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That's Built · Building report

Total House

170-190 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Generated 8 November 2026
Commercial · Parking - Commercial Covered
44 mheight
12floors
1966completed
13businesses
16permits

Development milestones

Completed1966Total House completed: 12 floors

Building team

Architect
Bogle Banfield & Associates
Developer
Savoy Car Park Company
Owner
AXF Group

Planning & subdivision

Zone
CCZ1
Overlays
DDO1, DDO2, DDO2-A8, HO1095, PO1
Strata plan
TP320291 · 1 lots
Scores
🚆 8 · ☕ 7 · 🌳 7 · ✨ 10

Timeline

20251 certificate · about $217k of new works
Largest: 180 Russell St - Alterations to Existing Building
20242 building permits · about $272k of new works
Largest: 180 Russell Street - Proposed Alterations to Existing Retail Shop 4
20231 certificate · about $100k of new works
Largest: Chinatown office - Removal of internal partition walls
20201 building permit · about $66k of new works
Largest: Shop 2 - Stage 2 - Construction of a New Shopfront
20192 building permits and 1 certificate · about $79k of new works
Largest: Shop 2 - Stage 1 - Alteration Works to An Existing Tenancy
20171 building permit · about $174k of new works
Largest: Alterations an Existing Building (Retail)
17 Aug 2014Owners challenge heritage listing of Total House
According to Urban.com.au, the owners, AXF Group, were challenging the Victorian Heritage Register listing of Total House. The article reported that the owners intended to demolish the building for a 70-storey hotel and apartment tower, and argued the property had not been included in the Melbourne Planning Scheme Heritage Overlay.
29 May 2014Total House added to the Victorian Heritage Register
Total House was listed on the Victorian Heritage Register on 29 May 2014, following a nomination by the heritage group Melbourne Heritage Action. Wikipedia reports that the listing led to the withdrawal of the proposed 70-storey hotel tower.
20122 building permits and 2 certificates · about $349k of new works
Largest: Stage 2: Internal Office Fitout - Proposed Internal Office Fitout- Level 10
2011Council census records it as parking - commercial covered, 12 floors
Name recorded: Total House
20091 building permit · about $5k of new works
Largest: New internal stairs and smokers area
20081 building permit and 1 certificate · about $94k of new works
Largest: Proposed office partition fitout Suite 901.
20071 building permit · about $80k of new works
Largest: Alterations to Shop 4 (Hair and Beauty Shop), internal stripout and fitout excluding facade works.
20052 building permits · about $77k of new works
Largest: Lot 1 - alterations to an existing shop
20041 certificate · about $25k of new works
Largest: Basement tenancy alterations
2002First council census entry: parking - commercial covered, 12 floors
20001 certificate · about $4k of new works
Largest: int alts for Nightclub fit out
19991 building permit and 2 certificates · about $85k of new works
Largest: Construction of communications tower
19981 building permit · about $1k of new works
Largest: New signage
1966Total House completed: 12 floors
Derived from City of Melbourne building census (CLUE) 2024

Building permits and certificates (25)

Each cost is the estimate on that record. Stages of a project often repeat its full value, so these don't add up to what was spent.

18 Feb 2025180 Russell St - Alterations to Existing Building$217k
08 June 2024Internal alteration works to existing tenancy and change of use from an existing shop to a new office$57k
13 Feb 2024180 Russell Street - Proposed Alterations to Existing Retail Shop 4$215k
10 Mar 2023Chinatown office - Removal of internal partition walls$100k
06 Jan 2020Shop 2 - Stage 2 - Construction of a New Shopfront$66k
19 Sept 2019Reinstate fire & smoke management - Billboard Nightclub$39k
16 Sept 2019Fire investigation - Billboard Nightclub$39k
06 July 2019Shop 2 - Stage 1 - Alteration Works to An Existing Tenancy$40k
12 Apr 2017Alterations an Existing Building (Retail)$174k
04 Dec 2012Stage 2: Internal Office Fitout - Proposed Internal Office Fitout- Level 10$270k
17 Oct 2012Stage 1: Internal Strip out and Partial Demolition - Proposed Internal Office Fitout- Level 10$130k
02 Feb 2012ALTERATIONS TO ENTRY CANOPY$9k
13 Jan 2012Construction of internal shop fitout - 'Yang Guang Cafe'. Stage 1 - Internal fitout works only$70k
21 Oct 2009New internal stairs and smokers area$5k
09 Apr 2008Proposed office partition fitout Suite 901.$60k
06 Mar 2008Internal alterations Level 10$34k
01 Aug 2007Alterations to Shop 4 (Hair and Beauty Shop), internal stripout and fitout excluding facade works.$80k
27 June 2005removal of breakglass alarms and hydrant canvas hoses to the carpark$2k
18 Mar 2005Lot 1 - alterations to an existing shop$75k
16 Sept 2004Basement tenancy alterations$25k
19 Dec 2000int alts for Nightclub fit out$5k
17 Aug 1999Construction of communications tower$50k
07 July 1999Office alterations on level 11$30k
07 July 1999Office fitout on level 11$5k
28 Aug 1998New signage$1k

Questions and answers

Is Total House residential or commercial?
Total House is a commercial building. The City of Melbourne lists its main use as parking - commercial covered.

When was Total House built?
Total House was completed in 1966.

How many floors does Total House have?
Total House has 12 floors above ground.

What businesses are in Total House?
The latest council census counted 13 businesses in Total House, including 170 Russell, Ausland Melbourne Pty Ltd and Crowd Productions Pty Ltd.

Is there office or retail space for lease in Total House?
See the commercial listings on this page, or search this address on realcommercial.com.au and commercialrealestate.com.au.

Who designed and built Total House?
Savoy Car Park Company developed Total House and Bogle Banfield & Associates designed it. The building team section has the sources.

How tall is Total House?
About 44 metres, measured from the City of Melbourne's 3D building model. It's number 379 of 1596 buildings in Melbourne by height.

What public transport is near Total House?
Parliament Station is the nearest train station, about 5 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is Russell St/Bourke St #7, about 1 minute's walk.

What is the planning zone for Total House?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO1095).

Does Total House have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision TP320291 has 1 lot.

Has any work been done on Total House recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 16 building permits for Total House since 1998. The most recent was in June 2024.

Sources: City of Melbourne building permits (CC BY 4.0); CLUE building information (CC BY 4.0); CLUE business establishments (CC BY 4.0); Geocoded National Address File (G-NAF) (Open G-NAF EULA (CC BY 4.0 based)). General information from public records, not legal, financial or building advice.

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