especially in the summertimeCostenisimo’s loaded fries hot dogs and burgers are worth crossing town for Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime ShareAs featured in the February 2025 hit list. See all stories.1 / 5Costenisimo Colombian eatery is on a busy corner in St Kilda East.Joe Armao2 / 5Perro salvaje (hot dog).Joe Armao3 / 5Desgranado (loaded fries with garlic and mayo sauce sliced sausage and mozzarella).Joe Armao4 / 5The beef burger with grilled chicken and bacon and fries on the side.Joe Armao5 / 5Empanadas.Joe ArmaoPrevious SlideNext SlideSouth American$$$$ If Colombian snacks aren’t part of your summer plan Costenisimo is a carwash cafe that turns into a cruisy low-key hangout in the late afternoon and evening wrapping their jaws around overstuffed hot dogs Families come in for burgers and fake-fruity soft drinks Romance blooms over cartons of messy loaded fries It might seem a stretch to compare a traffic-clogged corner across the road from a cemetery the inhabitants of Colombia’s coastal north that spills down to the Caribbean Sea even though it’s an order-at-the-counter place with cardboard plates and bamboo cutlery Owner Roberto Acero is from the region’s city of Valledupar He and his girlfriend launched the business from their home a year ago They progressed to a food truck in Sunshine before setting up southside in spring It’s a testament to the care and quality of the food that many Colombians from the west now beeline for St Kilda Desgranado (loaded fries with corn).Joe ArmaoMost of them are coming for desgranado the lavishly loaded fries typical to Colombia’s Caribbean cuisine Just as gold may be buried kilometres deep within a mine the chips are concealed somewhere way down there but it’s worth the dig past house-made garlic and mayo sauce You expect beef patties in a brioche burger; this one amps up with grilled chicken and bacon and is chat-stoppingly good Perro Salvaje (the well-stuffed hot dog).Joe ArmaoAdvertisementHot dogs are a Colombian street food essential The Perro Salvaje (“wild dog”) is stuffed with Kransky sausage – a Melbourne invention – but channels Valledupar with the addition of chicken soft onions and more excellent house sauce If you’re Colombian, you’ll already have opinions about the Melbourne restaurants doing this food. To pick out a couple of places, Perreo is popular for its multiregional spin around the country’s treasures and StreetDogz has people queuing for its fusion hot dogs. I’m a fan of those places, too, but I am truly enamoured of Costenisimo for its honest flavours, generous but judicious hand with their tart house sauce and – when the crowds descend – the cheery urban jostle of its outdoor seating. ReviewYou’ll need two hands and 200 napkins for these Colombian-style fully loaded hot dogsContinue this series A cult Japanese noodle shop arrives in Melbourne with summer-ready bowlsEverything you need to know about aburasoba, the “dry ramen” that ditches the soup but still packs loads of flavour into every squiggly bite of noodles. Looking for that authentic Lygon Street dining experience? This legendary restaurant is it, and amoreFrom arancini to tiramisu, the family-run Donnini’s has been serving gold standards of Italian classics since 1979. This popular Greek pop-up has found its spiritual home in Melbourne’s northTaverna, which popped up in the old Epocha space in Carlton last year, goes permanent this week, reviving one of Melbourne’s legendary Greek dining sites. news and the hottest openings served to your inbox A man accused of murdering missing teen Isla Bell has fronted court after human remains were found at a Dandenong rubbish tip appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with the 19-year-old’s murder Ms Bell was last seen leaving her home in Brunswick on October 4 were found at the waste management facility on Tuesday evening Missing Persons Squad detectives raided homes in Bentleigh East and Mulgrave on Tuesday and arrested three men sat slumped in the court dock as he looked around the room on Wednesday morning He has been charged with Ms Bell’s murder in St Kilda East on October 7 Ganiev had been prescribed methadone but his lawyer said he had not received the medication for two days Magistrate Justin Foster remanded Ganiev in custody and ordered he be seen by a prison nurse A 57-year-old Hampton man has been charged with assisting the alleged murderer and will appear in court on Wednesday afternoon while a 63-year-old Mulgrave man has been released pending further inquiries Ms Bell’s family have been notified of the discovery and police say they will be provided support services Her mother Justine Spokes paid tribute to her “beloved daughter” in statements to the media on Wednesday “Cherished forever and suffering no more,” she told The Age newspaper “I am so sorry I could not protect you that your experience of the world was cruel and unsafe.” Ms Spokes had previously made emotional pleas for information about her daughter’s whereabouts “My girl is missing and dearly missed,” she wrote on Facebook on October 15 sometimes it’s loud and sometimes it’s soft There had been no activity on Ms Bell’s bank or social media accounts and her phone had not pinged to any telecommunication towers Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Melbourne straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Melbourne without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Melbourne vegetarian diners and fine dining institutions Whether you're after a quick post-swim meal or an anniversary dinner with sunset views of the bay here are some of the best restaurants St Kilda has to offer.  RecommendedDonovans feels like it doesn't belong in Melbourne (in the best way possible) It's the beautiful and high-quality seaside restaurant that you often search for when on holiday it's no surprise the seafood offerings shine the spanner crab ravioli and the crispy skin barramundi the grass-fed T-bone cooked over charcoals is always a winner Donovans has also been around long enough for its bombe Alaska to become the stuff of legends This chocolate dessert topped with hazelnut ice cream and a lightly torched soft meringue is a must-eat Photograph: Supplied/Stokehouse Pasta and BarAfter closing for renovations in 2022, Pontoon – the downstairs beach club of St Kilda’s Stokehouse restaurant – returned to its roots re-emerging as casual Mediterranean eatery Stokehouse Pasta and Bar. The commitment to sustainability throughout the refurbishment has seen the entire venue be awarded a five-star ‘Australian Excellence’ Green Star Design and As Built Rating earlier this year. Though the menu is led by pasta – including a classic spaghetti with crab and chilli – there are snacks and share plates aplenty or feast on a 600g whole Murray cod with a rich pepperonata sauce and crispy chips.  The revamped Espy didn’t ruin the historic Gershwin Room (three generations of Melburnians breathe a sigh of relief), and the fitout is spectacular. The grand room now houses Mya Tiger, the dining jewel in Espy's crown. It’s serving up a big-flavoured parade of Cantonese favourites – think lamb spring rolls, sesame prawn toast, spicy pork chilli wontons, caramel eggplant and duck fried rice.  Photograph: Supplied/RufioMeet Rufio: a new player in the St Kilda dining scene bringing Latin-fusion food, an extensive cocktail list and rooftop vibes to Carlisle Street. Oh, and Rufio also happens to be 100 per cent gluten-free.  Photograph: Steve LeeClaypots is something of an establishment down in old St Kilda town The lantern-strewn courtyard is where it's at on long summer nights especially when the staff are spinning records in the front room We highly recommend group dinners here: nothing bonds like the all-hands-in ripping apart of crustaceans especially when you've ordered the famed chilli crab serving their modern take on Indian cuisine This oyster bar and seafood restaurant is highly rated by locals, shucking and serving fresh Blackman Bay oysters and Mooloolaba prawns to order and eat on the spot or take home for dinner. Pick up a dozen to enjoy on St Kilda Beach at sunset, with your drink of choice from St Kilda Cellars next door. Expect plenty of charcoal and wok-licked flavour a bit of fusion pizzazz here and there and insanely good king prawn dumplings.  This multi-award winning restaurant in St Kilda (with an additional location in Moonee Ponds) is widely beloved for serving up some of the tastiest and most authentic tandoori and North Indian cuisine in Melbourne. It's also a truly special place to dine in, feeling like a cosy and comfortable restaurant with warm lighting and exeptional service – perfect for family occasions.  5 out of 5 starsRecommendedPhotograph: Leah TraeceyNestled in the heart of St Kilda the Walrus stands as a testament to the simple pleasures of fresh oysters and good wine It's the kind of place that encourages lingering and a quick bite evolves into a full evening's indulgence 4 out of 5 starsRecommendedPhotograph: Eugene HylandDespite our chagrin with American politics (seriously is that guy for real?) our obsession with the food and drink of the USA seems to know no bounds occupying the ground floor of The George Hotel in St In America they don't have pubs (apart from deliberate imitations) but rather neighbourhood sports bars This could be a trendier version of a bar from True Blood or Roadhouse untreated dark wood paneling and taxidermy for days (including fat chickens a large ferret and an impressive elk gazing out benevolently from above the bar).  revealing places in the grand dame that were previously hidden to punters But the key to it attracting a keen new crowd while keeping the love of the old Espy crew was being bold in the renovation but nodding to the past; keeping the Gershwin band room unchanged (save for some new audio equipment) and clever collabs like the Four Pillars “Sticky Carpet” gin A definite contender for a cover better than the original Monarch has been pushing sugar on Acland Street since 1934 and the recipes haven't changed since day one bread texture) with thick swirls of melted chocolate throughout Monarch continues to hold its own as a purveyor of traditional baked goodies.  Watch the staff bicker over 52-year-old grievances while you smash a custard tart here crumbly texture and gets a lick of chocolate before being filled with custard and topped with fruits and a glaze Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestAbout us Contact us Over 70 people came together last Sunday to celebrate God’s creation and give thanks for their pets at St James the Great in St Kilda East the event inspired by St Francis of Assisi’s love of animals aimed to make church accessible to those who might not otherwise engage with Christianity.  bringing the community together in a unique and meaningful way.  The Reverend Paul Bower said the service aimed to offer a welcoming experience for all attendees whether they regularly attended church or not.  Mr Bower said the event gave people a chance to give thanks for their pets as well as all of creation He hoped people would feel that the church was a resource available to them and that both they and their pets were valued.  Read more: Every single tree counts as a blessing from God. Please, join in! Former patron John-Michael Howson OAM said the Blessing of the Animals had become a significant event attracting people of all faiths and none.  He said the event had seen a wide range of animals over the years from dogs and cats to lizards and even a racehorse Mr Howson said it was a lovely day for people to come together with their pets and the animals had always behaved remarkably well.  “I believe that Saint Francis of Assisi is there keeping them all in control … they sit with us very quietly it’s a sort of a minor miracle,” he said Mr Howson said the event aimed to foster a sense of community beyond traditional church services with attendees gathering in the garden afterwards for afternoon tea.  He said it was a day to celebrate both pets and the bonds they formed with their owners More than 40 people attended the kintsugi workshop where they repaired cracked plates while reflecting on how Christ’s sacrifice mends human brokenness Refugee advocates renew calls for a Royal Commission and an end to offshore detention amid ongoing health concerns Anglicans will take a stand against domestic violence in homes Iranian refugees Hass and Mahi were granted permanent residency after over a decade of visa uncertainty You must be logged in to post a comment Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A Carlton North house sold for $1,815,000 on Saturday in a competitive auction before a large crowd The three-bedroom home at 70 Fenwick Street was a single-fronted Victorian terrace which had been updated several times since its vendors bought it about 50 years ago glass-brick wall at the rear and an added upper level Nelson Alexander agent Charlie Barham listed the property for sale with a quoted price range of $1.55 million to $1.65 million Bidding began at the bottom of the range and quickly passed the reserve The final price was $165,000 more than the reserve Nelson Alexander auctioneer Tom Roberts said the buyers were a middle-aged owner-occupier couple “People have enjoyed that and obviously the fact they can move into it while wearing a purple Foundation Day shirt Barham said the underbidders included young professionals this result proves that there is still a strong appetite for quality family homes that are well located.” The sale was a part of Nelson Alexander’s Foundation Day and the agents’ commission was donated to charity Reach It was one of 1066 auctions scheduled for Saturday Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 60.2 per cent from 729 reported results Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate an extensively renovated house passed in at auction on a vendor bid of $3.05 million Jellis Craig agent John Karr listed the four-bedroom house at 63 Speight Street with a quoted price range of $3 million to $3.3 million late-Edwardian that has been almost rebuilt,” he said The back room has five-metre high ceilings Karr said he’d fielded interest from several buyers during the campaign He planned to convert the listing to an expression-of-interest campaign and keep the same price range ARIA-award winning singer Julia Stone offloaded her investment property after auction for $925,000 to another investor who had plans to live in the unit Stone is one half of the eponymous indie duo with her brother; the pair won a slew of ARIA awards in 2010 for their album The two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit at 2/85 Westbury Street had been renovated by the singer It was in a small art deco building and featured a modern style Marshall White agent Matthew Grima listed the home for sale with a quoted price range of $880,000 to $940,000 He said the auction began with a vendor bid of $890,000 which was followed by a single bid of $900,000 who increased their offer by $25,000 to secure the home the renovations that Julia had undertaken and the period nature of it,” he said “Private courtyards of that size don’t fall off trees The buyer would use the unit as an investment in the short term a well-renovated house sold for $54,000 more than its reserve price after a hot auction The three-bedroom house at 21 Honeysuckle Street featured double-glazed windows refrigerated cooling and a large garage with a pit in the floor which could be used for maintaining vehicles O’Brien agent Mark Bourke listed the property for sale with a quoted price range of $585,000 to $638,000 “I think we had about eight registered bidders but when they saw it was going good they all disappeared,” he said The reserve price was $620,000 and the house sold to an owner-occupier for $674,000 “We’re seeing investors coming into Victoria from Sydney and Brissy in the last two to three weeks,” he said “Even though the land tax is a nasty thing It’s about 20 per cent of our buyers again when it was about 5 per cent.” The three-bedroom home at was a single-fronted Victorian terrace \\u201CPeople have enjoyed that and obviously the fact they can move into it \\u201CDespite mixed commentary on the market this result proves that there is still a strong appetite for quality family homes that are well located.\\u201D The sale was a part of Nelson Alexander\\u2019s Foundation Day and the agents\\u2019 commission was donated to charity Reach Jellis Craig agent John Karr listed the four-bedroom house at with a quoted price range of $3 million to $3.3 million late-Edwardian that has been almost rebuilt,\\u201D he said Karr said he\\u2019d fielded interest from several buyers during the campaign but it\\u2019s more the state of the market I would have had a sea of hands,\\u201D he said two-bathroom unit at had been renovated by the singer the renovations that Julia had undertaken and the period nature of it,\\u201D he said \\u201CPrivate courtyards of that size don\\u2019t fall off trees but it\\u2019s not a showstopper either.\\u201D The three-bedroom house at featured double-glazed windows O\\u2019Brien agent Mark Bourke listed the property for sale with a quoted price range of $585,000 to $638,000 \\u201CI think we had about eight registered bidders but when they saw it was going good they all disappeared,\\u201D he said \\u201CWe\\u2019re seeing investors coming into Victoria from Sydney and Brissy in the last two to three weeks,\\u201D he said \\u201CEven though the land tax is a nasty thing there\\u2019s a little bit more [investors] It\\u2019s about 20 per cent of our buyers again when it was about 5 per cent.\\u201D Photo: Scott Barbour/AAP PHOTOSOne street-level trafficker is getting arrested each day in Melbourne's south with police estimating more than $1.5 million worth of illegal drugs have been taken off the streets About 350 people were arrested and 650 charges were laid over the past year netting authorities 2.5kg of drugs in the Port Phillip council area Officers carried out 40 drug-related search warrants and several street-level arrests across hotspots including St Kilda and Port Melbourne Cocaine with a street value of about $590,000 was the most common drug seized followed by half a million dollars of cannabis and $389,000 of methylamphetamine Ketamine and MDMA were other common substances seized by local police Officers are targeting street-level traffickers who supply vulnerable community members and revellers heading to the area's nightlife "We understand the concerns of the Port Phillip community when it comes to drugs and flow-on crimes," he said During a raid on a St Kilda East apartment on July 4 Victoria Police allegedly found $270,000 worth of cocaine $13,000 of MDMA and almost $30,000 in cash A 34-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were charged with drug trafficking offences and possessing and dealing with proceeds of crime and have been remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court at a later date Police allegedly uncovered almost $330,000 of methylamphetamine $52,000 of cocaine and $12,000 of MDMA during a raid in Port Melbourne in October More than half a million dollars in cash and a loaded handgun were also seized with a 28-year-old woman going through the courts in connection to the seizures MDMA and ketamine were seized at a St Kilda property with police also finding $40,000 cash and confiscating two Porsches A 46-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were bailed after being charged with drug trafficking Police are using local intelligence to make arrests which is contributing to a 10-year crime low in the St Kilda area and we're determined to keep it an iconic location," he said "With around four million visitors to the suburb every year your chances of being robbed are one in 160,000 and the chances of being randomly assaulted are almost one in 15,000." Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy so you can get insider tips on the spots with the best potential.  but its properties aren't as expensive.  Further north, another suburb that's ripe with potential is Keilor East. This area is also set to gain transport connections, with a new train station slated as part of the future Melbourne Airport rail link (although, the timeline of this project is rather dubious) and it's easy to drive into the inner 'burbs or the CBD as it sits right next to the M80 Ring Road.  On the other side of the city, St Kilda East has been flagged as another area with plenty of buying promise. While St Kilda usually gets all the hype its eastern counterpart has more affordable properties while still being close to the seaside action Glen Waverley is also shaping up as the next big suburb for buyers in Melbourne's outer east as it's very close to major universities and has a train station that will become part of the future Suburban Rail Loop.  Want the full list of 22 suburbs that are prime for the picking across Australia? Check them all out here Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city Nineteen-year-old last seen leaving her Brunswick home in October and remains yet to be formally identified have been found in Dandenong The final hours of missing teen Isla Bell’s life have been captured on CCTV in the Melbourne apartment building of her alleged killer The documents released by the court on Wednesday afternoon detail how the 19-year-old allegedly ended up at Marat Ganiev’s St Kilda East apartment on 7 October Bell was seen leaving her home in Brunswick on 4 October but family members have said she was active on social media until three days later Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Ganiev, 53, appeared in Melbourne magistrates court on Wednesday charged with Bell’s murder. Eyal Yaffe, 57, from Hampton, faced a charge of assisting an offender with murder. Neither man was required to enter a plea to the charges, and the allegations against them are unproven. According to court documents, police allege that Ganiev told officers that he had moved Bell’s remains but denied killing her. Read moreGaniev’s building was surrounded by a CCTV system that covered the front door and window of the apartment, according to a Victoria police summary Bell was seen entering the apartment for the last time on 5 October and was never seen to leave again police allege in court documents: “What appears to be a fight can be seen through a gap in the front kitchen window of Ganiev’s apartment “Investigators observed what appears to be Bell’s head whipping around as if she has been struck “She falls to the ground and Ganiev can then be seen striking her on the ground of the kitchen “What appears to be Bell’s head can be seen rising up before being pushed back down by Ganiev’s arm.” Bell was captured on CCTV through the same window up until 2am on 7 October Ganiev is shown allegedly cleaning the apartment a fridge wrapped in clear plastic and black tape was allegedly moved from the apartment in a trailer attached to a RAV4 by the two men and taken to Caulfield South Free newsletterGet the most important news as it breaks Police allege the fridge was used to store Bell’s