Margaret St - 7 Aspen Street, Moonee Ponds

Olivia Round

Looking for a home on a budget? Here are 10 Melbourne apartments under $385,000

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<p>It's not South Yarra's imposing Capitol Grand, nor is it one of the gaggle of Box Hill residential towers progressively redefining that suburb's skyline.</p>

<p>Yet there is a suburban Melbourne skyscraper on the rise, so to speak. The jump form and initial floor plate formwork has appeared above ground for Rise Moonee Ponds. Part of the wider Mason Square development that replaces what was once the Moonee Ponds Market, Rise will become one of suburban Melbourne's tallest buildings.</p>

<p>The 30 level tower is the crowning component of developer Caydon's wider Mason Square precinct. Above a commercially focused podium, Rise includes hundreds of apartments and associated amenities.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image270.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One of suburban Melbourne's tallest towers is on the way up. Image: Fender Katsalidis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="215" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image270.jpg?itok=m791NpHO" title="One of suburban Melbourne's tallest towers is on the way up. Image: Fender Katsalidis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>One of suburban Melbourne's tallest towers is on the way up. Image: Fender Katsalidis</figcaption></figure><p>Rise is the final and most imposing of the seven buildings which make up the Mason Square project.</p>

<p>The former Moonee Ponds Market site covers 1.34 hectares and will provide in excess of 1,000 apartments and a serviced apartment contingent operated as The Sebel Moonee Ponds. That component includes 97 serviced apartments within a mid-rise north-facing building.</p>

<p>Addressed 15 Everage Street, Rise is one of three jump forms rising simultaneously from the northern half of the site.</p>

<p>It and the Sebel building's form are joined by that of Focus on Mason, with the trio being delivered as the second phase of the overall built. Builder LU Simon has taken on construction of the entire Fender Katsalidis-designed project.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image59_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Rise as rendered and construction progress onsite"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="303" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image59_6.jpg?itok=_O0dprpN" title="Rise as rendered and construction progress onsite" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Rise as rendered and construction progress onsite</figcaption></figure><p>Upon its completion which is scheduled for the end of next year, Rise will stand above all other towers at Mason Square and the wider North Western region of Melbourne for that matter. Longer term it may be joined by a handful of equivalent sized residential towers in nearby Footscray.</p>

<p>In a more immediate context, LU Simon has all but completed works on the initial Margaret Street and Hall Street components of Mason Square, consisting of four residential buildings.</p>

<p>That initial construction phase sees buildings range between 6 and 22 levels. Rise upon its completion will distinguish itself within Mason Square as being the only tower to sport a curtain wall façade.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/img_6607.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Mason Square's Hall Street build is nearing completion"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_6607.jpg?itok=pBmN9dsH" title="Mason Square's Hall Street build is nearing completion" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Mason Square's Hall Street build is nearing completion</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

Melbourne's 'other' suburban skyscraper gets moving

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<p>Long gone are the days when Eddie McGuire was helping out with the marketing of Mondo Tower on the Footy Show - back then it was the tallest residential tower proposed outside of central Melbourne. These days Moonee Ponds joins the likes of Box Hill in not needing specialist marketing to get projects off the ground.</p>

<p>Moonee Ponds - one of the Melbourne suburbs that the publishers of Melway street directories decided was important enough to warrant its own close-up red-border maps in later versions of the local map bible - is blessed with a distinct street-grid area that has for much of its life see a range of commercial/retail uses.</p>

<p>The ATO was drawn to Moonee Ponds during the 80s (note also that the ATO has tenanted a new office tower in Box Hill), Mirvac built a sub-regional shopping centre there in the early 2000s and the guardians of the Moonee Valley Racecourse - distinct from other racecourses in that it doesn't sit on crown land - have ambitious aspirations to re-work the course into a diversified precinct.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/masonsq.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Mason Square - 40 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="406" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/masonsq.jpg?itok=_gLfb0S3" title="Mason Square - 40 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Mason Square - 40 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds</figcaption></figure><p>As I mentioned in the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/guides/weekly-podcast-episode-3-central-melbourne-design-guide-box-hill-and-skyrail">most recent episode of the weekly podcast</a>, we have an endless fascination with Box Hill and the eye-popping amount of development proposals it has racked up - the same can be said for Moonee Ponds.</p>

