ApartmentsLeon Della BoscaMon 18 May 26
Fortis Breaks Ground on The Gild at St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street
Fitzroy Street has spent years better known for vacancies than vitality. The beginning of construction at The Gild, one of three developments under way along the strip, suggests that reputation may soon be changing.
Fortis, alongside builder BCentral, broke ground earlier this month on the $131-million mixed-use project at 61-73 Fitzroy Street. It’s the company’s first collaboration with the construction firm.
Fortis head of acquisitions (commercial) Victoria Jordan Winada said “with the next phase of construction now undervway, The Gild marks a turning point for Fitzroy Street, one that blends heritage with innovation, and community with culture”.
The 2660sq m site at 61-73 Fitzroy Street, 300m from the St Kilda beachfront and 350m from Albert Park
Planning approval for the amalgamated site dates to 2016. Fortis filed a fresh application in early 2023 after acquiring the neighbouring 735sq m parcel—home to Area 61, one of St Kilda’s more notorious late-night venuesz—and absorbing it into the existing holding.
Designed by Woods Bagot with landscape architecture by Florian Wild, the 16.5m-high building was conceived to reinvigorate the Spanish Mission character of Fitzroy Street.
The five-storey project plus rooftop will deliver 45 one, two and three-bedroom homes, including a penthouse collection above a 65m retail frontage. Penthouse apartments will include rooftop terraces and plunge pools.
Shared resident amenities include a private dining room, wellness studio with sauna and steam room, landscaped courtyard and rooftop kitchen with views of Port Phillip Bay.
Two basement levels will accommodate 100 car spaces and 36 bike spaces. Completion is scheduled for the first half of 2028.
The Gild is part of the St Kilda Collective, an initiative convened by Fortis to align developers active in the precinct.
The group comprising hospitality and property investment company ERDI, boutique developer Ondas and the City of Port Phillip represents more than $196 million in combined development activity.
ERDI is redeveloping the former Rydges Hotel at 31-37 Fitzroy Street into Novotel St Kilda, a $15-million project targeting a September 2026 opening with 80 redesigned guest rooms and a new conference facility for up to 140 guests.
Ondas, led by AirTrunk chief executive Robin Khuda, is committing in excess of $50 million to a site at 3-15 Fitzroy Street. Port Phillip Mayor Alex Makin said the collective’s activity complemented other precinct investments, including the $5- million redevelopment of St Kilda Pier.
