Located next to Waverley Library in Bondi, the Boot Factory building is steeped in history, having been constructed between 1890 and 1915 by local footwear manufacturers William Sidaway and Son.

The building consists of three storeys of face brick with rendered pilasters and string courses, multi-paned, double-hung timber windows and a simple moulded parapet bearing the signage “Boot Factory”. Waverley Council acquired the building in 1984, and it was re-opened in 1986 as part of the “Mill Hill Community Centre” after undergoing conservation works.

Previously, the Boot Factory was a base for various community services and organisations, including the Inventors Association of Australia. The building was vacant since 2007 due to concerns regarding its dilapidated condition, with numerous studies commissioned to evaluate the condition and remedial options for the building.

Archer Office was the lead consultant for the design and adaptive reuse of this heritage-listed building, which was transformed into a commercial space with mixed-mode air-conditioning and natural ventilation.

Our team worked in close consultation with heritage architects to deliver sustainability-focused, specialist building services on the project, designed specifically to respect the heritage of the building. This included incorporating features such as ground-source heat pumps and high-efficiency water-cooled VRF air conditioning systems to improve energy efficiency and the overall sustainability of the building.

The Boot Factory officially reopened to the public in November 2024.