<p>On the numbers, Box Hill has 31 projects on the Urban.com.au Project Database compared to 25 in Moonee Ponds.  </p>

<p>Moonee Ponds like Box Hill also has a good range in terms of scale of development either proposed or under construction. On the old market site, Caydon is building at the upper end of the scale, well and truly dwarfing Mondo in height and number of apartments. </p>

<p>Yet there are also a lot of smaller developments happening on the periphery of Moonee Ponds' activities district.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/350_ascot.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="350 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="380" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/350_ascot.jpg?itok=T3_9XFFr" title="350 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>350 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds</figcaption></figure><p>Projects such as <a href="/buildings/350-ascot-vale-road-moonee-ponds">350 Ascot Vale Road</a> are common on the periphery of central Moonee Ponds, so too are projects such as <a href="/buildings/nue-21-norwood-crescent-moonee-ponds">Nue</a> on the other side of the Craigieburn railway line and <a href="/new-apartments/moonee-ponds-vic-3039">Queens Quarter</a> located on Pascoe Vale Road just outside central Moonee Ponds.</p>

<p>Urban.com.au editors have noticed some new site works occurring recently on the 33 Hall Street site - a long time after the original retail + rooftop car parking building that once inhabited the site had been demolished. Expected is a 14 level apartment tower.</p>

<p>Looking forward, we are waiting to see more detail on the Moonee Valley Racecourse redevelopment.</p>

<p>The new vision for the racetrack <a href="https://www.thevalley.com.au/news/2017-11-22/the-valley-of-tomorrow">was unveiled during November 2017</a> however it only focused on the equestrian facilities - in previous iterations, the racecourse would have seen a large number of residential buildings added to the area.</p>

<p>And there are still a large number of open-air car parks in the activities district - <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/are-standalone-supermarkets-and-small-retail-centres-in-our-suburbs-ripe-for-increasing-housing-supply">could Woolworths do an Aldi and redevelopment them</a>?</p>

<p><span style="font-size:10px;">Lead image: <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/9-shuter-street-moonee-ponds">9 Shuter Street</a>.</span></p>
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Alastair Taylor

Moonee Ponds' apartment scene in focus

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<p>In October 2016 when we first kicked off the series of articles looking at the development pipeline along Melbourne's tram corridors, <a href="https://urban.melbourne/development/2016/10/13/melbournes-development-tram-59">the 59 was </a><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/melbournes-development-by-tram-the-59">first tram out of the depot</a>.</p>

<p>The 59 corridor, except for Elizabeth Street and Flemington Road through the CBD and North Melbourne, runs exclusively within the City of Moonee Valley through Travancore, Ascot Vale, Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Niddrie and Airport West.</p>

<p>Moonee Ponds was and still is an emerging hotspot of development activity with the Moonee Ponds market site a hotbed of construction with a pipeline that will likely keep on keeping on for many years yet - here's looking at you Moonee Valley Racecourse.</p>

<p>The October 2016 snapshot showed 38 projects with 3,201 dwelling across all statuses.  Planning Assessment, Approved and Registration and Sales status had an equal number of projects (10 each) but there was a significant amount of dwellings being assessed - thanks to the market site being before the council at that time.</p>

<p>Fast forward and in terms of the market site in Moonee Ponds - a few trips to VCAT and the Minister's office - those apartments have largely moved from Planning Assessment to the Approved column.</p>

<p>That said, there's still a good amount of dwellings at the start of the journey with 12 projects and 850 dwellings before council.</p>

