Melbourne’s $200m Yorkshire Brewery gets the go ahead

Work has commenced on the $200 million redevelopment of the historic Yorkshire Brewery Site on Robert Street in Collingwood, Melbourne.

Comprising of three residential towers of 17, 14 and 10 stories, the 4,500 square metre development site will hold 350 apartments, a gym, cafe, convenience store, community rooms, rooftop terrace and a formal dining room.

[caption id="attachment_3310" align="aligncenter" width="600"] BEFORE: Collingwood's Yorkshire Brewery[/caption]
$6.7 million of heritage works and restoration will be conducted on the historic brew tower, cellar building, silos and stables, with new towers rising from vacant peripheral land.

Commissioned by SMA Projects and designed by Hayball Architects, Robert Murphy, Development Manager for SMA Projects says the development will bring a new life to the long dilapidated, southern end of Collingwood.

“We see this as a strategic redevelopment site, with clear community benefits in the restoration of these heritage buildings and activation of a long derelict site.

“It’s a development that has the ability to transform its location - and become a destination precinct in it’s own right,” Mr Murphy said.

Hayball’s master plan for the site includes a diverse range of housing typologies, with studio apartments through to 110 square metre three bedroom dwellings, along with 18 two storey townhouses at ground level.

At the centre of the project is the historic brew tower, which was once Melbourne’s tallest building, along with a 480 square metre piazza and a wine bar, convenience store and deli located in nearby laneways.

[caption id="attachment_3311" align="aligncenter" width="600"] AFTER[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3312" align="aligncenter" width="608"] AFTER[/caption]
Hayball’s Managing Director, Tom Jordan said they incorporated timber, exposed brick and concrete to emphasise the genuine industrial heritage of the brew tower, cellar and stables.

“It was our intent to deliver buildings that harnessed and respected the genius loci and history of the site.

“There are heritage buildings of state significant to work with, so we set out to both reference and compliment these,” said Mr Jordan.

The site will also include two separate one-bedroom residences that residents can rent out, so those living in small apartments can comfortably accommodate visiting friends and family when needed.