Lawyer unveils plan for three-storey office in heart of Drysdale

The growth on a local law practice has resulted in a $2.5 million proposal for a three-storey office building in the heart of Drysdale.

Plans for a three-level, $2.5m office building in the heart of Drysdale are out for public consultation.

A block of land adjacent to Drysdale’s main intersection will be developed into a $2.5m, three-storey office building by a local lawyer if plans currently before Geelong council are approved.

The site was previously home to the Drysdale post office, situated on the north side of the junction of Clifton Springs Rd, Collins St, Murradoc Rd and High St.

It is currently the offices of Ristevski Lawyers and documents reveal Basil Ristevski has tasked Planning & Property Partners with managing the development proposal.

Under the plans, the office building would be 10.1m high and located to the north of the 555sq metre site in an area currently occupied by an unsealed carparking area.

Mr Ristevski said the almost century-old post office building would be retained in full, while an outbuilding would be demolished.

“We are very proud of what our proposal sets out to achieve,” he said.

The plans for the Drysdale site.

According to the planning application, currently out for public consultation, the site is under-utilised and would incorporate the office building without compromising the historically significant single-storey post office building.

“The simple, yet elegant facade (of the new building) detailing will ensure that the architectural expression does not conflict, nor seek to mimic that of the existing post office,” the application states.

“Instead, the refined presentation of the office building will ensure a comfortable fit within the context of the Drysdale town centre.”

The proposed building would comprise almost 470sq metres of office space and eight car parks would be available.

Mr Ristevski said he expected his law practice would take up the entirety of the space.

“Over the last 40 years we have seen Drysdale grow enormously,” he said.

“As a result of such growth our practice has grown as well – we have been in need of additional space for a while.

“There is a dearth of good quality office space or indeed office space in Drysdale.”

Nearby is the Drysdale Hotel, as well as a Woolworths and Aldi supermarket.

“The area surrounding the site is undergoing a restrained but steady evolution with redevelopment predominantly commercial in nature,” the application states.

“This precinct is envisaged to undergo further change and intensification as desire for new commercial floor space continues in this attractive location.

“It seeks to provide a commercial building with a ground floor interface that will increase the activation and connectivity of the public realm.”

The commercial nature of the proposed building fits within the local and state planning policy framework.

A short walk from the site is the new $9.2m Boronggook Drysdale Library.

The two-storey building references the rich Aboriginal and masonry history of Drysdale’s town centre.

Boronggook is the traditional Wadawurrung name for the area.

Originally published as Lawyer unveils plan for three-storey office in heart of Drysdale