body A neighbour reported the fridge to police because it was attracting flies and had a “foul smell” The trailer carrying the fridge was allegedly moved to a Bentleigh East property before being shifted to Mulgrave days later in a Hino removal van The police summary alleges that a resident discovered Bell’s remains on 18 November after he removed the plastic wrapping the fridge door swung open and a bag fell out He believed the bag contained animal remains and dumped the fridge on a street corner near hard rubbish in Bentleigh The man then placed the bag holding Bell’s remains in a residential rubbish bin before later contacting police were found at a waste management facility in Dandenong Detectives raided homes in Bentleigh East and Mulgrave on Tuesday Bell’s family have been notified of the discovery and police say they will be provided support services had previously made emotional pleas for information about her whereabouts including at a press conference on 22 October Beach House’s pet concierge Phoebe Girotto inside the St Kilda complex’s bowling alley and sports bar which is nearing completion A new St Kilda apartment complex is taking the lead in luxury living for discerning dogs with a pet spa and concierge Developer Gurner and Melbourne-based real estate investment company Qualitas’ GQ Build-to-Rent platform will this month open the door to almost 300 one, two and three bedroom homes, plus penthouses, at the Wellington St project named Beach House And furry friends will be more than welcome to live alongside tenants with a pet spa and pet concierge on offer RELATED: St Kilda East: Ex-Project Runway judge, Husk’s Kirrily Johnston, selling home Saint Moritz: First buyers in ‘landmark’ St Kilda development list their spectacular apartment Tim Gurner lists $15m pad partly inspired by Shane Warne home in same building Tenants’ tours of the building will start shortly and the first renters are set to move in later in the month Pet concierge Phoebe Girotto will be among those greeting them with tasks that include overseeing pet socialisation events grooming and animal-specific entertainment their owners will be able to visit the on-site day spa for humans featuring a sauna There will even be a pet-friendly food and beverage venue An artistic render of how the Beach House’s palm tree-lined pool deck will look Pet concierge Phoebe Girotto at The Beach house’s private club featuring a sports bar Having a build-to-rent project which welcomes pets is good news for animal lovers after Australia’s rental crisis led to an increase in people giving up dogs and cats in the hopes of improving their chances to secure a lease Lost Dogs’ Home spokeswoman Suzana Talevski said the number of pets surrendered because their owners were moving This comes despite a 2020 change to Victoria’s laws banning landlords from refusing a renter because they own a pet unless the landlord seeks an exception from VCAT under specific circumstances An artistic rendering of the bowling alley and sports bar on realestate.com.au its other impressive inclusions range from a bowling alley to a cinema glass-walled pool with a palm tree-lined deck and rooftop Skybar Hybrid workspaces with marble-lined tables and meeting rooms also feature said level 27 would include guest suites with private spas which tenants could rent separately to their main home we’d be selling the top floors for $10-20m+,” Mr Gurner said The pet concierge will oversee pet socialisation events grooming and entertainment for resident animals Beach House’s one-bedroom apartments will start at $495 a week and sub-penthouses and penthouses from $1895 per week with residences set to become available next month Gurner’s Design House head Simon Brugaletta said the complex’s two towers had been inspired by the ocean’s changing form bright and reflective of the St Kilda beach with a nod to Saint Moritz in terms of palette and materials,” Brugaletta said Gurner also built the $540m Saint Moritz complex in St Kilda and Saint Haven Private Wellness Club in Collingwood The Beach House development’s end value will be worth $250m-$300m Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Elwood: Penthouse home boasts private rooftop with party pavilion, basketball hoop International buyers fly in to see potential record-breaking $75m+ Toorak mansion Bec and Lleyton Hewitt’s former Toorak home now up for sale again third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Melbourne’s design-focused development group Neometro is advancing designs for its new site opposite Alma Park in St Kilda East Neometro are seeking to pay tribute to St Kilda's architectural heritage and cosmopolitan spirit, commissioning Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) and award-winning landscape consultants Myles Baldwin Design to create 41 apartments and 21 two and three-level townhouses at 97 Alma Road a near 5,000 sqm site they bought last year for almost $22 million KTA has responded to the brief by celebrating connection with the landscape at all scales from site planning to shared spaces and interiors natural light and ventilation to all apartments An enhanced sense of community is promoted through quality outdoor shared spaces including the east garden spine activated laneways between the townhouses and an apartment roof top terrace with communal food production and BBQ area The communal courtyard acts as a protected green for the existing trees of significant cultural values and history Read more: Neometro secure next apartment development site The proposed renders for 97 Alma Road: Image credit: Neometro with KTA Designed with healthy living in mind – 97 Alma Road is the next generation of green building that not only includes environmentally responsible and resource-efficient building concepts, but also integrates human wellbeing, something Neometro have pioneered and evolved for over three decades  “For more than 30 years we’ve been refining our approach to healthy building, establishing a set of pillars—air, light, comfort, connection, mind and body that consider all three aspects of health and wellbeing equally—mental, social and physical," Neometro Director James Tutton says Aligned to Victoria's Climate Change Framework which has a target of net-zero carbon by 2050 97 Alma Road will feature a range of energy-efficient features All units will have passive solar design with direct access to sunlight for periods of the day All apartments have cross-flow ventilation The building will also incorporate passive design principles to maximise natural light and ventilation and reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling Architect Kerstin Thompson says 97 Alma Road offers a graceful return to treasured memories, forging a connection with a valued part of Melbourne’s urban history while offering a new approach to multiple housing. "We really considered what it means to arrive home, celebrating the ‘homecoming’ with civic scaled entries to the apartment building and activating differentiated laneways between the townhouses," Thompson says. KTA’s vision is to provide each apartment with its own distinguishing architectural element: a bay window, an arch, a sunroom, a delightfully odd-shaped window, or a juliette balcony. A feature that forges an attachment to one’s own home because it’s like no other. An artist will be engaged to create a public art piece, inline with the City of Port Phillip's Public Art Guidelines 2017. Residents will have access to a 141 sqm rooftop deck which will feature a food production area, and the ground level will have a food and beverage tenancy, suited for a cafe with outdoor seating. We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia. We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home! CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Growing up in Melbourne’s sprawling outer south-eastern suburbia in the ’70s I remember my dad reminiscing about the St Kilda of his youth – how he used to take girlfriends out to the St Moritz ice-skating rink or the famed Palais de Danse next to the Palais Theatre I would hear my older brothers crashing home drunk at 3am after seeing The Boys Next Door or Radio Birdman at St Kilda’s Crystal Ballroom which was home to Melbourne’s fledgling post-punk scene AccaDacca lived in a share house on Lansdowne Road I first moved into a Barkly Street flat at 16 before returning to buy an art deco apartment in the same street 30 years later St Kilda has always been a suburb on the edge in both its proximity to the shoreline and as a hub for artists Its rich history is one of boom and bust cycles – from being a favoured playground for Melbourne’s elite in the 1920s to its post-war transformation into Melbourne’s red-light district when the number of rooming houses surged and it became the meeting place for the city’s queer community Palais Theatre (left) and the Palais de Danse circa 1934.Credit: State Library of Victoria The Roaring Twenties was also when the St Kilda Football Club claimed their 10th wooden spoon after just 21 years in the VFL In 1899 they got the lowest score ever recorded in a VFL/AFL match – one point – against Geelong The Saints have only won a single premiership since then which gives them a permanent underdog status that somehow fits the character of the suburb American soldiers had stayed at the art deco Prince of Wales Hotel a venue that went on to host drag shows throughout the ’70s and ’80s Who could forget the poolroom at the back of the Prince in the late ’80s where Melbourne’s gay community cavorted to the blaring drone of Iggy Pop and Lou Reed on the jukebox Tourists flock to watch penguins at St Kilda pier in 2020.Credit: Joe Armao For decades there’s been talk about the gentrification of St Kilda, and certainly The Block’s makeovers of the former Gatwick Hotel and Oslo House Hostel adds fuel to that claim The revamped Espy may have lost its sticky carpet of yesteryear but it still hosts some of the best local and international acts around And while it’s true that St Kilda is a suburb where the homeless rub shoulders with the nouveau riche in my mind it retains its bohemian grittiness by virtue of the socio-economic diversity of its inhabitants evident in the homeless sleeping on Fitzroy and Acland streets and the daily queues at Sacred Heart soup kitchen We live side-by-side with drug users and sex workers who are also part of our community’s fabric the more I’ve become drawn into the hidden magic of St Kilda’s village-like community which is visible when you scratch beneath its rough surfaces There are the old Russian ladies who share their life stories as we soak in the thermal spa at the St Kilda Sea Baths and Dave at my local cafe who knows my name and always offers friendly greetings St Kilda is awash with characters from near and far who have chosen this gem as their home But it’s the realness of St Kilda that grounds it and keeps it from tipping over the edge into generic gentrification Give me that any day over an endless parade of SUVs and absurdly overpriced Victorian terraces (although in fairness Nick Cave on stage at the Palais Theatre in November 2022.Credit: Rick Clifford St Kilda in the past 20 years also became derided as Melbourne’s ground zero for backpackers They come from all over the globe – the UK They can at times be bloody annoying (try navigating through drunken packs of Brits behaving like soccer hooligans down Grey Street at midnight or the stench of piss out the front of your home on a Sunday morning – not that it can always be blamed on backpackers) but they add much to St Kilda’s transient we’ve all heard the stereotypes about homeless people in laneways and syringes on St Kilda beach (something I’ve never once witnessed) but most locals believe it’s the best place to live in the world It’s a suburb where we take the good with the bad Like many shopping strips across Melbourne, many Acland and Fitzroy Street shopfronts have remained empty or had a churn of tenants since COVID Some lay the blame with the closure of Acland Street to cars; others blame the explosion in online shopping and rising rents Port Phillip Council has tried to curb this problem in Fitzroy Street with its Renew program that has given over empty shopfronts to artisans to increase foot traffic and bring life back Acland Street may need to adopt a similar approach if it is to return to its former glory The charms of St Kilda are found in simple daily pleasures, like hearing the scenic railway rattling around Luna Park as it has since 1912, a daily trip to the foreshore to glimpse the sunsets across Port Phillip Bay, visiting the little penguins at the end of the pier, eating a chocolate kugelhopf from Monarch Cakes reading a book in the botanic gardens or strolling along Fitzroy Street on a warm evening as it teems with people On such nights one gets the fleeting sense that life here is comparable to living in New York’s East Village or at least as close as you’re likely to get in Oz While walking with my partner on the Esplanade one of those nights a spruiker offered us at-cost tickets to see US singer Rodriguez – one of my favourite all-time performers – playing that night at the Palais St Kilda quenched my desire for a more worldly life – and I’m still hooked This article is part of our “Life in the ’burbs” series. