Docklands first hotel branded penthouse seeks to break $20 million
Melbourne’s first hotel-branded penthouse has hit the market, with Docklands luxury tipped to test the city’s $20 million ceiling.
3 min
International hotel brand 1 Hotels has recently opened the doors to its debut Australian property in Melbourne’s Docklands.
The hotel forms part of Riverlee’s broader Seafarers development, which integrates the grandeur of the site, the former Goods Shed No. 5, meticulously reconstructed and restored piece by piece by the developer.
Designed by Fender Katsalidis in collaboration with CARR, Seafarers pays homage to the site’s wharfing history through the use of recycled timbers, steel beams and concrete, softened by expansive ceiling gardens.
Now, the first hotel-branded penthouse within the development has been listed for sale, and it is shaping up to become one of the few residences in Melbourne to push beyond the $20 million mark.
The penthouse commands expansive views across the city skyline and Port Phillip Bay, outlooks that can never be built out thanks to its prime, direct waterfront position.
A private lift opens into an exclusive lobby, leading to a gallery-style hallway that runs the full length of the expansive 715 sqm residence. Upon arrival, an ornamental conservatory sets the tone, anchored by a towering tree that rises toward a skylight, flooding the space with natural light.
The eastern wing of the penthouse houses a dedicated entertainment room with its own bar, a home office with integrated desk space, and four bedrooms.
The master suite is wrapped in glass and features two walk-in wardrobes, both naturally lit by skylights, along with an ensuite complete with a freestanding bath.
A formal dining area and wine cellar sit between the private quarters and the western edge of the home, where the main living spaces are positioned to capture uninterrupted views of the bay and city.
The kitchen is appointed with a fully equipped scullery, Gaggenau appliances, and a marble island bench.
Additional spaces include a cocktail lounge with a fireplace behind black-framed glass doors, as well as another living and dining area. All of these zones open onto a full-width terrace featuring an outdoor kitchen with integrated stone island, an alfresco dining area, and an outdoor lounge.
The penthouse also includes secure parking for four vehicles.
Forbes Global Properties Australia agents Nick Peters and Tracy Tian Belcher are guiding the property at $19.5 million to $21 million.
While a sale at this level would place it among Melbourne’s most expensive apartments, it would still fall short of the city’s record. That benchmark was set in 2023 when billionaire Adrian Portelli, known for his high-profile purchases and giveaways on The Block, paid $39 million for a 1,200 sqm penthouse on the 57th floor of Sapphire by the Gardens in the CBD.
Designed by Fender Katsalidis and CARR, Seafarers pays homage to the wharfing history of the land with its recycled timbers, steel beams and concrete softened by ceiling gardens.
Founder and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, Barry Sternlicht was the driving force behind some of world’s most esteemed hotel marques, including St. Regis and W Hotels.
Passionate about sustainability and conservation, he believes the people who travel the world care about it deeply, and through 1 Hotels, set out to establish a mission-driven luxury hotel brand that would raise awareness, spark conversations and inspire change that benefits the planet.
A record-breaking $11 million sale at The Centennial Collection has set a new benchmark for luxury apartment living in Bondi Junction.
As interest rates, inflation and market sentiment fluctuate, investors are being urged to focus on data, not panic.
A record-breaking $11 million sale at The Centennial Collection has set a new benchmark for luxury apartment living in Bondi Junction.
3 minThe Centennial Collection, the new apartment development on the edge of Centennial Park in Bondi Junction, continues to break local residential property records.
A local Eastern suburbs buyer has splashed $11 million on a three-bedroom, sub-penthouse on level 10 of the development, topping the previous record within the same development.
At 266 sqm, including internal and external space, the north-facing residence achieved more than $55,000 per sqm, making it one of the most expensive apartment transactions ever recorded in Sydney’s eastern suburbs outside the harbourfront enclaves of Double Bay and Darling Point.
The buyer had originally purchased a three-bedroom apartment in The Centennial Collection in 2025 for $6.5 million before deciding to secure the larger half-floor sub-penthouse.
Ray White Projects Director of Sales Marcello Bo, who is managing sales for the project, said the transaction highlighted the continued strength of demand for premium apartments in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
“This sale is a clear indication of buoyancy in the upper end of the market and reinforces the strong demand and appetite for primely located, larger-sized apartments with all the luxurious inclusions you would expect with a development of this calibre,” Bo said.
“It also demonstrates that superbly-designed, lifestyle-driven residences in tightly held locations continue to outperform, particularly when they deliver scale, privacy, rarity and long-term liveability that aligns with how buyers want to live today.”
The Centennial Collection occupies a prominent gateway site overlooking Centennial Park at the junction of Bondi Junction, Woollahra and Paddington. Following recent State Significant Development approval, the project now comprises 79 apartments across two adjoining towers rising 13 and 16 storeys.
The development has been designed to target owner-occupiers seeking larger-format apartments, with residences featuring inclusions more commonly associated with standalone homes, including private rooftop pools, bedroom fireplaces, wet bars, butler’s pantries and full-sized wine fridges.
The record-setting residence was originally designed as one of the project’s penthouses before the approval process allowed additional levels to be added to the scheme.
Positioned on Level 10, the apartment occupies half a floor and has no common walls. It offers 270-degree views spanning Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Centennial Park and both the northern and southern headlands.
The purchaser said that proximity to Centennial Park, transport connectivity, and the surrounding lifestyle amenities ultimately drove his decision.
“I’m constantly looking at developments everywhere in the east, from Darling Point to Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay, all the beaches, Bondi, Bronte, Tamarama, Woollahra. I wanted something new,” he said.
“Everywhere you go, there’s a trade-off. It might have a great floor plan, but it doesn’t have a view. Working in the city, your daily commute impacts everything, so Bondi Junction train station was a huge factor in my decision.”
The buyer, an avid cyclist who rides regularly in Centennial Park, said his view of the location changed significantly as he spent more time assessing the eastern suburbs market.
“At first, I thought, who would want to live there? It’s one of the busiest intersections in the eastern suburbs. But when you peel it all back, it’s one of the best locations in Sydney. You’re close to everything, you can walk to everything, the amenity is incredible, and the views are amazing.”
Bondi Junction is slated to look materially different in the coming decades, with a draft 100-page masterplan proposing a regeneration of the suburb which would include thousands more apartments as well as a revitalised commercial, retail, and dining precinct.
In the lead-up to the country’s biggest dog show, a third-generation handler prepares a gaggle of premier canines vying for the top prize.
On October 2, acclaimed chef Dan Arnold will host an exclusive evening, unveiling a Michelin-inspired menu in a rare masterclass of food, storytelling and flavour.
