DIGS WITH DISTINCTION

DEMAND for student accommodation in central Geelong is evident as 160 students move into Deakin University’s new $50 million student accommodation building.

The 11-storey building, designed by Nettleton Tribe and Thomson Adsett, will be able to cater for 410 students when fully completed in May.

Deakin residential services chief executive Vincent Wilson said most of the students who were settling in to Brougham House were enrolled at the Waterfront campus.

“We have worked closely with our contractors to ensure the first stage of this project was ready ahead of schedule, in time for Trimester 1,” Mr Wilson said.

He said they had been able to accommodate most people who have already applied and was confident they would fill the 410 beds next year.

“Everything is a little notch up from the last one we built, it is nice to see we have managed to constantly improve our offering,” he said.

Mr Wilson said the university was already thinking about future student accommodation options in central Geelong and Waurn Ponds but had no plans in place at this stage.

Deakin chief operating officer Kean Selway said Brougham House was the university’s second student accommodation facility in central Geelong, with the refurbished T & G building now home to 33 students.

“Deakin’s investment in student accommodation in central Geelong will support more students to immerse themselves in university life at the Waterfront campus,” Mr Selway said.

The accommodation includes apartments that have six bedrooms and shared common facilities. There are also several common areas including a rooftop barbecue terrace with views of Corio Bay.

GJ McDonald & Co Geelong agent Alison Kerr said there was a lot of demand for student accommodation in Geelong.

“We find a lot of people like to live in share houses as it is cheaper for them especially