On The Market

A Rare Warehouse Conversion In The Heart Of Fitzroy Is On The Market

If you think this warehouse conversion in Fitzroy looks like a film set – that’s because it’s currently owned by renowned Australian producer Anna McLeish and her partner, James Griffin. It’s certainly got a hint of drama about it!

Believed to have originally been a textile factory, the building was formerly home to news organisation Crikey, before the pair purchased it in 2008 and engaged Techne to renovate the warehouse, creating an inner-city oasis with industrial flair.

Now it’s time for a sea-change, and this light, bright warehouse on an unusually large block for Fitzroy is looking for new owners. It’s a good one!

Written
by
Sasha Gattermayr
Support by Nelson Alexander

Steel framed doors flood the generous open-plan home with light. Photo – Christopher Alexander.

The living room sits at the back of the house, adjacent to the kitchen. Photo – Christopher Alexander.

The dining room is separated from the living room by the kitchen. Pool Bride, 2017 by Rob McLeish from Neon Parc (not for sale). Photo – Christopher Alexander.

Timber sliding doors cover off the TV room and study, which is directly connected to the front door. Pool Bride, 2017 by Rob McLeish from Neon Parc (not for sale). Photo – Christopher Alexander.

The study contains in-built cabinetry and shelves. Photo – Christopher Alexander.

The main bedroom sits adjacent to the living room, with its own raised sunroom and set of steel framed windows overlooking the garden. Heaven! Photo – Christopher Alexander.

The garden is north-facing, and the freestanding nature of the building means there are no towering buildings nearby blocking out the natural light. Photo – Christopher Alexander.

A separate bungalow building is hidden beneath greenery at the bottom of the garden. It contains a bedroom/studio space and an ensuite. Photo – Christopher Alexander.

One of the upstairs bedrooms is connected to the rooftop terrace, which overlooks the coveted neighbourhood. Photo – Christopher Alexander.

The warehouse building used to be a textile factory and the offices for Crikey news, before it was turned into a private residence. The current owners purchased it in 2008 and engaged Techne to design the residence as it is now. Photo – Christopher Alexander.

Writer
Sasha Gattermayr
1st of October 2021

Condell Street in Fitzroy is wedged between Gore Street and Smith, a highly coveted pocket of the inner-city suburb. Throw in a freestanding, architect-renovated warehouse and you have yourself a very rare piece of real estate!

The open plan space retains its industrial volumes and character, softened by coats of white paint, in-built cabinetry and towering steel framed windows that allow the north-facing light to flood into the house.

Owners Anna McLeish and James Griffin were keen to retain the character of the old building when they purchased it in 2008, while simultaneously making it a home.

‘We undertook a renovation with Techne Architects’ senior architect and co-founder Justin Northrop (also an old friend of ours), to turn the space into an inner-city family home while still retaining a lot of what we loved about it as an industrial warehouse,’ explains Anna. ‘We deliberately left the outside lowkey and allowed the “WOW-factor” to greet people upon entering.’

And it worked!

The entry opens to the study nook, which is surrounded by built-in cabinetry and secreted by large timber doors. Once these are slid open, the rest of the house reveals itself.

The main body of the building is occupied by an open-plan living, dining and kitchen space, with stainless steel benches and cooktops dividing the dining and lounge rooms. A secondary TV room  is sealed off and tucked to the side.

While the towering volumes of the space flood the whole building with light, the bedrooms have their own dramatic features! The main bedroom is located next to the lounge with its own raised sunroom overlooking the garden; one bedroom upstairs is connected to a private rooftop terrace; and a separate studio at the bottom of the garden is completely discreet from the rest of the house. This truly unique home is ready for its new custodians!

89 Condell Street, Fitzroy will be sold via virtual auction on 23rd October by agent Peter Stephens from Nelson Alexander. See the full listing here.

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