<p>In terms of construction, the number of projects and number of dwellings is relatively stable with similar figures both for Feb 2018 and October 2016.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/editor_moonee_p.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Editor Moonee Ponds - 31 Taylor Street, Moonee Ponds - image: FKD"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="358" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/editor_moonee_p.jpg?itok=vdrYAgpc" title="Editor Moonee Ponds - 31 Taylor Street, Moonee Ponds - image: FKD" width="580"></a>

<figcaption><a href="/buildings/editor-moonee-ponds-31-taylor-street-moonee-ponds">Editor Moonee Ponds</a> - 31 Taylor Street, Moonee Ponds - image: FKD</figcaption></figure><table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Aspect</th>
			<th scope="col">Number of projects</th>
			<th scope="col">Number of dwellings</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Residential projects: Planning Assessment</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">12</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">850</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Residential projects: Approved</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">14</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">1,396</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Residential projects: Registration and Sales</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">12</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">731</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Residential projects: Under Construction</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">9</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">985</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>TOTAL</strong></td>
			<td class="rtecenter"><strong>47</strong></td>
			<td class="rtecenter"><strong>3,962</strong></td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Mount Alexander Road (South)</h2>

<p>One of the biggest changes since October 2016 has been the number of projects that have cropped up on Mount Alexander Road, south of the Moonee Ponds activities district. </p>

<p>Previously in October 2016, there was only one project located between the City of Moonee Valley and City of Melbourne council boundary at Flemington Bridge and Moonee Ponds, now there are 6.</p>

<p>The Moonee Ponds activities district has no less than 20 projects and they vary greatly in size from the 30 level, 597 apartment tower that was approved through VCAT at <a href="/buildings/rise-15-everage-street-moonee-ponds">23 Everage Street</a> to the 5-level, 10-apartment <a href="/new-apartments/sur-53-homer-street-moonee-ponds">Sur at 53 Homer Street</a>.</p>

<h2>Pascoe Vale Road, Fletcher Street, Mount Alexander Road (north)</h2>

<p>The short stretch of Pascoe Vale Road and Fletcher Street which the 59 tram runs down sees one more project active in the database since October 2016 and no projects have been logged on Fletcher Street.</p>

<p>Essendon itself, where the tram turns north back on to Mount Alexander Road, has seen a slight reduction in projects compared to October 2016 from 7 projects to 5.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/linc_essendon.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="LINC - 13-21 Russell Street, Essendon - Image: REVEL Development Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="357" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/linc_essendon.jpg?itok=56CWyhpx" title="LINC - 13-21 Russell Street, Essendon - Image: REVEL Development Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption><a href="/new-apartments/linc-19-russell-street-essendon">LINC - 13-21 Russell Street, Essendon</a> - Image: REVEL Development Group</figcaption></figure><h2>Keilor Road and Matthews Ave</h2>

<p>Keilor Road maintains a healthy number of projects thanks to the myriad of development sites afforded to the area. </p>

<p>As we remarked back in October 2016, this stretch of the 59 tram route has seen significant change and it is set to continue with 6 projects on the database.</p>

<p>Matthews Avenue, right up at the current terminus of the 59 tram has seen its project count expand to 3 from 1.</p>
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Melbourne's development by tram redux - the 59

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<p>In this series, we'll progressively work our way clockwise around Melbourne's tram network, taking a look at the development pipeline that lies adjacent to each tram route as well as provide some facts and figures about the tram routes along the way.</p>

<p>Given all tram routes, except two, eventually bunch up and run through CBD streets, the Melbourne's development by tram series won't include projects in City of Melbourne or Port Phillip.</p>

<p>With the exception of the Flemington Road, Elizabeth Street and city terminus segments, the 59 Airport West - Flinders Street Station, City (Elizabeth Street) tram line is wholly contained within the City of Moonee Valley.</p>

<p>Upon exiting the City of Melbourne on Flemington Road, the 59 travels along Mount Alexander Road through Travancore, Ascot Vale and Moonee Ponds and after the Moonee Ponds Junction, the route diverges along Pascoe Vale Road and Fletcher Street in Essendon and then rejoins Mount Alexander Road at Essendon Station.</p>

<p>The route then continues up Mount Alexander Road through Essendon North, turns westward along Keilor Road through Niddrie and then northwards to run in its own right of way beside the Tullamarine Freeway and Essendon Fields to the terminus near Airport West shopping centre.</p>

<h2>The numbers</h2>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Aspect</th>
			<th scope="col">Number of projects</th>
			<th scope="col">Number of dwellings</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Residential projects: Planning Assessment</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">10</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">1,246</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Residential projects: Approved</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">10</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">509</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Residential projects: Registration and Sales</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">10</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">477</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Residential projects: Under Construction</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">8</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">969</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Commercial projects</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">1</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">N/A</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hotel projects</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">1</td>
			<td class="rtecenter">N/A</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>TOTAL</strong></td>
			<td class="rtecenter"><strong>40</strong></td>
			<td class="rtecenter"><strong>3,201</strong></td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><span style="font-size:10px;">*Residential projects includes mixed use projects.</span></p>

<p> </p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/897_tram59.gif" rel="gallery-all" title="Linear route 59 map. Yarra Trams"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="2279" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/897_tram59.gif?itok=q7DaRYGG" title="Linear route 59 map. Yarra Trams" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Linear route 59 map. Yarra Trams</figcaption></figure><p>​<span style="font-size:10px;"> </span></p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th scope="col">Tram route 59</th>
			<th scope="col">Further information</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Timetabled weekday peak frequency</td>
			<td>6-7 minutes (~10 trams per hour)</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Timetabled weekday off-peak frequency</td>
			<td>8 minutes (7-8 trams per hour)</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Timetabled weekend daytime frequency</td>
			<td>12 minutes (5 trams per hour)</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Timetabled night-time frequency</td>
			<td>20 minutes (3 trams per hour); 30 minutes/2 trams per hour (Sunday nights)</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Raised-platform stops?</td>
			<td>
			<p>Limited outside City of Melbourne. New Moonee Ponds junction stop has raised platforms.</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Where do the trams go to sleep?</td>
			<td>
<a href="http://vicsig.net/index.php?page=trams&amp;depot=essendon">Essendon Depot</a> (Mt. Alexander Road, Ascot Vale)</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Primary tram class that operates on the route.</td>
			<td>B2 (high-floor, articulated) - details, see <a href="http://vicsig.net/trams/class/B2">vicsig.net</a>
</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Annual patronage and rank</td>
			<td>10,200,000 trips annually, Melbourne's 6th busiest tram route. <a href="http://www.yarratrams.com.au/about-us/who-we-are/facts-figures/">Source</a>
</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Mount Alexander Road (South)</h2>

<p>With the exception of 484-486 Mt Alexander Road, all the current development along the southern section of Mt. Alexander Road where the 59 tram route runs is concentrated in the Moonee Ponds Activities District. From Travancore, at the boundary with the City of Melbourne, to Moonee Ponds junction, Mt Alexander Road is predominantly zoned <a href="http://planning-schemes.delwp.vic.gov.au/schemes/vpps/34_01.pdf">B2Z</a> (C1Z) on Moonee Valley's planning scheme.</p>

<p>Moonee Ponds junction is a major transit hub with the terminus of the 82 Moonee Ponds: Footscray tram and 10+ bus routes all contained within the Mt. Alexander Road median. The Craigieburn train line forms the western boundary of the Moonee Ponds Activities District and between it and Mt Alexander Road there are no less than 16 projects.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image34_5_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="343-349 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="353" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image34_5_0.jpg?itok=XuQRSMx9" title="343-349 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>343-349 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds</figcaption></figure><h2>Pascoe Vale Road and Fletcher Street</h2>

