At Indi Footscray, the conversation around build-to-rent extends beyond apartments. Designed by SJB, the new mixed-use development regenerates a long-vacant railway reserve into a 702-dwelling community that also strengthens the public realm around one of western Melbourne‘s busiest transport interchanges.

Developed for Investa and Oxford Properties Group, the project comprises three residential buildings of twenty, seventeen and eight storeys, introducing a new residential scale to Footscray while creating a stronger connection between the station, surrounding streets and the historic Railway Reserve.

“The first purpose-built BTR developments in Footscray, Indi Footscray sets out to demonstrate design excellence to its future neighbours,” says SJB Director Nigel Morris. “Our ambition was to contribute meaningfully to the evolving urban tapestry of the area.”

Rather than treating the ground plane as simply an arrival point, the project prioritises walkability and public life. Shared resident amenities include co-working spaces, private dining rooms, lounges, wellness facilities, rooftop gardens and a basketball half-court, while commissioned public artworks — including a 75-metre cultural mural along McNab Lane — contribute to the wider precinct beyond the development itself.

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According to Courtney Raven, Operations Director at Indi, the project reflects a longer-term approach to renting. “At Indi Footscray, that’s backed by a long-term commitment to quality, consistency and care,” she says. “By investing in elevated shared spaces, onsite services and community experiences, we’re creating a connected living experience that contributes positively to the evolving Footscray precinct.”

The three buildings are arranged around a heritage-listed Moreton Bay fig tree, with each tower adopting its own architectural identity while remaining visually cohesive. At street level, detailed brick podiums reference nearby civic buildings such as Footscray Town Hall, while textured precast concrete and vertical façade fins animate the towers above as light shifts throughout the day.

For SJB, the project represents more than an increase in housing density. By reclaiming underutilised railway land and reconnecting it to the surrounding neighbourhood, Indi Footscray positions build-to-rent as a catalyst for broader urban renewal, demonstrating how residential development can contribute to the life of the city beyond its own boundaries.

SJB
sjb.com.au

Photography
Tom Roe