Fire sale! Four stations on the market right now
Bushfire season is rapidly approaching, but that’s not the reason behind the high level of interest in these four fire stations.
Instead of housing some of Australia’s bravest workers this summer, these in-demand assets could become home to church groups, function centres, childcare centres and even residential apartments, with developers and businesses attracted to the large space and cultural and architectural significance that fire stations offer.
Inside the former Hamilton Fire Station, which could be transformed into apartments. Photo: Supplied
Consolidation of fire services into newer, more-advanced stations in parts of Victoria and NSW mean more and more former fire stations are being put to market, with three to be auctioned before Christmas.
In the suburbs of Newcastle, in NSW, the former Hamilton Fire Station, vacated three months ago, is expected to fetch close to $1 million off the back about 70 inquiries in its first week on the market.
The former CFA station in Victoria’s Stanhope is being eyed off by a church group. Photo: Supplied
Listing agent Nick Christensen, of Colliers International Newcastle, said that the station, built in 1925 and with local heritage listing, has the potential to be turned into apartments, based on its current zoning of R4 High Density and Newcastle’s recent flurry of development.
“There’s been interest from local businesses looking to owner occupy and run a business, local developers for high density apartments, and childcare centre operators,” he said.
The fire station is in largely original condition, Mr Christensen said, although sadly no fire pole is included.
It comes with a site area of 910 square metres.
Mr Christensen sold a former fire station in Telarah, NSW, earlier this year for $200,000, which the current owner is using as a storage facility.
Meanwhile in regional Victoria, a former two-room CFA shed could become home for a church group, said listing agent John Lilford, of Hinchcliffe and Greed Real Estate.
The former Rushworth Fire Station is remembered fondly by local residents. Photo: Supplied
“We’ve had a lot of interest from one Christian group looking at turning it into a little church,” Mr Lilford said.
He has two fire station listings, the other in Rushworth, which is set to garner broader attention owing to its architectural significance.
“Rushworth is very old and has a lot of history,” Mr Lilford said. “It lends itself to a reception centre or something similar – there are a lot of different ideas.”
Mr Lilford sold a similar fire station in Merrigum last year to an owner-occupier who lives and runs a wholesale drinks business from the premises.
Inside the former Rushworth Fire Station. Photo: Supplied
Mr Lilford said fire stations seemed to attract a lot of public interest because of the level of authority they used to have in regional townships.
“I think it’s just the history. A lot of people go back to the history and reminisce, a lot of older people are interested – it was part of their growing up, hearing the old bells ring through town,” he said.
In another Victorian town, Echuca on the banks of the Murray River, a former fire station on Pakenham Street was passed in last week on a vendor bid of $950,000, with Century 21 currently in negotiations with several parties for a sale.
The fire station, built in 1968, is being offered in conjunction with a three bedroom house after the CFA brigade relocated to new headquarters in February.
- 9 Belford Street, Broadmeadow is for sale by public auction to be conducted on Saturday November 5
- 48 Birdwood Avenue, Stanhope and 11 Moora Road, Rushmore are for sale by public auction to be conducted Friday October 21
