Younghusband Woolstore: From Wool Store to Vibrant Mixed-use Development

Built in the late 19th century, Younghusband Woolstore is one of the last surviving witnesses to when Melbourne was a key center of the global wool trade. The massive red brick structures, faded advertising signage, and characteristic sawtooth roof offer a layered narrative of labor, commerce, and social change. Woods Bagot approached the project by drawing on the over 120-year history of the site, transforming its industrial legacy into a vibrant, mixed-use community precinct through a close reading of the site and active engagement with the local community.

Sustainable redevelopment with a “light” touch

The architects approached the redevelopment of the 17,000 m2 site according to a “light touch” methodology. The project went beyond simple façade retention, extending the adaptive reuse to the entire complex – including several long-neglected structures – so that the site’s history can still be experienced by new users.

The result is a contemporary mixed-use precinct with generous public access, conceived as a place for living, working, and socializing. At its center lies a new plaza – the spatial and symbolic focus of the complex – designed as a naturally lit public room with stepped seating that encourages people to pause and interact. Pedestrian and cycle pathways radiate outward from the plaza, reconnecting the site with the city, including through a reactivated rail corridor.

A key element of the project is its approach to accessibility and safety. Glass elevators, link bridges, and new external links use an explicitly contemporary architectural language that engages the existing fabric. Most of the original materials were retained, with upgrades to the roof, windows, and entries for improved thermal performance. Recovered materials were reused elsewhere on site: for example, removed Douglas fir beams were salvaged and repurposed as handrails in the public areas and walkways.

A circular approach to construction resulted in an 84% reduction in embodied carbon compared with similar reference buildings – equivalent to more than 11 million kilograms of carbon savings. The project also includes a 330 kW photovoltaic system with storage, which has reduced energy usage by 34% and achieved carbon neutral operation. A rainwater harvesting system significantly reduces potable water use. The most striking aspect, however, is not the technologies themselves but their discreet integration into the project without detracting from the historic building’s role as protagonist.

Younghusband’s most significant legacy is not just architectural or environmental but civic. By preserving and adapting the heritage wool store buildings and making them accessible and relevant for future generations, the project strengthens Melbourne’s cultural identity.

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