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Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto

487-503 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Generated 8 November 2026
Hotel · Commercial Accommodation
51 mheight
12floors
1890completed
0businesses
13permits

Development milestones

Planning application2023Planning application TPMR-2023-19 lodged
ApprovedApprovedPlanning permit granted (exact date not recorded)
Completed1890Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto completed: 12 floors

Building team

Architect
William Pitt
Architect
Cox Architecture
Owner
Salter Brothers
Developer
Salter Brothers

Planning & subdivision

Zone
CCZ1
Overlays
DDO1, DDO10, HO904, PO1
Scores
🚆 7 · ☕ 9 · 🌳 8 · ✨ 8

Timeline

20251 certificate · about $12k of new works
Largest: Construction of Swimming Pool Barrier
23 Apr 2024City of Melbourne committee endorses Rialto and Winfield tower plan; Heritage Victoria grants permission
The City of Melbourne's Future Melbourne Committee voted unanimously to endorse the planning proposal for the site. Heritage Victoria also granted permission for the proposal, and the final determination was left to the Department of Transport and Planning.
2023Planning application TPMR-2023-19 lodged
Derived from City of Melbourne Development Activity Monitor
27 Sep 2023Salter Brothers proposes tower above heritage Rialto and Winfield buildings
Salter Brothers proposed a tower above the heritage Rialto and Winfield buildings, designed by Cox Architecture, combining hotel rooms and office space. The plan would scrap a 1980s extension to the complex, and The Urban Developer reported in October 2023 that plans had been filed with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.
20231 building permit · about $568k of new works
Largest: Alteration
20141 certificate · about $4k of new works
Largest: Haigh's Chocolates (Tenancy 4) - Sunblinds
20131 building permit · about $264k of new works
Largest: Proposed Internal Tenancy Fitout for Rhodes and Beckett - 495 Collins St
20105 building permits and 3 certificates · about $2.1m of new works
Largest: Stage 2: Final. Rialto - Merchant of Venice
20092 building permits and 1 certificate · about $210k of new works
Largest: Variation: Hotel Alterations, Retail, Conference Faciligies - Gymnasium Extension.
2008Council census records it as commercial accommodation, 12 floors
Name recorded: Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto
20072 building permits · about $39.6m of new works
Largest: Rialto alterations. Stage 2: Hotel alterations, retail, conference facilities.
20051 building permit · about $2k of new works
Largest: New emergency lighting to Rialto Hotel. Flinder Street lane level, lower ground floor dining and lounge area.
20031 building permit · about $1k of new works
Largest: Removal of hoses from fire hydrants
2002First council census entry: commercial accommodation, 12 floors
20011 certificate · about $40k of new works
Largest: Alterations to shop No 5, refurbishment to Upper Level
1890Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto completed: 12 floors
Derived from Wikipedia
ApprovedPlanning permit granted (exact date not recorded)
Derived from City of Melbourne Development Activity Monitor

Building permits and certificates (20)

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.

07 Aug 2025Construction of Swimming Pool Barrier$12k
17 Apr 2023Alteration$568k
01 Dec 2014Haigh's Chocolates (Tenancy 4) - Sunblinds$4k
10 Dec 2013Proposed Internal Tenancy Fitout for Rhodes and Beckett - 495 Collins St$264k
21 Oct 2010Stage 2: Final. Rialto - Merchant of Venice$1.5m
02 Sept 2010Haighs Chocolates - retail fitout$450k
17 Aug 2010Alterations to The Rialto - Tenancy 04 - Lessor Works$80k
29 July 2010Construction of locker room fitout works - Tenancy 8$26k
15 July 2010Alteration to existing tenancy$3k
01 July 2010Office Fitout$10k
05 Feb 2010Alterations Tenancy 1 (East Day Spa)$450k
25 Jan 2010Rialto - Merchant of Venice$1.5m
05 June 2009Tenancy Fitout of a food premises (Tenancy 01 - Cafenatics)$150k
15 Apr 2009Variation: Hotel Alterations, Retail, Conference Faciligies - Gymnasium Extension.$39.5m
03 Mar 2009Refurbishment of a commercial kitchen- Intercontinental Rialto$60k
30 Nov 2007Modifications to Tenancy For Fobasa Pty Ltd trading as Turks Legal. Office fitout alterations to an existing building Level 10 (part).$29k
01 Nov 2007Rialto alterations. Stage 2: Hotel alterations, retail, conference facilities.$38.9m
07 Dec 2005New emergency lighting to Rialto Hotel. Flinder Street lane level, lower ground floor dining and lounge area.$3k
20 Nov 2003Removal of hoses from fire hydrants$1k
18 Sept 2001Alterations to shop No 5, refurbishment to Upper Level$40k

Questions and answers

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

When was Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto built?
Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto was completed in 1890.

How many floors does Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto have?
Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto has 12 floors above ground.

Does Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto have hotel or student accommodation?
Plans for this address include 272 hotel rooms.

Who designed and built Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto?
Salter Brothers developed Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto and William Pitt designed it. The building team section has the sources.

How tall is Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto?
About 50 metres, measured from the City of Melbourne's 3D building model. It's number 290 of 1596 buildings in Melbourne by height.

What public transport is near Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto?
Southern Cross Railway Station is the nearest train station, about 6 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is William St/Collins St #3, about 2 minutes' walk.

What is the planning zone for Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO904).

Has any work been done on Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 13 building permits for Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto since 2003. 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); 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.

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