That's Built · Building report

St James Building

555 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Generated 8 November 2026
Commercial · Unoccupied - Unused

48 mheight

9floors

1969completed

15businesses

8permits

Development milestones

Completed

1969

St James Building completed: 9 floors

Building team

Developer: Juilliard Group
Owner: Juilliard Group

Planning & subdivision

Zone: CCZ1
Overlays: DDO1, DDO10, HO1310, PO1
Strata plan: TP547575 · 1 lots
Scores: 🚆 7 · ☕ 9 · 🌳 7 · ✨ 7

Timeline

2024Council census records it as unoccupied - unused, 9 floors
Name recorded: St James Building

20231 building permit · about $60k of new works
Largest: Level 2 & 3 - Alterations to existing office tenancy

20191 building permit · about $1 of new works
Largest: The College of Law - Level 1 alterations for training college & office areas

20182 building permits · about $246k of new works
Largest: Level 4 - Tenancy Fitout Office

2015Council census records it as office, 9 floors
Name recorded: St James Building

Feb 2013Juilliard's $120 million St James refurbishment attracts tenants
In February 2013, reports said the Juilliard Group's $120 million refurbishment of the St James complex at 555 Bourke Street was attracting tenants, including Willis Group, which was taking a floor of more than 2,300 square metres for its Melbourne headquarters. The complex was expected to be completed within weeks, with about 44 per cent of its roughly 20,000 square metres of office space leased.

2013Council census records it as unoccupied - under renovation, 9 floors
Name recorded: St James Building

Oct 2011Holding Redlich to anchor Bourke Street tower
Law firm Holding Redlich committed to lease the top two levels of 555 Bourke Street and part of the ground floor as the anchor tenant of the St James office project, relocating from 277 William Street. The Juilliard Group was reported as redeveloping the St James precinct and office building.

2010Council census records it as unoccupied - under renovation, 7 floors
Name recorded: St James Building

20101 certificate · about $29k of new works
Largest: Ten TM02 - Shop Fitout

2002First council census entry: office, 7 floors

20001 building permit · about $60k of new works
Largest: SHOP 17 INTERNAL ALTERATIONS TO SHOP

19991 building permit · about $110k of new works
Largest: Ground floor foyer and lift car refurbishment

19981 building permit · about $1.2m of new works
Largest: Office fitout for AMP Superannuation on levels 1 & 2 of St James building

19971 building permit · about $28k of new works
Largest: Proposed refurbishment of St James Tavern

1969St James Building completed: 9 floors
Derived from City of Melbourne building census (CLUE) 2024

1888The site on Mahlstedt's fire insurance plans
See what stood here in 1888, further down this page.

Building permits and certificates (9)

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 Jan 2023	Level 2 & 3 - Alterations to existing office tenancy	$60k
29 Jan 2019	The College of Law - Level 1 alterations for training college & office areas	$1
05 Dec 2018	Stage 2: Balance of Works	$0
31 Aug 2018	Level 4 - Tenancy Fitout Office	$246k
22 Feb 2010	Ten TM02 - Shop Fitout	$29k
23 May 2000	SHOP 17 INTERNAL ALTERATIONS TO SHOP	$60k
22 Feb 1999	Ground floor foyer and lift car refurbishment	$110k
12 Mar 1998	Office fitout for AMP Superannuation on levels 1 & 2 of St James building	$1.2m
18 Nov 1997	Proposed refurbishment of St James Tavern	$28k

Questions and answers

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

When was St James Building built?
St James Building was completed in 1969.

How many floors does St James Building have?
St James Building has 9 floors above ground.

What businesses are in St James Building?
The latest council census counted 15 businesses in St James Building, including Aleenta Health Club, Brioche by Philip and Clear Skincare Clinics.

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

Who designed and built St James Building?
Juilliard Group developed St James Building. The building team section has the sources.

How tall is St James Building?
About 48 metres, measured from the City of Melbourne's 3D building model. It's number 318 of 1596 buildings in Melbourne by height.

What public transport is near St James Building?
Southern Cross Station is the nearest train station, about 6 minutes' walk. The nearest tram stop is William St/Bourke St #3, about 1 minute's walk.

What is the planning zone for St James Building?
The site is in the Capital City Zone - Schedule 1 (CCZ1). It's also under a Heritage Overlay (HO1310).

Does St James Building have an owners corporation?
Plan of subdivision TP547575 has 1 lot.

Has any work been done on St James Building recently?
The City of Melbourne has issued 8 building permits for St James Building since 1997. The most recent was in January 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.