Project: Former Stables of the Metropolitan Sewage Farm

Coleman Architects were engaged by Melbourne Water to explore options for the re-use of the former stables and the nearby manager’s residence in the former township of Cocoroc.

The former stable building is the most substantial structure remaining from the first phase of the Metropolitan Sewage Farm developed by the Metropolitan Board of Works in the late 1900s, and demonstrates the scale of the farming operation undertaken on the 110 sq km site.

After reviewing the cultural significance and physical fabric of the buildings we developed three options for the redevelopment of the stables as part of Melbourne Water’s maintenance centre, and the nearby former manager’s residence as a training facility. In all three options, an area was set aside for an interpretation centre to display early farming machinery used on the site and illustrate the use and development of the farm and treatment plant.