Barings and Aware Super have officially declared open WeAreLiving Queens, a $405 million build-to-rent development located at 50-52 Queens Lane, Melbourne, alongside Albert Park.
The 14-level building delivers 433 professionally managed homes in one of the city’s most sought-after inner-city locations.
The development provides much-needed housing choice and makes a significant contribution to Melbourne’s housing supply, offering studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in a location that combines parkland, city connectivity and premium lifestyle amenity.
WeAreLiving Queens is the flagship project for the expanding WeAreLiving brand, and its largest build-to-rent development to date.
It follows the launches earlier this year of WeAreLiving Preston in Melbourne’s north and WeAreLiving Brunswick in Brisbane.
WeAreLiving is a property operating platform owned by Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest super funds, and managed by Barings, one of the world’s leading alternative investment managers, with a pipeline of more than 2000 build-to-rent homes across New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.
Designed by Bates Smart and built by Hickory, WeAreLiving Queens will soon be home to more than 850 residents.
Amenities include a 24-hour gym, pool, sauna, steam room and cold plunge, a pet wash and dog run, a rooftop terrace with barbecues, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, a dedicated podcast studio, private dining rooms, cinema rooms, a resident lounge, more than 2,500 square metres of landscaped courtyard gardens, and 503 secure car spaces including electric vehicle charging.
The all-electric building achieves an average NatHERS rating of 7.8 stars across all apartments and features an embedded energy network, double glazing throughout, and private balconies or terraces to every apartment.
Build-to-rent specialist Essence Communities is the property manager, with a dedicated on-site team delivering tailored services to residents.
Every apartment includes premium appliances, including Fisher & Paykel and Haier cooking appliances, a refrigerator, washing machine and dryer, with fully furnished options also available.
Like the recently opened Preston development, WeAreLiving Queens benefits from the Victorian Government’s 50 per cent land tax concession for new build-to-rent projects, in line with the Government’s multi-faceted housing supply strategy.
Warwick Dowler, Head of Residential for Barings Real Estate Australia, said: “With 433 brand-new apartments, WeAreLiving Queens is our largest build-to-rent development to date and its location near the park and lake, as well as the tram line for a simple CBD connection, offers residents the true Melbourne lifestyle.”
George Abraham, Managing Director at Hickory, said the project set a new benchmark for build-to-rent living, adding: “As demand for quality housing continues to grow, projects like WeAreLiving Queens demonstrate the important role our industry can play in delivering vibrant, connected communities for the future.”
Alek Misev, Head of Property at Aware Super, said the development provides valuable housing supply to Melbourne while reflecting Aware Super’s commitment to investing in local projects that deliver stable, long-term returns for members.
Bates Smart Director Karen Wong said the design draws on the building’s position next to Albert Park, with apartments prioritising natural light and air and cascading terraces overlooking the park and water.
The WeAreLiving brand focuses on delivering premium build-to-rent communities close to employment, education, public transport and everyday amenities, creating professionally managed neighbourhoods designed around convenience, connection and resident wellbeing.
WeAreLiving Queens is the brand’s third build-to-rent development to open in 2026, with WeAreLiving Zetland in Sydney set to be unveiled in the third quarter of the year.
