Millhouse Residences: Blending history and contemporary in Footscray

Architecture firm Hayball has designed the 95-apartment Millhouse Residences to be a visually striking and tactile building
Millhouse Residences: Blending history and contemporary in Footscray
Alison Warters September 11, 2023

Melbourne developer R&F Property Australia set out to merge Footscray's rich industrial history with a refined and sophisticated contemporary edge at their redevelopment of the old Kinnears Ropeworks site on Ballarat Road.

They're on track to complete one of the more boutique residential buildings on the historic site, Millhouse Residences, next year.

Architecture firm Hayball has designed the 95-apartment Millhouse Residences to be a visually striking and tactile building, inviting residents to interact with its materials and establish a deep connection with the site. 

The development offers a diverse range of living arrangements, each with their own distinctive character, style, and configuration. There's configurations from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom terraces.

One of the standout features of Millhouse Residence is its rooftop garden and co-working areas, providing residents with spaces to relax and collaborate.

The Kinnears Ropeworks, once a bustling industrial complex, played an integral role in the lives of local families for four generations. The historical site, now under redevelopment, holds a special place in the hearts of Footscray's residents.

At its core, Kinnears Ropeworks stands as a symbol of early twentieth-century construction, characterised by exposed red brick walls and visible steel girders.Its industrial charm is a testament to the craftsmanship of a bygone era.  Millhouse Residence aims to preserve and enhance these unique features to create a one-of-a-kind urban precinct.

R&F are already well advanced in developing the precinct into a community of laneways lined with retail spaces, eateries, and tranquil garden nooks. In 2019 they completed Live City, a 208-apartment tower, on the site.

Alison Warters

Alison Warters is a property journalist for Urban, based in Sydney. Alison is especially interested in the evolution of the New Build/Development space, when it comes to design innovation and sustainability.

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