Iconic riverside nursery hits the market after 90 years
Poyntons Nursery in Essendon in north-west Melbourne has hit the market for the first time in nearly a century, marking the end of an era for the Poynton family and the beginning of a new chapter for the next owner.
“The nursery has always been about connection to nature, to people, and to this beautiful riverside community. It’s now time for someone new to imagine what comes next,” says James Latos of Savills Australia and New Zealand.
Occupying a 4894-square-metre landholding, the nursery is nestled in a unique position with more than 90 metres of Maribyrnong River frontage and four street frontages. This results in top visibility for passers by and an idyllic setting many shoppers enjoy spending time in.
Established in the 1930s by William (Bill) Poynton, Poyntons Nursery has become a beacon within the inner-north-west community, attracting generations of green thumbs and visitors from across neighbouring suburbs. The property is currently owned by Yvonne Poynton, who is the last of the Poyntons to keep the family business alive.
The site spans multiple titles, including 8 Morgan Street, Poyntons Cafe, an interior homewares and outdoor living store, along with an established nursery with display gardens. It is zoned General Residential (GRZ) under the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme offering possibility of redevelopment. It is being offered with a two-year lease generating $520,000 per annum plus outgoings and GST.
Savills Australia and New Zealand’s Stephen Bolton, James Latos and Tanya Su, together with Anthony Carbone and Peter Daris of CPN Commercial Group, are running the campaign and echo that it’s a once in a lifetime investment opportunity.
“This is an extraordinary riverside landholding that combines history, character and future potential in one of Melbourne’s most desirable residential pockets that rivals Kew, Hawthorn or South Yarra,” says Bolton.
Carbone adds that the site’s flexibility opens up redevelopment opportunities.
“There’s an array of possibilities, from luxury residential or retirement living to a reimagined retail, hospitality or wellness destination,” he says.
The location not only boasts panoramic river views and direct access to parklands and trails, but is close to leading schools, hospitals and retail hubs including Highpoint and Moonee Ponds Central.
Expressions of interest close at 3pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 for offers over $10 million.
