Melbourne’s top five most popular apartment developments on Urban in 2023
2023 proved to be an interesting year for the Melbourne off the plan apartment market.
Enquiry was dominated by CBD and CBD fringe projects, with prospective apartment purchasers seeking to find value for money closer to the city following significant rate rises by the RBA restricted budgets.
Those less affected by interest rates, the downsizer demographic, were still focussed on the likes of Toorak and Brighton.
We've wrapped up the top five most popular apartment developments on Urban in 2023.
Project: Melbourne Square
Developer: OSK Property
Apartments: 1054
OSK Property's expansive mixed-use development Melbourne Square was the most popular project on Urban in 2023, no doubt due to its most sought-after address in Southbank and abundance of resort-style amenities.
Melbourne Square's completed East and West Towers on Southbank's Kavanagh Street take pride and place above Melbourne’s internationally acclaimed Arts Precinct.
The Cox Architecture-designed elliptical twin towers comprise two and three-bedroom apartments, sub-penthouses, and cold-shell penthouses.
Within the development, residents will have exclusive access to world-class resort-style amenities at Level 54, offering private dining and meeting spaces, a reading lounge, an indoor pool, and a spa deck with breathtaking views of the bay and the city skyline.
Additional amenities include private dining facilities, bookable games rooms, a cinema, a sun terrace, a music room, a yoga studio, a garden, a gymnasium, and a golf simulator.
The two towers won the Best Mixed-Use Development and the Best High Rise Architecture awards at the Asia Pacific Property Awards in 2020. They were a nominee in the 2022 Victorian Architecture Awards.
Project: FOCUS Melbourne
Developer: Central Equity
Apartments: 592
Central Equity's FOCUS Melbourne has secured its position among the most sought-after projects in 2023 on Urban, adding to its recent win at the 2023 HIA-CSR Victorian Housing Awards.
FOCUS Melbourne won the Victoria Apartment Complex Award (over $20 million), while Central Equity was Victoria's most awarded apartment developer.
The $450 million FOCUS Melbourne provides a completed and move-in-ready option for buyers in the heart of Southbank.
The development has proved popular among locals who want to remain near the city while enjoying a neighbourhood feel.
The 50-level building, featuring a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, places residents on the doorstep of the arts precinct and its upcoming $1.7 billion revamp, all while being a few hundred metres across the Yarra river or a short walk to the CBD
FOCUS Melbourne boasts extensive resort-style facilities, including a 17-seat luxe theatre, an indoor heated pool, a sauna, a gym with strength and cardio zones, and resident dining and lounge areas with landscaped terraces, barbecues, and outdoor seating.
The development also introduces next-gen features like resident-only keyless entry, a day-and-night concierge service, 24/7 digitally secured parcel lockers, high-speed lifts with security access, video intercom, secure bike storage, and undercover car parking featuring remote control access.
Project: Hawthorn Park
Developer: Dahua Group
Apartments: 368
Dahua Group’s Hawthorn Park has garnered significant interest this year due to its striking sky bridge pool, Melbourne's first-ever suspended sky pool, and its Machu Picchu-inspired terraced landscapes.
Designed by Rothelowman, HAWTHORN Park delivers 368 one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The residences at HAWTHORN Park boast premium finishes and top-of-the-line appliances, adding a touch of sophistication to every living space.
The glass-bottomed swimming pool serves as the development's centrepiece, spanning between buildings and over the plaza.
Other impressive on-site amenities include the theatre rooms, a sky lounge, a gym with a yoga and meditation studio and massage suites, a hammock lounge, an indoor residents lounge, and a garden pavilion.
The tower also features over 2000 sqm of parkland curated by acclaimed landscape architect Jack Merlo that brings the Hickory-constructed building to life.
Within proximity, residents can explore the vibrant retail and dining precincts of CAMBERWELL, Glenferrie Road, and HAWTHORN, offering many options for shopping, entertainment, and culinary delights.
Project: Louise Melbourne
Developer: Samuel Property
Apartments: 88
Samuel Property's Louise Melbourne has claimed a spot on Urban's most popular list, with a wide range of demographics keen on its prime location on just off St Kilda Road.
Designed by Cera Stribley, Louise will feature 88 apartments, ranging from one to four bedrooms, with one-bedroom units starting at just under $600,000.
Building amenities include a swimming pool beneath a distinctive skylight, forming the focal point of a wellness centre with a steam room. A landscaped outdoor terrace wraps around communal areas, complemented by a bookable private dining room with a full kitchen and a private lounge area.
Moments from Louise, the leafy St Kilda Road is lined with tram routes to the city, less than five kilometres away, with stops at various arts and cultural destinations.
The 16-level development is currently under construction by the renowned builder Hamilton Marino, anticipating a two-year build duration, with completion expected around 2025.
Project: Malvern Collective
Developer: Kokoda Property
Apartments: 205
Completing the top five is Malvern Collective, Kokoda's 0-minute neighbourhood at 2 Station Place.
Esteemed Melbourne developer Kokoda Property has created an even more convenient neighbourhood than the 15-minute neighbourhood at their new mixed-use precinct, Malvern Collective.
The Malvern Collective project comprises 205 one to three-bedroom apartments above a soon-to-be-thriving hospitality precinct, offering future residents every convenience at their doorstep, including a Woolworths Metro, six hospitality venues, and a straightforward commute to the city. Above the precinct will stand two striking glass buildings that will house the apartments.
Malvern Collective apartments have gained popularity among owner-occupiers in recent months. They are attracted to the unique proposition of Malvern Collective, the apartment design, and the superior concierge service, which functions more like a high-end hotel and is managed through a residents' app.
Residents of Malvern Collective will also enjoy exclusive amenities within the project, such as a co-working space, a cinema, a swimming pool, a wellness centre with hot and cold plunge pools, and a private dining area.
Construction on Malvern Collective is well underway, with completion slated for Q1 2024.