Kew luxury lures local retirees

A swanky development next to the Kew Recreation Centre has been a labour of love for Melbourne developer Crema Group.

The former office building was originally bought by the Crema family 30 years ago and is being converted into luxury apartments by the family’s third generation.

Local empty-nesters have embraced the project with half already snapped up by buyers, mostly from around the neighbourhood.

Apartments will have views of the city or Dandenongs and offer flexible layouts that allow for studies, walk-in wardrobes, entry halls or formal dining areas to be added. No expense has been spared with the kitchens of the premium apartments which will have Gaggenau appliances, including a combi steam oven, wine fridge and an optional integrated Liebherr fridge.

The communal facilities are particularly lavish, with plans for an elegant garden terrace with jacaranda trees and seating nooks and a residents’ lounge with an open fireplace, wood panelling and bookshelves. There’s also a swish private wine bar that can be used for business meetings or social gatherings. A full-time concierge will be on call.

Residents will also have the convenience of a new Coles supermarket at street level within the building with a private entrance for residents and all the facilities of the Kew Recreation Centre, including a swimming pool, next door. Public transport is easily accessed with route 48 and 24 trams passing by directly outside on High Street.

At a glance

• Derby Place, 369 High Street, Kew
• Architect: Fender Katsalidis Architects & CBG Architects
• Developer: Crema Group
• Landscaping: Tract
• Number of apartments: 79 total. 20 one-bedroom (17 with study); 40 two-bedroom; 19 three-bedroom
• Internal sizes (in square metres): One-bedroom apartments 54-74; two bedrooms 78-117; three bedrooms 113-291
• External areas: 8-230 square metres
• Prices: One bedroom $570,000-$740,000; two bedrooms $695,000-$1.65 million; three bedrooms $1.25 million – $4.43 million
• Car parking: One or more car space for every apartment
• Display suite: 369 High Street, Kew. Open Sat-Sun noon-3pm; Wed-Thurs noon-2pm
• Completion estimate: Mid-late 2018
• Selling agent: Crema Group, phone Jane Hackworth 0497 395 939 or Luke Sulzberger 0497 481 631

Catch of the day

Kew couple George and Kathy, above, went out to buy salmon for dinner and ended up finding the dream apartment they didn’t know they were looking for.

“That was the most expensive bit of salmon we’ve ever bought,” jokes George of the three-bedroom apartment they purchased in the new luxurious Derby Place development on High Street, Kew. “I didn’t think there would ever be the apartment that I personally wanted,” he says.

“It just grabbed us,” says Kathy. “It ticked a lot of boxes – even though we hadn’t drawn up any boxes!”

As residents of a large home in Kew for three decades, the couple had no plans to move until they stumbled across the development and decided the location and apartment were perfect for their needs and close to their friends and family, including five grandchildren.

Kathy is impressed by the project’s Coles supermarket and its proximity to three shopping strips close by, while her husband, who enjoys swimming daily, looks forward to using the neighbouring Kew Recreation Centre.

“I’ll have my own 25-metre pool right next door and I don’t have to look after it myself,” he says.