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here Growing up in Melbourne\\u2019s sprawling outer south-eastern suburbia in the \\u201970s I remember my dad reminiscing about the St Kilda of his youth \\u2013 how he used to take girlfriends out to the St Moritz ice-skating rink or the famed Palais de Danse next to the Palais Theatre I would hear my older brothers crashing home drunk at 3am after seeing The Boys Next Door or Radio Birdman at St Kilda\\u2019s Crystal Ballroom which was home to Melbourne\\u2019s fledgling post-punk scene Its rich history is one of boom and bust cycles \\u2013 from being a favoured playground for Melbourne\\u2019s elite in the 1920s to its post-war transformation into Melbourne\\u2019s red-light district when the number of rooming houses surged and it became the meeting place for the city\\u2019s queer community In 1899 they got the lowest score ever recorded in a VFL/AFL match \\u2013 one point \\u2013 against Geelong a venue that went on to host drag shows throughout the \\u201970s and \\u201980s Who could forget the poolroom at the back of the Prince in the late \\u201980s where Melbourne\\u2019s gay community cavorted to the blaring drone of Iggy Pop and Lou Reed on the jukebox For decades there\\u2019s been talk about the gentrification of St Kilda and certainly The Block\\u2019s makeovers of the and adds fuel to that claim And while it\\u2019s true that St Kilda is a suburb where the homeless rub shoulders with the nouveau riche There\\u2019s still plenty of poverty here We live side-by-side with drug users and sex workers who are also part of our community\\u2019s fabric the more I\\u2019ve become drawn into the hidden magic of St Kilda\\u2019s village-like community But it\\u2019s the realness of St Kilda that grounds it and keeps it from tipping over the edge into generic gentrification St Kilda in the past 20 years also became derided as Melbourne\\u2019s ground zero for backpackers They come from all over the globe \\u2013 the UK or the stench of piss out the front of your home on a Sunday morning \\u2013 not that it can always be blamed on backpackers) but they add much to St Kilda\\u2019s transient we\\u2019ve all heard the stereotypes about homeless people in laneways and syringes on St Kilda beach (something I\\u2019ve never once witnessed) but most locals believe it\\u2019s the best place to live in the world It\\u2019s a suburb where we take the good with the bad Like many shopping strips across Melbourne many Acland and Fitzroy Street shopfronts have The charms of St Kilda are found in simple daily pleasures like hearing the scenic railway rattling around Luna Park as it has since 1912 a daily trip to the foreshore to glimpse the sunsets across Port Phillip Bay On such nights one gets the fleeting sense that life here is comparable to living in New York\\u2019s East Village or at least as close as you\\u2019re likely to get in Oz a spruiker offered us at-cost tickets to see US singer Rodriguez \\u2013 one of my favourite all-time performers \\u2013 playing that night at the Palais St Kilda quenched my desire for a more worldly life \\u2013 and I\\u2019m still hooked The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge Inside fashion designer Kirrily Johnston’s St Kilda East home that is up for sale Former Project Runway judge and fashion designer Kirrily Johnston is selling her vibrant St Kilda East apartment The Husk creative director has been in a position of seniority at the Aussie lifestyle label since 2016 and also a TV show judge next to Alex Perry and Megan Gale in 2011 While she, her daughter and mother have cherished the two-bedroom bayside bolthole at 5/39A Balaclava Rd RELATED: First buyers in ‘landmark’ St Kilda development list spectacular apartment Mid-century home with holes in walls gets total facelift Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg selling Hawthorn home “It’s got such a beautiful feeling when you’re in there,” she said it’s actually a really gorgeous size and the outdoor areas have just been amazing for us Ample space to entertain outside on warm summer nights The living room with fireplace flows outside onto the courtyard “My daughter who’s just turned 11; for her it was quite emotional when I told her we were going to sell because she loves everything about it.” Ms Johnston said the pink embellishments in each room were part of the feminine touches she included when after moving in around seven years ago She added that she loved apartment living and was blessed to have been surrounded by the community that lives on the block The property has a price guide of $850,000 to $935,000 MORE: Melburnian reveals horror risks taken on defect-riddled homes Local artist selling 133yo renovated Richmond cottage with neon X-rated bedroom Kirrily Johnston is Husk’s Creative Director Located in a boutique block of eight apartments the home is steps from a tram line and a short walk to St Kilda Botanical Gardens and Caulfield Park The kitchen adjoined to one of two outdoor decks is fitted with Blanco appliances A wooden deck with sitting area on the yard The expansive living and dining area is also connected to a private courtyard McGrath St Kilda agent Abie Munz said it was a gorgeous ground floor Art Deco apartment with a really nice charm to it while also being fully renovated “What really draws people in is the outdoor areas; it gets ample light in summer and it gets really nice winter sun as well,” Mr Munz said “Some people are drawn to the security and privacy; two steps from the back deck it’s actually got a secure garage and storage cafe That’s what sets it apart from similar properties.” MORE: Holes of Melbourne: Mayor prepares to fight ‘zombie’ sites around the city Kyneton: Pride and Prejudice-style home has ideal swimming spot for Mr Darcy to have a dip Harkaway: Horse lover’s dream home in Melbourne’s southeast could break suburb record A quiet side street next to St Kilda Cemetery is turning into a resting place of a different sort with a growing number of caravans parked there When this masthead visited Alexandra Street in St Kilda East last week Brian Murray and Rio Filgueira with caravans left in Alexandra Street “It’s like a game of sardines,” City of Port Phillip Mayor Heather Cunsolo says one person does it and then the others join in.” Residents are unimpressed and say the caravans make it difficult for them to park their cars near their homes “People getting home late from work can’t get a park in their street they might need to park one or two streets away which is probably not safe for a lot of people,” resident Brian Murray says “[Caravan owners] don’t want to put them in industrial zones or pay for storage so they just put them in someone else’s street.” Vans and caravans parked alongside the St Kilda cemetery on Friday Murray has lived in the area for 20 years and believes the influx of caravans are not owned by locals Caravan ownership boomed during the COVID pandemic, but private caravan storage costs around $1080 a year at sites close to Melbourne Port Phillip Mayor Heather Cunsolo.Credit: Simon Schluter who did not want to be named because she was concerned about the response from caravan owners says the caravans are an eyesore and some have not moved for the two years she has lived in the street “It’s just very annoying because a lot of them are oversized,” she says “These massive caravans just stay there for months and months at a time.” She wants the council to tighten parking restrictions in the area to require permit parking only Cunsolo says there is not much the council can do to address residents’ concerns but it is “trying to grapple” with the issue they are deemed to be like any other car,” she says “If there’s not parking restrictions at this point they’re considered legally parked if they are at a certain dimension.” Cunsolo says there are lots of demands on parking spaces in the area Caravans are taking up street parking spaces along Alexandra Street.Credit: Chris Hopkins “I don’t think we were expecting long-term storage as one of the uses,” she says A spokesman for the state government says registered towable vehicles are permitted to be parked on streets if the vehicle is under 7.5 metres in length and weighs less than 4.5 tonnes The spokesman says councils have the capacity to introduce requirements which would require owners to obtain a permit to park their towable vehicle on council land for a particular length of time the author of a book titled Rethinking Parking says urban kerbs are a public space not really designed for long-term caravan storage “Councils have a responsibility to step up,” he says it is a busy dense urban environment with a lot of competition for kerb space it is a finite resource that needs to be managed.” The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. A quiet side street next to St Kilda Cemetery is turning into a resting place of a different sort, with a growing number of caravans parked there. When this masthead visited Alexandra Street in St Kilda East last week, there were 17 caravans along the street, taking up almost half the parking spots. \\u201CIt\\u2019s like a game of sardines,\\u201D City of Port Phillip Mayor Heather Cunsolo says. \\u201CLike, one person does it and then the others join in.\\u201D Residents are unimpressed and say the caravans make it difficult for them to park their cars near their homes, and raise concerns about safety. \\u201CPeople getting home late from work can\\u2019t get a park in their street, they might need to park one or two streets away, which is probably not safe for a lot of people,\\u201D resident Brian Murray says. \\u201C[Caravan owners] don\\u2019t want to put them in industrial zones or pay for storage so they just put them in someone else\\u2019s street.