<p>In this short deviation of the 59 route, Pascoe Vale Road swaps between B2Z and R1Z zoning according to the most recent maps available for the City of Moonee Valley planning scheme. Fletcher Street in Essendon is zoned R1Z except for a Public Use Zone plot on the corner of Hoddle Street.</p>

<p>As such, only two projects on the Urban.com.au Project Database existing in this section, on Pascoe Vale Road.</p>

<h2>Mount Alexander Road (North)</h2>

<p>Within Essendon, at the junction of Fletcher Street and Mt. Alexander Road, there are 7 projects nestled either side of Essendon train station. Excluding a small section of R1Z zoned land on the northern side of the Craigieburn train line bridge, Mt. Alexander Road like in the south of the city of Moonee Valley is zoned B1Z (C1Z).</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/acp008v01aa_s.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Alexa - 1048 Mt. Alexander Road, Essendon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="396" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/acp008v01aa_s.jpg?itok=M0h_m18n" title="Alexa - 1048 Mt. Alexander Road, Essendon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption><a href="/new-apartments/essendon-vic-3040">Alexa - 1048 Mt. Alexander Road, Essendon</a></figcaption></figure><h2>Keilor Road</h2>

<p>Keilor Road has seen some of the greatest changes in recent years. No longer dominated by car sales yards (although some still do exist), much of the old Calder Highway route has been redeveloped with the street showing a penchant for 4-6 level buildings.</p>

<p>Much like Mt. Alexander Road, Keilor Road is dominated by the mixed-use friendly B1Z and B2Z (C1Z) zones and outside of recently completed projects, there are 5 projects in this corridor, with another at the Mt Alexander Road/Keilor Road junction.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image52_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="113 Keilor Road, Essendon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="351" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image52_4.jpg?itok=zYVmcNFP" title="113 Keilor Road, Essendon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/113-keilor-road-essendon">113 Keilor Road, Essendon</a></figcaption></figure><h2>Matthews Ave</h2>

<p>The tram tracks don't run in Matthews Ave, but in a dedicated right of way between Matthews Ave and the Tullamarine Freeway. To the east is Essendon Fields and to the west is the semi-industrial/commercial area of Airport West and these two areas no stranger to new development.</p>

<p><a href="/new-apartments/83-matthews-avenue-airport-west">Alfa Apartments</a>, located almost at the end of the 59 tram line, is under construction and Essendon Fields is seeing hotel and commercial development.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/hyatt-place-melbourne-essendon-fields-w.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hyatt Place, Essendon Fields"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="308" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/hyatt-place-melbourne-essendon-fields-w.jpg?itok=GVnFX8FM" title="Hyatt Place, Essendon Fields" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hyatt Place, Essendon Fields</figcaption></figure><h2>Future directions</h2>

<p>The bulk of the new development on the 59 tram route is occurring either in Moonee Ponds and Essendon or the northern end of the route with only a single project on Mt. Alexander Road south of Moonee Ponds, which some might expect, given the proximity to the centre of Melbourne, would see the highest levels of new proposals.</p>

<p>The 59 route sees a very good level of service and is well connected in the nodes that matter: at Moonee Ponds and its elaborate bus terminus and at Essendon with the Craigieburn train line.</p>

<p>APAC, the operator of Melbourne Airport, has significant plans to develop the land that now sits adjacent to the new Airport Drive extension yet there has not been any serious proposals to service this employment precinct that will grow over time.</p>

<p>If the 59 tram were to be extended over/under the Western Ring Road to then run down Sharps Road and then turn northward on Airport Drive and run all the way to the Tullamarine Airport terminals, locals who are not serviced by the Skybus service (and those who will also miss out on service if the Airport Rail Link eventually runs along the Albion corridor) would have a fast and frequent service to the airport and the growing employment precinct to the south of the airport.</p>

