Activities - Events
IMG Australia’s $120m Melbourne Hotel Plans Approved
An Edwardian poultry food warehouse will be transformed into a 27-storey Pullman hotel after the City of Melbourne approved plans for the site.
The Elenberg Fraser-designed tower at 296-300 City Road, Southbank will reach almost 100m high with 344 hotel rooms and 27 car spaces, and a luxury renovation and build over the 105-year-old heritage White & Hancock industrial building.
The council’s heritage adviser blasted the plans to retain the heritage classical Edwardian facade, claiming it was “facadism” and it would “substantially diminish the perception and appreciation of the integrity ... of this heritage entity”.
The approved plans would retain the facade, replace existing windows and doors with steel-framed windows and doors, and restore the brickwork, while providing a 6m setback of the towers that would rise above it.
According to planning documents, five metres would be retained behind the facade, including the north-east returning wall.
“The proposed tower form respects the host building’s character and appearance,” the report said.
“Having regard to the tall built form in the immediate context including the adjoining Shadow Play building, the proposed tower is not considered visually dominant or disruptive of the retained heritage place.
“The tower adopts a contemporary design response distinguishable from the heritage building; a high quality and respectful contextual design; and avoids direct reproduction of the form of historic fabric.”
The 6m setback of the 27-storey hotel from the heritage facade differentiates the old and the new. Image: Elenberg Fraser
The hotel would also include hotel offices and retail on the ground floor, a wellness centre on level five, and co-working and meeting spaces on level four, in the Crown Casino Precinct and near to the Shadow Play apartments.
According to IMG Australian Investments’ website, a deal would be inked with Accor to install a 5-star Pullman Hotel on the site.
The investment company has other projects in progress in Vietnam.
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On May 4, 2026, at Phuoc Dong Wharf Industrial Park (Tay Ninh), IMG Phuoc Dong held the Groundbreaking Ceremony of High-rise Factory Cluster and 110kV Transmission Line - Transformer Station, and at the same time broke ground on the Worker Housing - Expert Housing Project. The event marks an important development step in the strategy of perfecting a modern, synchronous and sustainable industrial ecosystem in the Southern region.
On the morning of April 29, 2026, in Tay Ninh, IMG Phuoc Dong Joint Stock Company officially broke ground on a High-rise Factory cluster integrated with 110kV power infrastructure and a worker and expert housing development. With a total investment exceeding VND 3,623 billion, the project contributes to completing a modern, fully integrated, and sustainable industrial park ecosystem.
With over 30 years of establishment and development, IMG Group has steadily affirmed its position in the real estate and multi-sector investment market. The Group continues to deliver sustainable, value-driven developments, contributing to socio-economic growth in Vietnam while expanding its international footprint.
On the morning of April 29, at Phuoc Dong Industrial Park & Port (Tay Ninh), IMG Phuoc Dong Joint Stock Company, in coordination with local authorities, held the groundbreaking ceremony for a multi-storey factory cluster, a 110kV power system, and the commencement of the worker and expert housing project. With a total investment exceeding VND 3,623 billion, the project is expected to provide a strong impetus for green and sustainable industrial development in the region.
