Gurner plots two more inner city Melbourne projects
Gurner has unveiled plans to replace two inner city sites where former developers failed.
In Docklands, the parcel for years known as Comtechport then Digital Harbour, and St Kilda Road – about three kilometres south of the CBD – the projects are residential based, mixed use.
The end value is $2.5 billion; one development worth twice as much as the other.
Both proposals are now sitting with council.
If approved, marketing of the first stages could start this year.
“Futuristic wellness and anti-ageing utopia”
Two decades ago earmarked for low-rise high tech warehouses in an estate called Comtechport – Gurner, in a consortium with the Liberman family’s JGL Investments and the Schwartz family, amongst others, is now proposing a “futuristic wellness and anti-ageing utopia” for 206-226 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands.
Dubbed Elysium Fields, the 1.8 hectare village, also fronting Dudley and La Trobe streets and Wurundjeri Way, will contain 1350 traditional apartments, a mix of build to rent and build to sell.
Two hotels are also planned: a 4-star with 100 keys and 5-star with c250 keys, conference facilities and business club.
“The team set out to create a self-contained biosphere like design – the likes of which has previously only been seen in sci-fi movies,” a spokesperson for the developer said, “that will instill a sense of tranquility”, they added.
“The concept brings together [director] Tim Gurner’s personal wellness journey and the latest in science-backed health and wellness to deliver a regenerative anti-ageing and wellness experience that has been based on American Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman’s five pillars of health being: sleep, sunlight, movement, nutrition and social connection,” according to the developer.
Cryotherapy, IV infusions, dry and infrared sauna, red light therapy, grounding and PEMF beds, along with access to the Elysian Reverse Ageing Medical Clinic, which will provide MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans, blood testing and personal health plans, will be available to residents.
The First stage will include 640 dwellings in three. Build to sell in the first tower – 231 of them – should be marketed in the third quarter.
Elysium’s end value is put at $1.7b.
The ownership consortium also includes the Khon, Napier and Nisbet families. When it formed in October, 2022, to develop the site, 1200 apartments and 200 hotel suites were planned.
Next chapter for Iloura site
Meanwhile at 424-426 St Kilda Road, Melbourne – with a postcode 3004 – at the junction of Toorak Road, which is the South Yarra border, Gurner, in partnership with GIC, has unveiled plans for an $800m project (story continues below).
Chicago based SOM, formerly known as Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLC, have penned it; over 19 floors it contains 200 oversized apartments, including two storey penthouses, accessed from a grand entrance with a Porte Cochere.
The ground floor will contain food and beverage retail.
It is the first time the pair have collaborated.
The architect is also behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and One World Trade Centre, in New York.
Locally, it penned two V-Leader projects: 600 Lonsdale St in the city, a 40 level office set to take shape, and a mixed use redevelopment and extension of the Claremont Hotel in South Yarra; the latter which is being marketed for lease by Emmetts’ Charles Emmett.
Melbourne, 3004
Spreading 4651 sqm, 424-426 St Kilda Rd is the street’s biggest block.
Woodlink had a permit for, but never proceeded to construct, a $360m residential based development with 176 build to sell flats and a Marriott hotel.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with internationally renowned architecture firm SOM to design this landmark project and are privileged to be working with such a distinguished firm to breathe new life into this landmark site,” Mr Gurner said.
“With its prominent corner presence, this site requires a certain elegance in its design and reimagining of its use to unlock not only its value as a significant residential asset, but a design monument in its own right,” he added.
“Our vision is to create a series of wellness-led residences that can be amalgamated, customised and completely imagined from the inside out, in line with our clients’ exacting tastes, to create a series of bespoke homes for our discerning clientele,” according to the developer.
“We are excited to have reached this milestone and we look forward to working collaboratively with the City of Port Phillip through the planning process to achieve this vision and move through to delivery”.
Gurner and GIC acquired the block, with the rundown Iloura Plaza, in September, from Hong Kong’s Mars family, for a speculated $80m.
The eight storey 1960s office was famous in leasing circles for being available asking “outgoings only”.
That building replaced a c1889 mansion, Iloura.
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