<h2>Navigation</h2>

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/melbournes-development-by-tram-the-55">Clockwise: the 55, Domain Interchange - West Coburg</a> (second in this series)</li>
</ul>
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Melbourne's development by tram: the 59

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<p>Sitting in Moonee Valley City Council's offices last week and looking over the plans for <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/moonee-ponds-in-the-market-for-some-high-rise-activity">Hall and Margaret streets</a>, it struck me that we are starting to see the same level of developer confidence in Melbourne's suburbs that used to be contained to Southbank back in the 1990s.</p>

<p>Southbank Towers which stands 28 levels high, completed in 1997 and built by ubiquitous Southbank developer Central Equity, was a new milestone for the developer back in the day.</p>

<p>If you peruse <a href="http://www.centralequity.com.au/s_past_projects.php">CE's long list</a> of completed projects, you will see Southbank Towers set a new benchmark in scale for Central Equity which prior to Southbank Towers was building smaller-scale buildings in the inner city on both sides of the Yarra.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2sau!4v1443402034680!6m8!1m7!1sZcLlSQmUyz3x_dlyyNinEw!2m2!1d-37.8231592!2d144.9607381!3f151.71915787117135!4f31.37611199527079!5f0.4000000000000002" style="border:0" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>The municipalities of Melbourne, Yarra, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Maribyrnong are referred to the inner sub-region of the previous State Government's Plan Melbourne strategy (from the archives: <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/how-much-urbanism-will-central-melbourne-need-to-build-by-2031">How much urbanism will central Melbourne need to build by 2031?</a>) and it is no secret these five LGA's are seeing the vast bulk of medium and high density dwellings built.</p>

<p>But as I say when we field requests from other media outlets about Melbourne development data, we really need to pay far more attention to the suburbs.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/plan_melb_central_subregion_0_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The inner sub-region of Plan Melbourne with the previous Government's proposal for a cross-city rail tunnel"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="399" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/plan_melb_central_subregion_0_0.jpg?itok=LK-83JuD" title="The inner sub-region of Plan Melbourne with the previous Government's proposal for a cross-city rail tunnel" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The inner sub-region of Plan Melbourne with the previous Government's proposal for a cross-city rail tunnel</figcaption></figure><h2>Why is 20 levels significant?</h2>

<p>For no particular reason other than if we go back over the tall building history of Melbourne to the late 1950s when ICI House was constructed on land outside the CBD.</p>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICI_House">ICI House</a> has 20 levels, was once Australia's tallest building and at the time was the building which made a statement and set the cat amongst the pidgeons in terms of sending buildings even higher, just like Southbank Towers did for residential buildings in Southbank.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/orica_house.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="ICI House. Image CC BY SA Wikipedia."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="774" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/orica_house.jpg?itok=DJRpLedD" title="ICI House. Image CC BY SA Wikipedia." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>ICI House. Image CC BY SA Wikipedia.</figcaption></figure><h2>The hills are alive with sound of piling rigs</h2>

<p>Earlier this year we reported on <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/whitehorse-towers-box-hills-largest-development-approved">Whitehorse Tower's approval</a> and it has since sold out and started construction.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_6632.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Whitehorse Towers site works in full swing. Image Mark Baljak"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="463" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_6632.jpg?itok=FaHyxguH" title="Whitehorse Towers site works in full swing. Image Mark Baljak" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Whitehorse Towers site works in full swing. Image Mark Baljak.</figcaption></figure><p>As the suburb's name suggests, Box Hill is an elevated area so when you build a tower, or two in Whitehorse Towers' case - 36 and 26 levels respectively - the towers become more prominent when viewed from a distance. Not to mention I dare say the views <em>from</em> this project will be utterly spectacular.</p>

<p>However when you take a good look at the other development within a one kilometre radius, a development story emerges of a suburb that is not too dissimilar to that of one company's: Central Equity.</p>

