Orchard Piper and Carter Group set for $300 million St Kilda Rd hotel and apartments
Melbourne’s Carter family and luxury property developer Orchard Piper have entered into a partnership to undertake a $300m redevelopment of 448 St Kilda Road, one of the last remaining parcels of land on the coveted boulevard.
Spanning 2,400 sqm, the submitted plans will include a contemporary 5-star hotel, along with Orchard Piper residences which will see residents set to benefit from hotel services and amenities. The project will also comprise a 500 sqm day spa, mezzanine restaurant and bar, street level café, and exceptional health and wellness amenities with conferencing and event facilities.
Orchard Piper has appointed world-renowned Kerry Hill Architects (KHA) to deliver what will be its first project in Melbourne.
Orchard Piper Director Luke McKie says
"This property is in the most premium residential section of St Kilda Road, between Toorak and Commercial Roads - with Fawkner Park, Albert Park and the Botanic Gardens all within walking distance,” says Orchard Piper Director Luke McKie.
“We are proud to welcome Kerry Hill Architects to Melbourne, a firm we’ve long admired for its design integrity and rigour. This building will be a streetscape asset and beautiful addition to Melbourne’s rich architectural lineage.”
Fellow director Rick Gronow says Orchard Piper and the Carter family has a shared vision for the site and are looking forward to delivering an outstanding building on this long-held land.
Situated in the epicentre of Melbourne’s sporting and entertainment heartland, the project will specifically aim to service the myriad of world-class events that Melbourne hosts and will act as an added drawcard for those looking to experience premium hospitality and spa offerings.
KHA, known for designing international 5-star luxury hotels for over 40 years, including global luxury chain Aman Hotels, will showcase its expertise with a design that pays homage to quintessential Melbourne characteristics.
A central component of the design will centre around bluestone, with the building’s exterior set to be derived from locally sourced, sawcut bluestone - a nod to St Kilda Road’s earliest and most notable buildings including the Victoria Barracks, Melbourne Grammar School and the National Gallery of Victoria.
The Carter family is no stranger to the hotel game, with the family’s 60-year long property history including, amongst other projects, the development of luxury boutique hotels Tingirana and Seahaven in Noosa, as well as the landmark residential project, Albert Tower in Melbourne.
Signalling its confidence in the project, Orchard Piper and the Carter family intend to co-own the hotel, restaurants, and spa as long-term assets. The Carter family says they have formed a strong relationship with Orchard Piper for over 15 years.
"We have a joint appreciation for Melbourne as a city, as well as the architecture and buildings that define it, and we look forward to delivering a diverse mixed-use offering that will service locals and the broader market,” the family adds.
Permit applications for 448 St Kilda Road are slated to be secured later this year, with construction planning to commence in Q1 of 2024.
Orchard Piper recently secured the Mercedes Benz dealership in Toorak for $67 million, with a view to create a new mixed-use precinct.
The sprawling 3,600 sqm site at 7-11A and 17-19 Carters Avenue, in the heart of Toorak's retail and commercial precinct, will see $150 million worth of luxury apartments developed, as well as offices and shops, to revamp the village as a vibrant and modern-day high street.
