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Carlow House

281-291 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Generated 8 November 2026
Commercial · Unoccupied - Unused
44 mheight
10floors
1939completed
24businesses
39permits

Development milestones

Completed1939Carlow House completed: 10 floors

Building team

Architect
Harry Norris
Builder
E.A. Watts
Owner
Fivex Group (Berger family)

Planning & subdivision

Zone
CCZ2
Overlays
DDO1, DDO2, DDO2-A1, HO506, PO2
Strata plan
PS641356 · 17 lots
Scores
🚆 9 · ☕ 9 · 🌳 5 · ✨ 10

Timeline

20261 building permit · about $20k of new works
Largest: Level 3 - Internal Office Alterations
20241 building permit · about $200k of new works
Largest: Shop 3 - Internal Fit Out - Pasha Kebab
30 Aug 2023Fivex's Carlow House fully leased
Property Markets reported that Fivex's Carlow House had reached 100% occupancy, with leasing handled by Colliers and JLL. The article notes the building had been refurbished by the Berger family's Fivex Group.
20234 building permits and 1 certificate · about $674k of new works
Largest: Lot 56 - Construction of Alterations to an Existing Club/Bar
8 Nov 2022Gemba relocates to Carlow House in the CBD
Sports and entertainment strategist Gemba committed to 365 square metres, the first level of Carlow House, moving from Southbank. The article describes Carlow House as 3400 square metres over 10 levels.
2022Council census records it as unoccupied - unused, 11 floors
Name recorded: Carlow House
20221 building permit and 2 certificates · about $315k of new works
Largest: Shop 1 (Rozzi's) - Construction of an internal shop fitout
20211 building permit · about $30k of new works
Largest: Lot S12 - Tenancy Alterations
20191 building permit
Largest: Stage 2 Completion of fitout to tenancy
20184 building permits · about $357k of new works
Largest: Fit out to create a restaurant with a mezzanine
20171 building permit and 3 certificates · about $5.2m of new works
Largest: Stage 2 - Works to include additional sanitary facilities to Level 16
20162 building permits · about $22k of new works
Largest: Internal alterations to level 2
20153 building permits · about $21k of new works
Largest: Stage 2: Proposed Signage
20143 building permits and 2 certificates · about $166k of new works
Largest: 1/289 Flinders Lane, Non structural glazed facade demolition & fitout to the ground floor tenancy
20131 building permit · about $22k of new works
Largest: Internal alterations to existing building - basement
2012Council census records it as office, 11 floors
Name recorded: Carlow House
20122 building permits · about $21k of new works
Largest: Alterations Level 4
20114 building permits · about $1.5m of new works
Largest: Additions and alterations Levels 2-9
20102 building permits and 1 certificate · about $465k of new works
Largest: Levels 2,3 & 9: office alterations
2009Council census records it as unoccupied - unused, 11 floors
Name recorded: Carlow House
20081 building permit
Largest: Minor Fire Safety Upgrade. Stage 2: Fire safety upgrade - detection & compartmentation.
20072 building permits · about $183k of new works
Largest: Alteration to shop, internal alterations & new mezzanine floor & sign Shop 4.
20051 building permit · about $398k of new works
Largest: internal alterations to level 7
2002First council census entry: office, 11 floors
20011 building permit · about $30k of new works
Largest: lvl 1 office fit out
19991 building permit · about $86k of new works
Largest: Alteration to level 4 Carlow House Private Gallery
19971 building permit · about $10k of new works
Largest: Office alterations
1939Carlow House completed: 10 floors
Derived from Melbourne Buildings

Building permits and certificates (47)

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.

