Everyone has an opinion about Fitzroy Street. Faded and jaded, haunted by a mythical past of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, it has been a playground, a crime scene, and a boulevard of broken dreams. You know the score. But now, an unprecedented wave of developments is set to change the face of Fitzroy Street.
The strip of Fitzroy Street from Grey to the Upper Esplanade will be reshaped by over $100 million in commitments from private developers. Importantly, after a series of delays and departures, three of the four projects will be in construction this year.
TWiSK has collated the publicly available information on the four main projects coming to the street. We don’t have all the details, and we welcome more details from reliable sources. As more information is provided by the developers, we will update this page.
Four major projects between 3 and 105 Fitzroy Street
Between the Esplanade and Grey Street there are four major developments mooted, with all but one set for construction this year:
‘Ondas villas’, 3-15 Fitzroy Street
‘Art Hotel’, 33, 35–37 Fitzroy Street
‘Fortis project’, 61-73 Fitzroy Street
‘Serviced Apartments’, 99-105 Fitzroy Street.
‘Ondas villas’, 3-15 Fitzroy Street
Funded by Sydney Tech Rich Lister, Airtrunk’s Robin Khuda, the $22 million project envisions 16 apartments, predominantly three-bedders, above 244 sqm of commercial space and 327 sqm of retail space across the four amalgamated sites which will span 3-15 Fitzroy Street. The Fitzroy Street art-deco retail strip will be retained with a private entrance through what is currently St Lucia.
The developer spiel says the apartments are designed as ‘urban villas’ offering lifestyle ‘beyond the bustle and energy of Fitzroy Street, accessed via a private concourse that leads to a secret garden, is a series of private and secluded villas that provide the recluse and quiet that we seek when we wish to wind down and reset, with close access to the lifestyle and vibrancy that this bayside location offers.’
Timeline: We don’t have clarity on the timeline, but we understand that a pop up operating in part of the site has recently been offered a 12-month lease.
Budget: $22.4M
Website
‘Art Hotel’, 33, 35–37 Fitzroy Street
The Erdi Group is redeveloping the former Rydge’s St Kilda hotel at 35 Fitzroy Street with a $63.3 million project to transform the existing 80-room hotel into a 131-room ‘Art Hotel’, including a fifth-level bar with views and ground-level restaurant.
Originally proposed as a QT Hotel, the developer is now aligned with the group behind the Art Hotels. Real estate press have reported a shortage of hotel rooms in St Kilda following the closure of the Novotel St Kilda bt make way for St Moritz apartments.
Brief timeline: Demolition done
Indicative budget: $63M
‘Fortis project’, 61-73 Fitzroy Street
Demolition works have just begun on a yet to be branded 5-storey development with 900 sqm of ‘thoughtfully curated’ retail spaces below 45 residential apartments, offering 1 to 3-bedroom layouts.
The Woods Bagot designed architecture boasts a 65 metres of expansive street frontage and is designed to offer residences that will appeal to discerning owner-occupiers, ‘those with a long-held affection for St Kilda’.
Project spiel: ‘The offering will focus on generous, quality-led spaces that respond to the area’s evolving demand for homes that balance comfort, luxury, and a connection to bayside surroundings.’
Timeline: Demolition has started.
Indicative budget: $25M
Website
‘Serviced Apartments’, 99-105 Fitzroy Street
Originally purchased in 2019 by Gurner to be a stylish 25 room Club Maison Hotel, the development has been taken over by a ‘passionate’ local investor who is set to offer it as service apartments with a rooftop pool and active ground floor.
TWiSK understands that the key investor is John O’Rourke, with interests in at least three properties on the block. O’Rourke brings a wealth of local knowledge to the development as he is heavily involved the sporting and major events scene with directorships with the Grand Prix Corp, Convention Centre and Richmond Football Club.
Budget: $25M+
Timeline: Currently in final stages of construction.
Pipeline: Lifeline or decline?
What do you think. Share your views with TWiSK.
