Kensington Lane precinct within Central Park Broadway to be Singaporean hotelier's first Australian hotel

The Singaporean hotelier Loh Lik Peng's Unlisted Collection: has secured two gateway buildings within the Central Park Broadway precinct with plans to convert the Clare Hotel and the former Carlton & United Brewery's administration building into its first boutique Australian hotel.

With hopes for a late 2014 opening, Frasers Property last week  lodged the plans for the 60-bed hotel, to be owned and operated by Unlisted Collection:, which is undertaking the $20 million redevelopment.

Two signature restaurants fronting Kensington Street, a rooftop bar and swimming pool, and a dedicated dessert restaurant are among the plans currently on public exhibition until February 1 with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

Construction works totalling 4,600 square metres are expected to commence in mid-2013.

Unlisted Collection:’s Central Park property will consist of 60 rooms.

The chief executive of Frasers Property Australia, Guy Pahor, said the reuse of the two heritage buildings would be a cornerstone of the Kensington Lane precinct – "a charming urban laneway of predominantly heritage terraces and buildings, slated to become an eclectic food, beverage and entertainment destination".

The Central Park concept plan was approved in 2009 with retention and adaptive re-use of 33 heritage buildings a key aspect of the precinct’s masterplan. 

Frasers Property Australia which sold the two buildings had wholly owned the Kensington Street precinct, held separately to its joint venture partnership with Sekisui House on the majority of the Central Park project.

Unlisted Collection: has retained Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects to design the $20 million adaption. The two heritage buildings will bejoined by a contemporary steel and glass building, spanning the existing laneway.

Heritage features such as timber panelled boardrooms and historic CUB entertaining areas will be retained, with contemporary additions.

Launching its first boutique hotel, Hotel 1929, in Singapore in 2003, Unlisted Collection: has since expanded to operate six hotel properties and 11 restaurants, located in Singapore, London and Shanghai. The properties include New Majestic Hotel and Wanderlust in Singapore, Town Hall Hotel and Apartments in London, and The Waterhouse in Shanghai.