Cunningham Place development kicks off with demolition of Grace Church and early apartment sales – including $4.5m penthouse

An international hotel chain has been secured, more than $25m worth of apartments have been sold, and negotiations with a supermarket giant are the latest happenings at the site of Geelong’s largest private development.

The demolition of Grace Church has begun to make way for the $280m Cunningham Place development at 35 Corio St. Picture: Mark Wilson.

An international hotel chain has been secured for the $280m Cunningham Place mixed-use development in Geelong’s CBD, as negotiations continue with Woolworths to be the anchor retail tenant.

Demolition work at the 35 Corio St site has commenced, with local contractor Perry Demolition tasked with knocking down the Grace Church building after Geelong council issued all the relevant permits.

The project – a joint venture between Amber Property Group and landowner ACTS Global Churches – covers an entire block bounded by Gheringhap St, Corio St, Transit Pl and Clare St.

Over 17 storeys, it will feature 71 luxury apartments, a 180-room five-star hotel, 4000sq metres of office space, retail and restaurant offerings, and a 5000sq metre conference facility complemented by a 650-seat auditorium.

A render of the Cunningham Place development.

The amount of office space was reduced from 9000sq metres to make way for additional apartments and hotel rooms.

Amber Property’s Jevan Clay said a deal with one of the world’s biggest international hotel brands was “signed, sealed and delivered”.

Currently subject to a non-disclosure agreement, he said an announcement would be made in late January.

Mr Clay said 11 of the 71 apartments had already been snapped up since sales commenced in mid-November, predominantly to older, local downsizers.

The strongest interest has been in the premium offerings, with seven of the apartments sold worth $3m and above, including the $4.5m penthouse.

“I think what it is is older buyers with large coastal residences, say in Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, with maintenance and upkeep saying ‘you know what, I’m 70 years old, it’s time to sell the big family home I spend all weekend maintaining and moving into a luxury apartment with bay views and no maintenance’,” Mr Clay said.

The remaining four sales include one-bedroom apartments priced from $575,000 to $615,000, and two-bedroom apartments ranging from $1.2m to $1.4m.

McGrath Projects’ Geelong director Jim Cross is overseeing the sales.

He said the central location of Cunningham Place with its proximity to the waterfront and services was the major drawcard for buyers.

“The icing on the cake is the partnership with a luxury international hotel chain, which will provide hotel services to residents,” he said.

Director and chief executive of Amber Property Rachael Brady, McGrath Projects’ Jim Cross, Amber’s Jevan Clay and McGrath’s Brock Buchanan. Picture: Alison Wynd.

About 400 apartment inquiries have been received since sales opened, including more than 100 since Christmas.

Mr Clay said negotiations with Woolworths regarding a ground floor supermarket were ongoing.

The supermarket giant does not currently have a presence in the CBD.

A Woolworths spokeswoman said the company was unable to comment due to the absence of staff over the holiday period.

Mr Clay said the building contract would be awarded to either Hacer of Japanese-backed Icon by Easter following pricing submissions in February.

Construction is expected to commence in July and be completed by 2026.

“It’s the largest private permit in Geelong by a substantial amount,” Mr Clay said.

Grace Church will operate the conference facility and auditorium.

It will host congregations on Sundays and be available for hire at other times.

Originally published as Cunningham Place development kicks off with demolition of Grace Church and early apartment sales – including $4.5m penthouse