Mirvac to transform old motel into apartments in Brunswick as Prince & Parade construction kicks off

Mirvac has celebrated commencement of construction on its new Prince & Parade residential community in Brunswick, marking the start of major works for the project that will rejuvenate a disused site and deliver 167 much-needed new apartments to Melbourne.

With Prince & Parade underway, Mirvac now has more than 900 apartments currently in progress across Melbourne, demonstrating a strong commitment to the Victorian residential market.

Mirvac’s CEO Development, Stuart Penklis and General Manager, Residential Development Victoria, Elysa Anderson, were joined by Peter Khalil MP, Federal Member for Wills to celebrate the project’s milestone.

Penklis said Prince & Parade demonstrates how government and industry can work together to transform previously underutilised sites into much-needed homes for Victorians in desirable inner, middle ring locations, close to transport; and delivering this type of housing is a priority for government.

“With the support of the State Government, Prince & Parade received the green light through the Development Facilitation Program and now we are delivering almost 170 modern apartments, creating 300 construction jobs and ongoing employment opportunities for the local community,” Penklis said.

“Formerly the old Princes Park Motor Inn, this residential community is a great example of how we can take a site that is no longer fit-for-purpose and deliver additional housing for the community.

"It’s important that we continue to work with all levels of government to find efficient planning pathways that allow industry to identify opportunities to accelerate housing across Melbourne."

Mirvac’s General Manager, Residential Development Victoria, Elysa Anderson said Prince & Parade will join Mirvac’s $7.6bn Victorian development pipeline, with a new build-to-rent community opening in Brunswick later this year.

“This project completes Mirvac’s construction trifecta for our apartment offering, joining The Albertine in the St Kilda precinct and Trielle in Yarra’s Edge," Anderson said.

"Across our build-to-rent and build-to-sell projects, we are committed to delivering a range of apartments for downsizers, growing families and investors that are built for tomorrow."

Prince & Parade will offer a mix of one to four-bedroom apartments and will mark Mirvac’s third collaboration with design practice, Bates Smart, joining The Melburnian (2011) and The Eastbourne (2019) in the duo’s multi-award-winning developments.

The development will include a residential lounge, shared dining room and kitchen, crown courtyard, library, gym, shared roof top terrace and concierge. The building will deliver an average 7-Star NatHERS energy rating through double glazing, induction cooktops, heat-pump technology for hot water, and rooftop solar panels – all designed to minimise reliance on the grid and reduce environmental impact.

Mirvac will also be creating a green link connecting Brunswick Road through to Park Street, designed by Jack Merlo and a number of public bike spaces throughout.

The development will include a publicly accessible retail tenancy which will offer a convenient spot for the community to enjoy café offerings. The tenancy will be independently operated and is expected to be open around the time of completion.