David Jones menswear store to become $22m office block

Plans for the heritage-listed Bourke St building have been revealed, with the landmark shopping destination set to undergo a transformation.

An artist's impression of the new shopfront at the David Jones menswear building site.

A $22.5 million plan to transform a landmark CBD David Jones building into an office and retail tower will be considered by the City of Melbourne on Tuesday.

Developers want to revamp the “significant’’ heritage building to create a rooftop terrace overlooking Bourke St Mall, supermarket, updated retail spaces and offices to try and lure workers back to the city.

Town planners will propose councillors issue a permit for demolition of parts of the building, subject to conditions.

Heritage Victoria will also have a say on proposed “partial demolition and buildings and works” on the prime “commercial gothic building”.

Deputy Mayor Nick Reece said it was “exciting to see a positive proposal for the David Jones building’’, with plans for three levels of retail, office space and frontages to Bourke St Mall and Little Collins Street.

“When people say ‘busier than Bourke St’ this is probably the location they have in mind, right in the retail heart of our city,’’ he said.

A view of the rooftop terrace at the corner of Bourke St and Union Lane.

“Knowing how important this location is to Melburnians, the application will be carefully considered by Council on Tuesday night.’’

The development would remove the popular ground level pedestrian link through David Jones from Bourke to Little Collins St, but upgrade a nearby laneway.

Mr Reece said Melburnians would be sorry to see the internal link removed.

“Everyone has walked that path through DJ’s at some point in their life,’’ he said.

“But there is nothing in the planning scheme that protects a walkway through the middle of a private tenancy.

“On a positive note, Union Lane which runs beside the building will be activated, providing a newly upgraded alternative for people to enjoy – and I’m sure this will become a popular new path for pedestrians.’’

Building owner Newmark Capital wants to erect new ground level shopfronts and canopies to Bourke and Little Collins Streets.

An artist’s impression of the proposed office space.

David Jones is set to move from its heritage-listed menswear store.

It has proposed additional built forms at levels four to six of the 11 storey building at 299 Bourke St and 278-286 Little Collins St.

And new entries would be created at the northwest and southeast corners.

The council will suggest changes to the ground level shopfront facades to Bourke and Little Collins Streets “so that they better integrate with the upper level heritage”.

It will also advise an additional pedestrian entry off Union Lane, generally opposite

“The Walk” development at 309-325 Bourke St, “to improve activation and connections.

The building, on the south side of Bourke St, was built in two stages in 1929-30 and 1938 as the flagship store of G J Coles Pty Ltd.