Retail and hospitality among proposals for old Geelong Post Office

Retail, hospitality and arts are some of the proposals delivered to Geelong’s council for the future use of the grand old post office building.

Proponents for eight proposals to buy or lease the heritage-listed landmark at 83 Ryrie St were submitted to the council through the expressions of interest process managed by Geelong commercial real estate agents Colliers International.

Colliers director Andrew Lewis says he hasn’t seen the proposals as they were delivered directly to the council.

But the agents have spoken with a variety of groups during the tender process, he says.

“The people we spoke to were both Melbourne based and Geelong based,” Lewis says.

“And the myriad uses they talked to were office, retail, hospitality and arts.

“So there was a mixed bag or proposed uses there.”

Heritage guidelines also dictate the external colour scheme.

Lewis says there was good, strong interest in the landmark, which was offered with strict internal and external heritage controls, including requirements for ongoing maintenance and repairs.

“We probably had more like 20 inspections and expressions of mild interest that didn’t completely go through to completing the expressions of interest documents,” he says.

A report regarding the old Geelong Post Office will be presented to council in early May, director customer and corporate services Michael Dugina says.

“This report will seek to progress to the next stage of the process with the proposals that meet the criteria presented within the EOI,” Dugina says.

The old Geelong Post Office at 83 Ryrie St, hit the market for the first time.

The next stage will seek to further confirm proposed lease arrangements, sale price and how the heritage attributes of the building will be protected, he says.

Mayor Stephanie Asher says the strong interest was anticipated.

“The former Geelong Post Office is a treasured historical asset in the CBD, which is why council introduced a competitive marketing process to breathe new life into the building through a lease or sale,” Asher says.

“I’m not surprised there’s been strong demand into its potential future use and council’s looking forward to seeing the clever and creative ideas that are put forward.

The building contains significant features that are heritage protected.

“The community can be assured that the building’s heritage elements will be protected, regardless of its future tenant or owner.”

The circa-1890 building was transferred to the council on a $670,000 interest-free loan in 1996, two years after Australia Post relocated to a shop in Moorabool St.