Housing Choices Preston

About the project

Our Preston residential development provides architect-designed, environmentally sustainable affordable homes, delivered through a community housing model that supports residents and builds links with community.

The Preston project was developed in partnership with Homes Victoria under the Victorian Government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build, and in association with the City of Darebin and the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.

Designed by award-winning architects Six Degrees and Simon Ellis Landscape Architects, the property comprises 39 one and two-bedroom apartments across five levels and includes reprovision of 28 public car parks at ground level. All dwellings are designed to Livable Housing Australia Silver Level, 5 Star Green Star and 7 Star NatHERS ratings.

The site is a block away from the bustling High Street retail precinct and a short walk from local markets and public transport. The homes have been offered to applicants drawn from the Victorian Housing Register. Housing Choices delivers both tenancy and property management services for the building and its residential community, as well as community-building initiatives. Housing Choices has a management office located at the property.

Housing Choices is an award-winning, Victorian-based national community housing provider and developer, with extensive experience in affordable and social housing tenancy and property management and community-building.

What is community housing?

Over 20,000 Victorian households currently live in community housing-owned and managed homes. They are from all walks of life – single people, couples, young families, older women, newly arrived Victorians and people with disability.

The community housing sector is a long standing and vital component of the Australian housing spectrum, alongside public housing and private housing. ‘Social housing’ is an umbrella term that includes both public housing and community housing. It generally indicates housing that involves some degree of rental subsidy. In Victoria, public housing is managed by Homes Victoria. Community housing is owned or managed by non-government, not-for-profit, registered housing agencies like Housing Choices.

Community housing providers are regulated by the Victorian Housing Registrar and hold specialist expertise in property development, property management, tenancy management and community development. We provide safe and secure homes to those who live on low incomes, often with disability. We are committed under our charter to deliver safe, secure and affordable homes to low-income renters, help residents maintain stable tenancies, and ensure they have access to support services and live in communities that will improve their circumstances and life opportunities.

Design features

  • 7 NatHERS rating
  • 5 Green Star rating
  • 25.6 Photovoltaic array
  • Rainwater collected for common area use
  • 28 public car parks at ground level
  • Communal BBQ area
  • Energy efficient heat pump hot water system
  • Ample secure bicycle parking, close to public transport and car share options, no private car spaces

Key details

  • Completion – 2023
  • Location – Preston, VIC
  • Apartment mix – 17 x 1BR, 19 x 2BR, 1 x Commercial
  • Architects – Six Degrees
  • Builder – Manresa
  • Landscaping – Openwork
  • Funding – Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Homes Victoria and Housing Choices Australia
  • Photography – Tom Roe