Overview
Usually a bustling hub of shoppers and diners, Southgate has been much quieter of late with much of the city working from home and the country closing its borders to international tourists. But come next year, it could be a hive of activity once again, with new plans underway to for an ambitious multimillion-dollar transformation of the riverside precinct.
ARA Australia, which currently owns and manages the precinct, has just submitted its $800-million development application to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. If approved, the precinct could have a new 21-storey tower, 2000 square metres of elevated parkland and a reimagined dining and entertainment precinct as early as November 2023, with construction hoped to kick off in early 2021.
While Southgate is already home to a plethora food and drink spots, ARA is hoping to open a range of new casual and formal dining options, as well as a food hall, supermarket and exhibition space. Its proposed sprawling park, which will be located on top of the food and retail precinct, will have prime Yarra views, too, and will be directly accessible from the river promenade, Arts Precinct and St Kilda Road.
Render courtesy of ARA Australia
The 21-storey tower, designed by Fender Katsalidis architects, is hoped to be sustainable, with the company aiming for 5-star Green Star and 5.5 star National Australian Built Environment Rating System ratings.
Before any of this happens, of course, the development application needs to be approved by the DELWP — we'll let you know if and when that happens.
To find out more about ARA's plans for Southgate, head to the Southgate website.
Top image: Render courtesy of ARA Australia