\\u201D Murray has lived in the area for 20 years and believes the influx of caravans are not owned by locals. \\u201CThey drive up and drive away,\\u201D he says. during , but private caravan storage at sites close to Melbourne. Another resident, who did not want to be named because she was concerned about the response from caravan owners, says the caravans are an eyesore and some have not moved for the two years she has lived in the street. \\u201CIt\\u2019s just very annoying because a lot of them are oversized,\\u201D she says. \\u201CThese massive caravans just stay there for months and months at a time.\\u201D She wants to tighten parking restrictions in the area to require permit parking only. Cunsolo says there is not much the council can do to address residents\\u2019 concerns, but it is \\u201Ctrying to grapple\\u201D with the issue. \\u201CUnder the road rules, they are deemed to be like any other car,\\u201D she says. \\u201CIf there\\u2019s not parking restrictions at this point, they\\u2019re considered legally parked if they are at a certain dimension.\\u201D Cunsolo says there are lots of demands on parking spaces in the area. \\u201CI don\\u2019t think we were expecting long-term storage as one of the uses,\\u201D she says. A spokesman for the state government says registered towable vehicles, including caravans, campers, boats and trailers, are permitted to be parked on streets if the vehicle is under 7.5 metres in length and weighs less than 4.5 tonnes. The spokesman says councils have the capacity to introduce requirements which would require owners to obtain a permit to park their towable vehicle on council land for a particular length of time. Urban planner Dr David Mepham, the author of a book titled Rethinking Parking, says urban kerbs are a public space not really designed for long-term caravan storage. \\u201CCouncils have a responsibility to step up,\\u201D he says. \\u201CCouncils regulate the kerb space. This is St Kilda, it is not out the back of Bourke, it is a busy dense urban environment with a lot of competition for kerb space, it is a finite resource that needs to be managed.\\u201D The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. . The final hours of missing teen Isla Bell’s life have been captured on CCTV from the Melbourne apartment building of her alleged killer, according to court documents. The documents released on Wednesday afternoon detail how the 19-year-old allegedly ended up at Marat Ganiev’s St Kilda East apartment on October 7. Ms Bell was last seen leaving her home in Brunswick on October 4 but family members said she was active on social media until three days later. Ganiev, 53, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with Ms Bell’s murder. Ganiev’s building was surrounded by a CCTV system that covered the front door and window of the apartment, according to a Victoria Police summary. Ms Bell was seen entering the apartment for the last time on October 5 and was never seen to leave again, according to police. Two days later, police allege a fight can be seen through a gap in the front kitchen window of Ganiev’s apartment. “What appears to be a fight can be seen through a gap in the front kitchen window of Ganiev’s apartment,” the summary says. “Investigators observed what appears to be Bell’s head whipping around as if she has been struck. “She falls to the ground and Ganiev can then be seen striking her on the ground of the kitchen. “What appears to be Bell’s head can be seen rising up before being pushed back down by Ganiev’s arm.” Ms Bell was captured on CCTV through the same window up until 2am on October 7. During the next few days, Ganiev is shown allegedly cleaning the apartment. A fridge wrapped in clear plastic and black tape was allegedly moved from the apartment in a trailer attached to a RAV4 by the two men and taken to Caulfield South where it stayed until October 22. Police allege the fridge was used to store Ms Bell’s body. A neighbour reported the fridge to police because it was attracting flies and had a “foul smell”. The trailer carrying the fridge was allegedly moved to a Bentleigh East property before being shifted to Mulgrave days later in a Hino removal van. A resident discovered Ms Bell’s remains on November 18 after he removed the plastic wrapping, the fridge door swung open and a bag fell out. He believed the bag contained animal remains, and dumped the fridge on a street corner near hard rubbish in Bentleigh. The man then placed the bag holding Ms Bell’s remains in a residential rubbish bin before later contacting police. Human remains, which are yet to be formally identified, were found at a waste management facility in Dandenong, in Melbourne’s outer east, on Tuesday evening. Detectives raided homes in Bentleigh East and Mulgrave on Tuesday. Ms Bell’s family have been notified of the discovery and police say they will be provided support services. Her mother Justine Spokes had previously made emotional pleas for information about her whereabouts including at a press conference on October 22, the day Ms Bell would have turned 20. There has been no activity on Ms Bell’s bank or social media accounts and her phone has not pinged to any telecommunication towers. but we don't want to lose you.\"}],[\"$\",\"div\",null,{\"className\":\"notfound-page__text-block\",\"children\":\"We recently updated the way we organise our articles 'div-gpt-ad-1511396693346-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1511394032333-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/970x90_bottom_leaderboard' 'div-gpt-ad-1511396722471-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Hompage_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1661741627089-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/undefinedTUD_Homepage_Internal_728x90' 'div-gpt-ad-1534480172990-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n // home leaderboard (mobile)\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/970x90_top_leaderboard' 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along with key people from Daniel Besen’s development company Neometro File St Kilda Residential Project Plans\"}],[\"$\",\"meta\",\"13\",{\"property\":\"og:description\",\"content\":\"Neometro Neometro File St Kilda Residential Project Plans\"}],[\"$\",\"meta\",\"22\",{\"name\":\"twitter:description\",\"content\":\"Neometro 20 two bedroom and 15 three bedroom as well as\u0026nbsp;88 car parking spaces 80 bicycle storage spaces and 5 motorcycle parking spaces.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA small 64sq m food and beverage tenancy on the ground floor with a basement level below for car parking is also part of the proposal \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe townhouses would occupy one side of the site in three blocks while the apartments would be in one four-storey building.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlma Park is opposite the site which currently has an existing two-storey building on it home to a Fitness First centre and the St Kilda Sports and Fitness Centre Reserve at the rear end of the narrow 1 Spring Street.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeometro entered into a purchaser’s contract with Newheaven Pty Ltd in 2021 according to the title deed supplied with the application \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe developer announced in March 2022 that it had bought the site for $21.8 million and it was settled before Christmas that year \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNewheaven’s directors and shareholders are Mark Geoffrey Riddell and Michael Douglas Thornborrow according to ASIC records.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCouncil records show an estimated cost of $29.7 million for the project \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eASIC records reveal that the applicant Lochlan Ison Sinclair and Simeon Goldenberg listed as directors \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShares in the company are held equally between Besen Alma Road Developer Pty Ltd and Neometro Alma Road Developer Pty Ltd.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvan originally founded Neometro in 1985 while Tutton currently head up the company as director \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMurray is currently the chief executive of the Besen Family Office and a director of Arcus Partners He was also previously the chair of AusCycling and Cycling Australia \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Besen Family Office provided financial backing for Daniel Hong to found Arcus Partners with Daniel Besen taking the director’s position \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDoherty is the chief financial officer at Besen Group while Sinclair is development director at Neometro Goldenberg is executive director at Besen Family Office.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Urban Developer \u003c/em\u003econtacted Neometro for comment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDaniel Besen founded Besen in 2000 to focus on property development Lendlease’s third residential building in the Collins Wharf precinct of Victoria Harbour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 28-storey building at 971 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands will deliver 312 homes in a mix of one two and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses and penthouses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Lendlease the project has already secured more than 50 per cent in presales.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is the construction contractor—it completed the precinct’s first development in 2019 and is also working on LendLease’s second tower Regatta.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Ancora Hickory is implementing several technical construction methods including various piling techniques and precast concrete solutions that enable a parallel-track construction program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building’s facade designed by architect Warren and Mahoney uses a three-stage design incorporating double-glazed glass and textured precast concrete with Reckli and brick finishes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural design transitions from a solid podium base to lighter upper levels “reflecting a maritime theme” aligned with the Collins Wharf design objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAncora will connect to the neighbouring Regatta development via a podium allowing resident access to shared amenities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesigned as an all-electric building that includes electric vehicle infrastructure the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star certification Completion is expected in 2027.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegatta including build-to-rent and build-to-sell units.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eExtensive wharf works including remediation of pre-existing wharf piles installation of raker piles and construction of the extension to Australia Walk are also part of the project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnical challenges include constructing on the finger wharf and co-ordinating extensive above-wharf road reserve and public parkland works.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Collins Wharf precinct will ultimately comprise six residential buildings of more than 1800 homes surrounded by over 5000sq m of parks and community space.