Geelong Grammar puts historic Newtown campus up for sale

Geelong Grammar has put its former early learning centre Bostock House up for sale after opening a new junior facility at its Corio campus.

The Newtown site closed its doors to students at the end of term 1 after more than 70 years of continuous educational use.

The elite school is remaining tight-lipped about the asking price, but given the 4090sq m site’s position in the heart of Geelong’s premium school belt, it’s likely to fetch upwards of $5m.

Darcy Jarman agents Andrew Prowse and Tim Darcy are handling the expressions of interest campaign, closing on June 25.

Mr Prowse said 139 Noble St, Newtown was one of the most significant education or adaptable use sites to hit the Geelong market in years.

“We expect strong interest from education operators, developers, healthcare and aged-care providers, and private investors seeking a generational holding in Newtown’s tightly held core,” he said.

“Opportunities to acquire a freehold of this scale, in this location, are exceptionally rare. The property has been in continuous educational use for more than 70 years and offers a level of flexibility that is almost unheard of in Newtown.”

The heritage-listed Bostock House, a 1916 Laird and Buchan villa built as a private residence for then Geelong mayor Edward George Gurr, is the centrepiece of the property.

It housed St Andrew’s Private School from 1954-1994 before Geelong Grammar acquired the site in 1997.

The school has made significant improvements over time, including purpose-built classroom wings, a multipurpose room and self-contained early learning centre with a dedicated outdoor play area that takes the total building area to 965sq m.

Bostock House is currently configured as a foyer, principal’s office, staff and classrooms and a library.

Mr Prowse said with current site coverage of less than 30 per cent, there was scope for further development.

“For an education sector buyer it is an established foothold in a postcode where the competing schools are effectively built out,” he said.

The Noble St property most recently catered to students from early learning through to Grade 4, who this term relocated to newly built junior school at Geelong Grammar’s 230ha Corio campus.