Mill Precinct redevelopment works ready to start

LEASING agents for the planned multi-million dollar redevelopment at the former site of Allied Mills have been inundated with inquiries.

LEASING agents for the planned multi-million dollar redevelopment at the former site of Allied Mills have been inundated with inquiries.

Although they have yet to seal a major tenant, major interstate bulk and goods retailers have made approaches to be part of the Mills Precinct.

Drew Camm from McGrath said he had received weekly inquiries about office space.

There is also interest from major fast food operators.

The project has a multi-million dollar price tag and will be delivered in five stages, with work to start on Precinct 1 in the New Year.

Mills Precinct - plans

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The precinct will include retail, shopping and food spaces and will re-use the existing sawtooth roofs building.

Work should finish by the end of next year, before the new Bunnings Warehouse which will neighbour the project.

The Bunnings project is expected to take at least 18 months to complete.

Aspect Architects and Project Managers Toowoomba director Wade Eiser is the architect working on the Mills project.

"We are certainly looking to capture the modern industrial flavour of the mill and tie the new uses back to the old Defiance Flour mill site," he said.

"To that end we are even aiming to utilise the silos on site as boutique apartments."

Mr Eiser said the vision was to mix the old and the new in a sophisticated grunge style.

"We are also very keen on creating urban courtyards and green spaces and have worked hard with Toowoomba Regional Council to marry in with the landscape in the Railway Parklands strategy."

Mills Precinct, before the build

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Precinct 2 will include a market hall, recreation and events space while Precinct 3 will feature a boutique hotel, music, arts and function space.

Urban offices, with separate tenancies, serviced offices and a function space will make up Precinct 4.

The final development, Precinct 5, will include a multi-storey mixed use tower for retail, commercial and apartment use.

Each precinct will take about a year to build.

The project is still in the approvals stage with council but is included in the Toowoomba Railway Parklands Priority Development Area which allows developments to be fast-tracked.

Aspect Architects is also working on new CBD bar The Office, the Walton Stores project and the Burke and Wills Hotel redevelopment.

Mr Eiser said the team was passionate about retaining heritage in The Garden City.

"It's one of our passions. It's something we've done for ourselves and now we're doing it for our clients."

Mill Precinct, similar buildings

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The Mills Precinct has been described as a dedicated urban redevelopment like no other.

It will integrate the historic brick and industrial features of the old mill with urban architecture, exposed steel, glass and vertical gardens.

Since 1898, Defiance Flour has been an iconic name in the Toowoomba region for the milling of flour.

After an initial opening in Russell St, the mill relocated one year later to 269-291 Ruthven St.

The main flour milling building was constructed in 1911 and still stands today as an impressive piece of turn-of-the-century architecture by W. Hodgen.

The centrepiece of the Mills Precinct is undoubtedly the silo hall.

The CBD landmark is wrapped with railway enclaves, clerestorey warehouses and intimate milling buildings to form a rugged yet mesmerising architectural fabric.

Originally published as Mill Precinct redevelopment works ready to start