���������

HOTHAM GARDENS

MELBOURNE VIC | 1959-1960

John Mockridge (architect) and Beryl Mann (landscape architect) for Housing Commission of Victoria

Hotham Gardens in North Melbourne was the first time the Housing Commission Victoria initiated urban renewal by making land available for redevelopment by private parties.  The project delivered 108 affordable flats for private ownership. The Own-Your-Own (O-Y-O) titles for these properties pioneered the legal frameworks for high density property ownership, a precursor to today’s strata management companies. 

A collaborative design mindset brought the State government, City council, Architects’ Association and Master Builders Association together to realise the project. A co-op of designers was engaged to integrate the housing with the surrounding landscape to enhance resident amenity. Australian flora and trees mixed with exotics to establish Hotham gardens as an urban forest well before the benefits of urban greening were widely recognised.