Savills secure snappy Fender Katsalidis-designed South Melbourne site sale to child care operators

Savills have snappily sold a Melbourne city fringe development opportunity designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects.

It sold for $61,888,888 to a childcare operator rather than property developer.

Botree Group sold it to the Little Lane Early Learning Centre which intends to build a super-charged childcare and education centre on the site.

Their intention is for a very high quality childcare, a training college and community support for early childhood education.

Little Lane's chief operating officer Shan Kuo said the group operates 15 centres in Queensland and has another four planned in Melbourne.

They propose facilities including an indoor swimming pool and rock climbing centre.

The 68 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne mixed use project is a near hectare site.

It came with a newly approved permit for a landmark mixed-use development permit that allows for 1,004 apartments over four towers.

It was listed through Savills agents Benson Zhou, Nick Peden and Jesse Radisich, in conjunction with Colliers.

The 9,478 square metre site has three street frontages bounded by Kerr Street, Buckhurst Street and Gladstone Place, South Melbourne. 

It has view corridors toward CBD/Southbank, Royal Botanic Gardens, and Port Philip Bay.

It was 2014 when the then Minister granted a permit for the proposal, subject to conditions, but the land and permit were later sold.

The subsequent owners then prepared an amended proposal.