“Neighbourhood hotel” announced as part of The Queensbridge Building

An under-construction 62-storey Queensbridge St development is set to feature “Hannah St. Hotel”.

A boutique hotel has been announced as part of a 62-level skyscraper under construction at 90 Queensbridge St in Southbank.

The development, dubbed “The Queensbridge Building”, is set to feature predominantly residential apartments, however it will also now include 10 hotel floors at podium level.

The site, at the nexus of Queensbridge St and the Kings Way overpass, hosted a temporary basketball court for 12 months from early 2021.

However, development is now well under way with the project set to be completed around September 2025.

Delivered by developer Time & Place (joining forces with real estate financier MaxCap Group) and managed by TFE Hotels, Hannah St. Hotel will feature a “neighbourhood bar, restaurant, and rooftop bar/events space”.

Time & Place director Tim Price said he expected the 188-room boutique hotel to be enjoyed by both visitors to Melbourne and Southbankers.

“This is a neighbourhood hotel. A building with roots in the community and a place where you’re welcomed in to enjoy the hospitality whether you’re staying short term or you’re a permanent resident,” he said.

We aren’t developing and leaving, we’ll be in this building long after its doors have opened.

The hotel’s name comes from the tiny Southbank street adjacent to the site; offshooting from Queensbridge St and morphing into Haig Lane.

The street itself is named after Patrick Hanna (and at some point adopted an extra “h”), who arrived in Melbourne in 1853 and operated a punt across the Yarra River, connecting those in South Melbourne to the docks and warehouses north of the river as the city boomed during the gold rush.

Price expects the hotel to attract a certain clientele given its design and proximity to Melbourne’s Arts Precinct, which is currently the subject of a $1.7 billion renewal program.

“We envisage the hotel will become ingrained in the cultural fabric of the suburb and form a part of the transformation, coming to life as a ‘neighbourhood hotel’ for locals and visitors alike,” he said.

“As we set out to bring this landmark hotel to The Queensbridge Building, we are looking to bring international influences to Southbank through design and experiences. We anticipate that our hotel will be regarded as the place to stay for anyone in the arts visiting the city.”

This was reiterated by TFE Hotels chief executive Antony Ritch.

“What I love about this project is that Hannah St. Hotel will deliver an experience in a neighbourhood that is transforming, thanks to an investment in Australia’s largest cultural infrastructure project, into a truly world-class art precinct,” he said.

Importantly for us, Hannah St. Hotel is being delivered by Melbourne developers with a long-term commitment to the area.

When completed, the 367-apartment Queensbridge Building will include a series of resident-exclusive gardens, private rooftop terraces, lap pool, co-working spaces, and private dining room.

Down the road in Docklands, TFE is also ready to manage a new $340 million dual-tower hotel featuring what would be the longest escalator in the Southern Hemisphere.

Due to open in 2026, developer Capital Alliance was aiming to grab the mantle in 2026 with a 47-metre moving staircase, should its new project at 28-38 Pearl River Rd be approved by the Victorian Planning Minister. •