to
enable it to satisfactorily finalise a number of issues. The company
is currently in negotiations with prospective builders for the
project and is also progressing the procurement of funding for the
development.

Further information will be provided to the market when these
milestones are achieved.</td></tr>
</table>

Ewww.. sounds a little scary !! I reckon we meet up and crack open the champas when:

- Vic Point has a core

AND

- RDT has a core

AND

- Verve has a core

AND

- Eureka's core raises another level again :D

Probably not too scary. Devine seem to be proceeding cautiously at the moment. Their two Brisbane projects currently under construction are 97% (River City) and 98% (Casino Towers) sold and they have yet to start marketing anything else. They have also put one of two sites they are holding up for sale.

I imagine they want to be absolutely sure about Victoria Point before commencing construction.

Mentioned in an article in today's Financial Review if anyone has a copy/electronic access.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by duke </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Mentioned in an article in today's Financial Review if anyone has a copy/electronic access.</td></tr>
</table>

where's Blabbyboy when you need him ? ;)

cheers for that duke.

tays

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by tayser </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by duke </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Mentioned in an article in today's Financial Review if anyone has a copy/electronic access.</td></tr>
</table>

where's Blabbyboy when you need him ? ;)

cheers for that duke.

tays</td></tr>
</table>
D'OH!!! I already posted that AFR article in another thread ( I can't remember which) becos I couldn't remember the name of Devine's Docklands tower. I know now, obviously. Then I posted in the Vic Harbour thread that I'd posted the AFR article, thinking that Devine's Docklands tower is called Vic Harbour (which it isn't, obviously)!!! Double D'OH!

If anyone can find that AFR article that I posted, please re-post in this thread. The gist was there are rumours that Devine is having trouble finding a builder and so the building won't go ahead despite nearly having sold out as the (massive) pre-sales won't be enough to cover the building costs!!! Yeah, whatever. Devine flatly rejected this and says they're going right ahead, with construction starting soon. This is all from what I can remember, I might be wrong.

PS. I can't find that AFR article any more becos of all the thread bumping!!! :D

Here it is blabbyboy!

Devine moves slowly in Melbourne
May 2
Nicole Lindsay

Queensland developer Devine is moving forward cautiously with plans to build a $300 million mixed-use tower in Melbourne's $6.5 billion Docklands precinct.

Devine chief executive David Devine said only 20 apartments remained unsold out of a total of 447 units in the 42-level tower.

The Devine group negotiated a conditional contract with the Docklands Authority last year that required it to sell 70 per cent, or 308, of the units or forfeit its $1.7 million deposit.

The Victoria Point precinct is next to the Telstra Dome on the CBD side of Docklands.

Victoria Point is Devine's first venture into the Victorian residential apartment market.

The project has also sold a substantial retail space as well as 60 of its 90 serviced apartments.

Mr Devine said the group was negotiating with banks and builders before going ahead with the project.

"We had to sell 70 per cent before March 30 and that's been done and the next process is the build contract and the finance," he said.

But with building costs rising in Victoria, the building industry is rife with rumours that revenue from the pre-sales will not match the finances needed to keep the project moving.

Mr Devine rejected that, saying: " "Tell those people who are creating rumours that they should look in their own little patch."

The comment about not getting enough revenue from the pre-sales doesn't make sense based on what Devine does in Brisbane where cash deposits are held in a trust account by Devine's solicitors with the interest ultimately going back to the buyer.

In any case the majority of deposits are in the form of bank or insurance company guaranteed deposit bonds so there is very little actual cash involved.

Any problem with gaining construction finance would be related to a shrinking profit margin with rising construction costs.

LU Simon were calling for subbies to provide quotes for Vic Point in yesterdays Age .. so maybe they are going with the cheapest builder in Melbourne (See: CE) but at least they are hopefully getting a builder !!

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/images/rightpic_vicpoint_large.jpg

From The Australian's Property Liftout "Prime Space" , thurs 15/05:

Titled "Bendigo Bank considers getting a city Berth at Docklands" written by Murice Dunlevy.

"Bendigo Bank is testing the waters at the Melbourne Docklands with plans to take up to 6,000 sq m of commerical space in Devine's $300 million Victoria Point apartment tower.

The deal is a major boost for Devine Ltd's maiden Melbounre project and more good news for the once-troubled Docklands.

Bedigo Bank will retain its head office in Bendigo, but insiders say its move to the Docklands complex signals its intension to have an increased presence in major capitals.

Bendigo Banks' commercial rent for Victtoria Point is about $350.00 per sq m, which is line with new office rents in the main Melbourne CBD.

The Bendigo Banks' signing came at an opportune time for Devine Ltd, has found buyers (pre-commitments and full sales) for 530 of its 550 apartments. Also a pre-commitment for a furhter 3.500 sq mof retail area.

DEVINE Ltd, which only started to market Vitoria Point late last year has met a conditional contract with the Docklands Austhority requring DEVINE Ltd to sell 70% - or just over 300 apartments - by March '03 - which Devine has already achieved"

So far, all good news.

interesting!

another bank moving into that area - who's gonna place a small wager another bank may just locate some offices in Vic Harbour / NewQuay - doing battle with NAB, literally head on ? ;)

http://www.bendigobank.com.au/pics/bb-logo.GIF V http://www.national.com.au/images/scheme_images1/logo.gif

speculation is good for the soul :D

thanks for that museumb!

This is the first time I've seen that rendering. That blue bit on the side (the part I've coloured red) looks interesting. Is that a pattern on the glass?
http://www.fooled-forever.net/clem/ss/vicpoint.jpg

its not the glass pattern, just a reflection. All monotone silver glass.

hey A-brain why are L.U Simon the cheapest builders, couldn't see it in the CE thread. Hope its not because L.U have built some CE projects, otherwise Baulderstone and Multiplex are in the same boat.

Mannie told me that Multiplex, who dropped out for Vic Point, jumped back in last week so its down to two. After Devine had a few dramas with Docklands Authority due to not starting construction by the set date, a few big-wigs were worried it wouldn't get off the ground at all (amazing considering its about 95% sold) as there were no builders showing interest. But Devine have their extension and it seems construction will start in a few months.

