Lindsay Fox, Max Beck lure luxury car dealership to Essendon
Dutton One will open its 17th dealership within a prominent warehouse abutting the Tullamarine Freeway, part of the $1 billion-plus Essendon Fields project, taking shape north west of Melbourne.
The luxury used car dealer will also have signage rights to the 2044 square metre building, 274 Lionel Street.
H.Troon and Legacy Project Management are now fitting out the property – visible to over three million vehicles a month.
Over 130,000 bikes and cars are expected to pass it a day.
The deal comes nine months since Dutton Group signed a seven year office lease deal for 503 sqm office at Garda’s Botanicca 9, in Burnley, which is coincidentally for sale.
Duttons expands north
Elsewhere in Melbourne’s north, Dutton One has a yard at Fairfield.
It also has dealerships in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney.
“Over the last seven years we have been growing rapidly as we seek to drive trust and credibility in pre-owned vehicle transactions,” Dutton Group chief executive officer, Suren Chandrajit, said.
“We know that consumers are underserviced in this regard so it’s our primary focus to change their perceptions,” he added (story continues below).
“Today we are the largest pre-owned group in Australia so it’s fitting that we open at Essendon Fields,” according to the executive.
“We are delighted to be among a large dealership network in Melbourne’s north west, where there’s a fast growing customer base ready to enter the market”.
Twenty makes at Essendon
Essendon Fields is being developed by Lindsay Fox’s Linfox and Max Beck’ Beck Corp on 305 hectares acquired on a long leasehold for $22.5m in 1998.
Car dealerships, many from neighbouring North Essendon, were amongst the first major tenants at the mixed-use commercial redevelopment – 20 makes now trade there from 16 dealerships – amongst shops, offices, warehouses and a hotel.
Over 162,000 vehicles – worth a total $4b – have been sold there since 2012; the landlord says year on year growth has been four per cent (or seven pc including used cars), outpacing the Federal Chamber Automotive Industries VFACTS report showing a 3pc national average.
Last year was Essendon Fields’ biggest for car sales, with 21,431 deals worth $860m.
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