Overview
Location: 35 Church Street, Morwell
Victorian Government investment contribution: $30 million
Developer and building management: Castlerock Property
Tenants: Victorian Government – various agencies
Capacity: 300
Jobs created during construction: 500
Opened: July 2021
The building
The Latrobe Valley GovHub is a $30 million, 3-storey employment hub in Morwell, supporting economic growth, creating jobs and helping to drive the industries of the future.
The Latrobe Valley GovHub features:
- modern office spaces
- shared meeting rooms
- a community hub
- business incubator zones
- an exhibition space.
The GovHub is a purpose-built facility that has capacity to accommodate up to 300 workers.
The Morwell based GovHub is among the most energy efficient buildings in the Valley, equipped with a 6-star energy rating, 99kw solar system and electrical vehicle charging stations.
Builder, Castlerock Property, partnered with Traditional Owners, the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, to feature local Indigenous artworks within the building.
Meeting room tables in the GovHub foyer are beautifully decorated with Indigenous designs thanks to a partnership with The Torch program, which provides support to First Nations people currently in, or recently released, from Victorian prisons.
The building also features the latest technology in modern workplace infrastructure and is equipped with a flexible fit-out to accommodate changing tenant needs and new technologies, making it future-ready.
Project benefits
Bringing jobs to the Latrobe Valley
The Latrobe Valley GovHub includes Earth Resources Regulation staff, Parks Victoria staff, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, the head office of Solar Victoria and the recently established Mine Rehabilitation Authority.
In addition to new and ongoing positions, the Latrobe Valley GovHub also supported 500 jobs during construction – with more than 80% of construction involving local trades, supplies and services.
The ongoing maintenance and management of the GovHub will be serviced by local contractors in the Latrobe Valley.
Supporting economic development
The Victorian Government is committed to supporting the Latrobe Valley and its transition from a resource-based economy to one that is more robust and diversified - leveraging the strengths of the existing workforce while welcoming further investment to the region.
The Latrobe Valley GovHub is an important part of this and is expected to deliver an annual $15 million boost to the local economy while encouraging greater investment and confidence in the region.
Located close to Morwell train station, other government services and shops on Church St, the GovHub aims to revitalise the northern edge of the CBD and create new opportunities for local hospitality businesses and other traders to capitalise on the increased foot traffic.
Supporting the community
The Latrobe Valley GovHub has been designed as a state of the art building that brings more office space and workers into the CBD of Morwell.
The GovHub has been designed with key features including an on-site café, shared meeting room spaces on the ground floor and a large conference room which provides a collaboration space for government, agencies, and community groups to work together.
Technology and sustainability
The GovHub has been built to industry leading standards in sustainability and will utilise the expertise of its anchor tenant, Solar Victoria, to ensure the building creates and uses solar energy.
Incorporating the latest workplace design principles, the GovHub is pioneering a new way of working for the Victorian Public Service – driving connection, productivity and greater collaboration.
