More corporate heavyweights for Docklands

By Alison Kinkade

The Australian Taxation Office will be moving to Docklands with national property developer, Walker Corporation, signing them to its 735 Collins St project.

The $250 million ATO building will form the first of four towers for the $750 million Quattro area of the Batman’s Hill precinct, which is being developed by Walker Corporation in partnership with the Kuok Group.

Billionaire property developer and executive chairman of Walker Corporation, Lang Walker, is positive that the ATO tower will provide the essential momentum needed for the rest of the development.

“To secure ATO as the anchor tenant is a great catalyst to help this new precinct take off and provide quality a-grade commercial space in Melbourne,” Mr Walker said.

Located on the corner of Collins St and Batman’s Hill Drive, the ATO tower will take up 38,000 square metres of the 136,000sqm precinct.

It is believed that Walker Corporation is also a front runner to attract the National Australia Bank to the precinct. NAB has signalled a need for an extra 40,000sqms of office space.

“We’re in negotiations with a number of other companies for commercial space within the remaining 735 Collins St towers and the Southern Goods Shed,” Mr Walker said.

Docklands is also experiencing an influx of media, with Fairfax moving into its new Collins St address late last year.

In a move that is set to strengthen Docklands’ status as Melbourne’s media hub, the Nine Network has sold its Richmond headquarters and is expected to move to Docklands.

717 Bourke St, which is nearing completion and sits opposite Etihad stadium, is now almost fully subscribed with energy firm BP Australia, insurance firms AIG and Marsh Australia and the Financial Ombudsman Service set to occupy the address.

It is thought that the Nine Network will occupy 8000 square metres of the building and will have to find additional studio space within Docklands to film The Footy Show.

It is believed that the television station will be moving into the 717 Bourke Street building later this year and will gain the signage rights.

Nine’s owner, PBL Media, failed to return calls from Docklands News.