Aviation House is the home of the new Centre for Disease Control. Photo: Colliers.
The nine-storey Woden office building selected to house Australia’s first Centre for Disease Control is on the market.
Colliers has listed Aviation House at 16 Furzer Street, Phillip for sale via Expressions of Interest, closing on Thursday 12 March.
Aviation House last sold for $68.1 million in 2016 when a Queensland-based private investor bought the property from Mirvac.
It was home to the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority until January 2024, when it moved to Marcus Clarke Street in the city at the end of its lease.
Colliers says the property offers investors the chance to acquire a high-quality commercial asset, with substantial value-enhancing potential, in the heart of Australia’s health hub.
In December, the Yaradhang building opposite sold for $305 million to billionaire Paul Lederer. Formerly known as the Sirius building, it has been home to the Commonwealth Department of Health since completion.
Colliers’ Matthew Winter said this had reflected elevated buyer interest in ACT office opportunities compared with the first half of 2025, and provided a pricing benchmark.
Mr Winter said buyer participation was expected to improve throughout 2026.
“2025 saw limited major office transactions, however capital remains interested in the ACT market, noting the attractive fundamentals and relative value on offer,” he said.
“Pricing expectations for this asset reflect in the vicinity of $50m.”
Aviation House is now 44.5 per cent occupied, with the CDC, a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, having started operations on 1 January.
Other tenants were a private sector occupant, Uppercut Games, and a ground floor cafe.
Designed by May and Russell and completed in 2007 by Canberra developer Doma Group, Aviation House comprises 14,820 square metres of A-grade office accommodation across nine levels, with typical floorplates of about 2000 sqm and natural light on all four sides.
It sits on a 4463 sqm site and includes prominent street frontages and a fully refurbished ground floor foyer.
Other recent improvements include a “market-leading” end-of-trip facility, bike storage facilities, refreshed façade, upgraded on-floor amenities and four new Schindler lifts.
Sustainability features include a NABERS Energy rating of 4 stars (designed to achieve 5* stars) and a 4.5-star NABERS Water rating.
Aviation House has the security of a Commonwealth tenant underpinning about 91 per cent of the more than $2.44 million of net passing income.
The vacant area comprises 8254 sqm of minimally furnished and fitted space and there are also 97 car bays available.
“Positioned within a key town centre undergoing significant gentrification, Aviation House represents an attractive opportunity to acquire a strategic Canberra office investment combining covenant strength, scale and value-add prospects,” Colliers says.
The Federal Government introduced legislation last September for the CDC, with Health Minister Mark Butler announcing the Woden location.
The CDC will bring together key information and experts to defend Australia against disease and threats to public health.
Independent MLA for Murrumbidgee and long-time Woden community advocate Fiona Carrick welcomed the announcement that it would be in Woden.
“The Commonwealth Health Department has been the beating heart of the Woden Town Centre for over 50 years,” she said.
“It is terrific that this critical new health institution will also be located in Woden, cementing its position as the centre of health policy in Australia.”
