The Younghusband Woolstore Redevelopment stands as one of Australia’s most compelling examples of adaptive reuse, a project that treats heritage as its greatest asset. Led by Woods Bagot, the transformation has seen more than 17,000 square metres of former industrial space reimagined as a mixed-use community precinct, setting new standards in sustainable development and decarbonisation.
Dating back over 120 years, Younghusband is a rare survivor of Victoria’s turn-of-the-century woolstores. Its vast redbrick form, ghost signage, saw-tooth roof and generous floor plates speak to Melbourne’s industrial past, while layers of patina and remnants of pastoral life remain proudly intact. Over the decades, the building has served the city in unexpected ways, from housing costumes for the Australian Ballet to providing studios for independent artists.
Woods Bagot took a deliberately restrained approach, resisting the urge to over-restore. Instead, the practice allowed the building’s wear and history to remain visible, holding on to as much of the original fabric as possible and introducing new elements only where they were truly needed. Community consultation has been central to the project since 2016, ensuring the redevelopment reflects both local sentiment and contemporary needs.
Key interventions focus on liveability, safety and accessibility, bringing the site up to modern standards without undermining its character. Contemporary glass lifts and external link bridges improve circulation and animate the bluestone laneway below, where original cobbles were individually lifted, reworked and reinstalled to support wheelchairs, prams and bicycles.
At the heart of the precinct sits a new town square, conceived as a shared civic space for gathering, events and everyday interaction. This light-filled hub connects seamlessly to an activated rail corridor, now a landscaped pedestrian and cycle path, reinforcing Younghusband’s role as a public asset rather than a closed relic.
Sustainability underpins every decision. A circular construction strategy has delivered an 84% reduction in embodied carbon, with salvaged timber beams repurposed as handrails and detailing throughout. Solar power, battery storage, water harvesting and efficiency upgrades have resulted in a carbon-neutral precinct in operation.
Younghusband offers a persuasive blueprint for the future of heritage buildings: respectful, inclusive and forward-looking, proving that old structures can play a vital role in shaping contemporary urban life.
@younghusbandmelbourne
@woodsbagot
Younghusband Woolstore Melbourne Photography, Trevor Mein / Nose To Tail.