08 Apr 2026Level 3 - Internal Office Alterations$20k
24 July 2024Shop 3 - Internal Fit Out - Pasha Kebab$200k
27 Oct 2023Internal alterations to an existing building.$24k
11 Oct 2023Construction of an internal shop fitout$120k
20 Feb 2023Lot 56 - Construction of Alterations to an Existing Club/Bar$430k
07 Feb 2023Construction of Alterations to an Existing Retail Premises$430k
11 Jan 2023Ground floor, Shop 1D - Stage 2: completion of works for shopfront alterations$100k
04 Nov 2022Shop 1 (Rozzi's) - Construction of an internal shop fitout$180k
25 Aug 2022Shop 1C - Proposed alterations to existing retail$35k
22 Aug 2022Ground floor, Shop 1D - Alteration works to an existing commercial tenancy$100k
18 Nov 2021Lot S12 - Tenancy Alterations$30k
14 Feb 2019Stage 2 Completion of fitout to tenancy$175
20 Dec 2018Fit out to create a restaurant with a mezzanine$175k
03 Dec 2018Level 5 - Fit out alterations$77k
12 Nov 2018Tenancy 1B - Alteration Works to an Existing Tenancy$80k
13 Sept 2018Alterations to an existing building (new shopfront and rear gas meter cupboard to Shop no. 4)$25k
18 Dec 2017Stage 2 - Works to include additional sanitary facilities to Level 16$4.9m
18 Oct 2017Level 4 - Internal Office Alterations$75k
05 Oct 2017Shop 1 - Alterations to an existing shop$29k
17 July 2017Tenancy fit out works - Chatime$168k
26 Apr 2016L6 - Tenancy Fitout of Office Tenancy$7k
09 Feb 2016Internal alterations to level 2$15k
18 Aug 2015Office Fit-Out$5k
22 Apr 2015Lot PS503689 & S14 - Signage$16k
22 Apr 2015Stage 2: Proposed Signage$21k
31 Oct 2014Level 6 - Internal Fit out to offices$48k
09 Sept 20141/289 Flinders Lane, Non structural glazed facade demolition & fitout to the ground floor tenancy$75k
28 Aug 2014Part Level 5 - internal alterations for Solution Underwriting$20k
31 July 2014Unit 2 Retail fitout to 'Money Mex'$18k
06 Jan 2014Minor intemal PDM Office fitout$5k
30 May 2013Internal alterations to existing building - basement$22k
20 Mar 2012Alterations Level 4$15k
11 Jan 2012Minor office alterations$6k
22 Sept 2011Internal Retail Tenancy Fit out (non Structural) Shop 3$145k
17 Sept 2011FIRE SERVICES UPGRADE$15k
15 Sept 2011Additions and alterations Levels 2-9$1.3m
17 Aug 2011Refurbishment to lift car$22k
28 Sept 2010Internal fitout Shop 1C & New shop front (Mrs Fields)$165k
11 June 2010Levels 2,3 & 9: office alterations$200k
12 Feb 2010Alterations to The Cupcake Bakery$100k
10 Mar 2008Minor Fire Safety Upgrade. Stage 2: Fire safety upgrade - detection & compartmentation.$133k
11 Dec 2007Alteration to shop, internal alterations & new mezzanine floor & sign Shop 4.$50k
04 Dec 2007Minor Fire Safety Upgrade. Stage 1: Installation of exit signage, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers & fire check plasterboard.$43k
12 May 2005internal alterations to level 7$398k
26 Feb 2001lvl 1 office fit out$30k
18 Aug 1999Alteration to level 4 Carlow House Private Gallery$86k
05 Aug 1997Office alterations$10k

Questions and answers

Is Carlow House residential or commercial?
Carlow House is a commercial building. The City of Melbourne lists its main use as unoccupied - unused.

When was Carlow House built?
Carlow House was completed in 1939.

How many floors does Carlow House have?
Carlow House has 10 floors above ground.

What businesses are in Carlow House?
The latest council census counted 24 businesses in Carlow House, including Approval Systems Pty Ltd, Burgtec and Chatime.

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

Who designed and built Carlow House?
Harry Norris designed Carlow House and E.A. Watts built it. The building team section has the sources.

How tall is Carlow 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 Carlow House?
Flinders Street Station is the nearest train station, about 2 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is Flinders Street Station/Elizabeth St #1, about 1 minute's walk.

What is the planning zone for Carlow House?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 2 (CCZ2). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO506).

Does Carlow House have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision PS641356 has 17 lots and common property, which means it is managed by an owners corporation.

Has any work been done on Carlow House recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 39 building permits for Carlow House since 1997. The most recent was in April 2026.

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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