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease is developing the parkland concurrently with the residential components including the extension of Australian Walk that forms part of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease executive director of development Adam Williams said Collins Wharf “is fast becoming a sought-after address .. which took just a handful of hours to emerge on Saturday night the Coalition’s failure to sway voters has come under intense scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts lack of policies around property that resonated with voters has been a large part of that criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those policies was a $5-billion infrastructure program to unlock up to 500,000 new homes was greeted with no small amount of scepticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Coalition also campaigned on its previously revealed plan to allow first home buyers to draw down on their superannuation giving access to up to $50,000 to help fund mortgage deposits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile that proposal had won some support it got the thumbs down from many of Australia’s top economists who said the measure could prove highly inflationary among other issues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly its plan to allow mortgage interest for first home buyers to be tax-deductible was roundly criticised for its likely inflationary and regressive effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has also been pointed out that the Coalition’s rejection of the Green’s policies around housing supply affordable housing and help for renters did it no favours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ALP went to the polls spruiking an extension of schemes introduced during its previous term including a $10-billion promise for its first-home buyers’ scheme to encourage 100,000 more homes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also had its Help to Buy shared equity scheme under which the Government pays up to 40 per cent of the house price to point to.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf it was these policies per se or the lack of detail and depth to the Coalition’s the nation's ready for the Albanese government to act.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is clear been endorsed to follow through on its policies and fix the crisis that is crippling the Australian property sector.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive\u0026nbsp;Tom\u0026nbsp;Forrest has pointed out it is time for the Federal Government to get back to work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Housing affordability and housing supply featured large during the campaign,” Forrest said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The key now is for the Government to strike while the iron’s hot.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If legislation is needed to support the delivery of Labor’s $10-billion 100,000 new homes commitment—then pass it through the parliament now and get on with it.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe states have made many changes to how they enable home development The Federal Government’s support of that is crucial to its success material supply assistance or any other factor that affects getting homes out of the ground.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis has been a pivotal election Neometro File St Kilda Residential Project Plans\",\"slug\":\"besen-neometro-st-kilda-east-residential-project-plans-filed\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-05-26T06:37:37.843Z\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Neometro Then Cities for Total Fan Immersion\",\"slug\":\"billionaire-arsenal-rams-denver-nuggets-sports-anchored-precincts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-30T00:00+10:00\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Why your next home might be stadium-adjacent; sports are the hook Neometro File St Kilda Residential Project PlansDaniel Besen’s Besen Group and Besen Family Office have joined forces with Neometro for an apartment project in St Kilda East Neometro has filed the plans with the City of Port Phillip Council for the project on a 5003sq m site at 97 Alma Road Kerstin Thompson Architects’ plans for the four-storey project comprise 41 apartments and 21 townhouses 20 two bedroom and 15 three bedroom as well as 88 car parking spaces 80 bicycle storage spaces and 5 motorcycle parking spaces A small 64sq m food and beverage tenancy on the ground floor with a basement level below for car parking is also part of the proposal The townhouses would occupy one side of the site in three blocks while the apartments would be in one four-storey building Fitness First has a lease on the building that expires in 2024 Neometro entered into a purchaser’s contract with Newheaven Pty Ltd in 2021 Newheaven’s directors and shareholders are Mark Geoffrey Riddell and Michael Douglas Thornborrow Council records show an estimated cost of $29.7 million for the project Shares in the company are held equally between Besen Alma Road Developer Pty Ltd and Neometro Alma Road Developer Pty Ltd Provan originally founded Neometro in 1985 while Tutton currently head up the company as director Murray is currently the chief executive of the Besen Family Office and a director of Arcus Partners The Besen Family Office provided financial backing for Daniel Hong to found Arcus Partners with Daniel Besen taking the director’s position Doherty is the chief financial officer at Besen Group while Sinclair is development director at Neometro Goldenberg is executive director at Besen Family Office The Urban Developer contacted Neometro for comment Daniel Besen founded Besen in 2000 to focus on property development The Besen family owns major clothing brands including Suzanne Grae Mark Besen and the family are listed at 56 on the most recent Rich List with an estimated net wealth of $2.23 billion Daniel Besen’s most recent project is the controversial Spring Street tower in the Melbourne CBD Neometro has worked on other residential projects in St Kilda but its most recent residential projects have been around the Jewell Station and railway line in Melbourne’s Brunswick The creative director of Husk, who made a name for herself when she launched her eponymous label at Australian Fashion Week in 2004, has listed the art deco pad in bayside St Kilda East. Johnston says she is seeking more space and is ready to depart the “beautiful”, character-filled two-bedroom home, which has a price guide of $850,000 to $935,000, and is more like a “cottage” than an apartment. “It has served us very well. I’m a bit sad to go but I’m ready – we’ve been here for seven years and it’s time to upsize,” Johnston says. “I’m a real fan of 1930s apartment buildings. I love our high, ornate ceilings, the fireplace and mantle. You don’t get this sense of space in newer buildings. The apartment has beautiful light – that’s important to me. “The building has six apartments – nearly all owner-occupiers. We have a nice community feel but being double brick, it’s also super private.” Abie Munz and Tracy Paus from McGrath St Kilda are looking after the campaign, with an auction booked for 11.30am on May 5. Camilla Franks puts her whimsical $7 million Sydney home on the market Social media favourite fashion designer lists stylish Melbourne digs Fashion designer Wayne Cooper sells six-level Tamarama home for top dollar Johnston says she was drawn to the suburb. “I knew I wanted to live in St Kilda after my time in Sydney. It has the proximity to the beach, to trams, restaurants – it’s just so easy to get everywhere. And it’s a great neighbourhood to raise my daughter in – quiet and safe. “My home is like an oasis with the courtyards on both sides – they were the drawcard for me. It’s more like a little cottage. I love entertaining and it’s so easy with little kids here running inside and out safely.” Her favourite place to unwind or dine and entertain is the pergola off the kitchen. Listing images show the decked courtyards and a handsome fairy-lit tree, a sleek ivory fireplace in the lounge, contemporary kitchen and sweet, blush-toned bathroom. Husk has boutiques in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and New Zealand, and are a favourite of the style set for leather and silk garments and an international curation of labels. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate almost 1000sq m blockNathan Mawby 344 Dandenong Rd has 30 bedrooms spread across the property MOST of us could probably do with a spare bedroom in the house A unique St Kilda East property with the vast number of bedrooms The property at 344 Dandenong Rd comes with a $3.65 million to $4 million price guide Buxton sales agent Melina Scriva said it was a first for her “I have never had a property with 30 bedrooms for sale,” she said and that’s pretty crazy — plus the kitchen and living area “There’s nothing really to compare this to.” Its current configuration as a rooming house is returning between $180 and $220 a room each week in rent And the property’s rental yield has already caught the attention of investors and a few developers had also shown interest One of the extra buildings at 344 Dandenong Rd But Ms Scriva said the 996sq m size of the allotment could easily provide for an impressive home site to take it on as a rooming house and the others as a development,” she said “But it’s a huge chunk of land in that area — and that’s hard to come by I’m surprised we haven’t had anyone looking to take it on as a private property.” A new home on the site would require council approval but would have one of the largest allotments in the area As it stands the main house hosts 16 of the bedrooms This part of the allotment has a heritage overlay The flats cover the remainder of the bedrooms Ex-Geelong and Sydney midfielder David Spriggs and his wife Cassie Cobain sold their St Kilda East family home selling his labour of love in St Kilda East at a quick-fire auction yesterday Former Geelong and Sydney player David Spriggs and his wife Cassandra Cobain sold their fully-renovated home at 202 Inkerman St for $1.55 million after it passed in for $100,000 less vied for the property in drizzly weather at an auction which started slow but ended with rapid-fire bidding David Spriggs and his wife Cassie Cobain at their house in St Kilda East The auction was held in the home’s backyard A north-facing deck and synthetic lawn makes the home an entertainment haven RELATED: Brand-new St Kilda East townhouse making a statement St Kilda East apartment with its own barn has enough space to store a horse or two Iconic St Kilda East Grosvenor Hotel in the sights of developers But nine quick bids in the last 30 seconds still wasn’t enough to seal the deal A young couple that placed the final bid were handed the keys less than half an hour later Spriggs and his wife purchased the Inkerman St home for $900,000 in 2012 and renovated the interiors to create an entertainment haven “When we moved there it was quite moody and dark but it had the right structural base,” Ms Cobain said “We opened up the home with a big deck and lawn to create some outdoor living space which changed the whole feel of the property.” The unassuming home still has an Edwardian-era facade The property sold after auction for $1.55 million The couple kept the home’s classic red brick facade and maintained period features inside including high ceilings they are now looking for a larger home in Brighton East or Elsternwick to raise their two children in “This property is perfect