$20m makeover all glass
THE former Pilkington's glass factory in North Geelong is getting a $20 million makeover a decade after it was closed as a manufacturing site.
Plans revealed yesterday by the Hamilton Group include a restoration of the building’s historic Princes Highway facade.
To be known as the Glass House, its features include a “glass curtain facade” at the rear and its sawtooth roof that gives a nod to its industrial heritage while also creating a modern signature style.
The Glass House will also have improved pedestrian connections to the redeveloped Federal Mills business park, which sits behind it.
On the corner of the highway and Mackey St in North Geelong, the building opened in 1934 as the Pilkington Glass factory, which became the first in Australia to make laminated glass.
It is understood to have been the major automotive glass supplier in the country, employing about 350 about 20 years ago.
After its closure in 2009, it has become home to a vintage market and a corner cafe. staff,
Hamilton Group managing director Cam Hamilton said permits had been approved for the $20 million redevelopment and work was set to start.
“Given the increasing demand at Federal Mills, where we are down to one remaining space, this naturally has led to serious early interest in the upcoming spaces at the Glass House and we are keen to talk to businesses and organisations with needs ranging from 250-3000sq m,” Mr Hamilton said,
The Glass House consists of more than 10,000sq m of space involving up to eight tenancies, some of which have already been taken.
Announcing the project at an Urban Development Institute of Australia event in Geelong yesterday, Hamilton Group director Andrew Hamilton said the group was experiencing strong demand, leasing 9000sq m of space at Federal Mills this year.
The redeveloped Federal Mills, the Glass House and the former power station are known as the Pivot City Innovation District.
Plans to redevelop the disused power station, approved by the Geelong council a year ago, have been called in by the State Government following objections from nearby port users, including GrainCorp.
Mr Hamilton told the UDIA forum that the plans were heading to an independent tribunal hearing in February that was expected to last between six and 10 days.