As Docklands continues to imprint itself into Melbourne’s heart, we are getting closer and closer to the suburb being completed. After a slowdown in construction over the last 24 months, we’re excited to see development applications being lodged all over Docklands as developers move to finalise their vision.

As your local agency that has been here since Docklands’ inception, we’ve seen the area change and evolve over the last 23 years. In a new multipart series, I’ll have the pleasure of sharing some of these finishing touches and final projects with you and exploring how they’ll improve and impact different parts of Docklands.

NewQuay West

Kicking off our series is the development of NewQuay West. Commenced in 1999, NewQuay was envisaged as the “24-hour city” by planners and MAB. Originally consisting of four residential towers, the area has expanded to include offices, a primary school, redeveloped shopping centre, a community sports field, and waterfront restaurants and has become home to thousands of residents.

However, with all of this development, one large segment of land was left untouched and slated for the future. Not a lot was known about the plans, until now. Following State Government approval in 2018 for the updated master plan, MAB recently had the first five towers approved for development. This 24-storey tower, located at 473 Docklands Drive and yet unnamed, is expected to be made up of 195 dwellings, and 161 car spaces and offer almost 500sqm of commercial spaces on the lower levels. Another two development proposals have been lodged for a similar 24-storey tower and a larger 37-level complex with 234 apartments expected.

The five towers are expected to house over 2,100 new residents and connect NewQuay to Ron Barassi Snr sports reserve via a 4,000 sqm linear park as well as extend the existing NewQuay Promenade walking paths along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour.