Workspace Australia will receive $3 million in state government funding to assist in relocating the Halford Street site to the old Etty Street Secondary School campus.
Workspace will be moving from its current Halford Street location to the former secondary school in Etty Street by January 2024.
Announced on Monday by local MP Maree Edwards, the funding aims to ensure the continued presence of Workspace Australia’s business incubator in Castlemaine while freeing up the current building occupied by Workspace for use by Dhelkya Health to redevelop as a much-needed community health facility.
“I’m delighted to announce support for Workspace Australia in Castlemaine to help our region reach its full potential with more jobs and exciting projects,” Ms Edwards said.
The works to the Department of Education-owned building, leased by Mount Alexander Shire and subleased to Workspace Australia, will be completed by December 2023, with licensees moving into the building as soon as January 2024.
The buildings have been vacant for a number of years (apart from the two buildings leased to Autoplex) and require significant site works to repurpose the space, including electrical and access upgrades. Workspace Australia contributing a further $1.5 million to the project.
Stage one of the project will see the old administration building and the two-storey science building developed for use by 40 businesses. Stage two will include upgrades to the canteen building to provide further space for 14 businesses, with the possibility of further expansion in the future.
Workspace CEO Rebecca Dempsey told the Mail the funding announcement was “unbelievable”.
“Work on this project began in 2018, including a number of studies and surveys to develop a master plan,” she said.
“Surprisingly there was a huge amount of foot traffic in the area with a lot of people riding or walking.”
Businesses currently operating at the Halford Street site (operational since 1998) at the end of their three-year lease period, will be moving on, allowing new businesses to sign a lease, with all money generated going back into expanding Worksafe.
Ms Dempsey said Worksafe Australia had six sites but the Castlemaine site, leased to 68 businesses, was by far the largest, making up half of the operating businesses.
“There has been such a large demand since COVID,” she said. “A lot of people have lost their jobs and have no other options. This way they can have a go with less risk. They’re the ones with fantastic ideas and skills.”
According to Ms Dempsey, pre-COVID the Halford Street site had 70 per cent occupancy with an increase to 98 per cent post-COVID.
“All of the other workspace sites are at 100 per cent capacity, with waiting lists accumulating,” she said.
“We have six food businesses operating in Castlemaine at the moment.
“Puds for All Seasons, Peddling Pastry, Woodley’s Pies and Pastries, Geeza and Firebean Organic Coffee.
“And what’s really exciting about the Etty Street space is the capacity for at least six dedicated kitchen spaces.
“At the current site, there is only one dedicated kitchen, leaving the other five food businesses having to adapt the rooms to suit.”
