The Hawthorn Football Social Club has been sold to a group of passionate Grace Park residents, marking the end of successful negotiations that concluded with the signing of a contract over the weekend. The property, located at 37 Linda Crescent, Hawthorn, will be converted back into a residential property once the deal is finalized in 90 days.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett described the sale as a win-win situation for both the club and the local community. He mentioned that the club had initially planned to develop the site into a medical center to secure steady rental income. However, they reconsidered after understanding the residents’ strong opposition to this proposal.
Although the sale price remains undisclosed, Kennett emphasized that the agreed amount meets the club’s financial requirements. He pointed out that avoiding prolonged negotiations was beneficial, as it would have been costly and diverted senior management’s focus from the club’s primary goal of securing their 10th premiership.
With this sale, Hawthorn relinquishes its last commercial ties to the area, yet the club will maintain a strong emotional connection with its former home. Kennett assured that the club will continue to hold annual events, such as the March Family Day at Glenferrie Oval, and support the local Auskick program.
Rob Perkins, president of the Grace Park residents group, expressed gratitude towards the Hawthorn board for the opportunity to reclaim the property for residential use. He highlighted the community’s commitment to preserving the unique character of the Grace Park estate, which they felt was threatened by potential commercial development.
Perkins also emphasized that the community believes the council should not promote commercial interests in the area, reiterating their intention to keep it a purely residential estate. The sale thus aligns with the residents’ vision of protecting their neighborhood from commercial encroachment.
Additionally, Hawthorn Football Club will contribute to the Grace Park Masterplan, an initiative led by the City of Boroondara. This plan includes discussions about the future of the Ferguson and Tuck stands at Glenferrie Oval, indicating the club’s ongoing involvement and commitment to the local community.
THE Hawthorn Football Social Club will be sold to a group of passionate Grace Park residents after successful negotiations over the past few weeks resulted in the signing of a contract of sale over the weekend.
The premises, located at 37 Linda Crescent Hawthorn, will be returned to a residential property once the deal is settled in 90 days.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said the outcome for the site was a win-win for both parties.
“We (Hawthorn) were keen to develop the site as a medical centre which would provide a steady rental income for the future,” he said.
“We needed to bear in mind that the residents were not keen on this proposal and would have opposed the plans in various forums.”
While the price tag on the property has not been disclosed, Kennett did say the newly unveiled outcome would play its part in the club’s road to premiership victory.
“The price we have negotiated meets our requirements and avoids us engaging in further long term negotiations which would have been expensive and would have distracted our senior management from their primary focus which is to work towards securing our 10th premiership,” Kennett said.
While the sale of 37 Linda Crescent sees Hawthorn relinquish the last of its ties to the area in a commercial sense, the club will continue to maintain a presence and an emotional connection with its former home.
“We will always be attached to Hawthorn and continue to hold our annual March Family Day at Glenferrie Oval and other events including supporting the Auskick program,” Kennett said.
President of Grace Park residents group Rob Perkins has thanked the Hawthorn board for making this opportunity available to the community and welcomed the club’s continued association with Glenferrie Oval.
“The residents in Grace Park believe that this initiative helps to protect this unique estate, which was under threat from commercial development,” Perkins said.
“We don’t believe that council should be promoting the area to commercial interests. It’s a residential estate and we are very intent on keeping it that way.”
Hawthorn Football Club will also contribute to the Grace Park Masterplan being undertaken by the City of Boroondara which will include deliberations surrounding the future of the Ferguson and Tuck stands at Glenferrie Oval.
Leave a Reply