From high finance to high art: Bendigo's Sandhurst Trustees building to become antique gallery
Originally the Bendigo post office and rumoured to be where the telegram advising of Bourke and Wills’ death was sent, the grand Sandhurst Trustees building in the thriving regional Victorian city is set to begin a new chapter in its rich 162-year history.
Peter Valentine, of Valentine’s Antiques, will become the third owner of the heritage-listed property, after the second owners, Sandhurst Trustees, a subsidiary of Bendigo Bank, sold the property after 129 years of ownership.
Built in 1858, the building’s architecture reflects the glory days of the city’s gold rush, but Jenny Dawson, chairman of Sandhurst Trustees, said it wasn’t always considered grand enough for the wealthy city.
“It was only occupied for a relatively short time as a post office because the people of the city went on to build a bigger, grander post office that was more befitting of the richness of the time. It’s a gorgeous building but it didn’t make the cut,” Mrs Dawson said.
In 1891, Sandhurst Trustees purchased the building for £4000 and used it as office space for the following 126 years, until they relocated to the Bendigo Centre in 2017.
“When the decision was made to put the building on the market, it was a difficult decision because so much history has been wrapped up in that building. But because we hadn’t been using the building for the past two years ourselves, the reality was we had no further use for it,” Mrs Dawson said.
Determined that the property should be handed over to a loving and local custodian, Sandhurst Trustees engaged Rob Ketterer from DCK Real Estate and Craig Tweed from Tweed Sutherland First National to secure expressions of interest in the property.
“The price was a challenge for everyone to determine because there’s nothing quite like it,” Mrs Dawson said. “There really were no comparable sales at all that we could use to establish the price.
“But we are happy where we ended up and we really endorse the plans that the new owner has. I think it will put the building to its highest and best use,” she said.
New owner Peter Valentine, a third-generation antique dealer, said he was very excited to be getting the keys to the building on May 15.
“Our family business started back in 1947, so we’ve been here for 73 years,” Mr Valentine said. “For us to be moving into a building of that calibre is very exciting. We’d really like to make Bendigo an active hub for antiques in Victoria.”
In addition to housing an impressive collection of antiques across a 500-square-metre showroom, Mr Valentine said he planned to open the venue up for other specialist dealers to display their wares, as well as offering lectures from designers and, potentially, an onsite coffee shop.
“There’s a beautiful boardroom with blackwood panelling all through it and we’ll be looking to do a lecture series in there with specialist dealers that will talk about silver or porcelain or restoration or interior design,” Mr Valentine said.
“I’ll be inviting other specialist dealers to come in and exhibit there too so it’s going to be a really interactive centre.”
Situated 100 metres from the renowned Bendigo Art Gallery, Mr Valentine said his antique and collectibles centre would contribute significantly to the city’s lively arts precinct.
“We’ve got an exceptionally good art gallery, great restaurants and cafes and other artists working in the area so it’s becoming a very exciting art precinct,” Mr Valentine said.
“We are looking forward to opening the doors to the public in late June so that they can once again enjoy one of Bendigo’s real jewels.”
