Specialists in Kooyong's exclusive heritage residential pocket. Sensitive retention plus addition strategy within Stonnington's design excellence framework.
Reviewed May 2026Kooyong is one of Stonnington's smaller and more exclusive residential pockets, sitting between Toorak and Hawthorn near the Yarra River. The suburb is characterised by substantial Edwardian and interwar housing on generous lot sizes. Amendment C320ston (Toorak, Armadale and Kooyong Heritage Review) materially extended Heritage Overlay coverage in Kooyong, making heritage response a central design consideration for most current development sites.
Kooyong has specific planning requirements within Stonnington Council. With numerous projects approved across the suburb, we have built relationships with council planners and understand exactly what they look for in applications.
Most residential land in Kooyong falls within one of these zone families, each with materially different development outcomes.
Applies across the established residential streets — the most common designation in this suburb.
Applies in denser residential pockets and contemporary townhouse precincts where multi-unit development is most readily achievable.
Applies along Stonnington's key boulevards — RGZ1 (Key Boulevards) carries 13.5m default height, RGZ3 in the Glenferrie Road and High Street ACZ carries 18m mandatory height.
Source: Stonnington Planning Scheme, planning-schemes.app.planning.vic.gov.au. Latest amendment C320ston, last verified May 2026.
Substantially extended under Amendment C320ston
Protects mature canopy and Yarra River escarpment
Applies to individual significant trees
Overlay status should be confirmed for any specific site before contract exchange. The planning scheme is the authoritative source — Vicmap Property and the Stonnington Property Profile tool are useful starting points.
high-quality materials, architectural merit, considered streetscape response
heritage overlays, design excellence, materials palette
heritage impact statement in HO areas
8–10 weeks for first Request for Information (RFI)
Per Feasibly council intelligence data, last verified May 2026.
For Kooyong specifically, the council pays particular attention to heritage overlay considerations.
Gazetted in progress
Heritage Overlay applied to 17 new individually significant places and 9 new heritage precincts across Toorak, Armadale, and Kooyong
View source →Gazetted earlier
Significant zone schedule reforms — established residential boulevard schedules with mandatory heights (RGZ2 13.5m, RGZ3 18m for the Glenferrie Road precinct)
View source →Gazetted 6 March 2025
Statewide reform introducing a deemed-to-comply pathway under Clause 55 for multi-dwelling developments of three storeys or less. Where every standard is met, no third-party appeal applies. Operative for applications lodged from 31 March 2025.
View source →Across recent Kooyong dual occupancy and townhouse outcomes, a recognisable pattern of successful applications emerges. While every site differs, the following observations apply to most viable approval pathways in the suburb.
Tribunal commentary on Stonnington heritage applications consistently emphasises the council's design excellence threshold. A representative recent matter — including the VCAT consideration of a high-rise residential proposal on Toorak Road, South Yarra (refused on heritage and built-form grounds, reported by Gadens, 2024) — illustrates the Tribunal's deference to council's heritage assessment framework in prestige residential contexts.
These patterns indicate typical successful pathways. Site-specific outcomes depend on the particular planning context, design response, and engagement strategy chosen.
Amendment C320ston materially extended Heritage Overlay coverage across Kooyong. Most contributory sites now proceed via retention plus carefully composed addition — design quality and materials response are consistently the deciding factors.
Sammi Lian, Principal Architect, SQM Architects
— On developing in Kooyong
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Expert dual occupancy designs optimised for Kooyong's zoning and character requirements.
Learn more →Apartment developments where Stonnington Council zoning permits higher density.
Learn more →Official planning and building information, permit requirements, and lodgement details.
Visit Council WebsiteFull planning scheme ordinance including zones, overlays, and local policies.
View Planning SchemeState government planning guides including ResCode, heritage guidelines, and application requirements.
View Planning GuidesLatest Victorian planning scheme amendments and reform updates affecting residential development.
View Amendments
Written by Sammi Lian, Principal Architect.
SQM Architects | ABN 32 600 928 390 | Architects Registration Board of Victoria, Reg. No. 51498.
210+ projects delivered across Melbourne’s east. 98% planning approval rate.
This page provides general information about engaging architects for property development in Kooyong, Victoria. It is not architectural, planning, or financial advice. Site-specific outcomes vary and should be confirmed by qualified professionals after a site-specific assessment. Planning scheme provisions and council practices are subject to change; references on this page were verified May 2026.
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