Koorie Heritage Trust headquarters on move
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The Koorie Heritage Trust will sell its three-level, 2,300 square metre headquarters at 295–299 King Street and move to a more accessible location over the next two years.
Newly appointed CEO Tom Mosby said the King Street location has been a “major constraint in attracting visitors,” particularly passing foot traffic, so the trust has decided to sell and relocate to a site that’s easier for the public to access.
The 1919 brick-core building contains one of the largest and rarest Aboriginal art and heritage collections in Australia — about 10,000 weavings, baskets, eel traps, paintings and other artefacts — plus exhibition spaces, a gallery, museum, library and cultural-awareness programs.
CBRE agents Mark Wizel and Josh Rutman, together with 333 Real Estate, have listed the building. An expression-of-interest campaign closes on April 18, and expectations are around $8 million.
The sale will include a short-term two-year leaseback, meaning the Koorie Heritage Trust will remain in the building as a tenant for up to two years after the sale, allowing continued operations while the trust searches for a new home.
Yes — the building sits on the high-profile corner of King and Little Lonsdale streets, one block from Flagstaff Gardens and beside Melbourne’s CBD legal precinct.
The trust will look for a new home in a more accessible part of the city, aiming for the top end of the city near the Melbourne Museum or possibly Fitzroy’s Gertrude Street.
The trust continues to operate its exhibition space, gallery, museum, library, genealogy service and cultural-awareness training. The planned sale with a two-year leaseback should allow those services — and support for emerging and established Koori artists — to continue while the trust relocates.
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