Mackillop Family Services Federal Mills Office
Transforming the 1915 Woollen Mills into a light-filled, flexible workplace.
Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Adaptive Reuse
- Architecture
- Interior Design
- Sustainability
A legacy project by McGlashan Everist.
Located within the historic Federal Mills Business Park, the adaptive reuse of the 1915 Woollen Mills provides MacKillop Family Services’ Geelong office with a warm and welcoming workplace environment that supports both staff and the wider community.
Originally home to Geelong’s first major manufacturing operation, the Woollen Mills closed in 1972 before lying dormant for more than four decades. Its transformation into a contemporary workplace forms part of the broader revitalisation of the Federal Mills precinct, returning activity and purpose to this significant industrial site.
The design embraces the building’s industrial heritage while introducing carefully considered contemporary interventions.
Restored sawtooth skylights draw abundant natural light deep into the interiors, while a refined material palette complements the robust existing fabric and reinforces a sense of authenticity.
Generous and flexible spaces accommodate a range of working and community functions, demonstrating how adaptive reuse can sensitively balance preservation and innovation to deliver sustainable, meaningful architecture with lasting social value.