Could have been one of the most spectacular failures in Melbourne's skyline if Vic Point didn't go ahead due to no builder,
I couldn't see why they wouldn't just wait for as long as necessary until a builder became available, but it has something to do with Docklands Authority rules and issues regarding money

On that L.U Simon are the only firm so far to tender Village Docklands phase 1 on Saturday, which should have commenced February. Its sales are at about 75%, a big chunk from Sydney/Asia.

If all goes to the current plan, Conder, Village Docklands, Dock 5 and Vic Point will all commence 3/4 this year

yeah, the main problem at the moment is a lack of available builders , not actually selling the apartments :-) This means that if they only get one or two tenders the builders effectively have the developers over a barrel and can charge them way more that what they normally would. In some cases this has meant that the cost of construction is way more than they have estimated, the whole project becomes unviable and they have to delay the project (until more builders become available) or cancel the project all together.

.

I think we need an OFFICIAL Victoria Point thread :-)

Docklands to get $270m 600-apartment tower
June 26 2003
By Hugh Martin, Royce Millar

Queensland-based developer Devine Ltd has defied property market doomsayers, announcing it will proceed with the biggest residential tower yet to be built at the Docklands.

The announcement came as the Docklands Authority used its first comprehensive study of Docklands housing to counter warnings about a glut in the inner-city apartment market.

Devine will sign Melbourne builder Multiplex to start next monthon the $270 million, 41-storey, 600-apartment tower.

Devine Ltd managing director David Devine said this year that the tower would be begun only if 70 per cent of apartments were sold by March 30.

Mr Devine said that 96 per cent of apartments had sold with 85 per cent to investors on an expected rental return of between 4 per cent and 5 per cent. This matches with statistics released yesterday by the Docklands Authority, claiming annual rent yields of 4.5 per cent and a vacancy rate of 3.2 per cent.

The authority also claimed average capital growth of 5.4 per cent for apartments, based on its apartment resales figures. But this figure is influenced by the strong capital growth in the first towers built and sold by pioneer Docklands developers MAB Corporation and Mirvac.

The authority acknowledged that monthly sales of apartments had slipped to 25, down from an average of 68 in the past year.

The authority said that 90 per cent of the 3010 apartments released to the market had been sold.

Its chief executive officer, John Tabart, said that Docklands was good value for owner-occupiers and investors.

Great news Grollo.Should put to rest some of the Sydneys medias anti Melbourne boom putdowns!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by bearbrass </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Great news Grollo.Should put to rest some of the Sydneys medias anti Melbourne boom putdowns!</td></tr>
</table>

Exactly how many Melburnians are convinced of a Sydney based anti-Melbourne conspiracy?!? There's hardly a thread without some bitter reference to the idea!

Probably about time to get over it and just tell us about Melbourne, rather than speculate as to what you think we think about Melbourne! ;)

Anyway - great to know that Victoria Point will go ahead! A very cool looking tower, and the height will give it quite the presence in the precinct, plus a choice position right next to Colonial (or Telstra Dome...whatever, Colonial to me ;))!

I wanna know where all these "Multiplexers" are coming from ?

and surely Multiplex are about on par with Grocon right in terms of sheer amount of stuff they're going to build ?

Grocon have their own workforce which is unique in the building industry, it owns all its equipment/cranes/concrete trucks and then contracts out if the need arises.

Multiplex are a contractor, so they get all their workers and equipment from other sources. They use B & P Caelli/Decco/ for cranes, transport and equipment ect. Thats why all their sites have the blue cages/bins instead of the Multiplex white/black. Basically they can keep on picking up projects while Grocon are a little hamstrung in how many projects they can take on at once.

Multiplex haven't done much in Melbourne prior to this cycle, but their current project log looks decent

Freshwater North
Southern Cross
Royal Domian
Urban Workshop
Victoria Point
Melbourne Tower
City Tower
Concept Blue
Victoria Tower
Tribeca

and they're going for Conder as well
did i miss any?

> Multiplex haven't done much in Melbourne prior to this cycle, but
> their current project log looks decent
<snip>
> did i miss any?

Flinders Wharf Apartments

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by tayser </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>I wanna know where all these "Multiplexers" are coming from ?

and surely Multiplex are about on par with Grocon right in terms of sheer amount of stuff they're going to build ?</td></tr>
</table>

According to Multiplex, they are the largest privately owned property development and construction group in Australia.

This is bloody sensational news people!!

As I said earlier this year.. if we have cores for both Vic Tower & RDT by the end of the year -and it looks like we will on both counts..

..then boys we should crack open the NV Domain Chandon at the next meet coz these two towers are **MAJOR** additions to enhance Melbourne & Docklands and St.Kilda Rd.

In particular because of their height/design combined with the prominent locations they are in..

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<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by A-brain </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>

..then boys we should crack open the NV Domain Chandon at the next meet coz these two towers are **MAJOR** additions to enhance Melbourne & Docklands and St.Kilda Rd.
</td></tr>
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...may I ask, are you buying ? ;)

tays

I spoke to one of Devine's consultants today and he said that there is only 10-12 apartments left for sale out of about 440 and the 100 seviced appts are all gone as well.. he said that the display suite will close at the end of the week and Multiplex will be onsite in mid September to start construction with an expected completion date in time for the Commonwealth games in early 2006.

He said he expected the other developers to start their projects at that time as well. ie) Kuok's 1st Tower,MAB's Conder and Vic harbour's Dock 5...

Docklands set to crank it up by years end.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

if Multiplex get onsite mid september, im guessing excavation for the site will start asap (next week?) to get it ready for Multiplex

hey check out the MAB carpark, Conder's podium and elliptical tower have been marked out, walk the outline of the tower for a different perspective.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Dean </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>I spoke to one of Devine's consultants today and he said that there is only 10-12 apartments left for sale out of about 440 and the 100 seviced appts are all gone as well.. he said that the display suite will close at the end of the week and Multiplex will be onsite in mid September to start construction with an expected completion date in time for the Commonwealth games in early 2006.

He said he expected the other developers to start their projects at that time as well. ie) Kuok's 1st Tower,MAB's Conder and Vic harbour's Dock 5...

