Up Property pushes ahead with Morris Moor Master Plan

up property has unveiled plans for the $100 million transformation of Moorabbin’s Philip Morris manufacturing site into a new urban destination, that will introduce opportunities for increased amenity and employment for the area.

Named ‘Morris Moor’ – a reference to the site’s location, history and significance within the community - the development has been designed to inject an element of inner-city urbanism to Moorabbin.

Through a working partnership with Connect Plus Property Solutions, up property plans to re-purpose the existing eight buildings, which collectively represent over 50,000 sqm of leasable space.

The significant heritage site has been re-imagined to become a multi-use community precinct, which according to up property "will cultivate experiences and create opportunities that breathe life into the local neighbourhood through the diversity of its tenants."

Our vision is for Morris Moor to become an iconic destination for Melbourne and the local residential and business community to work, play, eat and drink.

Upon taking ownerships of the site in May last year, we received overwhelming interest from businesses looking for opportunities beyond that of a typical office precinct – from gymnasiums and coffee roasters to indoor golf simulators and cinemas.

This helped shape our Master Plan for Morris Moor as we wanted to be responsive to the market and develop a location that the community would embrace. Morris Moor will forge exciting new opportunities and experiences for Moorabbin and broader Bayside, upgrading an area predominantly known for being an industrial precinct.

- Adam Davidson, up property Managing Director

The 6.27-hectare site, already has a permit in place which will allow it to deliver in excess of 1,600 new jobs for Moorabbin, double the amount that were employed at the site in its previous life.

 Genton Architecture was engaged to design and collaborate on a Master Plan that re-interprets and adapts the existing collection of buildings and landscape into a location that will deliver on up property's vision to "bring the best of Melbourne to Moorabbin."

The design will transform a collection of existing warehouses and commercial buildings into premium office spaces, modern eateries and contemporary amenities. Genton’s concept for Morris Moor maximises the heritage character of the buildings by enhancing the facades of each structure. The design maximises the overall impression while remaining cost effective.

- Genton Arcihitects

The manufacturing history of the site is being celebrated via a ‘makers theme’, with up property seeking future occupants that have an element of on-site production rather than just providing traditional retail tenancies. The focus is on finding place makers not space takers to create a vibrant, engaging community that will collectively form a local destination in its own right. An example of this would be a coffee roaster rather than just a cafe or a brewery instead of just another bar.

Upon completion, Morris Moor will also include approximately 2,879 sqm of hospitality space, designed in consultation with architecture and interior design firm Technē. The precinct will offer ample opportunities for a mix of restaurants, cafes, a brewery, distillery, wine bar, convenience store, florist, event function space in order to create an urban destination that will be a catalyst for further gentrification of the area.

up property is currently seeking occupiers for the office space with an impending expressions of interest campaign to commence mid-year for Morris Moor’s carefully master-planned hospitality precinct.

Three tenants have already been secured for the site including:

• Little Learning School: a 140-place childcare centre set to transform and breathe life into one of the site’s oldest warehouses fronting Chesterville Road
• Clik Collective: a co-warehousing facility in excess of 6,000 sqm from the operators of the well-known Kensington Collective
• Schotts Home Emporium: Melbourne’s much-loved furniture retailer who has already commenced the fit-out of their new 4,140 sqm showroom facility within one of Morris Moor’s far east buildings.

Construction commenced this month on Morris Moor’s 5,257 sqm office building, which frames the site on the corner of Chesterville and Cochranes Road. The building has the potential to house up to six tenants ranging from approximately 250 sqm to the whole building.

The building will receive a full refurbishment, providing the brick facade with a face lift that will include new glazed elements and introduce a re-imagined CBD style lobby which will be ready for tenant occupation in the first quarter of 2019.