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Albany’s 132-year-old Scots Uniting Church up for sale by Mason Realty for above $1 million

A 132-year-old church on Albany’s main street has been put on the market for more than $1 million with concept plans showing the iconic landmark site renovated into a boutique hotel or apartment building. Mason Realty will list Scots Uniting Church on York Street for sale on Thursday and is accepting offers “above $1 million” for the 1165sqm site. Selling agent Rob Mason said the site is open to “the whole market” though protections restrict dramatic changes to the facade and interior of the main heritage-listed building. “Effectively, it’s open to anybody that’s interested in buying it, whether that is a private person, corporate developer, church group, other community group, government,” he said. “It’s a super rare opportunity, the sort of property I think that if it was bought by individuals, they may have the idea that it will stay in the family for generations. “It could be bought by a corporate hospitality operator or accommodation operator, but I think the opportunity to buy something with as much character and heritage value as this in the middle of the main street on a big piece of land freehold is pretty rare.” Designed by Melbourne architect Evander McIver in the Victorian Academic Gothic style and constructed by William Sangster with local granite for a total cost of £1416, the church officially opened on March 30, 1892. Originally known as the Scots Presbyterian Church, it was the third Presbyterian congregation founded in WA before it amalgamated to become the Scots Uniting Church in 1977. A multipurpose hall featuring a toilet block, kitchen, office and learning room was added to the rear of the church in 1969. In a statement provided to the Advertiser on Tuesday, site owners Uniting Church, Synod of Western Australia, said the organisation decided to sell the church to focus on its other Wesley Uniting Church buildings on Duke Street, having centralised its worship services there in 2014. “After long-term discussions and consultation, the local congregation have taken the initiative to sell the Scots Church buildings,” the statement read. “Doing so will free up resources for the congregation, supporting them in maintaining the heritage-listed Duke Street property and to look to future opportunities for community engagement and programs.” The church lays empty most of the week with York Street Baptist Fellowship using it for its Sunday service and other community groups occasionally using it for events. The UCA said all groups were aware of the plans to sell and are prepared to transition to other community facilities. With features including stained glass windows, a timber-lined ceiling adorned with decorative roses, organ pipe mezzanine, and mural painted by celebrated WA artist John Barker, Mr Mason said the church’s rich history and iconic position in the community were part of its main appeal. He said that while its position on the State and local heritage registry protects the church itself from significant renovation, he suspects commercial buyers would demolish the rear hall and toilet blocks, which were added in 1969 and have low heritage value. “I don’t think we’re going to see anybody who’s seriously interested in this building not wanting to maintain it and not wanting to keep the character of the building,” he said. “It’s part of its main appeal — if you just want to buy a vacant block of land in town, this isn’t for you.” A feasibility study commissioned by the Uniting Church and completed by Matthew and Scavalli Architects details concept plans for the site to provide prospective buyers with potential ideas. The two concept ideas include an eight-unit apartment building and a 32-bed boutique hotel, repurposing the church building as a restaurant and cafe respectively.

The West Australian exclusiveAlbany’s 132-year-old Scots Uniting Church up for sale by Mason Realty for above $1 million

exclusive
Albany’s 132-year-old Scots Uniting Church up for sale by Mason Realty for above $1 million