Continent’s tall-building activity on upswing.

Multiple Residential Towers Planned in South Melbourne

Salvo Property Group has acquired the land and permits to build 46-, 43-, 27- and 21-story residential towers at 60-82 Johnston Street in South Melbourne, The Urban Developer reported. Located in Fisherman’s Bend close to the central business district (CBD), the project is part of an urban renewal in Melbourne. There will be more than 1,300 apartments in the Rothelowman-designed structures, which will boast views that include the CBD and Port Phillip Bay. Those involved in the project are optimistic, remarking on the city’s surging population and describing the local high-rise apartment market as “buoyant” and the towers as a “flagship project.”

39-Story Victoria Police Centre in Melbourne

The Victorian government has approved plans to build a 39-story building in Melbourne that will house 2,500 police personnel, The Urban Developer reported. The Woods Bagot-designed structure will be built next to an existing police complex in the 300 block of Spencer Street and include a public foyer with an area to exhibit police memorabilia. It is being developed by Australia Post and Cbus Property in partnership with the government, and is set to dovetail with the expiration of the Victoria Police’s lease at the World Trade Centre in 2020.

Plan Including 103-Story Tower Closer to Reality

Orion Towers, set to include what would be the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere at 103 stories, moved a big step closer to reality earlier this year when developer Orion International Group closed on a 5,724-m2 piece of property spanning Enderley and Markwell avenues and Surfers Paradise Boulevard on the Gold Coast, The Urban Developer reported. The mixed-use project, which also features a 76-story tower, was in the hands of the Gold Coast City Council in February. Woods Bagot designed the structures, set to house approximately 1,130 residences, including a penthouse on the 100th floor.