Evolving Port

Port Melbourne and Fishermans Bend change. Houses are changed or demolished and new forms of housing take their place. Port Houses records some of these changes.

03 March 2024

276 Ross St, Port Melbourne

March 2024

The house at 276 Ross St is for sale by auction on 15 March by Frank Gordon. The house is associated with the family of former Port Melbourne Mayor and Councillor, Albert Tucker. 


276 Ross St, Port Melbourne


Barak Beacon Rd estate

March 2024

In late February and early March, Homes Victoria hosted two in person engagement sessions as well as an online survey, noting that "community engagement on this project will be carried out in accordance with Clause 52.20 of the City of Port Phillip planning scheme. Clause 52.20 is a streamlined planning process that facilitates development of new housing through the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build initiative.

This process removes the standard planning notice and appeals processes. The planning application will be decided by the Minister for Planning."

Homes Victoria 

20 November 2023

Homes Victoria have advised neighbouring residents that Building Communities has been announced as the successful project partner for four housing sites: Barak Beacon, Bluff Rd in Hampton East, Essex St in Prahran and Simmons St in South Yarra.

The redevelopment of Barak Beacon will deliver 408 new homes including a mix of social, affordable, market rental and speicalist disability homes. (source: Homes Victoria)

Delta continues work to prepare the site. 

7 June 2023 

Demolition of the estate began this week at the northern end. 

Demolition underway at Barak Beacon estate, June 2023

Barak Rd, June 2023

January 2022


December 2021

The government released its intention to demolish the Barak Beacon estate and replace it with modern, energy efficient housing as part of the Big Housing Build.

Details of the project remain unclear at this time.

The Barak Beacon estate viewed from Barak x Boulevard, December 2021

The area bounded by Barak Road, Howe Parade, Beacon Road and The Boulevard was a Crown grant purchased by the Housing Commission in July, 1974. 

This aerial photograph shows the former US army sheds that occupied the site before the estate was built.  

Charles Daniel Pratt, State Library of Victoria





261 - 289 Ingles St, Port Melbourne

March 2024

Dexus has sold the site it listed for $50 - $60 million in 2022 for $30.08m to homewares and toy importer Alan Ali for $30.07 million. Settlement occurred 5 months ago. 

Dexus acquired the site as part of its $320 million takeover of APN three years ago. (source: realestate.com.au)

29 July 2023

The 2,414 site is for sale by Expressions of Interest closing on 23 August at 3.00 pm. 

grosswaddell ICR  is the agent. 

289 Ingles St, Port Melbourne  July 2023



24 February 2024

65 Bridge St, Port Melbourne (The Ranch)

February 2024

The property, known as The Ranch, is for sale by R. T. Edgar.

65 Bridge St, Port Melbourne, February 2024


18 December 2023

103 Beach St, Port Melbourne

formerly The Beacon Cove Foodstore

December 2023

103 Beach St status update December 2023

March 2023

Construction underway at 103 Beach St. 

piling at 103 Beach St, March 2023

December 2022

Agreement was reached between the developer, City of Port Phillip (Council) and other parties at a VCAT compulsory conference last week.

The development has been approved without the sixth level (a roof terrace), and with levels 3 and 4 shifted east by 0.5m and no western terrace on level 3.

November 2022

The developer has decided to appeal the City of Port Phillip’s approval granted on 28 July 2022.

The developer is contesting many of the conditions Council attached to the planning approval and suggesting amendments to others. The conditions being contested include:

  • A requirement for design methods to slow the speed of cyclists.
  • The setbacks of a minimum of five metres from the eastern and western boundaries for levels 3 and 4.
  • The requirement to provide a second entrance to the supermarket on the southern side.
  • The deletion of the sixth level (a roof terrace) and lowering of the height of the building.
  • The requirement that the entrance to the apartments be from Beach Street.
  • Design of basement ramp in relation to on-site waste collection.
VCAT has scheduled a compulsory conference for 7 December 2022 and a Hearing in March 2023.

September 2022

Demolition of the building was undertaken by MANN Group, and completed on 3 September.

Demolition by MANN Group, September 2022

July 2022

At the Port Phillip Council planning meeting on 28 July, the officer recommendation was to approve the application for an amendment to the already approved permit.