Docklands set to crank it up by years end.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne</td></tr>
</table>

good stuff!

A year down the track that intersection (Bourke and Harbourside) is going to look very schmick!

been going in to the city daily again this week silvermb ? :cool:

was around the area today, saw two guys with what orangey/red sashes (looked like council workers to me) on them - early prep teams ?

*shrug*

The display suit has closed! Walked past it today and everything inside looked gone! Construction imminent!

MG2

Any sign of commencement of construction?

Not really, I was zipping past an hour ago through Spencer Street and didn't notice much :(

Devine's annual report to the stock exchange says that construction is forecast to start in early September 2003 with completion in March 2006.

434 out of a total 447 units have been sold with 93% unconditional. All 105 serviced apartments have been sold and 90% are unconditional. All of the commercial and retail space has been sold.

thanks heaps for that duke!

I take it you watch the ASX a lot ? ;)

Originally posted by tayser
thanks heaps for that duke!

I take it you watch the ASX a lot ? ;)

It's quite a useful source of news about public companies because of the continual disclosure rules. Anything a company is aware of that can affect their share price has to be reported. It means that developers have to keep the ASX informed of what they are doing and all announcements are posted on the ASX website.

I noticed yesterday there was wire fencing right around the display suite as well as a couple of construction huts .. so demolition of the display suite appears to be in full swing ..

And it's unusual to see 2 huts just for a small demolition like that.. so I'd say it's a good sign construction is imminent !

A Devine newsletter I saw listed Victoria Point as being under construction. Any progress evident on site?

Originally posted by duke
A Devine newsletter I saw listed Victoria Point as being under construction. Any progress evident on site?

Not Quite. The display suite is being dismantled atm and construction should start right after that... so very soon

I walked in the day b4 they were closing and the sales guy said they had about 8 appts left to sell out of 450 and all the 99 seviced appts on Bourke st had sold as well.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

And in fact the construction hut *has* moved !

http://users.bigpond.net.au/speckled10/Docklands/DSC00541.jpg

Magically over to the other side of the road in fact! The site is now clear for construction to commence .....

[waiting patiently] .... [/waiting patiently]

Still no signs of construction on site.. but todays Age had another article stating Devine still plans to go ahead with the tower - despite all the usual doom and gloom reports the papers keep rehashing at the moment..

Fingers and bloody toes crossed - if they're still having delays with builders depsite selling 95% of the joint then its a bit of a worry..

Devine are just getting extra media attention because they flopped one of their Brissy projects, and the media are hawking for a repeat down here - hence everything gets a little sensationlised... ;)

It might become another RDT for you though A-Brain lol ;)

Devine announced to the stock exchange on Thursday that funding for Victoria Point has been finalised and that the construction contract with Multiplex has been signed.

94% of the 447 apartments are unconditional with 10% deposit lodged - only 15 remain unsold. 97% of the 105 serviced apartments are unconditional with 10% deposit lodged - only 1 remains unsold. An unconditional contract has been signed for all of the retail space and the commercial space is close to finalisation.

Construction is due to commence by 30 September 2003 with staged completions commencing in September 2005 and the residential tower complete in March 2006.

Hey guys,

Got this email from Vic Urban today... construction has begun, tallest building in the docks under way! :)



DEVINE DEVELOPMENT FOR MELBOURNE DOCKLANDS

The commencement of construction of Devine Limited’s $328 million Victoria Point mixed-use development at Telstra Dome precinct, Melbourne Docklands, was announced by VicUrban CEO, John Tabart, today.

The 447 apartments in the complex of apartments, offices, retail shops and serviced apartments, sold swiftly over the last 12 months creating the conditions for success.

Mr Tabart said the project to be built by Multiplex was a great result for both Devine and Melbourne Docklands and would generate 600 jobs over the next 3 years.

“The development includes public and retail space linked to the Telstra Dome concourse and provides additional public access to the waterfront and CBD via the Bourke Street pedestrian link.

“In an endorsement for waterfront living convenient to the CBD, Devine sold 90 percent of its apartments, continuing the steady sales performance of Docklands apartments.

Mr Tabart said the Docklands project was assisting the sustainable growth of Melbourne under the Government’s Melbourne’s 2030 strategy by providing accommodation near established infrastructure for the expected increase in Melbourne’s population over the next 30 years.

Some 680,000 new households are required to house the expected one million increase in population.

Mr Tabart said that in addition to residential apartments, the development consisted of 105 serviced apartments, 10,179 sqm of commercial office space and 3545 sqm of shops.”

“Including the Devine apartments, 2714 apartments have sold so far in Docklands.

“With the recent announcement of the commencement of the Kuok Group’s residential tower, V1, Docklands has seen a further 947 apartments begin construction in the last six months with 90% already sold.”

Bendigo Bank has signed as the major commercial tenant for Victoria Point, the second major financial institution to base its flagship office in Docklands, following the National Australia Bank’s colourful ‘office campus’ on Harbour Esplanade.

Devine Ltd is one of Australia’s largest home builders and CBD developers. In Brisbane, it has developed over $600 million in high-rise apartment projects.

Victoria Point’s retail component will feature ground floor outlets on Bourke Street and Harbour Esplanade and a podium level that meets Telstra Dome’s pedestrian level.

The retail component with nine floors of office area along with the serviced apartments will be completed in 2005.

The residential tower is planned for completion by the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

Mr Tabart said that statistics compiled by VicUrban showed that Docklands residential apartments were selling at 25 per month as of June this year. They experienced annual average capital growth of 5.4%, an annual average rental yield of 4.5% for investor owned apartments which are virtually full let with a vacancy rate of 3.2%.

afr today said construction starts this month

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/images/rightpic_vicpoint_large.jpg

weird floorplate! note the dual cores ;)

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/floorplans/tower_level21-28_small.jpg

the concourse

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/floorplans/concourselevel_3.jpg

L41 view, give it to me bebbe, a-huh, a-huh ;)

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/images/views/level41_large.jpg

She's underday B's & G's ..

- Heavy Duty caterpillar crane onsite with smaller crane unloading what looks like the same Vibropile equipment used on Eureka & Freshwater Place

- Temporary fencing around the entire perimeter...

