From factory to dream home: Warehouse conversions you have to see to believe

These old factories have been reimagined into chic living spaces, using their rusty past to breathe new life into urban hubs

Their vast spaces might have once hummed to the sound of machines, but these relics of Australia’s industrial past are being reinvented as coveted contemporary homes.

A slew of recent warehouse conversions to hit the market shows how abandoned factories are being cleverly reborn into sleek warehouses, helping reinvigorate city spaces with their blend of historic architecture and modern style.

In inner Sydney’s Chippendale, a large scale industrial warehouse known as the ‘Pigeon Shed’ has been masterfully transformed into a stunning home with expansive spaces to live, work, play and even garden.

“This is a very rare bird – that’s the best way I can describe it,” Shannan Whitney, of BresicWhitney, said.

The early century building is being offloaded by Beau Neilson, daughter of Australian businesswoman and philanthropist Judith Neilson via an expressions of interest campaign, with a price guide of $19 million.

“The family have been synonymous with this category of building in inner Sydney, and has probably single-handedly done some of the better conversions,” Mr Whitney added. “They’ve been amazing custodians for the inner city areas, restoring and celebrating buildings like this.”

MCK Architects stayed true to the industrial character of the building, which has had a range of uses over its life.

“The architects have done an incredible job,” Mr Whitney said.

“The building had a beautiful authenticity, and its industrial personality was still intact.

“It had an amazing presence as a beautiful, big, freestanding building of impressive proportions. The owner was lucky enough to get their hands on it 12 or 15 years ago.”

Split across three levels with an internal floor area of 735 sqm, the five-bedroom home includes a formal entertaining zone, studio, guest area, casual living area and expansive kitchen. There is also an internal lift and revolving bookcase.

The renovation took around four years, with the current sale generating interest from all ages and walks of life, Mr Whitney added.

While Sydney has its share of warehouse conversions, they rarely come up for sale. “Very few of this calibre have been built. The commercial reality and time required to deliver this level of quality for an asset like this is well above that price guide.”

Elsewhere in Sydney’s inner west, heritage architecture is also being revived with a former toy factory-turned-stylish warehouse conversion at 3 Foster Street Leichhardt.

Iconic toy manufacturer Albert Lindsay once made his famed cowboy costumes here and during the 1960s 80 people worked at the Foster Street factory.

The industrial bones of the factory remain true to its 1930s build, with 347sqm of internal space across two levels.

Honouring its storied past, the factory has been recast for modern living with the four-bedroom home boasting soaring ceilings, and beautiful industrial finishes including exposed steel trusses and reclaimed brickwork.

“A lot of warehouses don’t have triple parking, an 18-metre long grass lawn, and family-friendly amenities. But we’ve got four bedrooms plus four bathrooms, a media room, and home office, so it’s certainly unique. It actually caters to all markets which is unique for a warehouse conversion,” agent Santos Sulfaro of CobdenHayson said.

The Lindsay family returned to the old factory and “couldn’t believe their eyes that it was the same warehouse their family worked in for the last 70 years”, he said.

The property was snapped up ahead of its scheduled auction date for $5.01 million.

In North Melbourne it is a similar story, with the transformation of a late 19th century warehouse and adjoining caretaker’s cottage at 39-41 Provost Street. The building, which once served as a timber mill and livery stable, has gone from grit to glam.

Vaulted skylit ceilings flood the four-bedroom residence with natural light, with features including an expansive dining space, polished concrete floors and double-brick walls.

A trip up the spiral staircase also reveals a rooftop deck with city skyline views. The price guide is $3.75 million to $3.995 million.

Meanwhile in Melbourne’s inner south, modern life thrives at another factory of yesterday. The brick warehouse turned tri-level four-bedroom home at 27 Woodstock Street, Balaclava, exudes rustic charm, paying homage to its industrial roots with features like exposed brick walls, cathedral ceilings with timber beams and wooden floors.

The top floor also opens out to a decked terrace with sweeping neighbourhood views. The price guide is $3 million to $3.3 million.

And in Western Australia, the 1930s Weeties factory at 11/5 Harvest Road, North Freemantle has  undergone an award-winning revival. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home priced from $3.95 million offers a nod to its past, with its vaulted ceilings, large living spaces, brick interiors and reclaimed timber floor.

Touches of old include the original tall windows that let natural light flood in, while modern additions include a pool and lush terrace.

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