The 1920s former Geelong glassworks factory has been converted into seven boutique apartments as part of The Bottleworks development.
The conversion of a historic glassworks factory into boutique apartments marks the end of a long journey to transform Geelong’s former Big Shed site into a residential development.
Builders are putting the finishing touches on the final stage of The Bottleworks project at the corner of Fitzroy and Carr streets.
The seven apartments in the 1920s warehouse join 33 new townhouses already completed at the site.
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This new three-bedroom apartment at 101/11 Bottleworks Walk, Geelong is on the market for $880,000-$960,000.
The two and three-bedroom apartments feature repurposed materials from the former factory such as timber beam trusses and columns and hardwood floors.
Developer Hygge Property also employed a traditional sign painter to reinstate the original Geelong Glass Works Ltd roof sign in a nod the building’s heritage.
Residents have moved into the townhouses over the past year, with only a handful of apartments still available through Geelong Real Estate Co’s Jess Templeton.
Hygge Property director Adam Davidson said it had taken more than six years to realise the full vision for the development.
Fox Building Group completed the project, designed by Chamberlain Architects, after others pulled out due to increased costs post-Covid.
The kitchen has electrical appliances including an induction cooktop, oven and dishwasher.
The covered balcony overlooks a central communal area.
The main bedroom suite has direct access to the balcony.
“It has been a long and difficult project for us so the end reward of the apartments is a pretty special outcome,” Mr Davidson said.
“It’s not something that we could repeat because there’s only seven in total and you just don’t see apartments like that come to market … they’re a real warehouse-style thing.”
The apartments overlook a central communal garden and meeting space, where regular Friday drinks are already proving popular with townhouse residents.
Each features a large open-plan living space, with raked ceilings and private balconies to the first floor offerings.
The three-bedroom apartments have two covered car spaces, bike storage and future-ready wiring for electric vehicle charging.
The main bathroom includes a shower and bath.
Mr Davidson said the original warehouse had to be carefully rebuilt as there was no cladding to three sides when the project kicked off.
“We have used a lot of carefully recycled materials, so recycled bricks have come back into the new balconies on the apartments and when we demolished the other warehouse on the site, which used the Big Shed, we kept the trusses that came out and they were remilled into timber floorboards in the apartments,” he said.
Glass bottles, some from the site, will also be used to create a pendant-style light feature in the foyer for the building.
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