Warburton Weet-Bix Factory: Renewed plan to reopen site as resort and conference centre

It has been empty and rundown for more than 20 years but multimillion-dollar plans are underway to finally bring the former Weet-Bix factory in Warburton back to life.

After more than two decades as one of the biggest eyesores in the Yarra Valley, a run-down, vandalised factory could be transformed into a $50m spa resort.

A spokesman for the owner of the historic Warburton Sanitarium building, which has been vacant since the factory closed in 1997, confirmed he wanted to see it “rejuvenated and reactivated into an operational resort and conference facility”, with a planning permit application set to be lodged with Yarra Ranges Council this year.

David Pratt, spokesman for owner Garry Crockett, said Mr Crockett was still passionate about making his long-held dream for the site a reality.

Mr Crockett’s proposal to create a $50m spa resort on the site became tied up in bushfire regulation red tape in 2016 and never went ahead.

“Garry is quite pleased to be working with Planning & Property Partners again on this development and has welcomed the request from the Warburton Advancement League, the Warburton Valley CEDA and the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise to assist the project with the formation of a joint Community Reference Group who will work with himself, his planning team and the (council),” Mr Pratt said.

The old Sanitarium Factory has been closed since 1997. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Mr Pratt said Mr Crockett, who is based in Sydney, wanted to relodge a planning permit for the site with the council this year, with updated plans to reflect the changes in the hospitality industry.

“His passion for that building hasn’t waned despite there being some setbacks put in front of him,” Mr Pratt said.

“Those setbacks and barriers are now out of the way and it’s onwards and upwards (for the project).

“A great deal of change has occurred in the hospitality sector since the original plans were lodged and to ensure the resort and conference facility meets these changes, it is important that the original plans for the site’s future go back to the drawing board and be re-presented to Heritage Victoria and the council to meet these modern needs.”

The Warburton Sanitarium Factory when it was operating. Picture: Lost Melbourne Facebook

Mr Pratt said a microbrewery could even be part of the new proposal for the site.

“It could go from Weet-bix to whisky,” he said.

Mr Pratt said the involvement from local community groups willing to help with the project, including the Warburton Advancement League, the Warburton Valley CEDA and the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise, wasn’t there the last time Mr Crockett applied for a permit.

“They have said we are here and are committed to help you with this process,” Mr Pratt said.

“That wasn’t there last time.

“There have been many stops and starts in the past but we’ve decided as a group to focus not on what went wrong but to make sure everything goes right from this restart.

“The community reference group will do everything possible to get the planning permit through this year.

“Our resolve is to not stop until the planning permit is done and then to press on and see this become the jewel in the Yarra Valley crown.”

He compared the project to the restoration of Burnham Beeches, which has also been empty for years, but is now on track for redevelopment.

Yarra Ranges Council announced last August “extensive shuttering and securing” had taken place at the art deco Sanitarium factory to keep the community safe, following reports of vandalism and break-ins at the site.

Mr Pratt said a considerable amount of preliminary work had already been undertaken in conjunction with the council and Heritage Victoria to secure the building from further vandalism.

Vandals have previously smashed windows at the factory.

“Unfortunately, not everybody can appreciate the uniqueness of the structure so the steel shuttering has had to be installed (without impacting the heritage components) to keep trespassers and firebugs out of the building and to ensure that they did not injure, or at worse kill themselves through misadventure,” Mr Pratt said.

“A few years ago Garry had spent in excess of $300K reglazing all of the heritage-listed blue steel windows and the vandals have smashed all but a few of them, hence the need for the temporary steel shuttering.”

Mr Crockett has also engaged a local contractor to clean up the significant exterior grounds that border the sporting recreation reserve and the crown land adjacent to the Yarra River.

Yarra Ranges Council’s director of communities, Jane Price, said the council’s business

investment team had been in conversation with the property owner around their plans to reactivate the site.

“The property owner has partnered with the Warburton Advancement League to undertake further repairs to the building as well as an external clean-up project,” Ms Price said.

“We look forward to the continued collaboration between the owner and the local Advancement League resulting in a plan that meets all necessary requirements for the future of this iconic building.”