Cr Cunsolo moved that the amendment be refused. She was supported by fellow Gateway Ward councillors Marcus Pearl and Peter Martin but the motion was defeated.

She then proposed a second motion to delete the roof terraces, as follows: 

"Delete the roof terraces and associated stair access from top level units, delete central stair to roof, and minimise lift overrun, the highest parapet reduced to RL 22.5 around plant equipment in the centre of the roof. A roof access hatch to access services is allowed." (condition ii)

That change was supported and passed. 

It is unclear at this time what the response of the developer, Luxcon, will be. 

Mirvac's support for a variation to the covenant in place is also required. 

(refer to Port Phillip Planning Committee unconfirmed minutes 28 July 2022)

March 2022

Luxcon have applied for an amendment to their planning permit. The amendment proposes an increase from 12 to 22 residential units, the addition of another storey to 5 levels,  and to 794 sq m of retail space and the reorientation of the pedestrian entrance.

The number of car parking spaces would increase from 30 to 51 and bicycle spaces from 24 to 46.

The City of Port Phillip is assessing the amendment application. 

October 2021

103 Beach St, October 2021

Branding for Pier 103 Waterfront Residences wraps around the former Beacon Cove foodstore.

September 2021

A hoarding has been placed around the building while the developer prepares revised plans to put to Port Phillip Council. Carr architects have been engaged to prepare the revised design. 

The hoarding has since been defaced with anti-vaccination, anti-lockdown graffiti.

103 Beach St, September 2021

July 2021

The site has been purchased by Sydney-based developer Ilya Melnikoff for $16.65 million. This will be only their second project in Melbourne - the first being in Albert St, East Melbourne.

The 1400 sq m site was acquired from Melbourne developer V-Leader, which paid $11.2 million for it in 2017.

The development will be re-branded as Pier 103 Waterfront Residences. 

April 2020

The last trading day for the IGA Beacon Cove Foodstore was 3 April 2020.

Beacon Cove Foodstore, April 2020
November 2019

VCAT issued  planning permit 673/2015 on 6 February 2017. The permit allowed for the construction of a three storey building containing a supermarket and restaurant at ground level and 14 dwellings above and a reduction of the car parking and loading bay requirements.

An amendment to that permit was sought. It proposed the addition of an extra storey to create a four storey (15.1m high) building, the reduction of the number of dwellings (from 14 to 12), rearrangement of the basement car park, modify car parking (including car parking to the north of the site) and reduce the clearance height of the building above the shared path on the eastern side of the site and internal changes.

The City of Port Phillip supported the amendment and a permit with conditions was issued. (see City of Port Phillip planning report 27 November 2019)

The architects for the amended design are  Wood Marsh Architecture, responsible for nearby MINTAlumuna and Beacon. Wood Marsh has its offices in the ground floor of the Beacon building on Beach St.

1 April 2015

The site was purchased for $11 million by Key Infrastructure Australia in December 2014. They plan to demolish it and replace it with a three level 15 unit project.  

The Beacon Cove Foodstore in 2015

2010

Bernard Mandile and the Beacon Cove Foodstore were one and the same. Bernard had Villagio  Delicatessen in Albert Park before being encouraged to be an anchor tenant in emerging Beacon Cove.

Bernard Mandile outside the Beacon Cove Foodstore, December 2010


1990s

The Beacon Cove Foodstore under construction c1994 photo Ron Cassano

04 December 2023

120 Ferrars St, South Melbourne

2 December 2023

The 1226 sq m site is for sale by Tiga. (source: The Age)

8 July 2021

Detectives from the Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit have charged a 30 year old man in connection with the fire that destroyed the factory buildings on site on Thursday 6 May. Detectives executed a warrant and seized a number of electronic and explosive items. (source: Southbank News, July 2021)

June 2021 

The site has been cleared.

corner Ferrars x Buckhurst St, South Melbourne 1 June 2021
Before the fire

Tuck's industrial packaging

Buckhurst St, with olive trees


23 September 2023

436 Graham St, Port Melbourne

31 October 2016

"This tightly held premier address debuts on the market for the first time in over seven decades—after just one family ownership!"

source: realestate.com