This just might change your mind about Southbank
Blog - 18/12/2017
Take what you've always thought about Southbank and throw it out one of the suburb's sky-high apartment windows - this is an area undergoing one of the city's most dramatic transformations.
In fact, you might not recognise it in five years time.
Long perceived as a densely populated precinct without much heart, Southbank is embarking on a transformation that will see it become one of the city's most discerning addresses.
At the heart of this is a vibrant new retail and community zone that is blooming as part of Melbourne Square, a multi-purpose precinct that will finally bring to the area much needed amenity and inject essential green space.
Think a public park spanning 3700 square metres set amid cascading water features, European inspired piazzas and a buzzing outdoor terrace where one can enjoy an Aperol of an afternoon.
It's part of a new neighbourhood that will be set across six towers, which offer a new style of residential living, retail including a full line supermarket and childcare offering as well as hotel-like amenity including 48-metres of resort style pools, private gardens, multiple gyms, entertainment facilities and much more.
This is in addition to bold City of Melbourne plans to create new public space in Southbank, roughly the size of City Square. As well as changes to Dodds Street that aim to transform it into a public space that can cater for street performances, farmers markets and medium scale music festivals. The draft plan has also just been released for Boyd Park, directly opposite the Melbourne Square site.
Leading Melbourne real estate agent, Andrew Leoncelli, CBRE's Managing Director of Residential Projects in Victoria, says this investment is driving developers to change the way they approach the suburb.
"Gone are the days of small, poorly designed apartments - in five years Southbank will have just as many large apartments for families, luxury sky-homes and unique terraces," he predicts.
"It's moving on from its image of short stay accommodation to a base for those who want to be close to the vibrancy of the city - those who value culture, arts, sports events, food and entertainment and want a better lifestyle balance."
Waking up in an apartment that feels like a hotel, busting out some laps in 48-metres of pools and then taking Fido for a wander around the park while you enjoy a morning coffee. We could get used to this lifestyle. An afternoon stroll around The Tan, the National Gallery of Victoria and even followed by a show at Hamer Hall? We're sold.
To hear more about the vibrant life in Southbank, register your interest here.
