Pelligra buys famous ex-factory
Pelligra Group this week purchased one of Melbourne’s highest profile former factories.
The developer plans to replace the 39-hectare ex-Huntsman Chemical Corporation site at 454-460 Somerville Road, Brooklyn, with a business park.
The deal marks a new chapter for the land, set up as a factory in 1941 to manufacture asprin and sulphur drugs.
According to this Wikipedia post, it was owner-occupied by the Monsanto Company Corporation for most of its life.
Huntsman Chemical Corporation and Consolidated Press Holdings operated there between 1993 and 2009.
The subsequent razing of substantial buildings in 2011 was described as “one of the largest industrial demolition projects in Australia” requiring 21,000 hours according to Industrial Group, which undertook the works (story continues below).
Pelligra is planning a c200,000 sqm business park on the tract, 10 kilometres west of the city.
The sale was negotiated by CBRE’s Tom Hayes and Todd Grima.
These agents have also been appointed to find industrial and commercial pre-commitments.
Last month Pelligra with joint venture partner ResiCommercial acquired adjoining commercial properties on 3025 sqm in Melbourne’s inner-east Richmond with plans for a mixed use complex.
Covering 471-479 Swan Street and 10 Belgravia Street, it cost more than $25m from Ron Hall, The Reject Shop co-founder.
