Real estate development: 2 Beale Ave, Kinglake Central to house health and wellness retreat

The owners of a former Kinglake olive farm hope to transform the property into a multimillion dollar resort. See the plans.

2 Beale Ave, Kinglake Central is being promoted as an exclusive opportunity to develop a bespoke health and wellness resort. Picture: Buxton Real Estate

A former olive farm bordering Kinglake National Park has been selected as the site for a major resort development.

Melbourne firm Bloc Group is advancing a proposal for a brand new bespoke health and wellness retreat on a 16ha site at Kinglake Central, inviting expressions of interest from operators, developers, and capital funds wishing to get involved.

Council-approved plans include accommodation for up to 188 guests, a 400-seat conference centre, a 200-seat restaurant, a cafe, art gallery and studio, a farmers market, agriculture, and a spa, pool and other amenities.

Further capacity and uses such as a hot springs attraction are also possible, subject to further approvals.

Some construction has already started at the Beale Ave site, and several potential partners or operators have expressed interest in supporting the project through a commercial lease, joint-venture or alternative arrangement.

Bloc Group spokesman Richard Altrieth said a health and wellness retreat was “the best use for the site, the local community and every Victorian who shall come to experience the new development upon completion”.

Mr Altrieth said the project would bring new and “purposeful” jobs to Kinglake, and support future job growth within the health and tourism sectors.

2 Beale Ave, Kinglake Central is being promoted as an exclusive opportunity to develop a bespoke health and wellness resort. Picture: Buxton Real Estate

“We are very excited about delivering this important project due to the economic, community and social benefits that it shall bring to Kinglake and surrounding areas, especially after economic impacts of the 2008 global financial crisis, the devastation and human toll of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in which 120 of the 174 people who died were part of the Kinglake community and most recently, the severe health and economic impacts caused by the Covid crisis which has seen many families and businesses struggling, if not destroyed,” he said.