This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Presbyterian Church is selling the historic St George Church in central Geelong, with hopes of $18 million for the 1861-built, heritage-listed property that has been empty since 2015.
Located on 13 Ryrie Street, the asset is on a total land area of 8,173 sqm, of which 4,500 sqm is developable. It includes the heritage-listed bluestone church, designed by architect Nathan Billing, of which the tower and spire were added in 1936, as well as a two-storey bluestone manse built in 1865, and a brick hall added in 1939 to accommodate the Sunday school and major gatherings and events.
The car park within the grounds is currently leased to The Gordon as private parking which returns approximately $70,000 per annum.
According to the Victoria Heritage database, it identifies the Church and Manse as B-grade sites, meaning the sites are of regional importance while the Hall does not.
Colliers’ agents Chris Nanni and Ben Young have been appointed to the listing.
The site holds potential for hospitality, education, art or mixed-use ventures under the to the Central Geelong Framework Plan’s guidelines. The property is part of the local council urban planning scheme that highlights 11 strategic development sites supported by a master plan and executed with ministerial approval.
Geelong’s CBD has seen significant developments in recent years, including Quest Geelong Central, Franze Developments’ Holiday Inn & Suites, which is on the market with a $70 million-plus price tag, and residential building Ryrie Quarter.
Upcoming projects include Geelong convention and exhibition centre, which will features a 1000-seat venue, exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, conference facilities and event areas. The precinct will also be home to retail spaces for food and beverage offerings, a large public plaza that promises to become a feature of the Geelong waterfront and a 200-room Crowne Plaza hotel.
Empty churches around the world have been finding new callings. The 1820s Sheerness Dockyard Church on the Isle of Sheppey, England, has been transformed into a community hub with an exhibition area, café and events space, while the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, a classified UNESCO World Heritage site, is now a Michelin-star restaurant, hotel and modern art museum.
Expressions of interest close at 2pm on Wednesday, 26th June.
