Advertising agency Clemenger Group relocates 900 staff to new City of Melbourne office

Clemenger takes 7,500 square meters of space, effectively all of the available office floors in the David Jones building, which is set to undergo a $22.55 million renovation that will add a rooftop terrace and balconies for office tenants on four upper floors, plus space for a 2245 square meter Supermarket in the basement.

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The building, owned by property fund manager Newmark Capital, recently recruited beauty retailer MECCA as anchor tenant in the ground floor and first floor retail spaces to take over tenancy from David Jones.

Another major fashion retailer, Rodd & Gunn, will set up a flagship store at the rear of the building, which overlooks Little Collins Street.

And in a further sign of the city’s rejuvenation, beauty retailer Aesop will move into an 80 square meter store in the Georges Building at 162 Collins Street. Aesop has taken up space next to shoe retailer Christian Louboutin in the distinctive white building in an off-market deal brokered by Collier’s Jennifer Tai and Adam Lester.

Newmark chief executive Angus Machutchison said the David Jones building was now “90 per cent pre-let to prime retail and office tenants before the start of renovations”.

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Bates Smart Architects is leading the redesign of the historic building at 299 Bourke Street, focusing on its heritage facade overlooking the mall, as well as upgrading awnings and adding new glazing.

Clemenger’s offices will be accessed through a dedicated lobby at 280 Little Collins Street. Group chairman Robert Morgan said the agency was returning to its “birthplace”.

“The CBD is where the company’s founders opened John Clemenger Advertising in 1946, in the basement of a building on Bourke Street,” he said.