2/3'rds of the 'Bermuda Triangle' (RDT, VP & V501) are now officially underway !!

This is one of the better looking towers being built in Melbourne atm. glad to see it's a goer.

Lots of action on site today with the piling rig and big mobile cranes going berserk.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

four mobile track cranes and one piling rig - too many chiefs and not enough indians. i guess another two/three piling rigs will be there next week.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vpo_20031004.jpg

consider a few years ago YE 1,2, Flinders Wharf, Watergate, Centurion and Yarra's Crest weren't there, not so desolate anymore and the best is still to come

Great stuff SMB! Lovin' the pics...how many did you take down there today? Fill your cam up again?

Is there anything underground on this one? I assume not as there isn't anything underground around docklands......except Telstra dome?

Speaking of Flinders Wharf - is it going to be painted, or is it going to be another Newquay towers bare concrete look?
Or is it painted grey? I can't really tell from thos above photos, but it looks as if it's not painted.

Also, 700 Collins is really starting to make an impact!

That site was going ganbusters the other day... I have a clear view of it from my balcony and there were things moving all over the place! Looked like an ants nest... hopefully they keep up the pace!

MG2

havent seen these two before:

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/quest/images/vicpoint3.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/quest/images/vicpoint2.jpg

different:

http://www.immersive.com.au/docklands2003/neighbourhoods/stadium/images/vic_point2.jpg

lol:

http://www.immersive.com.au/docklands2003/neighbourhoods/stadium/images/vicpoint04.jpg

cool pics, looks alot like YE1

I would like to see the Docklands black street pole and yellow stree adorments theme carried over into the CBD. It would carry a bit of modern and cheery continuity into some of the older and drabber parts of the old CBD.

Of what has been developed in Docklands (about 15%) so far, I'm actually impressed. It looks great and I can't wait for the day that they open up a Collins Street extension on the waterfront.

pissing down and they were still going

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/483vpo.jpg

Now that's dedication ;)

Originally posted by tayser
Now that's dedication ;)

Yep not all builders and construction workers are bludgers like the media like to have us think.

This time 32 degrees and Going at it at a pace!


http://members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/MelbourneNov/DSC00026.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/MelbourneNov/DSC00028.JPG

a serious amount of machinery at this site.. theyre not messing around.

That corner of Bourke St and the Espalnade is a hive of activity now, with all 4 corners in construction mode. Watergate buildings, Victoria Point, NAB WHQ and the massive Docklands Park/grande promenade all UC

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Originally posted by Dean
a serious amount of machinery at this site.. theyre not messing around.

That corner of Bourke St and the Espalnade is a hive of activity now, with all 4 corners in construction mode. Watergate buildings, Victoria Point, NAB WHQ and the massive Docklands Park/grande promenade all UC

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Hell Yes! If you are a construction buff then stand on that corner when they are all in action! You can't hear a thing!! it is amazing!

don't stop kasper! :guns1:

good stuff.

Can anyone update us on construction progress, please?

most or the piling is complete, only one rig left working around the core area. the area over the telstra dome service road is done and ready. id say after the break the site will be ready to excavate and cons will start about march

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vp_20031209.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vp_20031209_1.jpg

There is a lot of ground work to be done for this site. remember there are 2 other major buildings besides the 140m tower. Theres the long 6-7 level serviced appt building running along Bourke St and the 7 level comerical tower on Harbour Esp.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Thanks silvermb. Nice to see it progressing although it always seems so slow to start with.

Originally posted by duke
Thanks silvermb. Nice to see it progressing although it always seems so slow to start with.

on the contrary, I think it's been quite quick to get to where it is now! [Between when it officially started construction, and now]

anyhow, good stuff all round :guns1:

Originally posted by tayser
on the contrary, I think it's been quite quick to get to where it is now! [Between when it officially started construction, and now]

anyhow, good stuff all round :guns1:

Yeah I agree she's looking very good for a big year in 2004 ..

All the big Waterside apartments have to go through painfully long foundation piling process to sink those big bastard concrete pylons into the Yarra Silt .. E, FWP, VP, YE etc..

Whereas all the big City Office towers going up - SxC, E&Y, UWT etc. all can basically rise from the ground straight away ..

the site is flying, alot of reo in place now for the serviced apartments, . i guess the width of the main tower is judged by the two tower crane bases, also both sub-cores for the main towers are taking shape, showing the towers axis

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vp_20040112.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vp_20040112_1.jpg

When this core is up..the corner of Bourke and Harbour esplanade will be an awesome spot for a pano!

Great stuff SMB! Where do reckon this one will be by the ends of the year? It is going pretty fast!

Thanks for the update silvermb - its greatly appreciated.

Victoria Point Construction Cam:

http://www.devine.com.au/webcam/index2003a.html

finally a decent sized building gets a webcam!

*bookmark*

Done Tayser :cheers:

Wow awesome .. tays add it to the FAQ sticky page ?

Looks straight downt the guts of the building ..

it's been added.

anyhow, this is clearly going to be yet another big mofo of a core to rise in the city:

http://www.metropolis.tayser.net/misc/devine2003.jpg

;)

all the piling rigs have left, not long before the cranes arrive

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vp_20040206_1.jpg

the core pit for the office component, there should be four core boxes rising onsite fairly soon including the serviced and office cores

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vp_20040206_3.jpg

Given that there wil be at least 2 cranes for the main tower plus perhaps 1 or 2 for the serviced appts along Bourke st then u have the office towers.

could be looking at something between 3-6 tower cranes onsite, depending on how the buildings are located.

good to see yr still keeping yr right index finger busy Silver. keep clicking away dude. love yr work.. it's 'quality'...

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Great pics silver! What the hell is that green thing meant to be :?

Judging by the bottom pic, looks like it takes 3 supervisors to watch over the dig :D

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ciaobellaxo
What the hell is that green thing meant to be :?

The green object is part of the Docklands deal with the State Government to incorporate public art in all precints.
This one at the Dome is the Needle and Thread which "sews" the Stadium precint into the Docklands. The Needle can be seen near the La TRobe Street Bridge while near Vic Point is the Double Not or the start of the art piece.

