8 historic commercial buildings that are on the market right now
Sure a shiny new glass office is a nice place to work, but it won’t have the character and charm of a 100-year-old building.
Here are some of the best golden oldies on the market; they just don’t make ’em like this any more.
North Adelaide, South Australia
107-109 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide. Photo: Supplied
107-109 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide. Photo: Supplied
Originally a bank chamber built in the 1880s, this state heritage-listed building also previously operated as a bar, named ‘the Banque’.
Selling agents from Mcgees Property said the building had potential as a retail showroom or restaurant, and is located near the city, where there’s no shortage of old sandstone buildings.
There has been strong interest from potential buyers and the agents are expecting it to sell for more than $2 million.
107-109 O’Connell Street is for sale through expressions of interest.
Perth CBD
160-162 Beaufort Street, Perth. Photo: Supplied
Though it says 1690 at the top of its facade, the building at 160-162 Beaufort Street, Perth, dates back to the early 1900s.
The CBD property has two street frontages and has kept its period details internally, including gilded pressed-metal ceilings.
According to its state heritage listing the row of five stores (including 160-162) “is the most intact example of a group of buildings in the Federation Free Classical style…. and the place is remarkable for its degree of authenticity”.
160-162 Beaufort Street, Perth is for sale through expressions of interest.
Sydney CBD
332 Kent Street, Sydney. Photo: Supplied
Although it’s been fitted out as an office, 332 Kent Street, in Sydney, has kept its original historic window facade.
The heritage-listed former warehouse building, up the hill from Darling Harbour, dates back to 1880 when the area was one of the country’s busiest trade spots.
The building was merged with adjoining building 336-338 and the whole group , covering 1,570 square metres of internal floor space is now known as 332 Kent Street.
The building is fully leased and for sale through expressions of interest.
Melbourne CBD
375 Queen Street, Melbourne. Photo: Supplied
This beautiful building at 375 Queen Street, a two-storey corner freehold property in the centre of Melbourne’s CBD, is perfectly positioned across from the historic Queen Victoria Market and close to many education institutions.
Built in about 1860 out of bluestone and sandstone, the former Bank of NSW building has a 20-metre frontage on two streets and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Orange, NSW
The former Terminus Hotel, Orange, as it is now. Photo: Supplied
The former Terminus Hotel, Orange, in its early days. Photo: Supplied
The Terminus Hotel was one of several pubs built at the end of the 19th century in Orange after the railway arrived in town.
The licence for the hotel was granted to William Kinghorn in 1875, but beers haven’t been pulled there in years.
It currently holds multiple tenancies comprising retail, office and residential.
The building, which has been family owned for the past 40 years, has 616 square metres of internal space and is on the market for $1,295,000.
St Kilda, VIC
42 Barkly Street, St Kilda. Photo: Supplied
This lavish Victorian-style mansion, originally a private residence for a wealthy Scottish merchant, was built in 1874.
Period features such as leadlight windows and a grand wooden staircase have been carefully restored and the building now has commercial zoning.
Selling agents CBRE are expecting more than $6.5 million for the sale, with interest from entrepreneurs, medical, hospitality operators and even residential buyers.
42 Barkly Street, St Kilda, is for sale through expressions of interest.
Pontville, TAS
2 Ford Road, Pontville. Photo: Supplied
As you may have guessed from the pointed roof this Tasmanian restaurant and function centre is a converted church.
Located in the town of Pontville, 25 minutes drive from Hobart, it was built by the Uniting Church in 1874.
Having long moved on from serving communion wine, the tenants ‘Twelve Stones’ were awarded ‘Best Tasmanian wine list’ in 2016.
2 Ford Road Pontville is on the market with offers of more than $1 million.
Ballarat, VIC
9 Grenville Street South, Ballarat. Photo: Supplied
9 Grenville Street South, Ballarat. Photo: Supplied
The Manchester Unity Hall Ballarat, built in 1886, has an unusual interior.
The unconventional semi-circle shaped ceiling with a skylight cutting through the centre, was described in its heritage listing as “illogical”.
According to a 1977 heritage statement of significance: “The building is an interesting essay in neo-Renaissance Revival hall facade composition”, and “forms an important streetscape element of this precinct”.
9 Grenville Street South, Ballarat, is for sale with a price guide of $775,000 – $825,000.
