House and land developer Country Land Australia has submitted plans for a 24-storey residential tower in West Melbourne, marking a significant shift from its traditional greenfield developments.
The proposed tower, located at 67-73 Jeffcott Street near Flagstaff Gardens, will transform a 500sq m corner block currently occupied by an ageing two-storey commercial building. The site sits at the intersection of Spencer and Batman streets and lies between Docklands, Marvel Stadium, and the Queen Victoria Market.
Designed by Melbourne-based architects KUD, the development—named Jeffcott—will comprise 97 apartments across 11,500sq m. The apartment mix includes 57 one-bedroom, 38 two-bedroom, and 2 three-bedroom units, with a strong focus on appealing to owner-occupiers in the local market.
The proposal also features communal amenities on the first floor, including a gym, lounge, dining spaces, and a meeting room. Levels two and three will offer 400sq m of office space, while the building will include 33 bicycle parking spaces and no on-site car parking, in line with local planning overlays.
Jeffcott’s distinctive wavy facade draws inspiration from the dramatic curves of the 68-storey Premiere Tower on Spencer Street, and will likely require advanced construction methods for both formwork and facade installation.
Country Land Australia, led by Intaj Khan, has traditionally operated in Melbourne’s greenfield market since its founding in 2016, but has recently turned its attention to high-rise developments. The company cited the recent approval of a 32-storey project on Dudley Street nearby as evidence of the area’s evolving urban character and increasing building heights.
The development application comes at a time when Melbourne faces a looming apartment shortage, driven by years of slow apartment commencements and pandemic-related delays. According to Charter Keck Cramer, annual completions across Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane could drop to just 11,000 in 2024, down from 28,000 in 2023.
Despite these challenges, a 91% spike in dwelling approvals in Victoria—largely from new apartment projects—signals renewed confidence in the sector.
If approved, Jeffcott will contribute to the much-needed housing stock in Melbourne’s CBD fringe and reflects Country Land Australia’s growing presence in the city’s vertical living market.