What could you do with the old Highton kindergarten?

Prospective buyers are playing with their building blocks to see how far they can take the old site of Highton’s kindergarten.

The 1012sqm Roslyn Rd property has hit the market after the City of Greater Geelong opened a $5.5 million childcare and health centre at nearby Bellaire Primary School this year.

The closure of the 60-year old pre-school has created a chance for commercial investors and developers to climb into the sand box and work out who will end up with the property, which McGrath, Geelong agent Jim Cross has valued between $950,000 and $1 million.

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The old Highton kindergarten site at 257 Roslyn Rd is on the market.

The property retains its secure, childproof fencing, playground and planter boxes for vegetable gardens, while the building has a large activity room, kitchen, offices and class rooms.

Cross says eight buyers had requested contracts in the first 10 days of the campaign.

He says the existing building could be re-worked as a medical centre, offices or consulting rooms, but most interest was in the potential of the corner site.

“You can do a high-density residential development,” Cross says.

The old Highton kindergarten site at 257 Roslyn Rd is on the market.

“It’s ideal for a townhouse or apartment development. The beauty of the property is it’s on a corner location,” he says.

“It’s in very proximity to Highton shopping village, and it’s very well known as an area for people wanting to downsize.”

Cross says 70% of interested buyers were looking at the site’s residential development prospects.

“There is an opportunity to do a commercial office with residential apartments above and use it for a mixed use development.”

The old Highton kindergarten site at 257 Roslyn Rd is on the market.

Highton has been identified as a high growth unit market, with new Real Estate Institute of Victoria data showing 33% capital growth in the past 12 months.

The new pre-school facility was built as the kindergarten had outgrown its old site.

Highton pre-schoolers now enjoy a double room kindergarten with a play area and space for 66 four-year-olds and 44 three-year-olds, two maternal and child health consulting rooms with a dedicated waiting room and a multipurpose room for children’s playgroup activities.

The property goes to auction on August 24.

This article from The Geelong Advertiser originally appeared as “Buyers circle the old Highton kindergarten site with future plans”.