Younghusband Woolstore

Architect: Oakden & Ballantyne 1917, Beaver & Purnell 1923, Purnell, Round & Graham 1928, Woods Bagot 2020

City of Melbourne | C02

Building Description

An iconic, red brick ode to Australia’s agricultural history, Kensington’s Younghusband wool store dates back to 1901 and is one of few warehouse complexes of its kind remaining in Victoria. Works are underway to transform the site into a creative, industrial village in the City of Melbourne’s Arden Macaulay growth precinct.

The warehouses have been home to an eclectic mix of tenants in recent years – from furniture makers to recording studios, and even the costume department for the Australian Ballet.

Designed by Woods Bagot, a new redevelopment led by Impact Investment Group is set for completion in 2023, and expected to vastly expand and diversify the tenancy. At 14660m2, a key innovation for the masterplan was to become Victoria’s first carbon and water-neutral site, including large-scale solar PV to cover the iconic sawtooth roof.

Although some areas under construction won’t be accessible during the tour, this is a unique time in the life of a historic series of buildings when visitors can view its architectural past and imagine the future. With minimal planned intervention to co-warehousing spaces through to high-end upgrades for offices and some food and beverage tenancies, Younghusband promises to set a new benchmark for adaptive reuse projects in Melbourne and beyond.

What's On

Self-guided tours throughout the day. Talk at 1pm, with architects from Woods Bagot and Younghusband owner Impact Investment Group (IIG), discussing future plans for the site and sustainability features. Join a guided tour lead by IIG, Younghusband custodian and architects from Woods Bagot. Tours leave from 10 Elizabeth Street.

Location