UEM Sunrise Berhad, one of Malaysia’s leading property developers, officially broke ground today on its first Australian development, Aurora Melbourne Central, in the heart of Melbourne CBD.
At 92 storeys, the development will be the tallest in the Melbourne CBD and will create a new focal point for the Melbourne Central business district. Aurora Melbourne Central is Melbourne’s only residential development with a direct underground connection to the rail network, the Melbourne Central Station as well as the CBD’s largest continuous retail precinct comprising Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, Emporium, Myer, David Jones, GPO and the Bourke Street Mall. The development is centrally located on La Trobe Street, in the heart of Melbourne’s central business district (“Melbourne CBD”) with all the conveniences at its doorstep including RMIT University, State Library of Victoria and two tram super stops, enabling travel to other key attractions in just a matter of minutes.
Mr. Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib, UEM Sunrise’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are proud to commence construction of our maiden project in Australia with a GDV of AUD$770 million. Aurora Melbourne Central offers an enviable location, one-stop convenience and unrivaled connectivity to transport networks. It is a clear testament to our ongoing commitment to building high quality and unique homes in the market that we operate in and we are truly delighted to be working with such reputable architecture firm as Elenberg Fraser and tier-one construction company Probuild.”
Founder and Director of Elenberg Fraser, Mr. Callum Fraser said, “Aurora Melbourne Central is a unique expression of Melbourne’s future. It has been designed to create a new epicentre for the Melbourne CBD. In every direction, the unique curves of the tower’s special glass coating will provide a dynamic and beautiful addition to the Melbourne skyline, reflecting the iridescent silver, blue and rose hues from the bay, the city and the mountains beyond.”
Aurora Melbourne Central will play a pivotal role in the next stage of the City’s growth through regeneration and activation of street frontages. Part of the development will see the rejuvenation of the laneway between La Trobe St and Little La Trobe St, which will also be activated with exciting retail spaces and improvement to the development’s connection to Melbourne Central Lower Retail. In addition, upgrades will be made to Melbourne Central Train Station to provide better access for commuters.
The upgrading works will see enhanced public access via the addition of a station entrance from Little La Trobe St with escalators directly into the train station concourse level as well as a lift at the La Trobe Street entrance. With growing patronage from 14.3 million per annum in 2011-2012 to the anticipated 21.5 million by 2031, which equates to more than a 50% increase in customers (based on data from Public Transport Victoria, June 2015), the upgrading works will greatly assist in quickly and conveniently moving users to and from the Melbourne Central Train Station.
Mr. Anwar Syahrin said the proposed enhancement works at the third busiest station in Melbourne's metropolitan network will deliver city-scale improvements and further improve the convenience and comfort of the station customers.
“As part of our commitment to investing in Melbourne, UEM Sunrise is working closely with local planning and rail authorities to ensure the upgrade and refurbishment of the station is aligned to the future needs of Australia’s fastest growing city,” he said.
Probuild will deliver the landmark mixed-use development, which will comprise more than 120,000 square metres of built-up area that includes 941 residential apartments, 250 serviced apartments, signature retail spaces and strata offices, approximately 300 car park bays and 780 bike spaces as well as improved public access to Melbourne Central Train Station.
Mr. Simon Gray, Probuild’s Group Managing Director said, “We are proud to be working with UEM Sunrise to deliver a landmark building which will be the tallest and most significant development in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Besides delivering a new development and railway interface for commuters, Probuild’s work with UEM Sunrise will also create hundreds of jobs for Victorians during the construction of Aurora Melbourne Central.”
Aurora Melbourne Central will be built and handed over in stages, with the upgrade of the station and underground access expected for completion by end 2017. The development will be fully completed in the third quarter of 2019.
