Live like the Great Gatsby: Get into the swing of Art Deco with a jazzy Melbourne apartment
If Milan Design Week was any indication, the glamour, refined elegance and formal geometric simplicity of the Art Deco period is having a resurgence in the world of interiors. There’s something about the architecture and design of the 1920s through to the early 40s that, in 2025, feels familiar and comforting. Perhaps it’s because Deco reminds us of the decadence, joy, optimism and value of beauty that emerged in the post war years — which in today’s chaotic world is exactly what we need.
Well-known for its Victorian architecture, Art Deco properties in Melbourne are few and far between - unless you know where to look. Scattered across the city Deco-era apartments can be found hiding in plain sight. With their curved walls, decorative timber floors, deftly detailed ceilings, steel-framed windows, high ceilings and generous proportions, each one is a study in elegance and a brighter future.
From lovingly restored Art Deco gems to luxury architecturally designed modern residences with Deco soul, here are seven Art Deco apartments you could call your own.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Sitting directly across from the Catani Gardens and steps from the St Kilda beach, this one bedroom plus study apartment in the Venezia Court complex is the perfect blend of style and location.
The Art Deco lines are unmistakable — arched windows, delicately detailed ceilings, perfectly proportioned windows welcoming in an abundance of natural light.
Thoughtfully modernised while retaining every element of authentic Deco charm, this elegant entry into vibrant St Kilda is currently for sale by negotiation between $650,000 to $700,000.
From the street, this building is textbook Art Deco. Symmetrical, solid, and unpretentious. Inside, this one bedroom apartment is a compact but charming example of 1930s design history waiting for a new owner with vision to add their own touch.
With the hospital and medical precinct and University close by and for sale with an asking price of $369,000, it’s perfect for someone who wants city proximity and unique architectural style.
Positioned opposite the leafy banks of the Yarra river, this two-bed apartment pairs Toorak’s prestige with Art Deco sophistication.
Tastefully renovated, the stand-out feature is the north facing curved balcony with its original stylised geometric steel balustrade. Accessible from both the living room and main bedroom, it’s the perfect elevated sun-drenched spot to relax, with your beverage of choice in hand, and watch the Yarra flowing quietly by.
Currently for sale with a price guide of $700,000 to $770,000 it’s your entry into one of Melbourne’s most desirable postcodes.
East Melbourne does elegance like nowhere else, and this one-bedroom apartment is no exception. Currently operated under a long-term lease with Quest Apartment Hotels and suitable for investment only, it’s the perfect addition to your portfolio.
With the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground mere metres away, public transport virtually on the doorstep, and a rooftop terrace offering guests expansive views of across tree tops to the MCG and city beyond, for $279,000 it’s worth crunching the numbers.
This exquisite architecturally designed Brighton apartment is proof of the enduring influence of Art Deco. Designed by Australian architect Nicholas Day and Brooklyn, New York based architect Gregory Tuck, who worked in-house for Ralph Lauren and Coach, it is the epitome of craftsmanship, refined taste and Deco inspired decadence.
Throughout the three bedroom, three bathroom home, the curves, textures and colour palette give a contemporary nod to Jazz age glamour and Upper East Side Manhattan grandeur.
Offered for sale by auction, the property is expected to sell for between $4.5m to $4.95m.
With flawless attention to detail including Calcutta marble throughout the bathrooms, top-of-the-line appliances in the open plan entertainers kitchen, and an American Oak library that doubles as a cinema room, this is exactly the type of home where you’d be likely to find Jay Gatsby, the most famous fictional Jazz Age character of all, reclining on a lounger taking “long, greedy swallows” of Gin Rickys.”
A textbook Deco renovation: tasteful, restrained, and sympathetic to the original details. This two bedroom one bathroom apartment combines old-world features with contemporary updates.
Exposed brickwork, high ceilings, polished timber floors and a fully functional original fireplace integrate seamlessly with the renovated kitchen and bathroom which have been thoughtfully designed for function and style. The warm neutral colour palette accented with brass is very now and thoroughly timeless.
Perfectly positioned in Hawksburn village, everything you could want and need for living your most stylish Melbourne lifestyle is at your fingertips.
With a price guide of $650,000 to $750,000 and zoned for Toorak Primary, Prahran High and Melbourne Girls College, this Deco gem is ideal for families looking for an affordable entry into this tightly held area. Expressions of interest close at 5pm on May 26.
One of Armadale’s Art Deco landmarks, Coonett was designed by prominent architect Eric C. Beedham (1895-1947).
From the street, the grand arches and stained glass windows capture your imagination. Stepping inside the elegant foyer, with its original patterned timber floor and grand, sweeping staircase, you get a sense of what Art Deco is really about.
Located on the ground floor, this beautifully renovated two bedroom one bathroom apartment offers 148 square meters floor area — ideal for those who love to entertain and enjoy the finer things in life.
Homes of this size and calibre with a price level of $1.1m to $1.2million in Armadale are almost as rare as Art Deco apartments themselves. Considering there is nothing left to do here except enjoy coming home to your very own iconic home, the auction on May 17 is likely to be competitive.
Originally published as The Jazz age is back in full swing - seven Art Deco apartments in Melbourne to call your own
