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Herbert Smith Freehills has advised leading global property developer QIC on the design and construction of a hotel, office towers and retail at 80 Collins Street, Melbourne. 

Signing the design and construction contract with Multiplex Constructions represents a significant milestone in the wider A$800 million redevelopment of the 80 Collins Street site, originally acquired by QIC in 2005.

The project is located in the historic heart of Collins Street in Melbourne’s central business district, and will boast a high-end retail space, a new premium grade office tower as well as a significant refurbishment of the existing tower, and a premium hotel development with 300 rooms.  

Herbert Smith Freehills advised QIC on all design and construction aspects of the project. In addition, the firm advised QIC on all property elements of the transaction including land acquisition, access regimes and leasing arrangements as well as complex heritage approval requirements. RCP Project & Development Management acted as technical advisers to QIC on the project, providing invaluable expertise.

The Herbert Smith Freehills team was led by partner Jane Hodder with support from executive counsel Margaret Mertens and solicitors Victoria Brockhall and Josh Attard.

Jane Hodder said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to have worked with QIC on this project that is vital for the revitalisation of the heart of the Melbourne CBD. It is rare to have the opportunity to be involved in such a transformative project that has been described by some as a ‘vertical village’ with a unique blend of high level commercial office space, luxury retail, dining, and boutique accommodation.”  

This deal is another example of Herbert Smith Freehills’ market-leading work in the construction, real estate and project delivery space. Other recent examples include: the redevelopment of Grand Central shopping centre for QIC in Toowoomba, the development of the first commercial office tower at Melbourne Quarter for Lendlease, the Logan Enhancement Project for Transurban and the redevelopment of 477 Collins Street for Mirvac.