Buying off-the-plan: The ultimate Melbourne city guide for home buyers

Melbourne’s CBD is full of inspiring architecture, acclaimed botanic gardens, historic sites, and the iconic Yarra River, as well as offering its residents the very best in live music, sporting events, theatre and visual art.

The city features the iconic Melbourne laneways, world-famous shopping spaces and also boasts an amazing nightlife experience with very unique bars and restaurants to enjoy.

Those interested in furthering their education will also be pleased to know that the five star RMIT campus is found within Melbourne’s city centre.

How do I get around Melbourne? 

The best way to get around Melbourne’s CBD is the City Circle Tram. It is a free and convenient way to travel around central Melbourne whilst experiencing a ride on a beloved heritage tram with an audio commentary of city landmarks and attractions.

The City Circle Tram also links up with other trams, trains and bus routes around the Melbourne area. The City is also extremely walkable, ranking 4th out of 307 suburbs in the Greater Melbourne region. Another quick and easy option is ride-sharing services i.e. Uber.

What can I do in Melbourne's CBD?

There is something for everyone to do and see in Melbourne’s CBD. Art lovers can enjoy the world-famous street art on display in Hosier and ACDC lane, as well as multiple other art galleries including the Ian Potter Centre which features contemporary, historic and indigenous art pieces.

For the performance art lovers, there is a collective of world-renowned theatres within the CBD including the Forum which is Australia’s and the Regent Theatre which hosts famous theatre productions including Disney’s The Lion King and Wicked. 

For sports fans, they can watch different sporting events including the Australian Open at the Rod Laver Arena and AFL at the MCG. Also, the award-winning Australian Sports Museum is found underneath the MCG stadium and both venues host major international music artists, some of the notable artists this year include Guns n Roses and Kiss. 

Melbourne’s CBD boasts some of the city’s trendiest bars with secret entrances, themed-private rooms, specialty menus with creative food and drink options, breathtaking views of the city and world-class DJs and musicians. 

For shopaholics, a visit to the world-famous Queen Victoria Market is a must, with a vibrant and multicultural atmosphere and over 600 unique stalls offering fresh produce, hand-made products, great coffee and food, and live music and entertainment on Wednesday nights. 

Other notable shopping spaces within Melbourne’s CBD include the historic Block Arcade which was built in 1892 and is home to the largest mosaic floor in the southern hemisphere and iconic Hopetoun Tearooms. Hardware Lane and Degraves St offer great food, drinks and street art.

Melbourne Central has more than 300 stores over five levels with unique architectural features including a giant Marionette Watch that plays a rendition of the Australian National Anthem every hour and Shot Tower an old bullet-making facility built in 1989 which is protected by a magnificent Glass Cone which is one of Melbourne’s most recognisable landmarks.   

Melbourne’s CBD is full of historic sites including the Old Melbourne Gaol, the Shrine of Remembrance which honours the service and sacrifice of Australians in war and peacekeeping, the State Library of Victoria which is the fourth most popular library in the world, the Immigration Museum which showcases Australia’s history and culture and the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral.

For nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, the Melbourne CBD features a collection of acclaimed gardens including the Royal Botanic Gardens which includes over 8,500 different species of plants from all over the world and the Flagstaff Gardens which is the oldest park in Melbourne. Also on the south side of Melbourne’s CBD is the beautiful Yarra River with walkways and cycleways alongside it. 

What are Melbourne's main city institutions?

The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) is a five-star university based in Melbourne’s CBD. RMIT was ranked 15th in the world for its art and design subjects and is the top art and design school in Australia and Oceania.

RMIT incorporates four academic colleges including the College of Business and Law, the College of Design and Social Context, the College of Vocational Education and the STEM College (i.e. sciences, engineering, computer tech and health and medical sciences). 

What new Melbourne CBD property developments are currently available or in the pipeline?

Uno Melbourne 

A new development currently under construction in Melbourne’s CBD is the UNO apartment tower which is due to be completed in 2022. UNO’s floor-to-ceiling shimmering golden glass facade will have 65 levels and house 632 apartments guaranteeing maximum views of the Melbourne skyline.

Uno will consist of one, two and three-bedroom apartment configurations, each evoking feelings of comfortability and space. At a height of 212 metres, the tower features sky high amenities for all residents to enjoy, including a cinema, a gym, hydrotherapy spas, an indoor heated pool, a sky lounge and many more facilities. Parents will also be able to utilise the on-site childcare centre. UNO is well located near the Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne Central and Queen Victoria Market. 

Address: 111 A'Beckett St

Developer: S P Setia

Melbourne Grand

The newly completed Melbourne Grand which took home last year's HIA award for the Victorian apartment complex of the year arises 58 stories above the Melbourne CBD.

The apartment tower incorporates 652 residences and is perfectly situated near the Flagstaff Gardens, the free tram zone and Queen Victoria Market.

All apartments offer sensational views of the city, from the private balconies to the floor-to-ceiling windows, which also allows for natural light to flow through.

Melbourne Grand provides residents with luxurious resort-style facilities including a banquet room, a boutique cinema, a coffee bar, a state-of-the-art gym, a swimming pool, a yoga studio and many more amenities for residents to discover. There are one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment configurations to choose from. 

One bedroom configurations are starting from as low as $489,000.    

Address: 560 Lonsdale St

Developer: Central Equity

Collins House 

Standing at a height of 195 metres with an elegant design, Collins House is currently Australia’s skinniest skyscraper measuring 11.8m wide comprising 267 spacious apartments across 60 floors. 

The slender tower floats atop the historic Makers Mark building that was built in 1908 which incorporated Art Nouveau styled architecture on the façade and throughout the grand entrance hall. The Collins House skyscraper was completed in 2019 and was developed by the Deague Group and the Golden Age Group. 

Every apartment enjoys panoramic city views and double-glazed floor to ceiling windows which fill residences with natural light.

Collins House has two levels of amenity for its residents to enjoy with a gourmet chef’s kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining and lounge spaces, an open terrace surrounded by lush greenery, an outdoor deck, a private bar, and a state of the art gym. Collins House residents will be well connected to the inner city and surroundings with major train stations and tram systems within walking distance.

Collins House is also nearby fine dining, parklands, retail precincts and riverside bars and restaurants. Every penthouse within the tower has a marble furnished kitchen integrated with Miele appliances, a powder room, a study and three spacious bedrooms and bathrooms. 

Penthouse prices are starting from $3,250,000.

Address: 460-466 Collins St

Developer: Deague Group & Golden Age Group