Koorie Heritage Trust headquarters on move

The Koorie Heritage Trust will sell its headquarters in King Street and move to a more accessible location over the next two years.

The 25-year-old trust, set up to promote and protect Koorie heritage and culture, operates an exhibition space, gallery, museum, library and cultural awareness programs from its 2300 square metre, three-level building at 295-299 King Street.

The trust runs a genealogy service to help connect Koorie individuals with their family and country, as well as cultural awareness training for corporate clients.

It also supports emerging and established Koori artists such as Bindi Cole by providing exhibition spaces.

Newly-appointed trust chief executive Tom Mosby said the organisation's King Street location had been a "major constraint in attracting visitors" to the centre, particularly passing foot traffic.

The building contains one of the largest and rarest Aboriginal art and heritage collections in the country, about 10,000 weavings, baskets, eel traps, paintings and other artefacts.

A large gum tree grows in its 1919 brick core, stretching up through a void in each of the floors.

The trust had for some time considered moving to a new location more accessible to the public and had recently decided to "just do it", Mr Mosby said.

The building has been listed by CBRE agents Mark Wizel and Josh Rutman, along with 333 Real Estate.

Mr Rutman said an expression of interest campaign would close on April 18 with expectations around $8 million. The sale will include a short-term two-year leaseback arrangement with the Koorie Heritage Trust.

The building is on the high profile corner of King and Little Lonsdale streets, one block from Flagstaff Gardens and beside the CBD's legal precinct.

Mr Mosby said the trust would be looking for a new home at the top end of the city near the Melbourne Museum or possibly in Fitzroy's Gertrude Street.