Orion Plots 232-Townhouse Scheme for Landlock Melbourne West Site

The site, formerly part of the Australian Defence Industries (ADI) land, has long been underutilised. Years of planning ambiguity and outdated controls left the 4.9ha parcel vacant, despite its prime location 7km from Melbourne’s CBD.

According to the planning report, Orion West has spent more than six years engaging with the council, state government and key stakeholders to unlock the site’s potential.

Surrounded by major amenities including Highpoint Shopping Centre, schools, tram route 82 and parklands, the project aligns with Victoria’s Housing Statement and Plan for Victoria, which prioritises infill development in established areas.

Designed by Rothelowman and with landscaping headed by Tract Consultants, the project targets a 70 per cent BESS rating, incorporates water and energy efficiency measures, and uses innovative landscaping above an engineered cap to address historic landfill conditions.

▲ At least 15 per cent of the homes would be designated as affordable housing, exceeding state minimums.

A new access road over Crown land (Thompson Reserve) would unlock the landlocked site. The masterplan features an internal road network, landscaped streetscapes, visitor parking and bicycle facilities.

While there is no internal communal park, the development would integrate with surrounding public open spaces, including Thompson Reserve, Pipemakers Park and Frogs’ Hollow Wetlands.

Building breaks and green links would enhance permeability and visual connection to the broader parklands.

The project would provide future public access to Jack’s Magazine, a state-significant heritage asset, supporting its revitalisation as a community venue.

Orion West is no stranger to the suburb, having completed the Summus Apartments at 2 Wests Road Maribyrnong in 2018.

The triple-tower mixed-use project designed by Doig Architecture delivered 132 apartments, 78 serviced apartments, five townhouses and five terrace homes, alongside a retail offering.  

▲ Plans for the 103-storey Orion Towers at Surfers Paradise were dumped in August of 2024.

The entity is linked to Orion International Group, the developers behind the proposed Orion Towers project at Surfers Paradise.

The greenlit project was to be the southern hemisphere’s tallest tower but, after seven years later, the ambitious $1.2-billion China-backed project was shelved.

Instead of two supertowers of 104 and 73 storeys with 1100 apartments, new plans were filed in September 2024 by Andrews Projects, which reportedly secured the site for “marginally higher” than the $25 million Orion International Group paid for it in 2016.

Andrews Projects’ $700-million scheme comprises two 37-storey highrises comprising a mix of 394 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments.