Hamton's riverfront homes the latest in Abbotsford living as Melbourne suburb sheds industrial past

Hamton's riverfront homes the latest in Abbotsford living as Melbourne suburb sheds industrial past
Cassidy KnowltonDecember 7, 2020

Developer Hamton is adding luxury riverfront homes to the mix of housing currently in the works or built in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Abbotsford, which is becoming something of a development hotspot. 

Hamton's Riverfront Terrace Homes at Haven will comprise 15 two-level residences, with nine already sold since the July launch. Two-bedroom homes will start from $820,000, the three-bedroom terraces start from $930,000, and the four-bedroom models start from $1.91 million.

The Hamton project is one of several that were approved before the Victorian government instituted a nine-storey height limit on all new development abutting the Yarra River. 

Hamton joint managing director Paul Hameister says the homes, about five kilometres from the CBD, are affordably priced.

“We wanted to design a series of high-end homes where the natural surrounds were the hero, creating an urban yet quintessentially Australian lifestyle in the heart of Melbourne. Riverfront homes in this location sell for well in excess of $6 million, meaning our low-maintenance homes represent outstanding value,” says Hameister.

Many of the homes include a private walkway to the rivefront Yarra Trail.

The Riverfront Terrace Homes at Haven part of stage two of Hamton's three-part Abbotsford development. The first stage was the 201-unit Eden, with all units sold out. The second stage is Haven, with 75% of its 148 units sold since its launch just over a year ago. 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 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.”

Haven's apartment component 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.

 


 

Abbotsford is shedding 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. All 109 have been released to the market, with the final release of 33 launching in July. Some 87 units have sold, including more than a third of the final release.

“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.

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. Just over 300 apartments have sold so far. 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. Construction has started and is due to 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.

And other developers agree.

“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.

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