Seven commercial properties that are waiting for a character conversion

But unless they’re demolished completely, these buildings sometimes get an opportunity to live again in some form or another. Here’s a list of seven commercial properties currently for sale or lease that each have a story to tell.

Former Dairy Belle ice cream warehouse

After 42 years, the much loved Dairy Belle ice cream warehouse in Camperdown, NSW, closed down in 2015. The owners at the time reported that the supermarket’s ice cream price wars were the reason they had to close up shop.

The property is spread out over three well-connected buildings and the new owner is looking for a tenant to work with to undertake further refurbishments to creatively repurpose the commanding warehouse.

Former Collette Dinnigan headquarters

Famed fashion designer, Collette Dinnigan, has been busy in the real estate game of late. She recently sold off her store in Paddington that first launched her career for about $1.7 million. Now, her business’s head office, a boutique warehouse in Sydney’s Surry Hills now for lease, has been proposed for a $7-million conversion into 11 apartments by eastern suburbs developer, Addenbrooke.

Dinnigan first purchased the property in the late 1990s for $1,225,000 and it has been synonymous with the creative industry for generations.

Former arthouse theatre

Occupying a prime corner position on Sydney’s Oxford Street, this former theatre is more than 100 years old, having been built as West’s Olympia Theatre in 1911. The immense picture palace originally housed over 2,500 seats and it’s claimed it’s where Sydney’s first ‘talkies’, movies with sound, were installed in the 1920s.

Throughout its later life, the theatre became a cultural hub featuring arthouse films until the original theatre was gutted and renovated to include offices, shops, and a twin auditorium. Now for lease is a variety of spaces ranging from boutique, creative office spaces to the larger format theatre and event spaces (subject to council approval).

Former masonic lodge

Conspiracy theories abound for what goes on in Freemason Masonic Lodges, but for the most part, the rather grand buildings occupy sites across our cities in quiet reflection, similar to churches and other historic institutions. And having been borne out of fraternities of stonemasons, they are usually some of the most impressive buildings as well.

Originally constructed in 1870, this landmark in Woollahra, NSW, has a ground floor and second floor space for lease after an extensive refurbishment of the building in 2016. The second floor features the original ballroom, said to be a space unlike no other in Sydney, intended for use as a premier gallery space.

Former post masters office

The former post office in Pyrmont, NSW, on Harris Street, linked with the original post office established in 1852, was built using surplus Pyrmont sandstone from the construction of the GPO and Customs House buildings in Sydney in 1901.

The site prominently features the ornate rock-faced sandstone facade of the Federation post office with a three-storey building adjoining, originally used to house the Postmaster. The building is central to the increasingly popular Pyrmont business precinct and is for sale with interest above the $7.5-million mark.

Former Church of Palms

Not much is known about the former Eagle Junction Congregational Church, but its colloquial name, the Church of Palms, suits its Brisbane location well.

Constructed in 1885, the simple nave of the old church has been extensively renovated to enable use as a stylish office space or a three-bedroom and three-bathroom residence. The welcome addition of a plunge pool and outdoor alfresco area makes this a rare type of property, which is now for sale for $1.6 million.

Former CBA Bank

In this modern age, most of our banking is done through our smartphones or on the internet. But there was a time where banks proudly displayed their wealth and might with solid, grand, and imposing bank buildings strategically placed around our cities and towns.