Seen enough of this site yet?? This is my first panorama experiment...please excuse the mistake in the bottom right of the site!! It is a little stuffed!(and can't fix it...)

sorry to the dial ups!

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/Stitched_Resultsamll.jpg

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/Stitch_Preview.JPG

Well done both of you!

nice pics.. its a really a massive site. i was hoping for more than 3 tower cranes considering the size of the site. but oh well

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

Nice pictures. The crane that is up is a Favco 1500. It went up last weekend. A Boom/Conmor 50t tadano put the towers and pedestal up and an independant 200t put the crane up. There will be four tower cranes on this site. The one that is up will go no higher. The two starter towers you can see in the photos will be the cranes that climb with the tower, and the other one will be to the right of the photo.

thanks for the info favco, so another crane will go up for the office block, it'll be a fair photo from cr Promenade and Bourke when they're all going.

so Favelle is the company and Favco is the crane model?

Favco was the original company name, whilst Favelle is the guy that invented them. The company is now a multi national called Favco Favelle.

Different model cranes are called one or the other. The earlier cranes that were seen in Australia such as the 250, 350, 500, 750, 1000 and 1500 are all original Favco's.

There are two 250's up in Grollo's yard in Preston, a 350 set on a block base at Freshwater Commercial (Baulderstones), a 500 on the corner of Swanston and Queensbury, a 750 on John Holland's Spencer street and opposite the tracks for Leightons, a 1000 on Freshwater (Multiplex) and the latest 1500 to go up is at Victoria Point (Multiplex)

Some older Favelles are M310D's at Freshwater (Baulderstones)and a M300D at Concept Blue. There are also lots of newer Favelles about; MCG, Freshwater (Multiplex), Eureka, Q1, to name a few.

Favco do you work in the crane industry??

Hi Favelle. Yes I do, what gave it away????

Great to have you on board Favco750!
The more people in the building industry we have contributing to this forum the more accurate and better the information gets.

____________________________________________________
Let the cynics and supersensitive souls say what they will about American materialism and machine civilization. Beneath the surface are poetry, mysticism and inspiration that The Empire State Building somehow symbolizes. In that giant shaft I see a groping toward beauty and spiritual vision.
I am one of those who see and yet believe.
Hellen Keller 1933

Originally posted by The Collector
Great to have you on board Favco750!
The more people in the building industry we have contributing to this forum the more accurate and better the information gets.


Hopefully all the insiders will buy digicams as well so that we can have a whole new perspective on the scrapers under construction!

What are you driving at the moment Favco. Im in Brissy driving a 750 mark 2 for s.e.c.a.

Originally posted by duke
Hopefully all the insiders will buy digicams as well so that we can have a whole new perspective on the scrapers under construction!

i agree i should have a digital camera soon!

Hey Favelle, you must be lovin' the extra leg room in the Mark 2. Don't s'pose it's at 33 Charlotte Street by any chance??

Riparian actually.

It's an improvement over the the 350 on the last job but if you want serious legroom give me a Liebherr anyday wouldn't be so bad if they wern't such pieces of shit.hopefully soon i should have a digital camera and i'll post some pics.:)

Another day, another set of towers arriving, second crane is about to go up, towers and pedestal today.

Second crane at Victoria Point should be going up on Sunday, towers and pedestal were up this afternoon. First crane has been commissioned and is now ready for action.
A smaller mobile crane was pouring footings with a kibble this afternoon, lots of reo steel being tied up for the core foundations, piles were being jack-hammered bare ready for steel. It's all starting to happen.

Originally posted by Favco750
Second crane at Victoria Point should be going up on Sunday, towers and pedestal were up this afternoon. First crane has been commissioned and is now ready for action.
A smaller mobile crane was pouring footings with a kibble this afternoon, lots of reo steel being tied up for the core foundations, piles were being jack-hammered bare ready for steel. It's all starting to happen.

Love all this info Favco750!!
You're worth your weight in grey gold!!
(that is as good as it gets as a compliment on this forum)

____________________________________________________
I collect therefore I am.

Stacks more where that came from. The inside of my head is full of the most irrelevant facts, figures and numbers that I need to get out. I need the space.
Try this on for size, there is 60m of boom in the 1500 that is allready up to give it a working radius of 58m. That gets it across the service lane into telstra dome, (which by the way will end up a tunnel) and more than halfway towords Harbour esplanade or whatever it's called.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vp_20040212_1.jpg

nice shot looking down the alley, soon to have 9 cranes in this pic once vic point and conder get cracking

Favco what are the cranes L.U Simon use called?

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/510/483vp_20040212_6.jpg

Which LU Simons ones, the flat top ones or the luffing ones????

the ones that look like a T (flat top i assume), dont know what a luffing is?

The flat top ones you are thinking of are made by Comansa. They are mostly blue. I don't know anything about these except the basics, they are electric powered, there is one going up at Docklands now. They started last weekend using Elite's 80t but a breakdown saw this not happen. It has been completed up to the cabin/boom mounts all week. If it hasn't happened by today, with the heat and all, it will prob be done by tomorrow.

Luffing means the boom luffs up and down. There are two main types of tower crane in Melb. The Favco/Favelle models are luffing cranes and the Comansa models are hammerhead cranes. There is one all white Liebherr hammerhead in Carlton on a multiplex job as well. This is a little different to the Comansa's as it has an A frame on top of the cabin and a pendants going from the top of the A frame back to the counter-jib and forward to the boom.

Both cranes have their pros and cons. The Favco's (luffing cranes) have the ability to slew (turn) both ways in confined spaces as they can luff the boom right up to effictively bring the load all the way into the tower. The hammerheads need the airspace to slew, they can't alter the angle of the boom.

The hammerheads are electric powered so they are much quieter to operate. From a neighbourhood point of view, this means they can start a bit earlier in areas with residential housing. They are also cheaper to run. But their lack of manouvreability means more than one crane on the same building allows for hold ups. Because the boom is fixed at 90 deg's, if one is in the way of the other, they either have to wait or go round the world. But as one is always a tower higher to allow them to miss each other, half the time the back of the crane will contact the rope of the other as he goes round anyway.

