A new entrant to Melbourne’s industrial development market has launched with a $65.5 million business park in Keilor Park, backed by early sales momentum and a clear focus on design-led product integrated with communal amenities.
Freeform, founded by developer Tim Kourtaibe, has entered the market with Citadel Business Park at 85 Wright Road, a 65-unit office warehouse development targeting owner-occupiers seeking higher-quality industrial and commercial space. Stage 1 is approximately 65 per cent sold, with 50 per cent secured off-market prior to construction commencing.
Positioned above a natural valley running down to the Maribyrnong, Citadel introduces a level of specification uncommon in small-format industrial. Office areas feature suspended concrete floors, three-metre ceilings, ducted air conditioning and turnkey interiors. Warehouses are delivered with sealed burnished concrete floors and painted walls, reducing dust and maintaining a cleaner working environment, along with stone-finished kitchens with integrated appliances and fully tiled bathrooms. Each unit includes its own solar system and ample on-site parking, with private rooftop terraces to select units capitalising on the valley aspect. Shared amenity includes landscaped communal zones with barbecues and seating areas, and a dedicated amenities building with co-working space, end-of-trip facilities and a rooftop terrace.
Pricing achieved to date is approximately 10 to 15 per cent above comparable projects in Keilor Park, Keilor East and Airport West, with further increases anticipated across upcoming releases. Construction is under way, with completion expected November 2026.
“Buyers in this space are more sophisticated than ever,” Kourtaibe said. “They know what’s out there. They care about what their workplace reflects on their business, how their team feels walking in each morning, and the small details that sit beyond the functional requirements.”
“Most industrial product is a commodity. It’s just space. We’re building something that moves beyond that. The hard numbers still have to stack up. But the intangibles matter just as much, and that’s where we focus.”
“When you spend enough time both on-site in the trenches and in the boardroom, you learn to design backwards from the outcome and with the end-user in mind.”
Kourtaibe’s background is unconventional for a development principal. He moved through construction, real estate sales and development roles where he was instrumental in the delivery and commercialisation of large-scale business park projects across Melbourne. Of particular note was his previous work with a prominent private developer where he shaped an award winning concept for small scale storage units.
Today, Kourtaibe is a hands-on director. He personally attends every purchaser and tenant inspection at Citadel, walking prospective buyers through the design rationale and providing his direct mobile number for technical queries throughout construction – an approach he credits with the strong off-market sales activity.
His broader strategy for Freeform is focused on design-led industrial, commercial and residential projects delivered in collaboration with landowners and equity partners, held to a consistent standard regardless of scale. Several further industrial projects are at various stages of planning.
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