Almost six years after flagging plans for a new inner city development in Melbourne called Toorak Park, Lend Lease now has the green light. Located at 590 Orrong Road Armadale, beside Toorak Park and next to historic Beatty Avenue and Toorak Railway Station, the 2.5 hectare site will be transformed into a luxury residential precinct of four leafy quarters comprising 448 luxury apartments and 18 townhouses. A third of the project will be transformed into open space, featuring communal gardens and direct access to Toorak railway station through a publicly accessible tree-lined boulevard.

Lend Lease first acquired the office site in 2009, in a venture with the land owner, former Skilled Engineering chief executive Frank Hargrave. Since then the development has weathered council and community opposition in a protracted legal battle that went to the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Lend Lease has worked in close partnership with architects Denton Corker Marshall, interior designers Carr Design Group and landscape designers Tract to create the new neighbourhood.
Denton Corker Marshall Director John Denton said the local architecture was an inspiration for the development. “We looked at the Beatty Avenue shops on one side of the lines and saw we could create a place with its own character on the other side,” said Denton. “We wanted to build a village within a village."

All residences have a strong emphasis on maximising light, views and space in every room, with generous floor plans and balconies overlooking Toorak Park. Light and dark colour palettes are on offer. Carr Design Director Sue Carr said her team was inspired by the idea of blurring the lines between houses and apartments with design features such as bedrooms with sliding panels that extend views to the living rooms.

“Toorak Park is in a fantastic location, where residents can enjoy the local amenities, transport or proximity to the city,” said Ben Christie, Lend Lease’s National Head of Apartments. “It’s also one of the few blue-chip inner-city suburbs in Melbourne where people can live in the heart of a vibrant community but still enjoy a relaxed suburban lifestyle where locals know their name.”

The display suite will be open in late March 2015. Works have commenced on site and the project is due for completion in late 2018. Interested buyers can register their interest now at www.toorakpark.com.au.