The investment consortium known as Goodyear Properties is seeking to build a 50-level, 455-unit complex across three blocks known as 441-447 Elizabeth Street (the historic former Royal Saxon Hotel), 449-451 Elizabeth Street and 139-141 Franklin Street – a low-rise office until recently Menzies International's headquarters.

Goodyear's L-shaped parcel covers 1539 square metres and wraps around the 12-level Q-Apartment complex, at the south-west corner of Elizabeth and Franklin streets, completed in 2006.

In mid-2012, the developer applied to Mr Guy to build a 50-level, 306-unit complex on the Elizabeth Street blocks (properties acquired for a total of $4.5 million in 2006). But in November 2012, Goodyear bought the 401-square metre Franklin Street property, allowing it to propose a more ambitious project. Its application seeks to retain the Royal Saxon and Menzies International buildings.

Goodyear's timing is opportune – paling in comparison to a recently lodged application Mr Guy is assessing for a 67-level, 553-unit complex on an 849-square metre site at 63 Exhibition Street.

Last week, Mr Guy approved a 63-level, 511-unit complex on a 2003-square metre site at 95-111 Franklin Street. Ironically, this proposal, with zero parking, will replace a car-hire facility.

Post's new plan

Australia Post has listed a former call centre, which just two months ago it sought permission to replace with a major mixed-use village.

The West Melbourne site, across 9206 square metres, is expected to sell for about $40 million, according to Knight Frank selling agents Marcus Quinn, Langton McHarg and Paul Henley.

Staff that occupied the low-rise 9333-square metre building recently relocated to 180 Lonsdale Street in the CBD.

In July, Australia Post applied to replace the outgoing Rosslyn Street call centre with a village comprising 501 flats in five complexes of between six and 19 storeys. The proposed complex will offer 396 car spaces compared to 166 in the current facility.

In October 2012 Australia Post applied to replace the disused former Eliza Tinsley Building, on 2764 square metres at 640 Bourke Street, with a 43-level, 560-unit complex. Nine months later it sold the site to an offshore developer for $22 million.

Austin sale

Austin Health has offloaded an asset near the Mercy Hospital and Warringal Private Hospital, in Melbourne's north-east Heidelberg.

The former medical facility includes low-rise buildings with three street frontages. It covers 2990 square metres and is zoned for almost everything: residential, office, retail, medical or other special use.

Gross Waddell's Andrew Waddell and Jonathan McCormack sold the site to a residential developer for $5.25 million shortly after an Expression of Interest campaign closed last week.

Austin Health listed the 9-11 Martin Street and 12 Powlett Street properties, deemed surplus to its needs. The health group has instead been developing airspace of sites south of Burgundy Street, closer to the Heidelberg              train station.

Last month the Returned and Services League sold its former Heidelberg sub-branch, which it had occupied since 1919. That large property – also opposite the station – sold to a residential developer for about $3.5 million.

High Hawthorn

Residential real estate group Jellis Craig will quit the headquarters it has occupied for decades in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, for a nearby site that is regarded in leasing circles as being Melbourne's most exclusive current suburban office offering.

Jellis Craig has committed to about 1400 square metres at 248 Burwood Road – a premium quality, five-level office under construction next door to Bunnings.

Asking rents in the new building are $425 per square metre, per annum – as much as some similar quality CBD offices. The Hawthorn office will include a high-class corporate entrance and upper levels will offer city views over the hardware store. Colliers International's Travis Myerscough is marketing the space.

Two in one

Two neighbouring West Melbourne development sites, divided only by a public laneway, will be listed together next month by the same conjunctional selling agents – but available to buy, separately,

The collection of properties, between 111-137 Rosslyn Street, West Melbourne, are being offered with plans, but not a permit, for two complimentary mid-rise buildings of nine and six levels.

The master-plan was penned by architect Buchan Group, whose headquarters is one of the sites on offer. An open-air car park, low-rise warehouses and a tri-level red brick factory is part of the portfolio.

The sites are available in two: 113-133 Rosslyn Street – asking about $14 million – and 135-137 Rosslyn Street, expecting about $2.3 million

Gross Waddell's Andrew Greenway, Michael Gross and Andrew Waddell are marketing the assets with CBRE's Jamus Campbell, Josh Rutman and Mark Wizel.

An ambitious purchaser who snares the two sites may consider a redevelopment incorporating laneway airspace. It is not uncommon for basement car parks to be developed under council ROWs, either.

Wirraway on the way

Plans for a $250 million mixed-use village have been pencilled for the Fishermans Bend suburb known as Wirraway – where very few major applications have been lodged since the signature state government project was unveiled.

Wirraway is the most westerly of the four new Fishermans Bend suburbs, nearest to Port Melbourne beach, bound by the West Gate Freeway, Graham, Todd and Williamstown roads.

The owners of factories between 365-391 Plummer Street appointed John Wardle Architects to design a shopping centre, offices and five residential buildings, the tallest rising 24 levels. The other four towers would rise       between eight and 19 storeys.

Plummer Street is set to become a tree-lined "civic boulevard" connecting the CBD to the beach. The state government's recent Strategic Framework Plan encourages extensive development in this pocket of the 240-hectare Fishermans Bend area, at the prominent north-west corner of Salmon Street.

GrayJohnson's Matt Hoath is marketing 365-391 Plummer Street to a developer for $28 million. As a leased investment, the industrial properties have the potential to earn annual rent of $1.7 million.

In reporting immediately before Fishermans Bend was unveiled in 2012, Wirraway was expected to be named Plummer and the next suburb east, now known as Sandridge, was to be known as Fennell.

The other two Fishermans Bend suburbs are Lorimer, between the Bolte Bridge, West Gate Freeway and Docklands, and Montague – where most of the high-rise applications have been lodged. Montague is south of the     Charles Grimes Bridge, near the Melbourne Exhibition Building and Southbank.

The biggest permitted Wirraway proposal is a $250 million, 258-townhouse project set to replace the former Symex soap factory opposite the Port Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Email: marcpallisco@gmail.com

Twitter: @marcpallisco