Luxury developer PB & Co. has achieved a permit to transform Eblana, the historic former home of the famed Young & Jackson publican, Thomas Jackson, at 140 – 142 Jolimont Road, East Melbourne, into an ultra-high end development of five full floor residences designed by Bayley Ward architects.

Designed by Bayley Ward architects, the design will seek to pay homage to the historic home, restoring it to its original form and transforming it into a luxury residential offering designed for Melbourne’s elite.

The ground floor residence will be housed within the existing structure where period features including grand double-height spaces and original tiling will be brought back to life, with four new residences mirroring the same sense of grandeur and space added above.

Responding to the original scale of the buildings below, the two modern architectural expressions above will follow the proportions of the heritage façade, celebrating the re-occurring, elegant figure of the arched windows as the dominant form.

“ The core origins and fabric of Eblana speak to Melbourne’s grand era in the late 1800s, which is complemented by rich history and exquisite colonial architecture of James Gall.

“ Being able to restore this spectacular building to its former glory, and to then to deliver a world class ‘ultra-luxe’ development to Melbourne’s elite is gratifying and in line with PB & Co.’s vision,” Alex Bragilevsky, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of PB & Co said.

The residences will boast three bedrooms, multiple living zones, winter gardens and study retreats, along with a ‘James Bond’ self-parking, fully-automated car system; with the option to combine floor plans vertically to create luxurious duplex-style living.

The 315sqm penthouse takes advantage of the spectacular views over Fitzroy Gardens and Melbourne’s skyline, featuring a private rooftop terrace and infinity pool, with early indications the residence could fetch upwards of $10million.

The permit represents the culmination of a complex and ultimately successful negotiation with a number of objectors; PB & Co worked closely with City of Melbourne Council and a small number of local objectors to achieve an outcome with which all stakeholders were satisfied.

The boutique project will add another $35million to the developer’s portfolio, which now totals over $350million across Melbourne and Sydney’s prestigious wealth belts.

The Italianate-style terrace was built in 1883 by Thomas Joshua Jackson, who owned the Young & Jackson hotel opposite Flinders Street Station, with his cousin, Henry Young.

Following the death of her husband in 1901, Sarah Jackson remained at the home until her passing in in 1924. A year later, it traded to the Commonwealth of Australia and then changed hands several times during the 1980s and 1990s.

The last vendors bought it in 1997 and subsequently conducted a series of refurbishments.

Bragilevsky said the planning approval had come off the back of a collaborative process with the local Council and objectors.

“ We have consulted closely with the East Melbourne Group, Melbourne City Council and key objector groups to reach a commercial outcome, and appreciate the constructive nature of these discussions.

“ We have worked tirelessly with architects Bayley Ward to deliver five spectacular full floor residences which will enjoy remarkable views of Melbourne’s CBD precinct. The penthouse will enjoy a world class rooftop garden including a 10m infinity pool with 360 degrees of Melbourne’s skyline.

“ We are very much looking forward to continuing the trend of our signature branded residences and unveiling the next global collaboration in the coming months,” he said.

Nick Readett-Bayley, Director of Bayley Ward, said their approach to the design references the scale and sequence of the main house and later addition of the billiard room fronting Jolimont Road; this was shaped in a collaborative process with a wide range of stakeholders within council, their heritage advisers and local interest groups.

“ The ground floor residence now takes the full frontage of the original house and billiard room, entered through a re-landscaped frontage through the original front door. Residents of the upper levels will enter their homes through private lift access via a discrete entrance off Jolimont Lane.

“ The upper-level apartments are extremely generous with stunning views of the city skyline and the potential of double height space behind the strong arches of the contemporary façade.

“ The articulation of building form is through simple lines with deep reveals and strong shadow, pulled together with a subtle palette of strong natural materials,” he said.

The developer plans to launch what has now become its signature ‘branded residences’ concept which will see the residences designed and furnished in collaboration with a global designer brand, with advanced discussions now underway with international fashion and motorsport brands.

PB & Co has recently added to its growing portfolio, acquiring a world-class 4,240sqm waterfront site in Kurraba Point along Sydney Harbour, for a $60m acquisition price.

Previous projects include PB & Co.’s Brighton project, Fifty Two Black: a luxury development where the developer has struck an agreement with Ralph Lauren Home to exclusively furnish the residences.

The project is set to launch early next year and construction commencement soon after.

PB & Co. boasts a combined project pipeline of $350m GRV across some of Melbourne and Sydney’s wealthiest suburbs, including Brighton, Toorak, East Melbourne and Kurraba Point.