Melbourne’s $104m Public Housing Project Wraps Up

A $104-million public housing estate in Melbourne’s north-west has been completed two years after work began.

The development in Dunlop Avenue, Ascot Vale, replaced 80 walk-ups with 200 accessible apartments in one, two and three-bedroom layouts. Five are fully accessible for people with disability.

Hailed as the most advanced public housing project in the state, the apartments carry a 5-star Green Star rating and a 7-star NatHERS average rating, have a minimum Silver rating from Livable Housing Australia.

Each building has secure entry and a design that “encourages and maximises sightlines and safety”.

The estate includes landscaped gardens with communal open spaces, seating areas, vegetable gardens and barbecue areas.

Half of the homes will be managed by Evolve Housing to provide safety and security for victim-survivors, people living with mental health challenges and other individuals and families in need. 

The other 100 homes will be available through the Affordable Housing Rental Scheme and directly help low-income workers including disability workers, cleaners and healthcare workers.

Under the scheme, these homes will provide an alternative to the private rental market, with rent at 10 per cent less than Melbourne’s average market rent. 

State housing minister Colin Brooks said the estate set a new benchmark for modern, comfortable and energy-efficient homes.

He said the government was increasing housing supply in well-located inner-urban areas of Melbourne to take pressure off the wider housing market.

“We are seeing how these homes are unlocking opportunity for more Victorians,” he said.

The project, which created 800 jobs across its construction, is part of the Victorian government’s Big Housing Build, which the government says is on track to deliver more than 12,000 new homes by 2026.   

Since 2020, more than 7600 homes have been completed or are under way, and more than 1700 households have either moved or are getting ready to move into brand new homes.