Bayswater Rd: Former Irabina Autism services site set to sell for millions of dollars

The old home of a disability services provider is up for grabs, and could bring a new landmark development to Melbourne’s outer east.

The former home of Irabina Autism Services, on a massive rectangular site on Bayswater Rd in Bayswater North, is up for sale. Picture: Kiel Egging.

A giant development opportunity has opened up in Bayswater North, with the site of a former disability services provider set to sell for millions.

Stonebridge Property Group is selling the former home of Irabina Autism Services at 191-193 Bayswater Rd, believed to be valued at about $10m.

The rectangular parcel of land stretches 12,238sq m along Central Ave and has access points from Bayswater Rd and Jasmine St.

According to its listing, Stonebridge believes the site would be ideal for townhouses, a childcare or medical centre, or a retirement village or aged care facility.

Stonebridge Property Group is selling a 12,238sq m site along Central Ave with access points from Bayswater Rd and Jasmine St. Picture; Supplied.

However, previous plans to transform the site have been scuttled by Maroondah Council, which rejected a proposal to build 37 townhouses in April 2020.

But a permit for another feature of the site’s proposed redevelopment, a childcare centre, was approved days later, and extended in March 2021 for work to begin within two years.

Stonebridge agent Julian White said the site’s owners had decided to sell the land and abandoned its plans for the childcare centre, which would have faced Bayswater Rd.

But he said the new site owner would be able to take over the permit if they wanted to incorporate a childcare centre into its plans.

Mr White said the site had plenty of room for other projects and was a rare offering for the area due to its scale and size.

“It is a big infill site which bodes well to be redeveloped for residential housing or units,” he said.

“It would support some sort of revised concept, but it’s up to the purchaser.

“It’s very rare to have big parcels of land like this in such an established location.”

Mr White said agents had received a good level of interest from local developers, who were focused on childcare and residential development.

He said Stonebridge had not set a sale price for the site and wanted interested buyers to tell them what they felt it was worth.

Expressions of interest in the site close on October 20.