Wellard Group plans Cottesloe move

PRIVATE agricultural export player Wellard Group has plans to build a new corporate headquarters in Cottesloe after acquiring a Stirling Highway location for $4.6 million.

The move from Fremantle will take place after redevelopment of the site with a four-storey, green-star-rated, office block proposed at the Cottesloe site to house the rapidly diversifying group.

Debra Tarabini-East, CEO of two new Wellard divisions, Wellard Capital Pty Ltd and Wellard Estates Pty Ltd, said the business was planning a significant expansion over the next two years, anticipating staff numbers to more than double to 50.

Wellard is owned by the Balzarini family and headed by Mauro Balzarini. The Balzarini family also owns Italian sea transport group, Siba Ships.

Wellard plans to take a floor in the proposed building and will lease out other floors as office or showroom areas. Ms Tarabini-East expects the overall cost of the project, including land, will be about $10 million.

She said the company was seeking an architect for the venture. The 1,122 square metre site sits just south of Jarrad Street, across the road from the Cottesloe Central Shopping Centre, near the busy retail area of Napoleon Street.

The property currently has two showrooms, with one having been occupied by the Leather House. The agent for the property is Jeff Braddock of Perth-based BPG Australia Pty Ltd. Ms Tarabini-East said Wellard had considerable ambitions in the property sector.

Wellard’s key property assets were land banks in areas, which it had used for its rural sector business, such as feedlotting animals prior to export, she said. The company has 53 hectares at Baldivis as well as 6ha on the river in Hazelmere.

“Landbanking works well with Wellard,” Ms Tarabini-East said. “We can use our agricultural expertise while we wait.” Wellard has recently opened divisions in real estate, finance and aviation, the latter being Wellard Aviation.