Apartments in Melbourne: updated 2026 catalog, market context and due-diligence guide
This updated 2026 catalog reviews apartments in Melbourne through documented rental advertisements, new development announcements and official property-market reference points. The examples cover Melbourne CBD, Docklands, Southbank, St Kilda Road and North Melbourne, while the guidance addresses pricing evidence, amenities, construction timing, owners-corporation obligations and verification requirements.
What the 2026 catalog covers
Recent Melbourne CBD furnished-apartment advertisements show weekly asking rents ranging from $500 for 205/18-20 Bank Place to $930 for 5201/60 Abeckett Street. Other advertised examples include $675 at 907/20-26 Coromandel Place, $750 at 2310/33 MacKenzie Street and $900 at 2010/27 Little Collins Street. These figures are individual advertisements, not a citywide average, and listing status can change. 1
The catalog also includes apartments outside the central postcode. A two-bedroom Docklands residence at 704/100 Harbour Esplanade was advertised at $700 per week with one bathroom and one secure car space, while a two-bedroom Marina Tower apartment at 2404/8 Pearl River Road was advertised at $780 per week with two bathrooms and one car space. The descriptions emphasise harbour views, balconies, building facilities and transport access. 5 8
Rental examples by location and format
CBD examples illustrate the range of apartment formats available in central Melbourne. A furnished one-bedroom apartment at 210/422 Collins Street was advertised at $525 per week, with heritage-building features, gas included in rent and a minimum four-day notice requirement for lift bookings. A separate one-bedroom apartment at 3612/560 Lonsdale Street was advertised at $670 per week and described as brand new, with a study nook, included washing machine and dryer, and resident facilities. 9 6
Higher weekly asking rents are associated in the supplied examples with additional bedrooms, views, premium finishes or extensive shared facilities, although advertisements do not establish consistent valuation rules. A two-bedroom residence at 1103/601 St Kilda Road was advertised at $795 per week and described with two ensuite bedrooms, a study nook, car space and access to a pool, gym, sauna, spa, theatre and concierge. 7 North Melbourne’s G06/83 Sutton Street was advertised at $975 per week as a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car residence in a new development. 10
Major apartment developments
WeAreLiving Queens was reported as officially opening in September 2026 at 50-52 Queens Lane. The Build to Rent project comprises 433 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments across 14 levels, with capacity for more than 850 residents. Reported amenities include a gym, pool, sauna, steam room, cold plunge, co-working areas, cinema rooms, landscaped courtyards and 503 secure car spaces, including electric-vehicle charging. 2
The project was reported as a $405 million development backed by Barings and Aware Super, with Essence Communities appointed as property manager. Its building is described as all-electric, with an average NatHERS rating of 7.8 stars, double glazing and private balconies or terraces. These features may influence operating costs and resident experience, but an advertised sustainability rating does not remove the need to examine lease terms, utility arrangements, maintenance procedures and building rules. 2
Southbank and off-the-plan considerations
AURA is the newest tower stage of the Melbourne Square precinct in Southbank. The project information describes Japanese-inspired design, wellness spaces, sky lounges, garden retreats, a full-line Woolworths supermarket, childcare and Kennedy Park, a 3,745-square-metre landscaped park. The development is associated with COX, DKO and Oculus, while the precinct includes retail and community infrastructure. 3
Construction reporting states that OSK Property and Multiplex broke ground on AURA, a 67-storey tower expected to deliver more than 670 apartments across studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom formats, plus penthouses and Mira Terraces. More than 140 sales had reportedly been secured before construction began, with completion targeted for late 2029 or early 2030 and prices reported from $565,000. 4 Off-the-plan purchasers should independently verify the developer, contract inclusions, completion assumptions, sunset clause, finance conditions, settlement process and owners-corporation costs before signing.
How to assess an apartment beyond its advertised price
Apartment comparisons require more than a weekly rent or purchase figure. Relevant checks include the number and size of bedrooms, bathrooms, balconies, storage areas and car spaces; whether the residence is furnished; heating and cooling systems; included appliances; natural light; outlook; noise exposure; lift access; security; and the difference between private facilities and shared amenities. Advertisements may use descriptive language, so inspections, plans and written contracts remain important evidence.
Ongoing costs can include utilities, embedded-network charges, parking, storage, insurance, repairs and owners-corporation fees. Buyers should review meeting minutes, maintenance plans, defect records, sinking-fund information, building insurance and planned special levies. Renters should confirm bond arrangements, permitted occupants, pet rules, utility billing, repair reporting and renewal conditions. These checks address practical market friction that is not always visible in listing headlines.
Market research, regulation and verification
Several independent information sources can support a broader Melbourne comparison. Realestate.com.au, Domain, Property.com.au, Homely and View.com.au provide searchable sale or rental listings, while Apartments.com.au and Urban.com.au focus on apartment listings and new developments. Off The Plan provides project information, but portal material should be treated as preliminary until details are checked against contracts, planning records and developer documentation. 11 12
Official and industry sources provide different forms of context. The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes Census QuickStats covering dwellings and household characteristics; the State Revenue Office Victoria publishes property-sale and property-tax information; REIV and Domain publish market insights; SQM Research publishes asking-rent and vacancy indicators; and Planning Victoria provides planning-policy and development information. None of these sources replaces legal, financial or building advice for a particular transaction. 13 14 15
Sources
- Homely, furnished Melbourne CBD apartment rental listings
- BTR News Australia, WeAreLiving Queens opening report
- Unify Partners, AURA Melbourne Square project information
- Apartments.com.au, AURA construction update
- Realty.com.au, 704/100 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands
- RenterMate, 3612/560 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
- Realty.com.au, 1103/601 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
- Realty.com.au, 2404/8 Pearl River Road, Docklands
- ListedBuy, 210/422 Collins Street, Melbourne
- Motion Property, G06/83 Sutton Street, North Melbourne
- Realestate.com.au, Domain, Property.com.au, Homely, View.com.au, Apartments.com.au, Urban.com.au and Off The Plan
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census QuickStats Melbourne
- State Revenue Office Victoria, property sales statistics
- REIV, Domain Research and SQM Research market information
- Planning Victoria, planning-policy and development information