Melbourne Connect drawing interest domestically and internationally

Melbourne Connect, delivered by the University of Melbourne in partnership with a consortium led by Lendlease, is set to create a mixed-use hub at the site of the former Royal Women’s Hospital.

Located on the corner of Grattan and Swanston Streets, Melbourne Connect will see industry, researchers, students, government and the community co-locate and collaborate.

Melbourne Connect will be home to the Melbourne School of Engineering as well as the Science Gallery Melbourne, which will showcase experiments and exhibitions from artists, scientists and researchers.  

In addition, it will create a vibrant hub for Carlton and the broader Melbourne community with shops, cafes, public spaces and interconnected laneways, providing pedestrians with direct access to Swanson, Grattan and Cardigan Streets. 

Ground floor retail spaces will also accompany the development, with eight spaces to be offered to tenants.  

CBRE’s Zelman Ainsworth, Jason Orenbuch and Tan Thach have been appointed to exclusively market the retail spaces and will be launching the campaign in July.  

Mr Ainsworth said, “the ultimate drawcard is the large amount of university students, however, Melbourne Connect is not restricted by university schedule – we see this as a 52-week precinct,” Mr Ainsworth said. 

Although the retail campaign has not officially been launched, CBRE stated that they had received strong interest for the ground floor opportunities, situated below office spaces, childcare and co-working space.  

Lendlease Development Director Emma Woodhouse said the project is attracting an increased amount of attention and interest, both domestically and internationally.