Former motel on NSW north coast set for a new lease on life
More children than bedrooms? Need space for the in-laws, but don’t want them too close? Or just chasing a renovation project with the potential for an income upside?
This long-vacant motel could hold the answer.
Located on the busy Pacific Highway on the NSW north coast, it is set to go under the hammer in a matter of weeks, and promises to provide the new owner the ultimate blank canvas and a great platform for a sea change.
The property, formerly operating as the Kundabung Motor Inn, features 16 motel rooms, a restaurant space and a four-bedroom manager’s residence.
It’s one of the only commercial buildings in the small village of Kundabung – a 30-minute drive to the city of Kempsey and around the same distance to the nearest beach.
Robert McNamara, whose Winsome Real Estate has the listing, said the property had been acquired by the Roads and Maritime Service in 2012 as part of the Pacific Highway expansion in the area and had sat vacant since.
The property, part of which was used for the highway expansion, was now “surplus to RMS needs”.
Mr McNamara said the property was in serious need of work and would suit a buyer “who had experience restoring commercial properties”.
The scope of required works may be extensive, but it certainly hasn’t put off potential buyers, with interested parties hailing from as far as Rockhampton, according to Mr McNamara.
“It’s certainly received more interest than I had anticipated,” he said.
But buyers wishing to return the property to its former purpose could be stymied by the block’s current zoning, Zone RU2 Rural Landscape, which has the explicit aim of encouraging “sustainable primary industry production by maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base”.
Mr McNamara advised that the amount of time that had lapsed since the motel was last in operation was also likely to hamper any claim to existing use rights, describing the chances of the property operating as a motel again as “slight”.
The property listing suggests a retreat, Scout Hall or respite centre as potential uses, subject to council approval.
Mr McNamara wouldn’t be drawn on a price guide for 9 Smiths Creek Road, which is scheduled for auction on June 22, but title records indicate it was acquired by the RMS for $790,000.
Does running a regional motel appeal to you, but not so keen on signing up for a renovation? Check out these motel listings from around the country, all currently in operation and on the market.
Price: $895,000
The Amber Motel is situated in the heart of Glen Innes in the New England region of NSW – population 6155. The three-star property is in walking distance to the town centre and its cafes, restaurants and pubs.
Price: $320,000
Comprising 19 rooms, the Binalong Motel, in the Queensland border town of Goondiwindi, offers a variety of room types catering to families and singles.
Price: $849,000
This Ivanhoe Hotel is located in its namesake town on the Cobb Highway between the Lachlan and Darling rivers in far western NSW. The property includes a hotel, which serves as a focal point for the local community, as well as seven motel units.
Price $470,000
Located in Dartmouth, 75 kilometres south-east of Wodonga and just four kilometres downstream from Victoria’s largest water storage Lake Dartmouth, this 13-room motel is a popular base for fishing, boating and motorcycle enthusiasts.
