Geelong office duo expected to fetch $35 million
Two adjacent fully leased office buildings in Geelong, Victoria’s largest provincial city, are expected to sell at a below-replacement-cost figure of around $35 million.
The buildings could be sold separately as well, and currently return just over $3 million combined per annum. The properties will be sold by expressions of interest closing November 3.
The properties are being marketed by commercial real estate firm Dawkins Occhiuto’s Andrew Dawkins, Chris Jones and Walter Occhiuto, and Pat Burke of MP Burke Commercial.
Dawkins said the properties would present attractive yields for investors or partial owner-occupiers and presented far more attractive numbers than similar properties in Greater Melbourne, including the prospect of strong rental upside.
“With pre-commitment rents in Geelong at around $440 a sqm, there is a potential arbitrage opportunity for existing buildings that are achieving rents well below those rates,” Dawkins said.
“The momentum in the Geelong market coupled with these new rates being achieved presents a real opportunity for both these assets.’’
The property at 235 Ryrie Street is a three-level building with advanced plans available for an additional two office levels featuring CBD and foreshore views.
The property is fully leased to five tenants including Bendigo Bank, Clinical Lab and Victorian Regional Chanel Authority returning $748,076 per annum net.
The 237 Ryrie Street asset is a modern (2008) building of five office levels, featuring a glass curtain facade and an atrium above the foyer.
It is fully leased to eight tenants including Australian Red Cross, Bendigo Bank, Department of Human Services and Morris Finance, returning $2,345,525 per annum net.
Leased to 5 and 8 tenants
Burke added that increased government and private spending indicates a growing confidence in Geelong along with its record population growth.
“Geelong is currently in the midst of an investment and infrastructure boom with more than $1.3 billion of major construction underway or nearing completion and a further $2.3 billion worth of investment either awaiting commencement or in the planning stages.
“The construction of the 14-level, $120 million WorkSafe headquarters in Malop Street epitomises Geelong’s relatively recent emergence as a key commercial centre including a number of national government tenants with the TAC, the ABS, NDIS and DHS.
The city of greater Geelong has a current population of more than 229,000 people, which is expected to grow to 320,791 by 2036.