Capital Alliance continues its investment in Docklands with bid for new hotel and conference centre

The District Docklands could soon have another premium hotel as well as a new conference centre for up to 1000 people added to its precinct under Capital Alliance’s latest bold proposal for Waterfront City.

The developer, which recently unveiled the new Marriott Hotel at The District, has partnered with Australia’s International Hotel Group, TFE Hotels, to announce a “first-of-its-kind” mixed use proposal, featuring two world-class local hotel brands.

With plans submitted to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) in September, Capital Alliance CEO Mohan Du said it was “doubling down” its exposure to hotels as he believed in continued demand for “purpose-built” accommodation.

The $340 million two-tower project, designed locally by SJB Architects, will feature the largest rooftop infinity pool in Australia and the first purpose-built Collection by TFE Hotels and A by Adina properties in Melbourne.

But it’s the inclusion of a 1000-person capacity event conference centre, located on a sky bridge connecting the two hotel towers, which makes Capital Alliance’s latest vision for Docklands particularly extraordinary for the local area. Offering 360-degree views of the city, the centre seeks to add another dimension to Melbourne’s high-end conferencing options and create an important drawcard for Docklands.

Mr Du said that after eight years of developing in Docklands, he was saving his “best for last” on his final parcel site in the precinct.

“As the saying goes, you save the best for last and these one-of-a-kind hotels will be uniquely different to other accommodation offerings in Melbourne,” he said.

“I know when we welcome guests and the public in 2026, we’ll be able to proudly showcase the legacy we’ve left behind with tremendous pride.”

“Our partnership with TFE was born and galvanised during the uncertainty of the pandemic. It may sound cliche to say, but there are two things we’re certain of, developing a hotel is incredibly challenging and we have unparalleled confidence in our ability to deliver a world-class establishment alongside TFE.”

SJB founding director Michael Bialek said Capital Alliance’s latest Docklands project, which is set to open in 2026 subject to approvals, would become an “architectural landmark on the Melbourne skyline”.

“Our design inspiration was drawn from natural elements such as sculpted landscape forms and the proximity to the Yarra River,” he said. “We have also blurred the division between inside and outside to maximise daylight and those all-important city skyline and uninterrupted water views.”

The proposal for 28-38 Pearl River Rd also features a day spa, retail shopping, and restaurant. •