Latest news with #FlindersSt
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Historic Melbourne News Corp site, Lindrum Hotel gets upgrade
A $200m tower is rising on the former Hotel Lindrum site, once home to the press room of evening paper The Herald as well as a legendary billiards hall. The five-level brick structure at 26-30 Flinders St, was originally built in 1900 for Griffiths Brothers Tea Merchants, designed in the Romanesque Revival style. By the 1940s, it was occupied by Verona Press, and from the 1960s it was used by the Herald and Weekly Times, becoming known as Gravure House and serving as the printing and publishing base for titles including Home Beautiful and New Idea. Shock city's homes to earn $178 a day in 2026 'Treacherous' home issue costing Vic big In the 1970s, the building was leased to Dolly Lindrum, niece of world champion billiards player Walter Lindrum, who operated a billiards hall from the premises. It ran until 1988, when News Corp Australia reclaimed the site for use by The Australian until it was converted into a boutique hotel in 1999 and operated as Hotel Lindrum, named in honour of the billiards great. The lobby featured a restored billiard table and photographs celebrating Lindrum's sporting legacy. The hotel ceased trading in 2022 following the sale of the building to developer Time & Place. Now, the historic building, is being redeveloped into a $200m, 27-storey office tower, with construction officially underway this week. Developer Time & Place held a groundbreaking ceremony on-site, attended by Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, builder Kapitol, architects fjcstudio and project consultants. The redevelopment will retain the heritage-protected facade fronting Flinders Street, while delivering new premium office space behind and above the original structure. Time & Place director Tim Price said the site was a landmark Melbourne site 'in every sense'. 'We've carefully planned, designed and procured every component,' Mr Price said. 'This eastern pocket of the Melbourne CBD stands head and shoulders above the balance of the city's office market, it's characterised by the best breed of new and historical buildings, elite tenants, and strong food and hospitality offerings.' The new tower will include full-floor strata office suites with views across the Yarra River, the Botanic Gardens, and the MCG, along with end-of-trip facilities, a ground-floor event space, and a new laneway connection into the Flinders Lane dining precinct. According to Time & Place, about one third of the floors have already been secured by family offices and businesses via private deals. The remaining space will be released to the market in late 2025. Kapitol Group was appointed builder following a competitive tender process. Co-founder Andrew Deveson said significant planning had gone into minimising risk and disruption on the site. 'Every detail of Lindrum's build has been digitally mapped out,' Mr Deveson said. 'Elements like neighbouring tram lines, power lines, and crane movements have all been accounted for in advance. 'That's critical on a complex project like this, where preserving a heritage facade and integrating with a modern build leaves no room for error.' The project is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2027.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Melbourne students protesting against the Gaza conflict block the city
About 300 student protesters have blocked one of Melbourne CBD's main intersections as they rallied against the Gaza conflict. The group marched from the State Library to Flinders St they sat in the middle of the intersection for about 60 minutes on Thursday. Police moved on one man who breached the peace and five other protesters were arrested for obstructing the roadway. They are expected to be charged on summons. The protest was part of nationwide action organised by the National Union of Students and Students for Palestine, which called for a student referendum on Gaza. The students want to vote no confidence in the Australian government alleging it has been complicit in the genocide in Gaza and to end weapons trade with Israel. National Union of Students education officer James McVicar said in a video posted to social media they would continue to stand against war and any politician or political party that endorsed war or unprovoked acts of aggression. Flinders Street has since reopened.
