Time & Place greenlit for new $500m apartment development overlooking Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens
Diversified national property developer, Time & Place, has received development approval from the Victorian Planning Minister for a large-scale mixed-use development that will occupy one of the largest island sites on the Melbourne CBD periphery.
It will add another $500 million to the developer‘s portfolio once complete.
The Minister for Planning of Victoria, Sonya Kilkenny, announced the project’s planning approval in person at the South Melbourne site.
The DFP pathway was introduced to fast-track the delivery of much-needed housing and has been a pivotal tool in enabling the approval of Time & Place developments while also includes their $150m mixed-use Glen Iris development in partnership with Woolworths Group which was approved in October 2024.
By providing reduced approval timeframes and greater project certainty, the DFP pathway has enabled Time & Place to confidently advance projects that meet community needs in a timely and efficient manner, strengthening project viability.
Tim Price, Founder and Director of Time & Place, says the accelerated approval process is "enabling us to better deliver thoughtfully designed places while supporting local economic growth and job creation."
"We commend the Minister and the Victorian Government for their leadership and commitment to facilitating impactful developments that benefit the community and economy."
After initially acquiring a single site at 11-17 Dorcas Street, Time & Place has spent the past 18 months gradually acquiring four additional sites bordered by Dorcas and Wells Streets and Middleton Lane, taking the land holding to 2,398 sqm.
The development will feature 243 apartments and introduce a village-style look and feel that integrates dining options, amenities and a community activation that will link directly with South Melbourne. The project will comprise one, two, three and penthouse apartments, in addition to a diverse ground-floor retail offering.
Designed by the renowned Bates Smart studio, the distinctive project is designed to feature two sculptural towers connected via a central garden bridge. The towers are conceived as a pair of elegant forms that rest on a refined garden podium, celebrating the Parkside address and surrounding Domain precinct.
Price said acquiring the additional sites allows for the introduction of a superior design and place-making outcome for this corner of South Melbourne, reinforcing the developer’s conviction in the area and the city-fringe residential market.
"In this vibrant corner of South Melbourne, seamlessly connected to South Yarra and the Botanic Gardens and just 1.6 km from the CBD, we envision an innovative, amenity-rich village that fosters community engagement with the Domain Precinct. Our goal is to provide sophisticated yet attainable residential designs that complement the prestige of this remarkable location.
“After exploring the opportunities presented from a larger, amalgamated site, Time & Place has been able to unlock further design and amenity opportunities, evolving our original idea for the site into a true urban precinct that feels incredibly authentic to our brand and values."
Sales will commence on the yet-to-be-named project later in 2025, with construction set to follow shortly after.
