Kings Funerals’ $4m plan for Lara funeral parlour and chapel
A large northern suburbs site has been earmarked by a family-owned funeral company for the development of a $4m facility that would add to its three existing locations.
Geelong
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A well known family-owned funeral service company is planning to add another site to its list – this time in Geelong’s north.
Kings Funerals has submitted a $4m proposal to Geelong council for the construction of a funeral parlour and associated chapel at 190-200 Forest Rd South in Lara.
The site, 2.5km southwest of Lara’s town centre, adjoins Flinders Memorial Park Public Cemetery and sold for $3.25m in March last year, according to online records.
Under the plans, which are out for public consultation until July 1, the buildings would be set back approximately 70m from the road.
An accompanying carpark would be located immediately south of the buildings and have space for 150 vehicles.
A maximum of 500 people would be on-site at any given time.
Kings has obtained in-principle support from Powercor for the relocation of a power pole at the front of the site so a vehicle crossover can be accommodated.
Kings Funerals is a third-generation funeral home operator that is set to celebrate its 70th anniversary this year.
It employs 25 people and has existing locations in Ocean Grove, Torquay and Newcomb – which doubles as its administrative headquarters.
“This proposed new location is a continuation of our 70-year commitment to providing a broad range of funeral service offerings for the Geelong community,” general manager Beth King said.
“There are no similar funeral venues currently available to the people of Lara and surrounding areas.”
“Since farewelling our Myers St location in 2023 we have been searching for additional locations in the north and west regions of Geelong.”
Kings’ former site on Myers St in the CBD is being transformed by Melbourne-based development group Pitard into an 11-storey, 117-apartment social housing complex.
The location, short-listed as a potential home for WorkSafe, was sold for $8m in 2021.
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Originally published as Kings Funerals’ $4m plan for Lara funeral parlour and chapel
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