Architect Walter Pollock's commercial portfolio to go under the hammer

Architect Walter Pollock's commercial portfolio to go under the hammer
Prateek ChatterjeeDecember 8, 2020

A portfolio of commercial properties in Melbourne belonging to renowned architect Walter Pollock, a World War II survivor, are being offered for sale through a series of Fitzroys auctions.

The on-site auctions are as follows:

182-188 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne on May 5

- 341-345 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne (443 above) on May 6

- 59-61 Park Street, South Melbourne on May 12

The listing agents are James Gregson and Michael Ryan. 

The 182-188 Clarendon Street site is spread over nearly 420 sqm, features three street frontages and a 300 sqm retail freehold. It is being offered with significant short-term income. The Commercial 1-zoned property offers the potential to occupy, invest or development subject to councils approval (STCA).

“The site has a potential height limit of six stories or 23.5 metres with no set-backs, or up to 19.5 metres over circa five levels,” said Gregson.

The following day will see the corner site 341-345 Queensberry Street go under the hammer. On a land area of 370 sqm, it has three street frontages with improvements comprising a two-level freehold. 

“Offered with significant short-term income, the property is zoned Capital City and has excellent development upside (STCA) with a 40-metre height limit circa 13 levels, and located close to the University precinct,” Gregson said.

The 59-61 Park Street site is a 246 sqm corner retail/showroom investment on the corner of major arterial Kings Way and will be offered the following week.

It is on a lease term of three plus three years and returns $103,415 plus GST and outgoings, with potential for additional signage income (STCA).

Ryan said the property is zoned mixed use and has significant development upside (STCA), with an estimated 100,000-plus vehicles passing daily.

“The entire portfolio represents an ultra-rare opportunity to become part of Australia’s property and architecture history,” said Ryan.

Pollock was a revolutionary figure in Australia’s architecture industry throughout the 20th century. Born in Austria, Pollock and his brother were separated from their parents during World War II. Whilst en route to Canada, via ship, the vessel was struck by an enemy torpedo. Despite over 1,000 people drowning in the incident, Pollock survived and would eventually find himself in Australia in 1940.

In his final year as a student at Melbourne University he was chosen to join the nation’s architectural elite and collaborate on the design of Canberra’s Australian National University. Over time it would be two residential projects for his own family that would emerge as his best-known work, including his own hard-edged modernist family home at 193 Hawdon Street, Heidelberg and a decade later another for their own residence, at 1a Grong Grong Court. 

As his reputation for unique and ultra modern designs grew, Pollock’s clients, and subsequently his social circle, began to include industry and government elites and included the acting Prime Minister of Australia, the Governor General and government ministers. Later in life, Pollock turned his attention to environmental projects that led him to overseeing several large development projects in the Philippines. By the mid 1990s he was devoting much of his time to his hobbies, including designing and making jewellery.

Editor's Picks