Inner-Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford becoming a development hotspot

The inner-Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford is becoming a development hotspot as the suburb sheds its industrial past and buyers look for inner-city living on the Yarra River.

Some developers are revamping the existing factory and warehouse buildings to create contemporary designs with a nod to the past, while others are going the more modern route.

One example of the former is the Trenerry project (pictured above and below), a 109-unit development in a heritage industrial building.

“It also features a chimney stack, giving Trenerry a look and feel that is unmistakably Abbotsford,” says Rob DiCintio, director of Trenerry Property Group.

Builder Hamilton Marino has begun construction on the development, which is due for completion in mid-2013.

The apartments went on sale in October last year, and so far developers Trenerry Property along with the Victor Smorgon Group and the Kanat family have sold 65% of the units, or $42 million in pre-sales.

Its one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments are priced from $465,000, with the two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments from $530,000. Both configurations come with one car park. Some 92 of the two-bedroom apartments will have two-bathrooms, along with all the three-bedroom apartments.

The average apartment size will be 75 square metres internally, plus all apartments come with balconies, offering riverfront, CBD or Studley Park views. The development comes with easy access to the Capital City Trail.

It has been designed by Carabott Holt Architects.

A developer taking the opposite approach in Abbotsford is Salta, whose Green Square development (pictured above and below) is ultra-contemporary with an emphasis on sustainability.

Far from an industrial focus, the appropriately named Green Square aims to embrace the natural environment, with numerous open spaces for residents.

“The architectural vision for Green Square is to bring together the energy of contemporary urban living with the calm and gentle amenity of the adjoining Yarra River that will imbue the green open spaces permeating the project,” says Charles Justin of SJB Architects, which is designing the project.

The development will feature 467 one- and two-bedroom apartments across four buildings, 210 one-bedroom units and 257 units with two bedrooms. Of the two-bedders, 222 will include two bathrooms.

One-bedroom apartments will range in size from 47 square metres to 57 square metres and start from $369,000.

Two-bedroom apartments, which start from $525,000, range in size from 63 square metres to 92 square metres. All of the units come with outdoor areas.

The development launched in February 2011, and thus far 62.5% of the apartments have been sold. Construction is due to begin in June of this year and finish in May 2014.

So far, two-thirds of buyers who have been owner-occupiers.

Jack Merlo of Jack Merlo Design says buyers are drawn to a sense of community fostered by the project.

““The importance of recreational space is often overlooked when designing residential apartments – we have been fortunate to set a new precedent with Green Square. The combination of semi-secluded and open spaces encourages people to indulge in private and public amenities including an edge pool, barbecue areas, day beds and shaded spaces,” Merlo says.

Developer Hamton is taking a slightly different approach in the suburb, with its Haven development (pictured below), aimed at prestige buyers. Haven is the second of a three-stage development in the area, and the first, 201-unit Eden, sold out. The three together are set to have 560 apartments.

“With Eden, we were overwhelmed with demand from owner-occupiers currently living in the affluent suburbs across the river from our site,“ says Hamton joint managing director Paul Hameister.

“They were looking for larger luxury apartments with high-end finishes, allowing them to downsize to a low maintenance lock-up-and-leave lifestyle in essentially the same location as their current home. We have sought to address this demand with Haven.”

The same demographic has snapped up Haven units, with 30% of the 148 units sold in the first fortnight of marketing in November last year.

Hamton sales director Cameron Yates says there has been in upturn in inquiries from and sales to high-end buyers since February this year.

“We have seen a bounce in the market in the last month – particularly from the discerning owner-occupier looking for premium location and facilities,” he says.

“Of the 24 apartments sold since the 6th February, 10 were priced over $900,000. Three penthouse suites sold for between $1.9 million and $2.3 million. Quality product and outstanding lifestyle amenity always have a place in the market.”

Haven will include a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units. One-bedroom units will range in size from 41 square metres to 72 square metres internally and are priced between $365,000 and $581,000. Two-bedroom units will be between 66 square metres and 134 square metres internally and range in price from between $680,000 and $1.3 million. Three- and four-bedroom units will be between 124 square metres and 235 square metres internally and are priced between $1.38 million and  $3.9 million.

Between Haven and Eden will be Acacia Place, a series of landscaped spaces and a public walkway connecting the Yarra to Victoria Street. 

“One of the key elements of our master plan for the site is Acacia Place, which allows the public to share this unique piece of river bend and bring activity and vibrancy to the precinct,” Hameister says.

All three developers are making use of Abbotsford’s riverside location and open spaces.

“The desire for waterfront living in city-fringe areas is an evolving trend in the Melbourne market,” says Rob DiCintio, director of Trenerry Property Group.