The Industrialist
15 December 2022
InterGrain, a cereal breeding company, has signed a 20-year plus options pre-lease on a 9,852sqm Pellicano development site in Horsham.
Globally recognised InterGrain is an Australian plant breeding company that offers wheat, barley and oat varieties for grain growers. InterGrain’s industry leading varieties deliver significant yield and agronomic advantages for grain producers and high quality grain for end users.
Pellicano has held the Horsham site for nearly 20 years, waiting for the right occupiers to suit council’s economic development plan. The first deal, with BlueScope Steel in 2007, supported that aim – as does the most recent deal with InterGrain, which supports the food research industry.
1.44ha of land remains unoccupied at the site, which Pellicano will continue to hold as it targets another long-term high-tech industrial occupier.
Pellicano’s industrial holdings, which represent circa 55 per cent of its portfolio, now stands at approximately 650,000sqm – the newest pre-lease facility continues with the diversified developer’s activity in regional Victoria, following in the footsteps of The Goods Shed Events Hall in Ballarat, Geelong’s build-to-rent Pivot House and Quest Geelong Central, and Yarrawonga’s Kaiela Business Park – which is home to Bunnings Warehouse, Tradelink and Toyota.
The InterGrain facility at lot 4, 142-150 Stawell Road, Horsham will become a research and development facility for plant breeding programmes across InterGrain’s eastern seaboard operations, and includes a large preparation area, oven, cool room and machinery areas for specialised equipment.
Pellicano’s long-standing focus on long-term regional projects, and commitment to the township of Horsham, underpinned its motivation secure a well-respected operator like InterGrain for the long- held site, says managing director Renato Pellicano.
“ Our team worked hand-in-glove with InterGrain to workshop the design of its specialised facility, particularly the large R&D laboratory, ensuring it will work for the company operationally. We have also maintained our company’s focus on developing market-leading green buildings,” he said.
The Horsham facility will provide a springboard for future growth across Australia’s eastern seaboard, says CEO Tresslyn Walmsley.
“ InterGrain started operations in Horsham in 2010 and we have grown significantly since.
“ Our plant breeding programs are going from strength to strength, and we have expanded our footprint on the east coast.
“ This growth has necessitated an upgrade to a new custom-built facility to increase processing capacity and efficiency.
“ Our Horsham facility is a key hub for the company – for processing and storing grain – and the new build will significantly drive operational efficiency by increasing storage facilities, improving pest control, and introducing temperature control and dust extraction to enhance the working environment for our team,” she said.
InterGrain’s shareholders are the WA State Government (58%) and GRDC (42%), and it employs 65+ staff across facilities in Perth and Horsham.
Construction on the facility will commence in Q1 2023 ahead of its estimated completion date later that year.