Maryborough Dominion Flour Mill site to be redeveloped

Controversy has surrounded the proposed redevelopment of a prime piece of Maryborough real estate because of a heritage-listed structure located there, but a new plan offers a way forward.

A first look at the new development set to be built at the site of the former Dominion Flour Mill.

A controversial archway on a prime piece of Maryborough real estate caused one developer to walk away from plans to build a suite of short to medium-term, self-contained two-bedroom accommodations after the cost of stabilising the structure was deemed too high.

Now, after the land was sold to Brisbane buyers in 2021, the new plans for the Kent St site where the Dominion Flour Mill once stood have been revealed.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said this week the council was assessing a development application for a retirement living facility with complimentary healthcare services.

“The development proposal will retain the historic archway,” he said.

The new developer, Y & L Family Pty Ltd, has proposed to turn the site into 45 retirement living units, “responding to the ageing population and community need for additional housing options for older persons”, the development application read.

A first look at the new development set to be built at the site of the former Dominion Flour Mill.

“The proposal aims to assist people attain better health, wellbeing and lifestyle choices through retirement living and will raise the benchmark for retirement living through the delivery of architectural excellence, subtropical design and the highest quality offerings and communal facilities.”

The former owner of the site, Chris Moore, had raised concerns about the stability of the archway, along with the amount of money he said it would cost to stabilise it.

He was working on the project with another company as part of a joint venture but plans hit a massive roadblock amid a debate over the future of the arch.

The mill had originally been built in 1890 for the Maryborough Milling Company and was the most northerly in Australia at the time.

Chris Moore at the old flour mill site on Kent St in Maryborough.

All that remained after the demolition of the buildings was the entrance archway, which was heritage-listed by the Fraser Coast council.

Still, other members of the community fought to save it and were delighted when the council stood behind its decision to keep the archway on its register, despite the fact that the State Heritage Register declined to include the archway on its own register.

At the time of the sale, Mr Moore said he was sure the new owners of the site would make a positive contribution to Maryborough.

“We felt our work on the site was complete after we had removed a derelict and unsafe building and unlocked a great development site for Maryborough,” he said.

“We were proud to use local contractors throughout the development.”