The towering Mill in Echuca ready for next chapter
Long before it became a nightclub, a wedding venue, and later a restaurant, the towering red-brick building at 2-8 Nish Street played a pivotal role in the industrial rise of the riverside town of Echuca, on the Victoria-NSW border.
Built in 1881 for miller Lawrence Kickham, the towering structure operated as a steam-powered flour mill for nearly a century, processing grain from surrounding farms and distributing it via rail and paddle steamer along the Murray River trade route.
More than just a local landmark, the mill was considered technically advanced for its time as it housed one of Victoria’s early roller milling systems – a design that improved efficiency and flour quality while shaping the building’s distinctive multilevel form.
After milling operations stopped in 1976, the building entered a new phase, evolving with the town itself. It operated as a nightclub from the late 1980s through to the early 2000s, before being transformed into a restaurant and hospitality venue. It was most recently home to The Mill Restaurant and Wine Bar, which traded until earlier this year.
Now, the landmark property is back on the market via an expressions-of-interest campaign, offering a blank canvas for its next chapter.
Listing agent Troy O’Brien of Charles L. King First National Echuca says the building’s rich history is part of what makes it enticing to investors and operators alike.
“It’s an iconic building – everyone in Echuca knows it,” he says. “I remember it as a nightclub growing up, and then it became a really popular restaurant and function space. It’s had a number of different lives, which is what makes it so exciting to see what someone could do with it next.”
Set across five expansive levels covering 1249 square metres, the property offers significant scale, with floor plates ranging from about 150 square metres to more than 400 square metres. The interiors feature soaring ceilings and retained industrial character, while the lower two levels have been adapted for hospitality use.
“It’s five levels, all with really generous spaces,” O’Brien says. “The top level is almost like an attic – a really cool, character-filled space.”
Offered with vacant possession, the building provides flexibility for a new owner to fully reimagine its use, subject to council approvals and planning considerations.
“We’ve had a range of enquiries,” O’Brien says. “There’s been interest from someone looking to turn it into a private home, and others considering a mix of commercial uses.”
Concepts floated so far include creative workspaces, hospitality venues and wine-tasting experiences, alongside more ambitious proposals such as boutique accommodation, which was an idea previously considered by the current owners.
“Boutique accommodation was one of the visions,” O’Brien said. “But it requires significant investment, and that’s where a new owner could really take it to the next level.”
The property’s location in Echuca is another drawcard. Positioned as one of regional Victoria’s most established tourism destinations, the town attracts steady visits driven by the Murray River, heritage attractions and weekend travel from Melbourne.
“With a property like this, it really comes down to vision,” O’Brien says. “If someone connects with it and sees what it could become, that’s where the value lies.”
