Melbourne Quarter taking shape

The second of Lendlease’s three Melbourne Quarter towers has reached practical completion as the $2.9 billion precinct at Batman’s Hill starts to take shape.

The tower – Two Melbourne Quarter – is 50,000 sqm and 24 levels and features a new staircase connecting the Collins St streetscape to Wurundjeri Way and Aurora Lane. Lendlease managing director Matthew Mears said its completion was a significant milestone and “delivers on our vision to create the best places”.

“Melbourne Quarter is our latest in next-generation technology-enabled workplaces and is one of Melbourne’s largest mixed-use urban regeneration developments,” Mr Mears said.

“The precinct’s design is based around city living, a vibrant retail mix and green public spaces that are synonymous with Lendlease’s global ethos of connecting people and buildings in an urban environment to improve amenity, productivity and liveability.”

Meanwhile, the commercial landscape has also taken shape. Three new tenants have signed leases for Two Melbourne Quarter in Datacom, a leading IT service provider, the federal government advisory body the Productivity Commission and international education organisation IDP.

In 2018 the tower was bought by First State Super and the Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial.

First State Super chief executive officer Deanne Stewart said the company was “delighted” to have partnered with Lendlease.

“Following our merger with VicSuper which was finalised on July 1, we now have more than 400,000 members in Victoria and are pleased to play an active role in helping to support the State’s economic growth and development through investments like this,” she said.

“We are particularly proud to be involved in such an industry-leading development that combines word-class commercial and retail spaces with a mix of innovative sustainability and green initiatives.”

Once complete, the Melbourne Quarter precinct will comprise approximately 140,000sqm of agile commercial space for more than 14,000 employees and be home to around 3000 new residents •