Collins Square is the pick of Victoria

Batman’s Hill’s thriving mixed-use precinct Collins Square has been acknowledged as Victoria’s best development of the year by the Property Council of Australia.

Owner and developer Walker Corporation has been awarded the coveted Rider Levett Bucknall Victorian Development of the Year award in what marks a significant vote of confidence in the growing Docklands precinct.

Spanning an entire city block, Collins Square incorporates five commercial office buildings, with more than 250,000 sqm of commercial space and 10,000 sqm of retail area.

The Property Council of Victoria’s executive director Cressida Wall said Collins Square was an “innovative” and “inspiring” precinct.

“Vibrant precincts drive investment, growth and productivity, and Collins Square demonstrates the role that these precincts can play in Victoria’s economic recovery,” Ms Wall said.

The revival of Collins Square commenced in 2010 and includes the refurbishment of the historic Goods Shed which has stood at Melbourne Docklands for more than 120 years.

The precinct is now home to some of the country’s largest businesses – including the Commonwealth Bank, MLC, Transurban, KPMG, Mars Foods, Tabcorp, NBN and Maddocks – and forms an important link between Docklands and the CBD.

Walker Corporation general manager Emily Carroll said it was “thrilled” to win Victoria’s top property award.

“This award is not only a reflection of the precinct but the small, medium and large businesses that call it home,” she said. “The Collins Square tenants – from the restaurateurs and retailers – to the larger enterprises are the lifeblood of the precinct.”

“The revitalisation of Collins Square has not only contributed to the heart and soul of the CBD, but it has made an enormous contribution to the state’s economy by creating a productive, collaborative and thriving commercial and retail hub for large and small businesses.”

“Collins Square is a landmark development that integrates commercial office towers with retail space over an entire city block. It was built to meet the needs of our tenants, now and into the future. It’s also one of Melbourne’s best-connected workplaces.”

“As one of the most significant developments in Melbourne, we placed a large emphasis on ensuring the precinct would be one of the most collaborative, productive and safe work spaces in the CBD, now and into the future.” •