New tower for Digital Harbour

The northern entrance to Docklands is set to be transformed when construction of new mixed-use development begins at Digital Harbour this month.

Construction of the 37-storey tower, The Altus, was launched on October 8 with a ground-breaking ceremony at the future site of the tower at the corner of Harbour Esplanade and Dudley St.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the building would be “a remarkable addition to Docklands”.

“It’s exciting to see these final building blocks going into to place in Docklands.”

The first 18 storeys of the building will accommodate the 4.5 Star Parkroyal Melbourne hotel, which will offer 266 rooms and is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2016. The separately-accessible residential part of the building will comprise 331 apartments.

Digital Harbour director David Napier welcomed the involvement of the Parkroyal brand in the ongoing roll-out of Digital Harbour.

“This building will strengthen the links between NewQuay to the west and the proposed future residential enclave of E-Gate to the north with the rapidly developing western edge of the CBD,” Mr David Napier said.

“Located just a few hundred metres from the on/off ramps of CityLink, The Altus will also be connected to Melbourne’s freeway network, within 15 minutes of Melbourne’s International airport and located within Docklands’ most accessible precinct at Digital Harbour.”

Mr Napier said commencement of construction was “imminent” and that the tower would take 24 months to build.