Gurner Files $800m Plans for St Kilda ‘Trophy Site’

Gurner has engaged a US architect to design 200 “wellness-led” residences on a famed corner in Melbourne’s bayside St Kilda.

The Melbourne-based developer filed plans this week for the 4651sq m site at 424-426 St Kilda Road on the famous Illoura House. 

A 19-storey tower comprising about 200 apartments would be built on the “trophy site” to designs by Chicago-based architecture firm SOM in what is its first collaboration with Gurner. 

The apartments would comprise a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments and double-storey penthouses as well as high-end amenities, while the ground floor would provide retail and food and beverage space. 

The $800-million development on the corner block will have views across the Royal Botanic Gardens, Domain precinct and Albert Park Lake. 

“We are looking forward to shaping such an important corner of Melbourne’s history; this site was once the famous Illoura House, which was sadly was demolished many years ago,” founder Tim Gurner said. 

“We will be bringing the corner back to life with an incredible design by SOM that we wanted to be classic, calm and quietly proud to sit in its location, ensuring that it stands the test of time.

“We will be taking the high-end offering to a whole new level after the successful delivery of Saint Moritz, which has set the tone for our concept at 424 St Kilda Road.”

▲ Illoura Mansion in a photograph by Alan Bates taken 1963. It was demolished the next year.

Gurner chief development officer Rob Clarke said they had designed the apartments to be bespoke and able to be amalgamated. 

“We are excited to be working with internationally renowned architecture firm SOM to design this landmark project and to breathe new life into this landmark site,” Clarke said. 

“We are excited to have reached this milestone and we look forward to working collaboratively with the City of Port Phillip through the planning process to achieve this vision and move through to delivery.”

Clarke said the project would create wellness-led residences. 

The developer recently unveiled plans for six luxury residences in Melbourne’s inner north with eventual price-tags from $3 million to more than $10 million.