Roberts Co wins sixth Melbourne ex-Probuild contract
Golden Age Group has appointed Roberts Co to construct the 130 Little Collins Street strata office tower, near Parliament station.
The contract agreement – speculated earlier this month – is the sixth in Victoria for the Sydney based builder.
The other projects, like 130 Little Collins St, were to have been delivered by Probuild, which was put into voluntary administration in February, before the bulk of its Victorian enterprise was snapped up by Roberts Co.
Two more local developments on the failed group’s books – Poly Australia’s 1000 La Trobe St and Caydon’s Malt District, in Cremorne – didn’t exchange, as part of that business sale.
Meanwhile, control of West Side Place, in the CBD, and Caulfield Village – were recently taken back by their respective site owners, Far East Consortium and Beck Corporation.
Andrew Roberts grows Melbourne presence
Roberts Co is owned by Multiplex founder Andrew Roberts, who is also behind fund manager RF Corval, which has in recent years, in Melbourne, snapped up a Keysborough egg cold storage facility and distribution centre, Collingwood office and Southbank’s Eureka Skydeck.
“We launched Roberts Co five years ago with a mission to build a better way and we are excited to carry this through into Victoria, including works on 130 Little Collins St, as part of the Probuild acquisition,” the builder’s chief executive officer, Alison Mirams, said.
Colliers’ George Davies, Anthony Kirwan and Oliver Hay have been marketing the office suites since last year; the tower is 70 per cent sold down.
Exclusive office, location
Handover to begin building the $190 million 130 Little Collins St is set to take place next week; Probuild demolished a c1967 office on the site last year (story continues below).
The proposed Hecker Guthrie complex is designed with “subterranean end-of-trip facilities…akin to a first class lounge” with private change rooms offering a towel service and individual storage lockers.
A ground floor will include a waiting lounge and retail, activating Coromandel Place.
The offices, which will fill the upper 27 storeys, are set to feature column free floorplates and 2.7 metre ceilings; the eighth level offers a wraparound balcony.
A rooftop terrace with Jack Merlo gardens and a kitchenette will be available for building occupiers to use for meetings, lunches and entertaining clients.
The project is intended to receive a 5-Star Green Star Design and As-Built rating and Green Building Council of Australia WELL Building Standard certification.
“We have every confidence that Roberts Co will deliver a superior product due to the experience and calibre of its history, past projects, as well as the retained former Probuild project team,” Golden Age chief executive officer, Jeff Xu, said.
In 2014, the group completed a mixed-use apartment and hotel complex on the former Naval & Military Club site at 27 Little Collins St, a little closer to Parliament station.
At East Melbourne, the company is co-developing a premium quality office, Victoria Place, which sold on a funds through basis to ARA Asset Management and QuadReal for $328m in 2020.
Completion of 130 Little Collins St is scheduled for 2024.
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