Australian Wool Testing Authority site is up for sale in Kensington

After more than half a century, the Australian Wool Testing Authority Ltd (AWTA Ltd) is preparing to part ways with its long-standing Melbourne home in Kensington.

Located at 70 Robertson St, Kensington, the site spans 1.18 hectares and is the last major development parcel within the proposed Macaulay Structure Plan’s Stubbs Precinct.

Poised to become one of the most significant city-fringe development offerings of 2025, the site features mixed-use zoning , flexible planning parameters, and strong transport connectivity.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Joe Kairouz of Cushman & Wakefield, who has been appointed to sell the site alongside colleagues Hamish Burgess, Oliver Hay, and Anthony Kirwan.

“As Melbourne grapples with a housing shortage and increasing pressure to deliver more homes faster, 70 Robertson St stands as a beacon of potential.”

The scale and zoning of the site make it one of the most significant development prospects the area has seen in recent history, with suitability for a range of uses.

The agents marketing the site have noted its appeal to buyers across several sectors, including build-to-rent, build-to-sell, aged care, co-living, or even a hybrid mixed-use model.

Kensington has emerged as a leader in Melbourne’s build-to-rent (BTR) sector, with successful projects like Local in Kensington and Assemble on Stubbs St already operational.

Hamish Burgess of Cushman & Wakefield believes the site’s capacity to accommodate staged development is a major drawcard.

“It allows developers to manage risk, optimise financial performance, and respond to market demand in real time,” he said.

“With the Victorian Government’s Development Facilitation Program supporting higher-density development near transport hubs, the timing couldn’t be better,” he added.

The agents have observed a shift in developer sentiment in 2025, noting that confidence is stronger than in previous years.

After a challenging 2024, marked by structural headwinds, the final quarter saw a resurgence in activity. The reintroduction of stamp duty concessions for off-the-plan buyers, alongside interest rate cuts in February and May, has helped reignite buyer interest.

“The forward pipeline of new projects remains thin, and the gap between supply and demand is widening. This scarcity is driving renewed urgency among developers to secure prime sites like AWTA’s Kensington property,” Mr Kairouz said. •

Image: Cushman & Wakefield.