Former tobacco HQ reborn

Former tobacco HQ reborn

4 May 2018

The former home of tobacco giant Philip Morris in south-east suburban Melbourne is being transformed into a $100 million business precinct by its new owner Up Property, reports the AFR.

The aptly dubbed Morris Moor will deliver 50,000 square metres of commercial space spread across 6.2 hectares.

The precinct will feature offices, showrooms, restaurants, childcare, landscaped gardens, and parking all in close proximity to public transport and only 30 minutes from Melbourne CBD.

Up Property purchased the sprawling office and manufacturing facility in Moorabbin in 2016 in a deal worth more than $20 million.

The sale followed the tobacco giant’s decision to close its local manufacturing operations in 2014 and move its Australian cigarette production to Korea.

All going to the plan, the Moorabbin site could one day be home to more than 1,600 jobs, double the number previously there in its former occupation as a manufacturing site.

“We received overwhelming interest from businesses looking for opportunities beyond that of a typical office precinct, from gymnasiums and coffee roasters to indoor golf simulators and cinemas,” Up Property principal Adam Davidson said.

Accordingly, Up Property decided to revamp the original site rather than demolish the existing buildings and building from scratch.

Work began this month to remodel the main office building on the site.

The building comprises 5,257 square metres of office space across two levels and has the potential to house up to six tenants.

It is being fully refurbished with a facelift for its facade and a CBD-style lobby. The overhaul is expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2019.

Three tenants have been secured for the broader site already.

A 140-place childcare centre run by Little Learning School will occupy one of the site’s oldest warehouses including.

A co-warehousing facility, Clik Collective, will take up more than 6,000 square metres.

Furniture retailer, Schotts Home Emporium, is currently remodelling a 4,140 square metre showroom in one of the buildings.

The Morris Moor redevelopment will also include 2,879 square metres of hospitality space, designed by architecture and interior design firm Techne.