That's Built · Building report

Metropolitan On William Hotel

263-267 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Generated 8 November 2026
Commercial · Unoccupied - Unused

79 mheight

20floors

2023completed

4businesses

7permits

Development milestones

Planning application	2017	Planning application TP-2017-814/A lodged
Approved	By 2023	Planning permit granted (exact date not recorded)
Construction started	Apr 2023	First major construction permit issued
First occupants	Apr 2023	First occupancy permit issued
Completed	2023	Metropolitan On William Hotel completed: 20 floors

Building team

Developer: DeGroup
Architect: WMK Architecture
Builder: Crema Constructions
Architect: Peddle Thorp
Interior designer: Bates Smart

Planning & subdivision

Zone: CCZ1
Overlays: DDO1, DDO10, HO1231, PO1
Strata plan: TP828856 · 1 lots
Scores: 🚆 10 · ☕ 5 · 🌳 7 · ✨ 9

Timeline

20253 building permits and 1 certificate · about $2.1m of new works
Largest: Levels 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 - Fit-out of Offices

2024Council census records it as unoccupied - unused, 21 floors
Name recorded: Metropolitan On William Hotel

20241 building permit · about $47k of new works
Largest: Alterations to an existing building

By 2023Planning permit granted (exact date not recorded)
Derived from City of Melbourne Development Activity Monitor

2023Metropolitan On William Hotel completed: 20 floors
Derived from City of Melbourne Development Activity Monitor

27 Sep 2023Metropolitan Hotel restored and reopened beneath new office tower
The heritage hotel was redeveloped by DeGroup, with interiors by Bates Smart, and reopened as a three-storey venue at the base of a 20-storey building. A second article published in October 2023 describes the same redevelopment of the two-storey hotel building.

Apr 2023First major construction permit issued
Derived from City of Melbourne building permits

Apr 2023First occupancy permit issued
Derived from City of Melbourne building permits

20233 building permits and 8 certificates · about $41.0m of new works
Largest: Stage 5: Facade & Architectural

29 Sep 2022Topping out reached for 263 William Street tower
DeGroup held a topping-out ceremony on 29 September 2022 for the 17-level commercial tower at 263 William Street, which sits above the rejuvenated Metropolitan Hotel. The project includes WMK Architects.

2021Council census records it as unoccupied - under demolition/condemned, 2 floors
Name recorded: Metropolitan On William Hotel

8 Dec 2020DeGroup to build $70m office tower above Metropolitan Hotel
DeGroup announced a $70 million, 20-storey office building above the Metropolitan Hotel, designed by WMK Architecture, with Crema Constructions appointed as builder. The article describes the tower as rising 75 metres above the hotel.

2020Council census records it as unoccupied - unused, 2 floors
Name recorded: Metropolitan On William Hotel

5 Jun 2018Council moves to apply interim heritage overlay as tower proposed above Metropolitan Hotel
The City of Melbourne moved to apply an interim heritage overlay at 263-267 William Street in response to an application to build an office tower above the hotel. The application was reported as on hold, and the initial Peddle Thorp design would have partly demolished the hotel.

2017Planning application TP-2017-814/A lodged
Derived from City of Melbourne Development Activity Monitor

Apr 2016Metropolitan Hotel sold at auction for $8.61 million
The corner pub at 263-265 William Street sold at auction for $8.61 million to a local investor, with CBRE and Killen Thomas agents involved. The article is dated April 2016.

2008Council census records it as entertainment/recreation - indoor, 2 floors
Name recorded: Metropolitan On William Hotel

2002First council census entry: entertainment/recreation - indoor, 2 floors

Building permits and certificates (16)

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.

29 Oct 2025	Proposed replacement of smoke detectors with thermal detectors to an existing pub	$6k
14 July 2025	Levels 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 - Fit-out of Offices	$1.1m
20 June 2025	Fit-out of Offices - Levels 15, 16, 18 & 20	$992k
08 Apr 2025	Levels 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 - Fit-out of Offices	$1.1m
25 June 2024	Alterations to an existing building	$47k
12 Dec 2023	Internal alterations to Level 19 offices	$573k
10 Aug 2023	Stage 2 - building works which includes all remaining fit out works and shall be read in-conjunction with the existing building permit	$70k
29 June 2023	Levels 4 & 6-9 - Internal Office Fitouts for DeGroup	$1.8m
29 June 2023	Stage 1 - WMK Office - Proposed alterations to existing office	$130k
29 May 2023	Stage 2: Basement Retention, Civil, Foundations, Inground Services, Slab on Ground	$33.7m
26 May 2023	Fit out works to the re-developed building	$3.4m
28 Apr 2023	Redevelopment of Metropolitan Hotel	$314k
28 Apr 2023	Stage 2: Basement Retention, Civil, Foundations, Inground Services, Slab on Ground	$33.7m
28 Apr 2023	Stage 3: Concrete Structure to Level 3	$33.7m
28 Apr 2023	Stage 4: Balance Structure and Services	$33.7m
28 Apr 2023	Stage 5: Facade & Architectural	$34.7m

Questions and answers

Is Metropolitan On William Hotel residential or commercial?
Metropolitan On William Hotel is a commercial building. The City of Melbourne lists its main use as unoccupied - unused.

When was Metropolitan On William Hotel built?
Metropolitan On William Hotel was completed in 2023.

How many floors does Metropolitan On William Hotel have?
Metropolitan On William Hotel has 20 floors above ground.

What businesses are in Metropolitan On William Hotel?
The latest council census counted 4 businesses in Metropolitan On William Hotel, including FJMT, Metropolitan Hotel and Servcorp.

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

Who designed and built Metropolitan On William Hotel?
DeGroup developed Metropolitan On William Hotel, Peddle Thorp designed it and Crema Constructions built it. The building team section has the sources.

How tall is Metropolitan On William Hotel?
About 79 metres, measured from the City of Melbourne's 3D building model. It's number 168 of 1596 buildings in Melbourne by height.

What public transport is near Metropolitan On William Hotel?
Flagstaff Station is the nearest train station, about 2 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is Flagstaff Station/William St #7, about 1 minute's walk.

What is the planning zone for Metropolitan On William Hotel?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO1231).

Does Metropolitan On William Hotel have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision TP828856 has 1 lot.

Has the Metropolitan Hotel been sold before?
Yes. The Metropolitan Hotel sold at auction in April 2016 for $8.61 million.

Has any work been done on Metropolitan On William Hotel recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 7 building permits for Metropolitan On William Hotel since 2023. The most recent was in October 2025.

Sources: City of Melbourne building permits (CC BY 4.0); CLUE building information (CC BY 4.0); CLUE business establishments (CC BY 4.0); Development Activity Monitor (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.