Illustration of a black arrow
A multi-story building with a blue sign that reads 'GMHBA Health Insurance + Eye Care'. The ground floor features an eye care clinic, with large windows displaying health information and a poster of a woman wearing sunglasses. The building is located on a city street with neighboring buildings, and the sky above is clear.

Colliers Building Restoration/Renovation 

We transformed a 150-year-old heritage-listed former bank into a bold new office space for Colliers International—overcoming major structural and restoration challenges to deliver a standout example of adaptive reuse in Ballarat’s CBD.

    • Client Challenge: Built over 150 years ago, this building was used as a bank complete with huge safes and endowed with local heritage significance. The restoration and conversion into modern office space presented a serious challenge. When the project first began, the client quickly realised the complexity was beyond what they had anticipated. Structural challenges emerged and we were brought in to find engineering and design solutions.

    • Our Solution: Firstly. the safes had to be saw cut and carefully removed. We then utilised concealed steel trusses to reinforce and stabilise the overall structure. Finally, the facade required careful restoration according to the terms of a government heritage grant to make sure it met the conservation standards and maintained the aesthetic integrity.

    • Result: Today, the building is home to three premium commercial tenancies. The fit out makes the most of the high ceilings, natural light and excellent views across the Sturt Street boulevard to Ballarat’s iconic town hall. The finished building is a showpiece of adaptive reuse and a testament to our ability to overcome significant engineering and design challenges.

Modern office lobby with glass partitions, wooden floors, white walls, and exposed wooden beams on the ceiling. There are chairs, a brochure stand, and a seating area with a view of an office space in the background.
Interior corner of a room with exposed wooden beams on a white ceiling, a red brick wall, and a white wall with a window.
Elevator in a modern building hallway with wooden wall paneling, a black floor mat, a decorative ceiling with hanging metallic gold and white birds, and a sign above the elevator reading 'Colliers International'.
Interior hallway with wooden slat wall and an elevator at the end, close-up perspective.
Interior of an optical store with a seating area, display shelves for glasses on the left, and a reception desk on the right with a computer and monitor. Large glass entrance at the back reveals the street outside.
Certificate of finalist at the Ballarat Heritage Awards 2017 for Adaptive Reuse of a Heritage Place, located at 208-210 Sturt Street, Ballarat. Recognized for contributions with signatures from officials, dated May 16, 2017. The certificate features