SHELFORD CHURCH SALE TO INSPIRE A CONVERSION
THIS historic church near Geelong could have bells ringing for potential buyers looking to make a tree-change in a landmark building.
The circa-1859 Presbyterian church and grounds hit the market at Shelford this week.
The 163-year-old bluestone church, 11km west of Bannockburn, is a stunning building sitting within the Leigh River valley complete with leadlight windows, hardwood floors and a working bell tower, which Maxwell Collins agent Eugene Carroll couldn’t stop from ringing recently.
There’s also a separate community hall with facilities behind the church building, plus established trees on the 2700sq m property at 1716 Bannockburn-Shelford Rd.
The property is listed with price hopes from $645,000 to $655,000.
Victoria’s Presbyterian Church has listed the property complete with pews and other fixtures beneath the tall, cathedral ceiling.
Parishioners moved to Inverleigh several years ago.
Mr Carroll said the possibilities were endless for people looking to start a new chapter with the beautiful church.
“Whether it’s converting it to a residence, or a gallery or a bed and breakfast,” he said.
“It’s in a nice valley, so it looks pretty good.”
The property goes to auction on December 10.
Mr Carroll handled two other church sales at Batesford and Anakie recently where families secured the properties keen to convert to private homes.
Meanwhile, a couple who missed out on an incredibly renovated historic Shelford property after being locked behind Melbourne’s infamous ring of steel are finally breaking out of the city.
The family, who live in Melbourne’s outer western suburbs, were the first at the door of the former Presbyterian manse when Wilsons, Newtown agent
Tony Young launched the campaign to sell the renovated six-bedroom home at 19 Archibald Drive.
“When it sold last time to the current owners, they weren’t able to get down to have a look at it during the lockdown situation,” Mr Young said.
“So when it came on the market they were there front and centre because they had always thought about it.
“They were the first people to look at it, which is often the way it is with these transactions.” The house sold for $2m, which was the asking price for the 1.81ha property that also holds a second residence that’s currently rented.
“They just really wanted a tree-change. It’s a young family and they’re very excited,” he said.
The house was renovated about 10 years ago, while more recently the surrounding land was subdivided to create a new housing estate.
The original house is linked to a replica building that holds a main bedroom suite, a formal dining room and a huge open-plan kitchen, living and dining room.
There are five bedrooms, a big formal loungeroom and a second bedroom and two bathrooms in the original house.
“The people who did the renovation did an absolutely magnificent job in creating the link building, because the big open-plan one is a modern building that’s made to look like it’s part of the home.”
Mr Young said the surrounding estate was taking shape as more people made the tree-change to Shelford.
“There are only four houses built in the new estate so far. People are spending good money and there are quite a few more in the pipeline. I’d give that five to 10 years and that will be a first class estate down there.”