Australia 108, 452 Elizabeth Street and 84-90 Queensbridge Street gain Ministerial approval

Somewhat reminiscent of Super Tuesday back in February, the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, has approved another chunk of 2,000 apartments across three skyscrapers; however this time the total value weighs in at $830 million.

Australia 108 at 319 metres, 452 Elizabeth Street at 241 metres and 84-90 Queensbridge Street at 185 metres are now all approved.

Australia 108, originally proposed with a height of 388 metres and subsequently reduced owing to Federal aviation regulations, will have a jaw-dropping amount of apartments split across 1, 2 and 3 bed configurations - 1,105! A spokesperson for the Planning Minister confirmed to Urban.com.au that the height of Australia 108 is at the ceiling for PANS-OPS in that region of Southbank.

Australia 108 will be the city's first super-tall placing Melbourne in an elite global club of skyscraper cities. A 'super-tall' is classified as a building over 300 metres in height.

Elenberg Fraser-designed 452 Elizabeth Street joins a long line of approvals for Elizabeth Street in the CBD annex between La Trobe and Victoria Streets. Rothe Lowman-designed 84-90 Queensbridge Street is located on the corner of Kings Way and Queensbridge Street in Southbank and will yield 295 apartments.

Update 5:00pm 26/6/14: The Fifth Estate have published an interview with Australia 108's architect Nonda Katsalidis - we recommend having a read.

Update 8:00am 27/6/14: Mark Baljak has written a follow up on 70 Southbank Boulevard, formerly known as Australia 108.

Media release in full:

140626 Guy - Melbourne's Ever Changing Skyline Climbs Further Upwards - (Media Release)