A brewery, multicultural church and high-rise apartment developer from Sydney have bought historic church properties and a former supermarket logistics centre in Goulburn to redevelop.

Macarthur Grange Brewery, of Campbelltown, plans a $15 million manufacturing and tourism facility at the former Coles warehouse, opposite the Big Merino. The owners say expansion will create 150 jobs.

Meanwhile, developer Nick Daoud plans a conference centre and serviced apartments worth $10 million on the site of the former Marian College. And the Antioch Orthodox Church has bought the former St Michael's novitiate to redevelop into national headquarters.

Goulburn Mulwaree mayor Geoff Kettle said the new development was due to Goulburn building a pipeline to the Southern Highlands and accessing Sydney's water storage for its own water security.

''We have plenty of room for expansion,'' he said. ''Developers, businesses and government are now aware that we can cope with this sort of expansion.

''It's just the start. Before, when you didn't have water, you couldn't do anything.''

Cr Kettle said Goulburn Mulwaree Council's marketing in Sydney's west and Canberra had presented more attractive leasing and purchasing prices for commercial and residential property.

Mr Daoud, who is building a $100 million units development in Wollongong, said he had engaged a heritage consultant to retain significant buildings within the former Marian site, and would not exceed existing building heights in the precinct.

Listing the college last year for sale with expectations of about $2 million had angered Goulburn Catholic parishioners.

Comprising a chapel, convent, educational rooms and three tennis courts close to the main street, the former Sisters of Mercy college was regarded as more suited for aged accommodation, according to parishioners.

''The chapel will remain open to the sisters. We don't want them to feel they have lost it,'' Mr Daoud said.

His family had been in hospitality and would manage the conference, accommodation and restaurant development, aimed at the Sydney market.

''I love the place, I love the church, the heritage aspect of Goulburn,'' Mr Daoud said.

Now located in Illawong in Sydney's south, the Antioch Orthodox Church plans to upgrade the former St Michael's novitiate building's fire standards to boarding school grade.

Spokesman George Jabbour said various parishes around Australia would be accommodated for training, retreats and marriage counselling,

''Gradually we will build it up to a fully-fledged village where we can provide all the services,'' he said. ''It's an historic moment in our church.''

The church paid just over $1.8 million for St Michael's, which includes an 1873 granite homestead, three two-storey buildings, small cottages and out buildings.

Property commentators have speculated on the potential growth of Goulburn should the federal government approve a second Sydney airport at Badgerys Creek.

But Cr Kettle said he was more interested in longer-term benefits of a high-speed train, and Canberra airport being expanded to relieve Sydney's overflow air traffic.

''I might question the growth potential of a second Sydney airport. It's finite,'' he said.

''You get the airport up and running and, yes, you create a few jobs and second airport precinct, then I think you create problems of their own.''