BHP’s Plans to Move its Headquarters to Perth Delayed

MINING giant BHP Billiton looks unlikely to relocate its headquarters to Perth any time soon, according to news reports.

In 2008 Perth mayor Lisa Scaffidi labelled a new building BHP was occupying at City Square as “BHP’s new national headquarters” raising speculation the giant will leave its long-time home in Melbourne.

The mayor told a council meeting BHP’s Melbourne operations would be “significantly downgraded” in what was “a major boon” for Perth.

Read more

CBA Leases 8500 Square Metres at 357 Collins Street, Melbourne

COMMONWEALTH Bank of Australia has leased 8500 square metres of refurbished office space within the Collins Street building that once acted as Melbourne’s stock exchange.

The lease, for levels 6 to 10, are for an initial 10-year period. CBA is paying rent of $385 per square metre, per annum, presumably prior to incentives (discounts offered off this “face” rent, common in most CBD leases nowadays).

Australand purchased the vacant building from Asian investors last year, which failed to relaunch the building as an apartment project. Sources say that residential conversion would never have worked given the building only has a handful of car spaces.

Read more

Energywatch.com.au Promises Landmark New Sign For Melbourne Steamship Company Building

ENERGY broker energywatch.com.au has leased about 2000 square metres of refurbished office space in the historic Melbourne Steamship Company building at 27 – 31 King Street.

Energywatch will consolidate from four separate Melbourne offices, having signed a lease at King Street for four years, with a four year option. The company recently said it wanted to grow its employee base from 200, to 500, as part of an expansion into other IT businesses. It will pay a starting annual rent of about $500,000.

Read more

Non Bank Tenants to Occupy Melbourne CBD Building For The First Time

NON-bank tenants will fill a historic city office building at 287 Collins Street for the first time.

ANZ Bank sold the building (pictured, right) to Brisbane-based Australian Property Growth Fund for $30.5 million in August 2007, but remained an office tenant until 2009 while its new Docklands headquarters was under construction.

APGF has almost finished refurbishing the 10-storey, 5280 square metre office which was built in about 1940 and previously known as the ANZ Royal Bank Chambers.

Leasing agents Colliers International and Savills are marketing the building with asking rents of about $350 per square metre, per annum, before any incentives (a lure offered to tenants, often in the way of a rental discount, or a contribution to office fit-out).

Read more

Askew House Office Space For Lease, Melbourne

AFTER sitting unoccupied for almost a decade, recently refurbished office space at Lonsdale Street’s historic Askew House has hit the market for rent.

The art deco building at 364 Lonsdale Street sold to its current owners in June 2001 for $4.05 million and has recently undergone a major refurbishment.

A new sixth level, with a large balcony on three sides, has been added to the 1937 building.

Askew House is widely recognised by one of its ground floor tenants, the JB Hi Fi DVD Video Superstore outlet.

Read more

Westpac, KPMG to Release Major Melbourne CBD Office Leasing Requirements

CORPORATE tenants Westpac and KPMG are expected to announce major Melbourne CBD office leasing requirements.

Bank Westpac is understood to be in the market for between 16,000 and 18,000 square metres of space. It’s currently based at the Dexus owned 360 Collins Street.

Consultancy KPMG is currently at 161 Collins Street, distinguished in the Melbourne CBD as having one of the largest single-level floorplates available.

Read more

NBN Co to Have Neighbours in Luxury Melbourne Skyscraper

Melbourne CentralSTAFF of the Federal Government’s divisive $43 billion National Broadband Network program – which earlier this year leased luxury offices in one of Melbourne’s few “Premium” grade office buildings – will soon have new neighbours.

ME Bank and Allianz Insurance have leased a combined 16,439 square metres at the landmark Melbourne Central tower, reportedly paying a rental of between $400 and $420 per square metre, per annum.

NBN Co is understood to be paying more than $500 per square, per annum for its space, in a deal reported by BusinessDay, earlier this year.

Read more

Bank of Cyprus Leases 1000 Sq m at Rialto

RialtoTHE Bank of Cyprus has leased about 1000 square metres of space at the luxurious Rialto skyscraper, moving from tired offices at 459 Collins Street.

A spokeswoman confirmed the lease, saying the international bank planned to move into the new and larger headquarters shortly after a fit-out.

The landmark Rialto tower, formerly wedged at the “western edge” of the CBD – now finds itself at about the city centre, if you factor Docklands as part of the central business district.

Read more

National Broadband Network Co Employees to Work from Luxurious Melbourne Central Offices

Melbourne CentralWITH a budget of $43 billion, why would you skimp on office accommodation?

Employees of the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network scheme – including controversial executive, Mike Kaiser – will work from “sky rise” offices in one of a handful of luxury skyscrapers defined by the Property Council of Australia to be of a “Premium” quality (or amongst the best in the country).

NBN Co has leased 3000 square metres over two levels, near the distinctive pitched peak of the Melbourne Central office building at 360 Elizabeth Street, paying a speculated rent of over $500 per square metre, per annum, gross (which means including outgoings).

Read more