Melbourne’s inner city, already set to benefit from the $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation Project in 2028, will receive another boost to tourism with the announcement that diversified property developer Time & Place, along with joint venture partners MaxCap Group, and Australia’s TFE Hotels, will open a $150m boutique hotel in Southbank in September 2025.
The deal has seen the joint venture partnership, alongside construction and property specialist Hickory, create a new hotel brand – the Hannah St. Hotel. This hotel not only aligns with its neighbourhood concept for The Queensbridge Building precinct but delivers an experience that is authentic to Melbourne.
The 188-room boutique hotel, which will be operated by TFE Hotels and will sit under the Collection by TFE Hotels brand, joining the likes of The Calile in Brisbane; a 102-room boutique Collection property currently under construction in Sydney’s Surry Hills; and the $340-million dual hotel project slated for Melbourne’s Docklands in 2026.
Hannah St. Hotel – which sits at the nexus joining Melbourne CBD, the Yarra River, South Melbourne, and the Arts Precinct – sits across 10 levels and will feature a neighbourhood bar, restaurant, and rooftop bar/events space. All of this is set to complement The Queensbridge Building which will deliver 367 residential apartments and will feature a series of resident exclusive lush gardens, private rooftop terraces, lap pool, wellness studio, gym, sauna, steam rooms, co-working spaces, providore in the foyer and private dining room to Southbank when it’s completed.
Construction is already underway on the project with completion on track for Q3 2025.
According to Time & Place Director, Tim Price, The Queensbridge Building – references a bygone era of brass, steel, and stone, emulating the postcode’s industrial era. And, in a strong show of strength for Victoria’s creative set, the development’s striking facade was designed in collaboration with Elenberg Fraser, with interiors by the renowned Flack Studios.
“As developers, we want to facilitate the development of legacy projects that invite art, design and culture to influence one another,” Tim said. 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.”
“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.”
“Operating under the Collection by TFE Hotels’ brand was a natural choice for the project, not only are our brand values aligned but TFE Hotels is the perfect operator to bring to a suburb rich in arts and culture as it transitions to a premier lifestyle destination.”
When it comes to their Collection brand, TFE Hotels’ Chief Executive Officer, Antony Ritch, says TFE is 100% focused on partnerships with legacy makers, like Time & Place, who make a wholehearted commitment to the neighbourhood.
“Collection by TFE Hotels really are one-of-a-kind experiences and they take inspiration from local culture and from their surroundings,” he said. “These have a unique model of close owner collaboration, and we are incredibly fortunate to have partnered with Time & Place and MaxCap on a building that will not only become a place maker for Melbourne’s newest lifestyle destination but provide such incredible amenities for the community.”
“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,” Ritch said. “Southbank is connected to the best of Melbourne. It has a lot of energy and a real focus on arts, sports, and the outdoors (with 18,000 square metre of additional public gardens set to be delivered) which beautifully complements those iconic Melbourne experiences – shopping, laneways, food, and culture – that we all love so much.”
“And, importantly for us, Hannah St. Hotel is being delivered by Melbourne developers with a long-term commitment to the area.”
Tim Price agrees. “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. We aren’t developing and leaving, we’ll be in this building long after its doors have opened,” he said.
An onsite ‘Experience Director’ will engage with building residents to create one-off experiences whilst a lap pool for training, large scale gym and a work club complete with sound-proof pod casting rooms which are all easily accessed by hotel guests. Time & Place and Hickory also realised the potential of the Kings Way Overpass urban parklands early on and partnered with Australian Indigenous Artist, Reko Rennie prior to commencing construction on site to activate their own ‘Underpark’ with a temporary basketball court.
What’s in a name: Hannah St. Hotel
Developer: Time & Place
Joint Venture Partners: MaxCap Group and Hickory Group
Architect: Elenberg Fraser
Interior Designer: Flack Studios
Operator: TFE Hotels
Brand: Collection by TFE Hotels
