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That's Built · Building report

Ovolo

19 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Generated 8 November 2026
Hotel · Commercial Accommodation
22 mheight
6floors
1991completed
0businesses
14permits

Development milestones

Completed1991Ovolo completed: 6 floors

Building team

Owner
Ovolo Group
Interior designer
Hassell
Owner
First Asset Pty Ltd
Interior designer
Luchetti Krelle
Owner
EMKC Cubed

Planning & subdivision

Zone
CCZ1
Overlays
DDO1, DDO62, DDO62-B1, HO500, PO1, SBO3
Strata plan
SP36657 · 1 lots
Scores
🚆 10 · ☕ 7 · 🌳 8 · ✨ 10

Timeline

28 Oct 2026Ovolo Laneways at 19 Little Bourke Street sold to EMKC Cubed for $20.09 million
A Real Estate Source article reports that the hotel changed hands in July for $20.09 million, with First Asset Pty Ltd, described as associated with Ovolo, as vendor and EMKC Cubed as buyer. The article says Ovolo is also speculated to be selling its other Melbourne hotel in Toorak Road, South Yarra.
9 Mar 2023Laneways by Ovolo reopens after makeover by Luchetti Krelle
The 19 Little Bourke Street hotel reopened after an extensive makeover led by Luchetti Krelle, with an 80s Memphis-inspired look, a new lobby and a 42-room count, per Concrete Playground.
20233 building permits and 1 certificate · about $146k of new works
Largest: Stage 4 - to permit internal fitout of lobby space
20224 building permits · about $1.1m of new works
Largest: Stage 4 - to permit internal fitout of lobby space
20191 building permit · about $8k of new works
Largest: Proposed smoke detection alterations to existing hotel
20181 building permit · about $2k of new works
Largest: New Construction of External Signage
2014Ovolo Laneways named Australasia's Best City Boutique Hotel
The 43-room hotel at 19 Little Bourke Street was named Australasia's Best City Boutique Hotel at the 2014 World Boutique Hotel Awards, according to a hospitality news article dated November 2014.
2013Council census records it as commercial accommodation, 6 floors
Name recorded: Ovolo
20123 building permits · about $1.9m of new works
Largest: Stage 4: External works, spa & pool fence - Alterations to existing hotel
2011Council census records it as commercial accommodation, 6 floors
Name recorded: Shoan Heights
20071 certificate · about $290k of new works
Largest: Change of use and entry alterations (ramp entry), first to fifth Levels, Lot 51.
20061 building permit · about $321k of new works
Largest: Alteration - Fire safety upgrade
2002First council census entry: commercial accommodation, 6 floors
20001 certificate · about $190 of new works
Largest: Installation of alarm signalling equipment
19961 building permit · about $1.5m of new works
Largest: Change of use of a building - Level 1-4 to Residential Units
1991Ovolo completed: 6 floors
Derived from City of Melbourne building census (CLUE) 2024

Building permits and certificates (17)

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.

13 Apr 2023Stage 4 - to permit internal fitout of lobby space$1.0m
12 Apr 2023Stage 3 - To Permit the Instillation of External Light Boxes Only.$146k
10 Feb 2023Stage 2 - To permit restaurant door shroud & Building Identification Signage, excluding Lightbox Signage$146k
30 Jan 2023Proposed Ground Level Facade Works Only$146k
16 Dec 2022Stage 4 - to permit internal fitout of lobby space$1.0m
03 Nov 2022Stage 3 - Building Permit - To Permit Mechanical Works, DDA Report & Fire Engineering Report Within the Restaurant Only$1.0m
21 Oct 2022Stage 2 - To Permit Internal Alterations to Existing Restaurant Space Excluding Mechanical Services, Associated Accessibility & Fire Engineering Performance Solutions$1.0m
04 Aug 2022Stage 1 - Proposed ground floor within the existing entrance & lift lobby and the occupation of an existing restaurant / bar space adjacent$80k
17 July 2019Proposed smoke detection alterations to existing hotel$8k
19 Sept 2018New Construction of External Signage$2k
19 Sept 2012Stage 4: External works, spa & pool fence - Alterations to existing hotel$1.9m
01 Aug 2012Stage 3: Fire services/sprinkler alterations$1.9m
30 Apr 2012Refurbishment of Ovolo Hotel Internal stripout & non structural demolition & fitout of display Suite 207 Stage 1$1.9m
18 May 2007Change of use and entry alterations (ramp entry), first to fifth Levels, Lot 51.$290k
21 Dec 2006Alteration - Fire safety upgrade$321k
14 Sept 2000Installation of alarm signalling equipment$190
25 Sept 1996Change of use of a building - Level 1-4 to Residential Units$1.5m

Questions and answers

Is Ovolo residential or commercial?
Ovolo is a hotel or serviced apartments. The City of Melbourne lists its main use as commercial accommodation.

When was Ovolo built?
Ovolo was completed in 1991.

How many floors does Ovolo have?
Ovolo has 6 floors above ground.

Who built Ovolo?
The building team section lists who's known so far. Builders, architects and developers can claim their role on this page.

How tall is Ovolo?
About 22 metres, measured from the City of Melbourne's 3D building model. It's number 669 of 1596 buildings in Melbourne by height.

What public transport is near Ovolo?
Parliament Station is the nearest train station, about 1 minute's walk. The nearest tram stop is Spring St/Bourke St #9, about 1 minute's walk.

What is the planning zone for Ovolo?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO500).

Does Ovolo have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision SP36657 has 1 lot.

Has any work been done on Ovolo recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 14 building permits for Ovolo since 1996. The most recent was in April 2023.

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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