WORK has begun on a new “tropical paradise” industrial business park in Mornington, which will provide a mix of warehouses, retail, and studio spaces.
Located near the racecourse at 41 Watt Rd, Mornington, the new $5 million business precinct called “Free Form” officially broke ground last week, creating a new opportunity for those who “want modern workplaces with a Mornington address”. Once complete it will feature 32 warehouses, nine offices, a café, five storage units, car parking, and one caretaker’s residence across the half a hectare site.
A sod-turning ceremony on 5 March was celebrated by dignitaries including Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie, Mornington Peninsula Shire deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro, and developer Kyle Reeve, director of Gestalt Property.
Reeve, whose usual developments range from luxury homes to medium density apartments, said Free Form was the “perfect opportunity” to create a precinct that could put “Mornington on the map”, making it not only an attractive option for businesses who wanted a space closer to home but also creating a local hub of innovation and economic growth.
“We’ve gone to great lengths in the design and architecture of the building and landscaping to attract businesses that want to be client-facing and proud of their business address. We’re not pretending we’re in Melbourne; we want to be on the peninsula and proud to be on the peninsula,” Reeve said.
Kyle and his wife Kristiina and two small children moved from Melbourne to Mount Martha in 2019 and now feel very much part of the local community. Reeve had been formerly working from a co-working space in Mornington but when he realised that he and other business owners were dividing their time between Mornington and Melbourne with no comparable office space in the local area, he knew something had to be done.
Free Form’s flexible offering has so far proven to be a promising venture with 60 per cent of the project having been sold to local businesses from logistics, tech, mortgage brokers and a wine wholesaler. “I discovered that there are smart, sophisticated, and interesting businesses on the peninsula with nowhere to go. There’s very little choice for decent businesses to put themselves somewhere,” Reeve said.
“I feel a great responsibility to deliver something remarkable for the site, as I live locally and will have my office in this development. This isn’t just about selling and disappearing; it’s about building a community and setting a new standard for industrial developments,” he said.
Free form’s design is touted to “lift the bar for industrial spaces by bringing a residential approach to industrial development”. The landscaping, designed by Plume Studio, will see a “tropical paradise” created with a six-metre buffer from the road, including various plants and palm trees.
“We’ve got design guidelines around signage and branding to ensure the aesthetic appeal of the development. We’re not just building warehouses; we’re creating a place where businesses can thrive and be proud of their location,” Reeve said.
First published in the Mornington News – 11 March 2025