for a young professional couple who can start a family there just like we did,” Ms Cobain McGrath auctioneer Michael Townsend in front of a large crowd The home had three-bedrooms including an upstairs floor dedicated to the main suite who immediately responded to every other bid placed at the auction He said the home had more than 100 inquiries during its four week campaign and several early offers “The absolute gentrification and renewal of the once sleepy village of Balaclava means this area has now become a destination for living St Kilda East has become a hot option for buyers in Melbourne The inner-city home also had some of the highest views on realestate.com.au of properties going to auction in Australia played 64 games for Geelong and five for Sydney between 2000 and 2005 earning himself a rising star nomination in his debut season SUBURB PROFILE: St Kilda East READ MORE: Caroline Springs, Cranbourne West house prices have never fallen Tiny Brunswick West patch of dirt attracts mass attention at auction Brighton’s Church St sees strong sales as tightly-held buildings go under the hammer While the building itself is a striking and prominent presence, the architectural success of these dwellings is how they embrace genuine social interaction in an increasingly prohibitive culture, avoiding obsessions with technology, regulation and total privacy. Kids lean over the fence to say hi to grandparents & passers-by, dogs bark in unison and neighbours honk as they drive pass. The two read as one, with a long, elevated oblong containing the more secluded areas which still remain very connected to the neighbourhood with a long continuous strip window that still maintains suitable privacy. It presents itself as an extension to the streetscape as the site falls and tapers to the short southern boundary, maintaining its elevation with the open living areas below and floating out over the street corner. © John GollingsThe outcome is two aesthetically interesting modestly sized and very efficient homes that successfully draw on how the architecture responds to the site more than how the site responds to the architecture Both households will have an extremely hard time deciding when the time will come to move onto the next nuclear family project You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Brunswick drop in priceJayitri Smiles First-home buyers should act fast to take advantage of a coronavirus-driven price dip in some popular Melbourne suburbs South Melbourne and Thornbury have dropped to a median price below the $600,000 First Home Loan Deposit Scheme cap for existing homes Victorian first-home buyers don’t stamp duty below $600,000 Ferntree Gully and Beaconsfield Upper is also easier with median unit prices dipping just below the price threshold required to qualify for a deposit reduction RELATED: Melbourne first-home buyers share how they did it, tips Melbourne first-home buyer hot spots revealed Manor Lakes, Pakenham, Broadmeadows: Experts tip battler ‘burbs for happy new year First-home buyers are setting their sights on suburbs with price drops The CoreLogic report comes as another 1800 spots were recently made available in the extended federal government scheme which requires only a 5 per cent deposit from borrowers McGrath St Kilda agent Jesse Jones said Balaclava and St Kilda East offered the “best value for money” in the inner south “They are hidden gems in Melbourne … a lot of buyers who are looking in Prahran and Windsor realise that by crossing over Dandenong Road they can get a much more affordable option with more space,” Mr Jones said “The additional stamp duty discount is only increasing interest from purchasers who know (the discount) won’t last forever and that interest rates can’t get any lower.” The two-bedroom apartment has a $460,000-$490,000 price guide He said growing demand meant unit prices were on the rise once again so buyers should act fast to take advantage of Balaclava’s $598,436 median and St Kilda East’s $579,514 median unit price Clayton and Oakleigh unit prices also dipped below the first-home buyer threshold to $570,988 and $575,210 medians between March 2020 and January this year But O’Brien Real Estate Oakleigh director Max Martinucci said budding buyers should be realistic about what they could get at that price point First-home buyers needed to be realistic about what their money could buy is for sale with a $1.09-$1.15m price guide “You can probably get an off-the-plan townhouse high-density apartment or a two-bedroom unit on a main road,” Mr Martinucci said “The new-build apartments get thrown into the unit market data and really drag median prices down when in reality the market has not become more affordable “We have first-home buyers who are cashed up and in their late 20s spending about $700,000-$800,000 in the area.” The well-maintained unit goes to auction on February 27 Buyers ought to consider looking further out to secure a larger property An $850,000 price cap for new homes could first-home buyers break into a number of outer suburbs with land available Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar told the Herald Sun the scheme helped about 15,000 first-time buyers break into the property market much sooner and bolstered the construction industry “Since the commencement of the scheme a year ago there has been an extraordinary take up of guarantees by first-home buyers,” he said WHERE UNIT PRICES HAVE FALLEN BELOW $600,000: Balaclava median value in January 2021: $598,436 READ MORE: Sorrento’s Amalfi mansion raises bar with massive sale Melbourne school zones: Where you’ll pay a premium to break in Pros and cons to buying a property with your partner – and ways to safeguard yourself St Kilda East sold for more than $3m in its Thursday night auction A grand St Kilda East property sold “well in excess of $3m” after hot competition from five family buyers The solid-brick home last sold for just $730,000 back in 2007 But after 14 years and some extensive renovations it “handsomely exceeded the vendors expectations,” Kay & Burton agent Adam Cashmore said RELATED: Herald Sun Real Estate auction blog: Livestreams and rolling updates from the auction market Stamp duty costs rise up to $41K in a year: PropTrack research Craigieburn real estate agency keeps auctions online to keep unvaccinated bidding The home blends period details with modern features The 235 Alma Rd residence was listed with price hopes of $2.75m – $2.8m before “high buyer demand” brought the sale forward a week right place for this house to hit the market,” Mr Cashmore said “There was nothing in the area that could compete with the impressive renovations or liveability of this spectacular home.” It attracted 12 interested parties but just five were able to compete for it on the day A whopping 68 bids were placed before it was called on the market at $2.85m Mr Cashmore said the hammer fell for an undisclosed price north of $3m “(They) fell in love with the stunning home it’s generous proportions and pool – just in time for summer,” he added The breakfast bar is a standout feature in the kitchen Family buyers fought it out for the listing The vendors had extended the elegant abode into a two-storey five-bedroom family home with “relaxed and inviting interiors that combine original period features” It also offered buyers three living spaces and glass doors that open directly to a spacious timber deck The covered alfresco dining overlooks the garden and swimming pool “Positioned in this highly convenient location this home is close to a range of shopping precincts including Malvern and Armadale shops and cosmopolitan Chapel St,” the listing adds Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox READ MORE: Melbourne’s best suburbs for singles, retirees and families Ironside Construction boss selling luxury Brighton pad for $8m Windfall gains tax passes Victorian upper house amid claims it will raise home prices, cut supply A historic home inside a former French Embassy is offering the best of old and new in the heart of St Kilda Vendor Peter Hart said his two-bedroom townhouse was once a part of a lavish late-1880s Victorian accommodation house named Brooklawn Mansions “It was one of many great houses in Fitzroy St and was originally a grand mansion with grounds right next to another,” Dr Hart said RELATED: Ascot Vale pad’s private boat mooring lets owners sail right into the heart of Melbourne’s CBD Luxury character home in St Kilda East home sells for $3m+ Dr Ernest Fooks: Mid-century St Kilda East house for sale The unassuming home is surprisingly spacious An exposed brick wall helps create the industrial feel inside A cleverly designed main bedroom leads to an open ensuite He said it later hosted the French consulate in about the 1920s is behind iron gates and wedged between a bar and a restaurant But the pad’s position behind “another wing” blocked any noise from the street “All the original external details have been preserved even though the internals have been redone,” he said The vendors have listed the 5/95 Fitzroy St pad with a $1.9m-$2.09m It’s positioned beside Chronicles Bar and a Sri Lankan restaurant Belle Property Brighton director Sam Inan highlighted the “industrial warehouse feeling” inside created by exposed brick walls and an open staircase it feels like you are in the backstreets of Paris or Milan,” Mr Inan said marketed as “one of St Kilda’s best kept secrets” READ MORE: Federal election 2022: Home and building taxes and housing affordability set to be key issue Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel sell their ‘paparazzi-proof’ penthouse for $40.6 million Meadow Heights house price record set to be lifted by eight-bedroom pad with Turkish decor The iconic Grosvenor Hotel has hit the market with an $11 million asking price A ST Kilda East watering hole has price expectations above $11 million as investors land bankers and developers set their sights on the iconic hotel Dubbed a “dying breed” the corner block at 10 Brighton Rd is home to the Grosvenor Hotel which was built in 1860 CBRE national investments director Mark Wizel said the current owners had reinvented the offering over the past few years making it more attractive with a pizza and burger bar “It’s a really nice packaged property and has a strong association with a lot of people who live within 5km,” Mr Wizel said those looking to maintain the hotel as a hospitality business might have to battle it out with developers you need these places to hold the soles of the community together,” Mr Wizel said “It’s difficult with the lack of land and the demand from people for townhouses and apartments — it does make it an attract place to develop.” The huge property boarders Balaclava and St Kilda East The property is on 1963sq m and will be sold tenanted with a three-year lease offering a passing income of $525,000 per annum The hotel was last sold for $5.2 million in 2008 the current owners had previously received offers for the business for about $4.2 million “If the business is worth $4.2 million and we are quoting $11 million that means there’s still a lot of worth in the business and then the real estate is only $7 million and that is really cheap.” Recent bayside hotel sales prove there is high interest in well-established properties within the food and entertainment industries “Over the last three year’s we have witnessed a dramatic surge in transactions of established hotels and gaming venues that present high underlying land value and provide development upside in strategic locations,” Mr Wizel said The Beach Hotel in Albert