Australian College of Optometry to Sell Carlton Headquarters in Major Strategic Shift

The Australian College of Optometry (ACO) is set to sell its Carlton headquarters and relocate as it expands its clinical networks to be closer to patients and partners.

ACO CEO Pete Haydon said the decision to sell followed many years of consideration and analysis.

“Over the past 20 years, our organisation has undergone a quiet but significant transformation, and the way we train, research, and deliver care to our patients has changed,” he said.

ACO began as a teaching clinic in 1940 and quickly developed a strong public health ethos. In the 1950s, the organisation received its first Government grant, helping extend optometry care to underserved communities in Victoria.

When full-time undergraduate education shifted from ACO to the University of Melbourne in 2005, the organisation’s focus turned to providing clinical placements for Australian optometry students, and targeted professional development.

In 2023, a strategic decision to shift the focus from neuroscience to clinical research was made to align with the ACO’s public health mission.

“After two decades of change, we now only need about one-third of the space we currently have,” Haydon said.

“We no longer require the extensive teaching, education, or laboratory spaces we once did, and these areas have proven costly and difficult to repurpose, leaving many of them unused and deteriorating. Today, we stand as leaders in public health, but our headquarters has not kept pace. It is underutilised, increasingly costly to maintain, and in need of a major renovation.”

An independent Victorian Eyecare Service (VES) review conducted in 2024 clearly outlined where ACO patients were, the importance of locating close to them to deliver quality care, and the need to expand satellite clinic rooms and outreach services – initiatives the organisation was actively advancing.

Described as a decision made with real intention, principle, and confidence, Haydon said funds from the sale would be reinvested in a more suitable and fit-for-purpose premises within Melbourne’s city fringe.

“Reinvesting in a modern premises is a practical step to secure our future – helping us deliver lasting impact, support our communities, and strengthen clinical care, research, and education for generations to come,” he said.

“We acknowledge the significance that our headquarters holds for many in the profession who began their careers at ACO when we were a full-time training facility. While this chapter remains an integral part of the ACO story, it concluded a long time ago. We want to honour where we’ve come from, while responding to the changing needs of our patients and the profession.”

A two- to five‑year timeframe has been put on the building sale and relocation.