Melrose Park South – East Precinct

CLIENT | Holdmark Property Group

TYPE | Architecture

SECTOR | Cities + places, Mixed Use, RESIDENTIAL, Commercial, RETAIL

STATUS | Design COMPETITION (2024)

LOCATION | MELROSE PARK, NSW

HEIGHT | 100M, 9-13 storeys

SCALE | GFA: 48,612 sqm, Site: 13,646 sqm, 568 apartments

COST | CONFIDENTIAL

Renders | atchain

Marking place

Rising above the banks of the Parramatta River, three towers act as powerful symbols of a neighbourhood reforging its identity. Our design for Block B4 sought to create a development that reflects the ongoing transformation of Melrose Park, capturing its unique character and transitioning into a high density residential precinct at the river’s edge.

The design competition entry tells a story that spans generations. By acknowledging the land's history — from the Wallumedegal people who fished along the Parramatta River to the legacy of Charles Melrose — we aimed to create a development that is deeply rooted in its past while paving the way for the future. Three towers are proposed, ranging from 9 to 30 stories. These towers serve as landmarks, visible from three key perspectives: the winding river, the new light rail route, and the vehicular approach from Victoria Road.

Drawing inspiration from Indigenous practices and working within a “Designing with Country” framework, the tallest tower features vertical patterns and bold cutouts that reference the traditional scarred trees used by Indigenous peoples to mark significant places. At the ground level, a civic plaza and pavilion form a welcoming space that invites both residents and visitors, bringing life to the precinct.

“This competition provided an opportunity to help define the identity of a transformed suburb. We are grateful to the Holdmark Property Group for inviting us to participate, and we look forward to seeing Fuse Architects’ winning design come to life,” says Director Amit Julka.