Goldsborough Mort wool store set for new development after Maribyrnong City Council approval

An old West Footscray wool store is set for a major redevelopment with it being likened to a London tourist hotspot.

Renders of the proposed site for Sunshine Rd.

A multimillion-dollar redevelopment of an old West Footscray wool store has been likened to a famous London tourist spot.

Maribyrnong City Council approved the proposal for 63 Sunshine Rd, West Footscray — worth $29.1 million — to convert the heritage building into office spaces and warehouses with a food and drink premise on site.

The site is the former location of Goldsborough Mort wool store, which is regarded as historically significant as it shows the “epitome of wool store design” in Victoria.

Cr Michael Clarke said he was impressed the proposal would maintain the heritage on Sunshine Rd and likened it to London’s Isle of Dogs in the east end..

“We’re going to see an excellent re-purposing of a very established facility,” he said.

“I’ll never forget some years ago in the 1970s in London watching them drink champagne on the Isle of Dogs, what was remarkable about that was an industrial site was completely repurposed.

“(It) was given a new lease on life and very much spearheaded the development of the east end of London, this development embraces those very same principles.”

Perri Projects’ managing director David Scalzo labelled the proposal as a “catalyst” for the area.

“We think our vision for this site is aligned with the council’s as a major employment centre, particularly for industries of the future.

“We see it as a major investment, it is a long-term project for us … we see it as a catalyst for that precinct and the sort of employment and jobs that are there.”

The developer predicts the end value of the site will be worth $120 million after a partial demolition of the existing warehouse building and new construction is complete.