<p>We are tracking <a href="/new-apartments/box-hill-vic-3128">21 projects</a> in Box Hill and most are in the four to tweleve level range. Some examples include Chloe, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/elland-avenue-2-elland-avenue-box-hill">Elland Avenue</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/757-station-street-box-hill">757 Station Street</a>. This is replicated in other major suburban nodes in Melbourne.</p>

<h2>Moonee Ponds: the east can't all have the fun</h2>

<p>As reported earlier this morning, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/moonee-ponds-in-the-market-for-some-high-rise-activity">Caydon have lodged plans</a> for two more towers on what's known as the Readings site in Moonee Ponds, the tallest of which punches through the old Melbourne barrier of 20 levels.</p>

<p>Like its 20+ level counterpart in the East, Moonee Ponds is elevated - around 45 metres above sea level - and the area is not without high-rise residential precedent.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_6580_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Caydon's new proposal for Hall Street. Image from Planning Application"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="644" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_6580_0.jpg?itok=EnoJhqHN" title="Caydon's new proposal for Hall Street. Image from Planning Application" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Caydon's new proposal for Hall Street. Image from Planning Application</figcaption></figure><p>The proposal which is currently before Moonee Valley City Council measures 68 metres and when taking the already elevated position into account, the tower like Whitehorse Towers will act as an anchor in the suburban skyline should it be approved in its current form.</p>

<p>Moonee Valley already has one building complete above the 20 level barrier in Travancore and another under construction opposite Flemington Racecourse, however the Hall Street proposal is first in the elevated section of Moonee Ponds and in its traditional activities district.</p>

<h2>Hills and public transport, a recipe for development confidence?</h2>

<p>The location of both of these suburbs in elevated areas is significant however I would argue there is something far more significant.</p>

<p>Both Moonee Ponds and Box Hill are two of suburban Melbourne's richest "non-rail junction" public transport nodes: they are both simply major stations on single rail lines.</p>

<p>While Box Hill's rail frequency does benefit from the junction-effect of combining rail services into a single line at Ringwood in this case, Moonee Ponds and Box Hill are hubs for all three modes of public transport: heavy rail lines, trams and both boast large bus hubs (although, Box Hill bus hub is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/is-it-time-to-reconfigure-the-moonee-ponds-transport-interchange">better connected to heavy rail than Moonee Ponds</a>).</p>

<h2>Where could the 20 level barrier be breached next?</h2>

<p>If I were a betting man, the rail junction suburbs of Melbourne outside the inner city - Dandenong, Caulfield, Ringwood, Camberwell, Newport and Sunshine - are likely to be the next suburbs to stare down the old Melbourne barrier.</p>

<p>Dandenong is ever so close with <a href="/developments/dandenong-vic-3175">Spectra</a> having 17 levels and the suburb has another 22 projects ranging in floor heights from four to twelve. Ringwood is half way there with 10 levels at <a href="/buildings/233-east-233-maroondah-highway-ringwood">233 Maroondah Highway</a>, the suburb has another five projects in the four to eight level floor height range.</p>

<p>Camberwell? Despite its penchant for fostering celebrity NIMBYism, it actually chalks up eleven projects in the three to nine level range.</p>

<p>Caulfield has not reached the heights that Ringwood has as yet in the same region Malvern East has <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/vanguard-781-807-dandenong-road-malvern-east">Vanguard</a> at 18 levels as well as a good mix of four to eight level projects. Sunshine has a sole <a href="/developments/sunshine-vic-3020">nine level building</a> on the database and we are not tracking anything for Newport as yet.</p>
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20 years after Southbank Towers, the suburbs are punching through the 20 level barrier

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<p>Subsequent to an earlier article which <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/moonee-ponds-on-the-up-and-up">highlighted the first phase</a> of the massive and long overdue redevelopment of the former Readings site in Moonee Ponds, further plans are now available which detail the second and more substantial portion, of what will constitute stage one of the overall development.</p>

