Dockside Drive marina site hits the market in Mildura as developers eye riverfront hotel, tavern and townhouses

One of Mildura’s last big riverfront blocks of land close to some of the most expensive real estate in town has hit the market, and it’s already drawing interest from developers in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.

Harbourside Way on Dockside Dr in Mildura is set to develop into the next big thing in Sunraysia real estate according to Professionals Mildura director Tony Roccisano. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

One of Mildura’s biggest remaining riverfront sites is up for sale, with city developers circling a 12,000sq m block on the marina.

Dockside Drive sits within walking distance of the CBD and the riverfront dining strip, with plans for the blue-chip block of land including high-end townhouses, a tavern and a hotel-convention centre.

Professional’s Mildura director and principal Tony Roccisano said the project would reshape the Dockside precinct if it went ahead.

He said the size and position of the block made it unlike anything else on the market in regional Victoria.

“What is unique about it is that it is about 12,000sq m in the new language,” Mr Roccisano said.

“To get a piece of land so large and so central, with both marina frontage and river frontage and within walking distance of the CBD, is quite unique.”

A look at how the massive Dockside Dr in Mildura block may be subdivided. Picture: Supplied

Mr Roccisano said it would likely become highly sought after due to the lifestyle it offered.

“People now do not just want to live in a house. They want to live in a house where they can walk out, go to the coffee shops, go to Shippies,” he said.

“And you will have access to those beautiful walkways along the river. And if you want to walk into 400 Gradi or Stefano’s or the Spanish Grill or Thai-rrific, or the other beautiful restaurants we have in the CBD, it is all within walking distance.”

The concept for the site included a tavern as part of a hotel-convention centre, adding another venue to Mildura’s growing river strip.

A look at what riverside abodes might look like on Dockside Dr in Mildura. Picture: Supplied.

“If you had a choice to have a beer somewhere else or sitting overlooking the Murray River and within walking distance of the CBD, I know where I would like to be,” Mr Roccisano said.

The multimillion-dollar block already had big-city developers circling from Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.

“Look, it is a big investment. It is a big investment because it is a multimillion-dollar investment,” he said.

“So it may be an out-of-town developer that takes it on. But I would love to see a local developer do it as well.”

Interest had been fuelled by Mildura’s rapid population growth and council’s riverfront spend, which he put at about $85m.

“(Mildura is) growing at a very fast rate,” Mr Roccisano said.

This unremarkable looking block of land will develop into the next big thing in Mildura property according to Professionals Mildura director Tony Roccisano. Picture: Stuart Kavanagh

“We are growing faster than Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong. The last time I looked it was about a 6 per cent growth rate.”

He added that once Dockside Drive was fully built out it would be among the most tightly held pockets in the city.

“If you look into the future and see it fully developed, it will be a magnificent place to live,” he said.

“I can see that five years down the road, when it is all developed, there will not be a better area in Mildura to live in.”