I have worked a fair bit with the Liehberr Hammerheads but never with the Comansa's. I know zip of their lifting capacitys, but their silence is why there are so many in the Port Melb area, where their is already a large population.

Dare I mention that many percieve the hammerheads as sub-standard to a Favco type crane. Australian crane workers have a home grown affliction with the favco's as they are an aussie design. The fact that they luff up and down like a crane should and they are noisy beasts doesn't hurt either, we all love the sound of a nice motor.
However in 15 years time there will be a lot less deaf crane operators around. The luffing cranes can be a bit too noisy at times, especially going from one style to the other.

Well put Favco750 i've only ever driven Favco/favelle or Liebherr in ease of of operation the Liebherr wins hands down i havent driven one of the new model Favco/Favelle's but the older models you have to work a lot harder driving them i got my ticket learning on a 350 mark 2 for International Rigging and have had a love affair with Favco ever since.Ten years ago in Brisbane you would be hard pressed to see even 1 Hammerhead now there popping up everywhere i guess its the way of the future:D

@favelle and favco750

I think this insider information is great.

As an observer, it appears to me that the hammerhead cranes are used mainly on relatively wide and low buildings where a long boom is required to reach all areas of the building whereas the luffing cranes are used on the real skyscrapers - tall and relatively thin buildings - where a very long boom is not necessary. Builders obviously want to use as few cranes as necessary to construct a building.

Is my understanding correct?

Not entirely correct Duke Hammerhead cranes have also been employed on some of the worlds tallest structures as well as luffing cranes.Boom lengths and lifting capacities are comparable between the two types.As long as you have airspace a hammerhead can be used no matter how tall the structure is.Both machines have their strengths and weaknesses.Hope this helps a bit.:D

Correct, the capacity of each crane is usually what decides on what type of crane goes on a particular job; and correct that the builders will put up what they need, and no more. Some builders, mainly grollo's will load the job up with cranes, for a few reasons. Grollo's own most of their own cranes and they allready have the blokes, so the money side is not as big. Don't get me wrong, it still costs them plenty but not as much as as if they are hiring in the men and machines. Some jobs have tighter time restraints which means the extra crane/s might save them paying late or non completion fines. Lots of jobs were originally only to have a set number of cranes, only to get another as time goes on. 33 Charlotte st being one as the formworkers were complaining about not enough crane time,(suprise suprise) which really stemmed from them being dis-organised. (There's some controversy for ya) 120 Edward st was another but because of an engineering problem with the floor weights, the insurance company paid for the second crane.
But all the cranes in the world on the one job sooner or later have to get in each others way. This is where the favco kills the hammerheads as it can move within it's own circle so to speak. I think the tail swing on a 750 is 7.5 m from the centre of the towers where as a hammerhead has heaps more and no ability to move the bit in front either.
The observation of the favco on tall buildings and hammerhead on wide maybe correct, but not as a rule and not for any other reason except airspace and noise. Highrise buildings historically have been in the cities where populations used to be very low, whilst the lower style buildings were often hospitals and universities in the suburbs. As Favelle mentioned, the capacities of both the hammerheads and favcos are similar in some cases, but not all. The favco also has some different rigging options available to almost double it's lifting capacities up close.
You mentioned about the boom being able to reach areas Duke, you would be suprised how much boom the favco style cranes have when they are luffed right down, especially the newer favelles. The crane at Vic Point that has been up for 2 weeks has 60m of boom which will get the rope out to 58m, and once the other three cranes go up, there will not be anywhere that one or more of them won't reach

Third tower crane is up and working with the fourth to follow soon.(4th tower base is ready but not poured yet)

Looks like given the length of VP its going to have twin cores similar to 2SB with one servicing the lower levels and the other the top floors.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

crane driver get paid mega buks dont they u guys must be rich ?????:cheers:

If i didnt get married i would probably own my second Ferrari by now, hope that answers your question:D

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Noticed what appeared to be one of the cores just above street level.:?

^^ just on I'd say, with the 2nd one not far behind

http://metropolis.tayser.net/projects/docklands/stadium/vicpoint0204041.jpg

Can't take pictures from where you were standing there now tays. They are blocking the pedestrian walkway there with wooding boards!

Nothing changed since last pic. Still no Second Core.

I gotta say Driving past today I'm blown away with how big the 2 cores are for this thing, partilcularly for an all residential tower !!

RDT is about the same height but has the tiniest of cores. But then having so much bigger and hence fewer apartments, they probably don't need as many lifts in the place..

http://www.users.bigpond.com/Dwight.Veenman/MyPics/20040226VPsmall.jpg
A bit fuzzy 'cos it's thur the Rialto binoculars, but u get the point

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~wadad/mypic44.jpg
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~wadad/mypic45.jpg
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~wadad/mypic46.jpg

the shape of that ellenberg's building is great - but those railings are AWFUL!!!

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~naharrison/victoria point.jpg

fourth crane went up saturday

I think there was a core rise today or yesterday. Anyway, it's starting to move now.

It is coming along...

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/vicpoint1.jpg


http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/vicpoint2.jpg

This is the start of breaking up the oligopoly that Yarras Edge and NewQuay were beginning to have over the skyline of an emerging Docklands.

Along with Watergate, the long-haul of creating an obvious skyline has just begun.

The floor plates are at level 2 and the core is at level 5/6

Whoa...why two cores for a residential building? Has anyone got floorplans they can post?

Check out the Victoria Point website http://www.vicpoint.com.au/floorplans.html

Here is a floorplan:
http://www.vicpoint.com.au/floorplans/tower_level9-14_small.jpg

It's almost like two seperate towers side by side up to level 35 with the two seperate corse sevices one half of the floorplate each.

I guess they designed it this way because it is a very wide tower with a big floorpate. 447 apartments would make it one of the biggest apartment towers in Melbourne.

I also noticed that the Docklands web site has the height listed as 150m, it must have increased in height from 140m since the earlier plans (from about five years ago).

