Historic Windsor convent site to be transformed into boutique residential precinct
One of Melbourne’s historically significant inner-city landholdings is set to enter a new chapter, with plans unveiled to transform the former Presentation College grounds in Windsor into a boutique residential building while preserving its heritage fabric.
Developer Pace Development Group has secured the 1.89-hectare site from the Presentation Association Victoria, bringing to a close a closely watched sales campaign for the property, which the Presentation Sisters have held for more than 150 years.
During that time, the site served as the home of Presentation College Windsor, a Catholic girls’ school operated by the Presentation Sisters. Like many convent schools established in Melbourne during the late 19th century, the campus functioned as both an educational institution and a religious community, with Windsor Hall and surrounding buildings forming the heart of the order’s local presence.
The acquisition paves the way for a staged redevelopment that will carefully integrate new housing with the historic buildings.
Pace managing director Shane Wilkinson said the company viewed the project as a custodianship of one of Windsor’s most important heritage places.
“After delivering more than 100 projects across Melbourne, we are honoured to take custodianship of such an important inner-city site,” he said.
Wilkinson said the scale of the property, combined with the presence of the historic convent structures, created a rare opportunity to design a residential precinct centred around shared spaces and community amenity.
“The project will consist of a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments across a number of boutique buildings,” he said. “There will also be a small collection of townhomes on offer.”
“Given the scale of the site and the picturesque convent within, the opportunity for residents’ amenity is incredibly exciting. We are already working through several concepts that would be truly world-class and provide an experience to residents not seen in Australia before.”
Located within walking distance of Windsor railway station and the dining and nightlife of Chapel Street, residents will be located in one of the Victorian Government’s designated Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres, where significant housing growth is expected in the coming decades, with a plan to enable more than 300,000 new homes close to public transport, jobs and services by 2051.
The property also benefits from proximity to major green spaces, including Alma Park and Chris Gahan Reserve, while Albert Park, home to the Australian Grand Prix circuit, is a short walk away.
“We maintain a strong commitment to developing in areas that celebrate Melbourne’s vibrant culture, and Windsor is one of those places that Melbournians consistently seek out to work, live and play,” said Wilkinson.
The sale of Windsor Hall was exclusively managed by Colliers’ Jozef Dickinson, John Marasco, Philip Heberling, and Neil Matthews. Dickinson said the site drew strong interest from developers, schools and aged-care operators due to its scale and alignment with strategic planning.
“The campaign generated extraordinary levels of enquiry from across the market,” he said. “The combination of a landmark landholding and the government’s plans for Windsor station within the Activity Centre strategy made it incredibly compelling.”
