Blackburne Reveals $70m Plan for Blue-Ribbon South Perth

A 17-storey apartment tower aimed at the upper end of the market would rise near the Swan River at South Perth under plans by Blackburne Property Group. 

The Perth property powerhouse’s planned luxury South Mill Water project is now before the Western Australian Planning Commission and on exhibition until June 22.

The development would replace an ageing apartment block on the P-shaped block that includes the Water Corporation Pump Station on its southern corner.

MJA Studio Architects designed the $70-million tower for the 2571sq m site at 44 Mill Point Road.

Planned are 57 apartments, 125 parking spaces, and health club-style facilities, a bathhouse, private dining rooms, and a private residents’ lounge.

The planning report by Planning Solutions within the application said the project would help accommodate population growth in the central sub-region.

“The proposal contributes to the target of 47 per cent of future dwellings coming from infill, optimising land use within a well-connected, high-amenity area close to the Perth CBD,” the report said. 

▲ Renderings of the 17-storey tower, entry foyer and balcony of the proposal that would overlook the Swan River.

On the other side of the city, Blackburne received approval for a landmark development at City Beach in March that will replace a dilapidated shopping centre.

The $200-million development includes 247 apartments across two towers, of 23 and 10 storeys, atop a three-storey podium.

Blackburne is one of WA’s largest apartment developers. It completed The Grove at Claremont this year, and its second apartment project at Karrinyup is due to get under way before the end of the year.

Other development applications for proposals at South Perth include Sirona Urban’s resized scheme for a previously approved apartment tower at 28 Lyall Street.

Those pre-Covid plans were mothballed due to rising construction costs, which led the developer to downsize from 38 to 23 storeys.

Another pre-pandemic project also rising from the ashes is Blueways Group’s 156-apartment plans for Leonora Street, at Como. 

The 12-storey building is now expected to go ahead after winning a green light from the Development Assessment Panel last month.