Ringwood: Genesis gym, Rivers store to make way for new Maroondah Hwy high rise

The never ending rise of Ringwood continues, with an overseas developer buying a former nightclub site. Here is what’s being planned.

Ringwood's Genesis gym is at the rear of the major Maroondah Highway corner site. Picture: realestatesource.com.au

A prime corner site which used to be home to a famous nightclub is set to be transformed into Ringwood’s newest high-rise.

Gill Property finalised the sale of the 7015sq m site at 93-97 Maroondah Highway in late 2020 to a Singapore-based developer.

Director Stephen Bolton did not reveal the developer’s name but said it sold for $13.5 million.

Leader revealed the site was up for sale in April last year with the owners chasing a $16 million price tag.

The site is home to Ringwood’s Rivers store at Maroondah Highway and the Genesis gym on Seymour St, with Ringwood Square Shopping Centre and Costco close by.

Rivers has a lease at the site until the middle of this year and Genesis is a tenant until 2023.

Mr Bolton said the developer had previously worked on various developments in Manningham, but this would be its first project in Maroondah.

“Based on what they’ve done previously in Victoria, I tend to say it would be a mixed-use high rise including residential,” he said.

Mr Bolton said Maroondah Council’s plan to boost building height limits in the Ringwood Activity Centre was a major factor in the buyer’s decision to snap up the site, and he predicted it would be a minimum of eight storeys.

“That was one of the interests in the property because of what is being proposed for the area long term,” he said.
“The current structure plan allows for eight levels, it's a possibility it could go higher, but it’s a planning thing and anything could happen.”

A series of high-rise developments are already in the works along Maroondah Highway with others undergoing council assessment.

The eight-storey Sebel hotel, near the Rivers and Genesis site, is set to open shortly, while construction is also underway of the 11-storey EastCo office tower next to Ringwood railway station, which will be home to the Department of Transport.

The council is also assessing an application for a 14-storey Quest hotel at 229-231 Maroondah Hwy, near Eastland and the 10-storey 233 East apartment complex.

The old Daiseys Hotel on Mt Dandenong Rd in Ringwood East was knocked down last month, with Ryman Healthcare to build a $150 million, six-storey retirement village.