Bunnings to build apartments in Doncaster

ANOTHER Wesfarmers subsidiary is playing “reluctant” property developer, by substantially improving the profitability of a prominent Doncaster site it bought to build a Bunnings warehouse.

The 1.1 hectare development site, abutting the massive Westfield Shoppingtown complex, may now be replaced with a $200 million mixed use complex including a multi-level Bunnings store, car park, and 350-unit residential tower, it is speculated could rise some 20 levels.

Bunnings paid $25 million for the collection of adjoining properties bound by Doncaster Road, Tower and Council streets in 2011, saying at the time the supersite would only be replaced with a hardware store, to complement the shopping centre next door.

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Councillor Suggests Westfield Contribute to Cost of Funding Train Line to Centre

IN THE east Melbourne suburb of Doncaster, a Manningham City Council has suggested long-time dweller Westfield financially contribute to an infrastructure project designed to cope with the traffic it will permit for development along the eastern corridor.

Cr Stephen Mayne this week said the Sydney based property company would be the biggest beneficiary of a train line to Doncaster Shoppingtown – currently Westfield’s third best centre measured by sales, after Bondi Junction in Sydney and Chermside in Brisbane.

The Eastern Golf Course nearby has also been sold to a developer (Mirvac) and is expected to be replaced with a $1 billion residential-based village with apartment, office and hotel towers, and streets built around fairways, once an orchard.

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Westfield Sells Site Abutting Doncaster Shoppingtown

SYDNEY based shopping centre giant Westfield has sold an open-air car park abutting the Doncaster shopping centre’s north-east boundary.

The 5457 square metre site with a street address of 1 Grosvenor Street is believed to have sold for about $10 million after a public marketing campaign.

Westfield offered the site with a permit for a 185-unit apartment complex penned by boutique architect firm Rothelowman. The site, which backs onto the Saxon Reserve, was marketed by Knight Frank Glen Waverley’s Ken Smirk, Paul Henley and Todd Schaffer who declined to comment when contacted by The Age.

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Bunnings Pays $25 Million For Doncaster Supersite

HARDWARE giant Bunnings is believed to have paid about $25 million for a collection of adjoining sites abutting a major entrance of Westfield Doncaster shopping centre, about 14 kilometres east of town.

The ASX listed company is planning to build a warehouse on the 1.1 hectare supersite though a permit request has not yet been lodged with council.

Bunning’s parcel includes a 5250 square metre former service station site at 659 – 667 Doncaster Road which was until recently earmarked to become a major apartment tower. It also acquired the site next door, a 7-Eleven convenience store, at 669 – 671 Doncaster Road at the north-west corner of Council Street.

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Doncaster Hill Site Sells For $3 Million

A CHINA-based developer is understood to have paid $3 million for a 1465 square metre development site near a prominent Doncaster Hill junction, about 13 kilometres east of town.

The 86 – 88 Tram Road sold with a permit for a six-level, 28-unit tower, each with balconies and car parks. The site is about 150 metres from the corner of busy Doncaster Road, and near Westfield Doncaster – the site Sydney-based retail giant Westfield chose to develop its first Melbourne shopping centre in 1969.  Savills Nick Peden and Nick Dempsey were the marketing agents.

Manningham City Council has been encouraging high density housing for arguably for longer than any suburban council – mainly around Doncaster Road.

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Manningham City Council Sells Prominent Doncaster Site For $8.92 Million

MANNINGHAM City Council will bank almost $9 million from the sale of a 3113 square metre development site opposite Doncaster Shoppingtown (aerial shot, right).

The 101 – 105 Tram Road site, on the south-east corner of Doncaster Road, has been purchased by an Australian based company whose principals have substantial development experience in Hong Kong and China.

The new owner plans to build luxury apartments on the Doncaster site, capitalising on CBD views availed by its elevated position.

Next door, at 95 – 99 Tram Road, affordable housing service provider Haven is building a 10-level, 98-unit complex. Haven paid $2.86 million for that site in 2009.

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Doncaster Public Housing Block Reaches Full Height

MELBOURNE’s next public housing tower – a 10-level, 98-unit complex opposite Doncaster Shoppingtown – has reached its full height.

A “topping” ceremony will be held this Thursday to celebrate the suburb’s new landmark – with Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness (and Sport  and Indigenous Employment and Economic Development) Mark Arbib likely to attend. State government representatives, and the developer, Bendigo-based not-for-profit group Loddon Mallee Housing Services will also be there.

The 95 – 99 Tram Road affordable housing complex is being funded using money from the Commonwealth Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus which aims to deliver 4500 new rental homes for low income earning Victorians.

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Eastern Golf Course on Track to Sell to China Based Developers

A CHINA-based developer is believed to be paying more than $100 million for what is the biggest development site put to the Melbourne market in recent years.

The offshore group is expected to be announced within weeks as the buyer of Doncaster’s massive 47 hectare Eastern Golf Course, about 15 kilometres east of town.

The 86-year old course is expected to be redeveloped into a $1 billion village of shops, offices, and apartments, after the club relocates to an as-yet-unbuilt development in about 2013.

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Doncaster Road Site Sells to Overseas Developer For $16.25 Million

A PROMINENT eastern suburb site, once owned by members of the Myer family has sold to an overseas investor and is set to be rebuilt as a $100 million mixed use village of shops, offices and apartments.

An Asia-based builder has paid $16.25 million for the major 8395 square metre bulky goods complex on the south-east corner of Doncaster and Manningham roads, in Doncaster.

The site, with a street address of 602 – 630 Doncaster Road, is recognised as the Doncaster home of retailers Officeworks and Autobahn.

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