SHIT! more F**** campus, docklands is going to kill the CBD at this rate, who will be next, Telstra? I can't see more large office developments in the CBD until Docklands is completed in 10-20 years :-(
ANZ trawls for $400m. new HQ -
Docklands warm favorite
http://www.propertyreview.com.au/archives/2005/04052005/headline/04052005001.html
Ted McDonnell
May 04, 2005
One of Australia’s top 10 companies, ANZ is trawling the streets of Melbourne again for its new world headquarters that could see the banking giant move to a $400 million purpose built office campus at Melbourne Docklands.
It is likely ANZ could move to Docklands by 2010.
Property sources told propertyreview.com.au yesterday that the Docklands move was on the cards because Melbourne Docklands was capable of handling a 100,000 sqm campus style complex of up to five buildings one as high as 18 storeys.
The site is expected to be between 7000 sqm up to 15,000 sqm depending upon the number and size of buildings making Lend Lease’s Victorian Harbour the logical choice.
Some pundits believe Docklands other major site Waterfront City could also raise its hand, but many property experts believe that would be like moving Tiffanys to Footscray.
ANZ has been eyeing off Lend Lease’s Victoria Harbour since the highly lauded move by National Bank to its new Docklands headquarters.
Around two years ago, ANZ began a similar search for its future headquarters, but reportedly abandoned any plans of an immediate move after being told by agents and developers alike how much the move would cost.
However, a report, which reviews ANZ’s long term property strategy, is expected to be presented to the ANZ Board in the in the coming weeks. The strategy report is rumored to recommend a move to Melbourne Docklands within a five year time frame.
ANZ world headquarters is presently located within the 162 metre tall 37 storey ANZ Tower, which was completed in 1992, on the corner of Collins and Queens Streets, houses around 1000 staff. ANZ own the building.
Several thousand more ANZ employees take up major space in 530 Collins Street, from level 14 upwards, and the company also leases 50% of 55 Exhibition Street as well as its Card Services centre on Melbourne’s Kingsway.
It is believed the ANZ property report recommends bringing together 4000 - 5000 of office and hi-tech staff scattered around Melbourne, into one hi-tech office campus of up to five buildings the largest being a landmark 18 storey icon tower for Docklands.
Some agents put the price tag of a purpose built 100,000 sqm office development, much like the campus style complex at National @ Docklands, at around $400 million.
A city office tower has been ruled out due to the high cost of building such a mammoth tower and the lack of sites large enough to handle such a large building.
(cheap pricks, lucky the English, Scottish and Australian bank didn't have that attitude in 1886 when they decided to build the current ANZ head branch and spared no expense. Where has the vision gone, the desire to create something remarkable?).
Lend Lease has planned more than 250,000 sqm of office space at Victoria Harbour with so far the award winning National Bank campus taking up around 60,000 sqm.
“ Victoria Harbour is the ideal choice because it continues the Bank’s relationship with Collins Street financial and the fact that Docklands has the potential to become Melbourne’s banking epicenter,” one banking insider said yesterday.
“With suitable sites virtually no existent within the CBD, ANZ need to make a decision on its future world headquarters in the immediate future. Docklands is the only legitimate site that can offer major tenants purpose built facilities.”
Around 90% of ANZ’s business is conducted in Australian and New Zealand.
If ANZ does relocate to Docklands in the next five years it will create a major medium term headache especially for GPT the owners of 530 Collins St. AMP the owners of 55 Collins Street won’t be as perturbed as ANZ has a 50 year head lease over the building.