Milieu's Elsternwick Gardens development gains momentum following successful VIP launch
The garden-focussed approach by developer Milieu at its recently released Elsternwick Gardens community paid dividends at its weekend unveiling, with a significant number of buyers securing their future home.
The VIP open saw a huge uptake of apartment reservations, to a broad range of buyers. Milieu also had some repeat purchasers attend the opening of the display suite.
“Our VIP launch weekend was super successful and we were pleasantly surprised by the response,” Milieu Managing Director Michael McCormack said.
Elsternwick Gardens, located on the former ABC Studios site on Gordon Street, has attracted strong interest due to several unrepeatable components, none more obvious than the location of the prime 11,740 sqm site which neighbours the historic Rippon Lea Estate.
Milieu leaned into the fact the site shares the boundary with the heritage-listed gardens that surround the 1880s-built mansion, with a private, secure gate that only future residents of Elsternwick Gardens can access.
The Rippon Lea gardens informed the landscaping at Elsternwick Gardens. Woods Bagot, K.P.D.O., and Flack Studio worked to design the six low-rise buildings to be inkeeping with the wider community Milieu had envisioned, with significant separation between the buildings allowing for extensive landscaping and walkways.
The head gardener of Rippon Lea Estate will also oversee the maintenance of the development's landscaping, ensuring continuity between the estate and the new residential precinct.
Milieu's commitment to sustainable design is also evident in Elsternwick Gardens, with all apartments being fossil fuel-free, powered by renewable energy, and equipped with provisions for EV charging and water harvesting systems.
The development also offers a range of amenities, including health and wellness facilities, pet care services, and a hospitality offering, further enhancing the appeal to prospective buyers.
The strong early sales reflect the demand for thoughtfully designed, sustainable living spaces in prime locations.
McCormack says Elsternwick Gardens is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
“The layers of thought and design within this project, alongside the historical and cultural importance of the site, renders this our most significant undertaking to date," McCormack says.
“This site represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something truly special. Our first step was to engage the local community, to get a sense of what they expected. Through that process, we arrived at a design that centres on a fully realised natural landscape – a series of private, interconnected gardens that encircle the homes and extend seamlessly from Rippon Lea Estate.”
After the sales success, Milieu is now looking toward construction in the first half of 2025, with the former ABC Studios building currently under demolition.
