Box Hill’s Sky One tower set to welcome first residents and new restaurant Haidilao

The tallest building outside Melbourne’s CBD is finally about to open, bringing hundreds of apartments and three levels of retail to Box Hill’s centre. And instead of a controversial karaoke bar, a major restaurant chain has been revealed as a tenant.

Golden Age 's Sky One is Melbourne’s tallest suburban tower.

It’s been gradually rising about the eastern suburbs for several years, and now the tallest building outside the CBD is set to finally welcome its first occupants — both people and retail.

Construction on Golden Age’s, 122m, 36-storey development Sky One is set to wrap up in the coming months, with the 438 apartments to be finished by Christmas, and the three levels of retail and dining expected to open early next year.

And people who have bought apartments are due to start moving into the tower, located in the heart of Box Hill next to Box Hill Central, in just weeks.

Sky One will have three levels of retail below the 438 apartments.

And in the wake of the controversy about Golden Age’s proposal for a late-night karaoke bar in the building — the plans were dropped last week — the developer has revealed Asian food chain, Haidilao, will instead occupy one half of level two.

The hot pot restaurant will be Australia’s third Haidilao franchise, with one on the way at Glen Waverley’s The Glen, and the only other Australian branch in Chatswood, Sydney.

Golden Age chief operating officer Chris Crighton said the company was also in discussions with other renowned Asian restaurants about featuring in Sky One, in particular, one of China’s best restaurant chains that is yet to reach Australia.

A Haidilao franchise will occupy half of level two in the Sky One podium.

But he said the majority of retailers, ranging from food and beverage through to entertainment, had been chosen.

He said Golden Age wanted to “enhance the lifestyle” of all people living in Box Hill, not just those who called Sky One home.

“We have undertaken an in-depth analysis of the area and believe the retailers we have chosen will greatly contribute to Box Hill,” Mr Crighton said.

He said the plan for a public karaoke bar, which Golden Age withdrew its planning application for last week following public uproar, had come from “popular requests” in its planning surveys, “following the closure of a similar venue adjacent to the Sky One site”.

Sky One is right next to Box Hill Central.

But he said after “an in-depth review … it was decided that a karaoke bar may not be the best use of the space”.

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Whitehorse Leader readers celebrated the application’s withdrawal, which followed reports residents were concerned about the venue generating noise and anti-social behaviour, and that future Sky One tenants weren’t included in the poll over whether the venue got a late-night liquor licence.

The majority of Sky One’s hundreds of residents are due to be settled in the building before the new year, Mr Crighton said.

Ninety eight per cent of the 438 apartments have been sold, with many bought before the building started going up in early 2017.

Sky One has been under construction since early 2017.

The final 12 available apartments have just been put on the market.

Residents of the one, two and three-bedroom apartments will have access to a sky lounge, landscaped gardens, pool and children’s play pools, library gym, spa, sauna, yoga studio, private dining, private cinema and entertainment room.

Sky One was designed by DKO Architecture and delivered by Hickory.