So there are actually 9 skyscrapers 150m+ U/C in Melbourne at the moment!!!

curious ol me, always wants to find accurate official heights,
so i gave Buchan Group a call (Architects for Vic Point) and the head architect read RL's of a up-to-date elevation and the top Rl of the gold fin is RL130m and ground level is RL2m,
thus-official height-128m!above ground!
The height to top roof is 120m (lev40) and lower mainroof-102m (lev34).
I asked him about 140 & even 150m quotes, he just said 140m was a height envelope they could build to but didnt.
He told me it has 3m floors and has 42 levels.so 128m is spot on.

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/images/rightpic_vicpoint_large.jpg

128m still a great height for Docklands. not as high as YE5?
Grol- i edited heights on ss.com, hope dont mind? give you a break.lol

I had heard 150m before but it didn't sound right so I kept the height at 140m which is what my plans indicate. But when I saw the 150m on the Docklands website I rang up devine to confirm and they told me it was definiately 150m and will be the tallest in Docklands.

So Devine are full of shit, 22 metres is a big difference not just a minor error, very misleading.

I wonder why they reduced the heights from the earlier plans which have a height of 142m with the same layout and the same number of floors?

How can the top roof be 120m and level 40 when the tower has apartments on level 41? The roof of level 41 should be 123m and the glass fin rises another 2.5 floors above that for a height of 130.5m???

all i know is that the top RL is 130m.ground floor-RL2m. thus 128m. it has 42 levels, maybe not all above ground?
you can contact Buchan Group if you want at- ph 93291077. ask for Brian.
cheers

Action here tomorrow afternoon, sat, one of the middle two cranes is about to have a climbing frame put on it, which can only mean one thing, it is about to start going up in the world.

too windy, postponed a couple of days :bash:

entire base slab is complete, so things quicken up from here, like the curves already

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/vp200407.jpg

This ceratinly is a big site with three seperate building UC, The resitower, Bendigo Bank's HQ and the serviced appts building along Bourke St.

The resi tower is goin to look fanstastic.. probably the one im most looking forward to seeing finished in the current cycle.

Cheers

Dean - Melbourne

progressing well!

http://img64.exs.cx/img64/4404/VicPoint.jpg

http://img64.exs.cx/img64/6422/WatergateVicPoint.jpg

^Nice pics! Both cores now exposed to level 10.

Can someone please tell me when this one is due for completion? - I can't remember.

P.S While your at it, can you also tell me what's the height / floors?

Richo- the height will be 128m high! 42 levels. it will be completed in about a year?

Cheers Cul

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/sirbugalugs/IMG_0330.jpg

The southern core was being lifted from 12 to 13 and the northern core was going from 11 to 12 this afternoon.

Devine's announcement to the stock exchange today advised that Victoria Point is on schedule to be completed by March 2006 with the standalone 7 storey commercial building and serviced apartments stages completing in the December 2005 quarter.

426 out of the 447 apartments are at unconditional contract stage with 10% deposit paid. 104 out of the 105 serviced apartments are at unconditional contract stage with 10% deposit paid. All of the retail and commercial space is sold and unconditional.

They've certainly had a very successful campaign down here that's for sure.

thanks for the stats duke.

anyone with a bit of time or inclination should go down and have a look this week. the first glass should be up over L5, gold or watergate bronze?

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/vp 200409.jpg

Should look great for the footy at Telstra Dome next year.

It'll be looking Huge by the time March rolls around

not mucking around with this one!

A new wider shot?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/sirbugalugs/devine2003.jpg

And it is such a beautiful one too, hope it lives up to the render. If so it is a nice compliment to YE5 and adds some nice variety to the Glass colours being used (most of which are Blue, black at the moment).
stu

Update from Devine's website. Check out this link for photos http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update.html

At level 15... and rising

With building core construction at level 15, and the 12th level floor slab formed ready for pouring, the residential section of Victoria Point is now well out of the ground.

The serviced apartment building is also emerging above the project’s podium with precast panels in place on level 4 and the forming of level 5 flooring under way.

Construction of the structure for the development podium is almost complete. The final pours for level 4 adjacent to the commercial building are due to be completed in mid September.

The long span t-section beams that bridge and enclose the stadium service road are also nearing completion.

The Podium of three levels of car parking, fringed by retail and commercial areas, allows the Victoria Point Development to marry with the elevated concourse surrounding the Telstra Dome.

The Telstra Dome Service Road off Bourke Street divides the car park, so the eastern portion is set aside for the retail, commercial and serviced apartment car parking and the western portion predominantly for residential car parking.

Meanwhile, the commercial building interiors are being reconfigured to suit the requirements of the proposed future tenant Bendigo Bank. The bank’s design team is working with the main contractor, Multiplex and the Victoria Point Team to ensure a seamless integration of works.

The project remains on schedule with settlement of the commercial building due in August 2005, the serviced apartments in November 2005 and the residential tower in March 2006.

An absolute SH%#T picture....but you get the idea! (The sunset was quality though!) :)

http://members.optusnet.com.au/lukekasper/vicpoint.jpg

I am looking foward to this one!

That pic prompts the question - ne1 got any renders of what the back end of this tower is supposed to look like?

it wont look as good as its front. but the back isnt on show like the front is.
we have to always remember, these are apartment towers, full of balcs and windows. very hard to bueatify.

A new wider shot?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/sirbugalugs/devine2003.jpg
the web link seems to have vanished from forum?
heres link
http://www.vicpoint.com.au/touchofclass.html

heres todays pic. zooming up.
10 floors + 4 in core.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/culwulla/009sept30.jpg
they will have to zoom out again or something?
i dont like how the webcams angle and size keeps changing. ddidnt they realize it was going to grow?
i like saving them and using as small movie.but now im getting dif views.

Here is a small render of the rear of the tower:

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/quest/images/vicpoint3.jpg

Not bad at all for a rear end.

hey. nice rear end. lol

CUL , Watergate is right over the road from Vic Point. In the webcam pictures , you can actually see watergate in the background onthe left side of Vic Point

And as you can imagine , both will be filled with retail shops and restaurants once completed!

It will be awesome in this area to live in 2 years time , and being right next to telstra dome , it will really come alive during footy season !

cheers

LoZZa :bowtie:

Unlike NQ the so called rear-end of watergate will be very much on view from almost every angle other than the Bolte bridge, so I'm glad that render look half decent.