<p>While <a href="/buildings/margaret-st-7-aspen-street-moonee-ponds">34-36 Margaret Street</a> is well advanced with preliminary marketing material circulating throughout the industry, the wraps can be taken off 40 Hall Street which envisages two apartment towers with the tallest reaching 22 levels.</p>

<p>Stage one of the development has the capacity to deliver 626 apartments on the site which sits between multiple transport nodes.</p>

<h2>34-36 Margaret Street and 40 Hall Street</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_6580.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hero perspective from Hall Street. Image courtesy Caydon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="644" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_6580.jpg?itok=t0b_EXOt" title="Hero perspective from Hall Street. Image courtesy Caydon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hero perspective of the Hall Street aspect. Image courtesy Caydon</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Site area: 7,979.6sqm (60% of the Readings site)</li>
	<li>6, 13, 16 and 22 level residential buildings</li>
	<li>Heights ranging between 18.6 and 67.9 metres</li>
	<li>626 apartments: 385 x 1BR, 240 x 2BR, 1 x 3BR</li>
	<li>1,044sqm of retail space over six double height tenancies</li>
	<li>3 basement levels holding 551 vehicles and 226 bicycles</li>
	<li>Extensive landscaping includes a new civic plaza, green podium treatment and rooftop gardens</li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_6578.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Moonee Ponds Market's expected yield. Image courtesy Caydon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="313" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_6578.jpg?itok=V5HVKMCZ" title="Moonee Ponds Market's expected yield. Image courtesy Caydon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Moonee Ponds Market's expected yield. Image courtesy Caydon</figcaption></figure><p>The graphic above demonstrates the sections of the site that will be split over the staged development. Margaret Street and Hall Street will be activated via Stage1, with the balance of the site which fronts both Homer Street and Everage Street set for future attention.</p>

<p>A civic plaza is slated for the mid regions of the site, acting as a linking space to surrounding streets.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>The plaza will be characterised by strong spatial containment punctuated by advanced tree planting. The paving design provides a way to transition between the language of Hal Street paving (by Council) and the language of the plaza, which will be made from sampling the diverse and textured materials that can be seen within the Moonee Ponds site.</p>
<cite>Oculus statement, landscape report</cite>
</blockquote>

<p>Glass, timber, metal, concrete and brick finishes will define the building exteriors.</p>

<p>The overall layout depicted above is generally in line with a <a href="http://www.plusarchitecture.com.au/portfolio/monee-ponds-masterplan/">Plus Architecture-conceived masterplan</a> for the entire site. While indicative heights have been given for three of the four future buildings, it remains to be seen what will materialise at the north east corner of the site, with previous concept plans indicating 30 levels of apartments living is not out of the question.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image29_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A comparison of old and new. Images courtesy Caydon and Plus Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="296" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image29_2.jpg?itok=BPhVbmOQ" title="A comparison of old and new. Images courtesy Caydon and Plus Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A comparison of old and new. Images courtesy Caydon and Plus Architecture</figcaption></figure><p>Caydon have rapidly advanced plans for the prime site after revealing they were the buyer of the 1.34­ha parcel during April of this year. Leighton Properties and project partner Qualitas had held the site until the sale, submitting plans for a Plus Architecture-designed 16 level residential tower (above right) that subsequently gained planning approval.</p>

<p>Caydon have of late used Fender Katsalidis to design their upcoming batch of projects, with the Margaret Street and Hall Street designs no exception.</p>

<h2>Hall and Margaret Street planning application team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Caydon</li>
	<li>Architecture: Caydon (with Fender Katsalidis)</li>
	<li>Planning: Urbis</li>
	<li>Landscaping: Oculus</li>
	<li>Traffic: GTA Consultants</li>
	<li>Wind: Vipac</li>
	<li>Waste: Leigh Design</li>
</ul>
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