Park sold for $18.03 million in March last year The Beach Hotel with adjoining Foodworks supermarket at 97 Beaconsfield Pde Albert Park fetched $18.03 million in March 2017 The same year a buyer forked out $15.8 million for the Marine Hotel on New St The Grosvenor Hotel is for sale via international expressions of interest closing Thursday MORE: The legendary Emu Bottom Homestead, circa 1836, hits the market Ross Wilson and Olympia Valance selling up in Elsternwick Adjacent Parkdale blocks sale tops $4 million, smashing the suburb record This is probably not the page you’re looking for 1960s flair and contemporary chic combine at 9 Bickhams Court A striking renovation has retained the modernist soul of this 1960s St Kilda East pad while bringing it into the 21st century Designed by architect Harry Ernest, the house at 9 Bickhams Court has been overhauled to “create an oasis of contemporary style while still successfully retaining its original authenticity” according to selling agency Gary Peer Caulfield North 9 Bickhams Court has a $2.6-$2.86 million price guide The house is set to be auctioned next month The four-bedroom house is set to be auctioned on December 9 with a $2.6-$2.86 million price guide A large living room with an original Castlemaine stone feature wall and a fireplace makes an impressive entry point to the single-level abode The room flows into a light-filled second living zone with newly polished original parquetry floors a dining area and gourmet kitchen containing stainless steel-appliances Caesarstone benchtops and a butler’s pantry among them a large deck with a built-in barbecue cocktail bar and wood fireplace right near the pool The main bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite also benefits from the landscaped garden looking out to the greenery via large windows The stuck truck in Inkerman Street.Credit: Erin McFadden A truck became wedged under a low hanging bridge in Melbourne on Monday afternoon, but it was not the usual suspect, the Montague Street bridge BagTrans tells its customers it’s ‘on time…every time’ but that was not the case today when one of its trucks became stuck under the Inkerman Street rail bridge in Balaclava Despite 3.6 metre low clearance signs on approach the low hanging bridge claimed the truck as its victim before just midday The incident caused about five minute delays to the Sandringham train line from when it was reported at 11.57am until about 12.15pm The truck's tyres had to be let down for it to be moved.Credit: Erin McFadden I couldn’t believe there was a truck wedged under there because the bridge is quite high nothing like the Montague Street bridge," she said "Emergency services were there pretty quick and were managing the traffic They had to deflate the tyres of the truck and reverse out slowly." A truck became wedged under a low hanging bridge in Melbourne on Monday afternoon BagTrans tells its customers it\\u2019s \\u2018on time\\u2026every time\\u2019 but that was not the case today I couldn\\u2019t believe there was a truck wedged under there because the bridge is quite high nothing like the Montague Street bridge,\\\" she said \\\"Emergency services were there pretty quick and were managing the traffic They had to deflate the tyres of the truck and reverse out slowly.\\\" pictured with bandmates Scott Owen and Andy Strachan The Living End frontman Chris Cheney has sold his St Kilda East home in just one day The California bungalow — with a backyard studio where Cheney wrote three of the ARIA Award-winning rock band’s records — fetched an undisclosed price understood to be close to the $2.85 million asking price Whitefox director Marty Fox said 23 Orange Grove hit the market last Tuesday with a “VIP champagne evening” booked in for the Wednesday St Kilda East sold to downsizers from Malvern East The property features a backyard studio where Cheney wrote Living End songs The buyers called him on the Wednesday afternoon asking to inspect the four-bedroom 1914-built house ‘why don’t you come through before the VIP night?’,” Mr Fox said and promptly snapped up the property to downsize into “The house had a lot of the period features they were used to in their home in Malvern East where they were for more than 20 years,” Mr Fox said “They loved the position too — it was sandwiched right in the middle of their three children.” The formal sitting area was Chris Cheney’s favourite room in the house The home’s large 725sq m block still offered plenty of room for the buyers’ grandchildren to run around Cheney and his wife Emma would be based in Los Angeles The couple with two daughters had owned the St Kilda East property for about 15 years with CoreLogic records showing it last changed hands in 2004 for $910,000 lead singer and songwriter Cheney — who forms The Living End with double bass player Scott Owen and drummer Andy Strachan — said his music studio was created inside former stables in the backyard “I’ve written probably three of the Living End records out there,” he said in a video on the online listing “It’s been a really good place for me to get away from the kids and the distractions.” The 44-year-old said he’d also loved the home’s formal living room with polished timber floors The Cheneys and their real estate agents celebrated the purchase last night with “a few champagnes” Mr Fox said: “Emma is a real estate agent in LA and she said ‘Whitefox should move to LA’.” The property’s period features were a drawcard for the buyers St Kilda West has sold for a whopping $7.5 million A 1940s church hall born again as a divine house has become St Kilda West’s priciest residence fetching $7.5 million in an off-market deal The sprawling residence at 16 Cowderoy St tempted a buyer just before Christmas to foreshadow a prosperous year for St Kilda’s property market Wilson Agents managing director Graeme Wilson said Mr Wilson said the buyer snapped up the former house of worship — which is just steps from the St Kilda foreshore — as a home for his family on the same day he first saw it The special property achieved a record price for the St Kilda area The buyer was inquiring about a different property that was no longer available when Wilson agents pointed him towards the rare listing which the agency had only quietly advertised on its own website “It ticked every box they were looking for,” Mr Wilson said CoreLogic records show the $7.5 million deal was easily a residential record for St Kilda West with the seaside suburb’s next highest reported price being $5.2 million achieved by an Edwardian on more than 1100sq m at 231 Canterbury Rd The property features a converted 1940s church hall and a modern extension The sale also trumped St Kilda East’s benchmark held by a $7.328 million nine-bedroom mansion at 10 Bickhams Court since 2013 set at $6 million by a four-bedroom house at 42 Robe St Mr Wilson said the sellers had engaged architect George Hatzisavas to convert the more than 80-year-old church into a house about a decade ago adding a four-level modern extension on to the original building The home features a warehouse-style interior characterised by steel beams recycled timbers and stainless-steel finishes Mr Wilson said the property offered up to five bedrooms in a “dormitory wing” plus multiple studio spaces with the latter notably attracting the buyer’s artist partner The open-plan living and dining area was a standout feature with striking church windows a jetmaster fireplace and a gourmet kitchen containing a 3m marble bench and a butler’s pantry Also part of the package were parents’ and children’s retreats Studio space was a big drawcard for the buyers Mr Wilson said the sale was a positive precursor for the St Kilda market in 2019 despite predictions of further property price falls for broader Melbourne “The Espy (Hotel Esplanade) renovation and reopening has been really positive for the area I’m sure there’ll be a flow-on effect for nearby traders on Fitzroy St.” Rich lister Tim Gurner’s $580 million residential redevelopment of the beachside former Novotel hotel has also been flagged as a potential market booster for the area The conversion was carried out about a decade ago ABC News News HomePolice hunting two men seen fleeing after St Kilda East shootingShare Police hunting two men seen fleeing after St Kilda East shootingTopic:Police Paramedics load the St Kilda East shooting victim into an ambulance. (ABC News) Link copiedShareShare articlePolice are searching for two suspects who were spotted fleeing the scene of a shooting in St Kilda East. Witnesses have reported hearing a single loud bang come from an apartment block on Balaclava Road around 4pm (AEST). Neighbour Alison Pavlich was sitting in her backyard when she heard the blast. "I've lived in this area all my life, like for 40-odd years, and nothing like this has happened around here before," she said. It is understood the 31-year-old victim suffered a shotgun blast to the stomach and legs. He has been taken to the Alfred Hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. It is believed a woman was also present at the scene of the shooting. Police say the two suspects are thought to be of Caucasian appearance, aged in their 30s. One man has a thin build and was wearing shorts and a light-coloured t-shirt. The other is described as of medium build, wearing dark coloured track pants and a printed jumper. They were last seen walking south near the intersection of Balaclava and Orrong roads. The Living End lead singer and guitarist Chris Cheney is selling 23 Orange Grove The Living End frontman Chris Cheney is set to Roll On from his St Kilda East home of almost 15 years The 1914 California bungalow at 23 Orange Grove is sure to strike a chord with fans of the ARIA Award-winning rock band as Cheney wrote three Living End records inside a studio in the home’s big backyard lead singer and songwriter is selling the four-bedroom house he’s shared with wife Emma and their two daughters via Whitefox with bandmates Scott Owen and Andy Strachan wrote several Living End records at the house Cheney’s favourite room in the house: the formal lounge CoreLogic records show the property last changed hands in 2004 for $910,000 who grew up in Wheelers Hill in Melbourne’s southeast The band also comprises double bass player Scott Owen and drummer Andy Strachan has produced hits including Prisoner of Society and released their eighth studio album Wunderbar last year They also played the AFL Grand Final in 2016 Original stables at the rear of the property were converted into Cheney’s music studio Cheney’s studio was created inside former stables at the back of his home’s large 725sq m block he told would-be buyers in a video on the online listing: “We’ve turned (the stables) into a home studio “I’ve written probably three of the Living End records out there But the 44-year-old said his favourite place in the house was the formal living room with polished timber floors “This was the first thing I fell in love with at the house,” Cheney said I’d never seen anything so beautiful before.” Period style persists throughout the house His wife loved the main bedroom featuring a large leadlight window and original fireplace while the yard had been the site of many parties — and a petting zoo for one of their daughters’ birthdays Whitefox director Marty Fox said the property’s “massive” block was walking distance from the Carlisle St cafe strip tram stops and a park at the end of the street And the house itself offered a “grand” facade and beautiful period flourishes throughout “It’s inner-city living on a large scale,” Mr Fox said