Hamilton Group submit plans for$3.5m Albion Mill redevelopment with waterfront restaurant

The old brick building would become a dining, office and commercial precinct on the Barwon River under the plans.

Hamilton Group have submitted plans for a $3.5m Albion Mill redevelopment on the Barwon River with a waterfront restaurant.

Plans for a $3.5m revamp of the Albion Mill building in Newtown, including a riverside restaurant and commercial and office spaces, have been submitted to council.

Developer Hamilton Group submitted the plans to Geelong council for the site at 550 Latrobe Boulevard, alongside the Barwon River beneath the James Harrison Bridge.

The proposal aims to transform the current building by introducing a restaurant overlooking the river and implementing contemporary office spaces.

The building is home to a gym and was also formerly housed Pegasus Antiques, which announced it would be leaving the site earlier this year.

Riverside caravan cafe Sweet Adeline used to be based next to the building but was told it would need to find a new home after Hamilton Group purchased the property.

Hamilton Group have submitted plans for a $3.5m Albion Mill redevelopment with a waterfront restaurant.

Samuel West, chief operations officer for Hamilton Group, said the renewal project would activate the precinct with a world-class hospitality and entertainment venue.

The proposal seeks to retrofit the existing building to allow for a variety of smaller commercial tenancies.

According to the planning report, the proposal would see some demolition to allow for an internal refurbishment of the building.

Exterior of 550 Latrobe Boulevard, Newtown. Hamilton Group have submitted plans to revitalise the iconic building. Picture: Mark Wilson

Hamilton Group said it understand the importance of creating legacies as it has done so at the Federal Woollen Mills, which it said had been a highly successful adaptation of the wider complex.

The riverside proposal seeks to follow a similar model, adapting an iconic building with social significance to serve the current needs of the community, the group said.

Mr West said the revitalisation of historic buildings in Geelong was crucial to everything Hamilton did.

Exterior of 550 Latrobe Boulevard, Newtown. Hamilton Group have submitted plans to revitalise the iconic building. Picture: Mark Wilson

“These historic buildings are important to the Geelong Community – they must be preserved and celebrated,” Mr West said.

“Their place within the landscape and our history are an important part of the story and future for greater Geelong.”

Mr West said if approved, construction on the development would begin in three months, with the time frame to completion estimated at 12 months.

The Albion Woollen Mill was established in the late 1860s to mid-1870s and helped establish Geelong as a wool milling and scouring centre.

Originally published as Hamilton Group submit plans for$3.5m Albion Mill redevelopment with waterfront restaurant