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/1539/P9302383.jpg

BTW: why isn't this building in the Project Guide?

gold is gold for a change, will have a real impact when the harbour-side glass appears. level 19 exposed

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/vp200410.jpg

im amazed at how fast this one is progressing. keep pix coming guys.

Seriously, wtf is with the rabbit in marks first shot?

Stupid rabbit thing.

Well there trying to bring public art into the docklands... some of it is really crap.

I like the rabbit - it looks like an ode to the early days of computer generated 3D animation, lol. Come on, gotta love a bunny!! They're so cute! :D

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/0951/101930951ml1097207499.jpg

God Rialto looks awesome in that shot...

Stu

http://img10.exs.cx/img10/5239/o17005.jpg

http://img10.exs.cx/img10/8884/o17006.jpg

This sure is one FAT apartment tower, it's going to look awesome at full height, imposing.

dKo did well with the glass, lessens the impact of the precast rear which isn't all that bad to start with. not so sure about the serviced apartments building though, a concrete edifice?

like the gold facade in the last pic
http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/vp20041020.jpg

^You are right on the ball arn't you Silver! Awesome work as per usual!

I have a feeling this glass is going look like a watergate or a YE5? They were going to be gold....but not nearly as much as the renders.

It is however hard to tell with the litttler facade there is so far on this one.

not the case kasper
the film over the facade is super reflective, the gold facade (and its gold) is bottom left

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/vp2004102.jpg

^Ahh that makes more sense with those pics! Thanks! that is reflective hey!

now we can only hope for the same reflectiveness on eureka!

im liking the reflective glass on the left and right though, this one will look great i reckon :booze:

http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/vp2004102.jpg
:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

I think this may turn out to be one sexy looking facade... even better than expected

Latest (October) update from Devine's wbsite.

Now linked to Telstra Dome Concourse

Construction of the Victoria Point podium – including long T-section beams that bridge and enclose the Telstra Dome service road - is now complete, linking the project to the stadium concourse.

Latest reports put building cores on the residential tower at level 19 and pours underway on the 14th level floor slab. Formwork was being installed in preparation of the 15th floor pour.

Portions of the glazing on level 5 and balcony balustrade systems to the lower floors were also being installed. Services fit-out to the residential apartment tower were underway up to level 9.

The reports said the Serviced Apartment building was now emerging above the podium with the level 4 precast panels in place, 80% of the 5th floor formwork installed and 30% of the floor poured.

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/october01_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/october02_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/october03_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/october04_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/october05_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/october06_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/october07_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/october08_large.jpg

Great pics those are! It looks fantastic so close to the stadium, gives TD a real unique look.

Stu

I know this is not directly related to this developemnt, but has anyone seen this Bendigo Bank HQ design for Melbourne?

http://www.bvn.com.au/BVN/internet/site.nsf/files/NSYD-65K3BV-20041008-110659/$file/M_Bendigo%20Bank.jpg

I can't figure out where it is, but I thinks its Nicholson St, but where?

now thats a render!!!!

Bendigo Bank are building a new HQ is Bendigo and a new Melbourne office at Victoria Point so this rendering must be the new Bendigo HQ or a proposal in Melbourne that didn't go ahead.

I suspect its a proposed Melbourne Office that was dumped for Vic Point.

My Gawd,

That facade will be blinding when any sun hits it!

Cheers,

Adam

thats the new HQ in Ballarat

looks gold to me
http://silvermb.thehoddlegrid.net/vp200411.jpg

looks gold to me

it looked like something else a few weeks ago smartarse. :cool:

Arse shot.

http://www.melbournephotos.net/pics/2004-11-10%20Melbourne%20-%20Construction%20updates%20from%20Rialto/IMG_1603.jpg

coming along nicely. (lev22 in core)
dan-Rialto is a great vantage point hey!
whats the lowrise section to the towers south/east?

The lowrise section to the south/east are the serviced apartments and the lowrise section U/C to the north is the new Bendigo Bank Melbourne office.

Spiderweb or broken glass?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/sirbugalugs/devine20031.jpg

Whatever it is we need it moved up a little.

More than most, I think this tower will really become a landmark building in Docklands. I'm enjoying watching it progress. I like the gold glass - not too much of it in Melbourne and the building has an interesting shape and its a decent height. Docklands certainly has come a long way since I last lived there in the mid 90's - I'd go to the end of North Wharf Road and look towards the city and try to imagine how it would look. Melbourne really is turning into a spectacular looking waterfront city. Its skyline is one of the best.

http://img105.exs.cx/img105/2753/n22002.jpg

http://img110.exs.cx/img110/2446/n22004.jpg

Mmm... Cladding!

http://img110.exs.cx/img110/9114/n22005.jpg

http://img110.exs.cx/img110/2844/n22006.jpg

I can now make out the gold glass - couldn't before, no longer shit brown :lol:

thanks for the update(s)

cracking photos salamagd

Latest update from Devine website (not sure of the date)

At level 18 - and on schedule

Concrete pours for floor 18 of the Victoria Point 42-level residential tower have now been completed and both lift cores are at level 21.

Project organises say it remains on schedule for settlement in March 2006. They plan to complete the commercial building in August.

Latest reports put the curtain wall glazing to the residential tower as being 98% complete to level 5, 95% complete to level 6, and 10% complete to level 7.

Windows and sliding doors to units are substantially complete to level 5, 95% complete to level 6, and 30% complete to level 7.

Building Services fire sprinklers are being installed to level 11. The first fix of drainage is taking place at level 9, and the air conditioning first fix is at level 8.

In the 7-storey Commercial Building, formwork is complete to level 5.

Formwork and concrete are completed to level 6 on the Serviced Apartments.

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/november01_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/november02_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/november03_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/november04_large.jpg

http://www.vicpoint.com.au/update/november05_large.jpg

thanks for that duke.

:eek2: at last one.

Yesterday:

Arse shot
http://stuart.kortum.com.au/photos/albums/December/vicpoint1.jpg

The Gold is absolutely stunning! Another YE5 this isn't. Even got a W class in :D
http://stuart.kortum.com.au/photos/albums/December/vicpoint2.jpg

Stu