Orchard Piper has successfully won its appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), receiving planning approval for its $400 million mixed-use development at 7-11A and 17-19 Carters Avenue, Toorak. The approval marks a key milestone in the developer’s undertaking to redefine and revitalise one of Australia’s most prestigious precincts. 

The project is a joint venture between Orchard Piper and NPACT (a partnership between Todd Nisbet and James Packer) and is strategically located on one of Toorak’s largest single land holdings, a 3,589 sqm site formerly home to Mercedes-Benz Toorak. The site is one of the last key parcels of land to be developed in the area. Rising eight storeys, the project features 43 premium residences and a selection of high-end commercial suites, as well as ground-floor restaurants and hospitality spaces, and boutique retail with a focus on health and medical uses that will activate and extend the precinct. 

Stonnington City Council issued the permit in July, but included a condition requiring the removal of two storeys, reducing the eight-storey project to six. Orchard Piper and NPACT successfully appealed this condition to VCAT, which has now been deleted, reinstating the eight levels originally sought. 

“Securing planning approval for the original design of this development is a significant milestone for Orchard Piper. This project is now approved at a scale that allows us to deliver something truly exceptional for Toorak Village,” said Orchard Piper Director Luke McKie. 

“We have a very strong partnership with NPACT, which will enable this benchmark development to be realised quickly and with confidence. Our combined expertise in delivering quality, design-led developments is unparalleled in the Australian market and will result in a project that will redefine apartment living,” McKie added. 

Designed by internationally renowned Kerry Hill Architects (KHA), the project exemplifies the practice's signature approach, blending contemporary design with refined elegance.. The collection of two, three and four-bedroom residences will enjoy access to hotel-style amenities including full-time concierge services, a lap pool, gym, sauna and wellness spaces. The development will also integrate a new private laneway that will become the porte cochère entrance to the expansive private lobby.

Landscape architect Myles Baldwin Design, a long-time partner of Orchard Piper, has developed a meticulously crafted landscape masterplan for the development. Seamlessly extending from the laneway to the building’s terraces, the masterplan will create a cohesive and verdant outdoor environment that flows throughout the project. 

"Carters Avenue is a key addition to our portfolio, reinforcing Orchard Piper’s vision for creating landmark developments in Melbourne’s most sought-after locations. Alongside our project at 109 Mathoura Road and 420-426 Toorak Road, this approval reflects the increasing demand for thoughtfully designed spaces that continue to elevate the quality of Toorak Village," said Orchard Piper Director, Rick Gronow. 

Orchard Piper’s two Toorak Village developments encompass approximately 5,000sqm of prime land in the Stonnington locale and have a combined potential development value exceeding $550 million. These projects are part of Orchard Piper’s ongoing collaboration with KHA, which also includes The Carter Building – a landmark address featuring residences, a hotel and a spa on Melbourne’s iconic St Kilda Road boulevard. Together, these three projects form a $1.1 billion pipeline scheduled for completion across the next five years. 

The Carters Avenue project will launch in mid-2025 with construction expected to commence late the same year. 

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