Berton Investments lists long-vacant Warburton Hospital
The high-profile long vacant site built in 1912 by the Trans Australian Union Conference of the Seventh day Adventist Church as the Warburton Sanatorium and later occupied by Warburton Hospital, is for sale.
The eight hectare holding at 25 Donna Buang Road, Warburton, is being marketed to owner occupiers or investors which might seek to re-use the immaculately kept buildings as a major medical facility.
Alternatively, developers are being sought: some or all of the existing six interconnected structures developed could be re-purposed for a mix of social infrastructure purposes, aged care and educational amongst them.
The parcel could also be considered for hosuing with big box retail fronting the road.
A hospitality enterprise like a retreat hotel with a wellness centre, and medi and hydrotherapy spas is being promoted as another development outcome.
Prior to closing in 2003, the hospital was tenanted to Healthscope and operated as a high-end drug rehabilitation clinic.
Warburton, which has the Yarra River run through it and a mountain backdrop, is about 74 kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD.
The former Warburton Hospital
Berton Investments, directed by Nick Bernardo, acquired the former Warburton Hospital in 2000.
Its newest building, a multi-storey hospital, was completed in 1994.
Wings were also constructed in 1978, 1972, 1962 and 1959.
All up there is 11,060 square metres of building area.
The landscaped garden includes century-old Californian Redwoods.
CBRE marketing agents Sandro Peluso, Marcello Caspani-Muto, Josh Twelftree and Jimmy Tat are marketing 25 Donna Buang Road.
“The opportunity to acquire a well-known health facility in the Warburton Valley will interest prospective purchasers from a range of sectors – including aged care, retirement living, health and wellness, hospitality and education, as well as investors/developers looking to re-open the venue as a hospital,” Mr Peluso said.
Warburton is about 25km from Healesville Sanctuary and close to some of Yarra Valley’s best wineries, the agent added.
Luxury retreat a development outcome supported by council: agents
Mr Caspani-Muto said Warburton was renowned as one of Australia’s most beautiful and pristine environments “which incoming purchasers would potentially be looking to leverage alongside the property’s proximity to Melbourne with a health and wellness offering.
“Being so close to Melbourne, the site could be redeveloped into a conveniently located, landmark healthcare retreat,” Caspani-Muto added.
“The Yarra Valley council recently supported a proposed medical, aged care and accommodation redevelopment plan, comprised mostly of the existing facility’s envelope.
“Given the surplus of land around the six buildings – which could be divested or expanded upon – incoming operators have the opportunity to acquire a purpose-built hospital with significant improvement value.”
Mr Caspani-Muto added that the former buildings could potentially be reconfigured to make way for an assisted and non-assisted aged care offering, potentially an over-55 residential community, including associated medical facilities.
