Geelong council gives green light to $180m plan for historic Pakington St mills site

A transformative $180m plan for Newtown’s riverside mills at the southern end of Pakington St have been approved by Geelong council, despite pushback from heritage groups.

Planning application prepared by JAM Architects for proposed Newtown development.

Transformative $180m plans for Newtown’s riverside mills have been approved by Geelong council, despite pushback from heritage groups.

The large-scale plans for 403 Pakington St – a former woollen mill more commonly known as the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill – include 343 dwellings and a 150-capacity childcare facility and commercial tenants.

There would be 10 separate buildings in total.

Proposed staging of a planned development at 403 Pakington St, as shown in a planning application prepared by JAM Architects.

The plans went out for public consultation mid last year and were recently approved.

Mill Properties is behind the plans and according to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents, the company’s directors are Geoffrey Simmonds, Angela Banks and Janine Shannon.

The organisation was contacted for comment.

City of Greater Geelong acting executive director of placemaking Kelly Ivens confirmed that no changes were made to the plan following the public notice period.

However, Ms Ivens said as part of the permit’s conditions, City Hall requested amended plans that required a number of cosmetic and operational changes prior to endorsement and commencement of the development.

“Changes include details on lighting throughout the basement and providing a segregated bicycle access ramp to the bike facilities in the basement,” she said.

A store owner, who had only recently moved into the mills, said they moved in under the assumption they would have to vacate by late next year.

“I think at this stage the earliest it (the development) will start is November 2025,” they said.

Development plans have been approved at 403 Pakington St, which is the home Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill. Picture: Alan Barber

“I’ve known that since the start of the year, they made it clear we might need to move on.”

Another store owner said they knew very little about the development plans.

They said most of the information they and other business owners in the centre had received came via word of mouth.

Hamilton Group managing director Cameron Hamilton welcomed the development approval, the site of, which sits across from his group’s 400 Pako development.

“Hamilton Group are fully supportive of the plans,” he said.

Development plans have been approved at 403 Pakington St, which is the home Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill. Picture: Alan Barber

“It’s a long time coming, I think there needs to be utilisation of the area in and around the river, this is a great start.”

Lex Chalmers, a committee member of the Geelong and Region Branch National Trust, said in August the site was significant for its architecture and social heritage, with the branch concerned about the development.

“The bulk and form of the buildings (in the proposal) tend to overwhelm the significant fabric,” he said.

“It’s trying to maximise returns for the proponents at the expense of the character of that end of Pakington St.”

Originally published as Geelong council gives green light to $180m plan for historic Pakington St mills site