Marrickville Printer Reveals $32m ‘Hipster’ Office Scheme

A Sydney-based newspaper printer has filed plans to turn its factory into a $32-million creative industries hub.

Dimitri Georgantzakos, associated with the Spotpress printing company that operates from the site, is the applicant proposing the three-storey project at 24-26 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville, about 10km south of the Sydney CBD by road.

The 6469sq m site, 500m from the Sydenham Metro and train station, has several sheds and offices up to two storeys, as well as 750sq m of hardstand.

The proposal comprises two buildings with internal mezzanines, three storeys above ground and two basement levels, as well as 140 parking spaces. Total gross floor area would be 6050sq m, at a floor space ratio of 0.93:1, which is against the local limit of 0.95:1.

As much as 57.5 per cent of the floorspace, or 3492sq m, would be dedicated to creative industries. Other proposed tenancies include neighbourhood shops, building and hardware supplies, an industrial retail outlet, repair and reuse businesses, and cafes or takeaway food and beverage. 

A pre-lodgement meeting with the Inner West Council showed that some of the retail and commercial uses initially proposed were not suitable for the local E4 General Industrial zoning. The application suggests, however, that businesses and offices are permitted when they are used for creative purposes, under clause 6.21 of the Inner West LEP 2022.

Repair businesses, hardware stores and the other proposed uses are also permitted under E4 zoning.

▲ Underground storage areas, which the proposal excludes from GFA, are directly connected to individual tenancies by stairs.

Basement storage areas for creative industry manufacturers are also included, but have not been factored into GFA or FSR calculations. Legal advice was sought to support that calculation. Council officers had advised that the initially proposed FSR was over 70 per cent variance from the local limit and would be unlikely to be supported.

Properties in the rapidly evolving surrounding streets, a former quarry and landfill until 1986, are a mix of industrial warehouses and sheds repurposed into specialty consumer uses. The suburb is frequently named as one of the “coolest” in the world. 

The proposal points to the MADE development at Faversham Street (a TOGA, Rebel Property and Braxton Capital project) and The Borough development at Edinburgh Road as local examples of similar developments. Coronation’s Precinct 75 at St Peters, which exhibited upscaled plans for 471 build-to-rent apartments in August, was also highlighted.

Poultry wholesaler M&J Chickens has had a sizeable footprint in the area since 1986, and the project site neighbours a bus depot.

The brewery and restaurant at Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre, 200m away, opened in 2022. Several other breweries, distilleries and coffee roasters are also newer additions to the area. Box-style gyms and fitness centres, as well as a rock-climbing facility, are also popular in surrounding streets.

In October, the council approved a densification plan for an additional 30,000 homes in the LGA, as an alternative to the state government-led Transport-Oriented Development proposal.