Developer plans staged transformation of former Presentation College, with heritage fabric of the site to be retained and apartments released progressively in line with State Government activity centre plans.
Presentation Association Incorporated (PAI), on behalf of Presentation Sisters Victoria (PSV), has entered a contract of sale with Pace Development Group for its purchase of the former Presentation College site in Windsor, concluding one of the city’s most closely watched development campaigns in recent years.
Colliers managed the sale process of the 1.89‑hectare landholding, owned by Presentation Association Victoria for more than 150 years. The campaign attracted strong interest from a wide field of prospective buyers, including residential developers, private schools and aged care & retirement, before Pace secured the landmark site.
Jozef Dickinson, Colliers National Director | Residential, said interest was amplified by the site’s rare scale and the Victorian Government’s announced Train and Tram Zone Activity Centre framework which landed concurrently with the property hitting the market.
“The campaign generated extraordinary levels of enquiry from across the market, the way the site presented was so interesting and had to be seen to be believed. The combination of a landmark landholding and the government’s plans for Windsor Station within the Activity Centre strategy made it incredibly compelling. Residential developers recognised the strategic alignment with long‑term housing policy and the unique opportunity to shape a major urban precinct,” Mr Dickinson said.
Pace said its plans for the property involve a respectful, staged housing redevelopment on the iconic site.
Shane Wilkinson, Managing Director and Founder of Pace added, “After delivering over 100 projects across Melbourne, we are honoured to take custodianship of such an important inner-city site.
“We are seeing strong sales across our recently completed “The Archer” in Flemington, and under construction “Fabbrica” in Fitzroy which has given us real confidence to invest further in Inner-city Melbourne. Our vision is to deliver a carefully considered housing precinct, well connected to heart of Windsor and the surrounding locale.
Being located within the State Government’s designated activity hub was a major drawcard and something that appealed to Pace’s continued strategy, providing the right environment for mixed‑use development that balances legacy and growth.
“We maintain a strong commitment to developing in areas that celebrate Melbourne’s vibrant culture, and Windsor is one of those places that Melbournians consistently seek out to work, live and play,” said Mr Wilkinson.
A representative for Presentation Sisters Victoria said, “This site holds deep significance for many in our community, and we approached this process with care and discernment. Our goal has always been to ensure that the outcome supports our mission and creates opportunities for lasting impact.”
Located within one of the Victorian Government’s 60 designated Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres, the Windsor precinct is earmarked for significant housing growth as part of a plan to enable more than 300,000 new homes close to public transport, jobs and services by 2051. This framework prioritises well‑connected, higher‑density development, positioning the site to benefit from strong demand and streamlined planning pathways.
The redevelopment of the former Presentation College grounds will proceed over multiple stages. The long‑term transformation is set to open a new chapter for one of Windsor’s most historically significant sites while helping deliver much‑needed housing within a key State Government activity corridor.
The sale of Windsor Hall was exclusively managed by Colliers’ Jozef Dickinson, John Marasco and Philip Heberling with Neil Matthews the appointed transaction manager.
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