Couple snaps up two bank buildings

Two former bank buildings have been snapped up by the same owner in the heart of the picturesque Mid-North Coast town of Bellingen,with plans to turn both into boutique accommodation.

Sydneysiders Simon and Sarah Haggarty, owners of luxury wedding venue Goonoo-Goonoo Station near Tamworth, have form when it comes to reimagining heritage buildings to offer unique venues and accommodation.

They bought the former NAB building in the coastal village of Repton for $2.6m after deciding it needed some love.

“We’ve seen it sitting empty a number of times over the years and thought it deserved better,” Mr Haggarty said.

The NAB building is zoned both commercial and residential with five bedrooms upstairs and deep verandas overlooking town and the distant mountains.

The couple soon followed it up by buying the former Commonwealth Bank building down the street which failed to sell at auction in October. It has been used as a publishing house since the early 1990s.

“We had been looking at coastal areas to do something similar (to Goonoo-Goonoo Station) and these are two of the most impressive buildings in the main street,” Mr Haggarty said.

Bellingen is located in the Coffs Harbour hinterland, inland from the beaches at Urunga and is well known for its hippy heritage, hosting festivals and monthly markets.

Agent John Simon, from Open Home Online, said the area was “crying out” for accommodation options.

He said interest in the town remains strong as it is such a popular destination.

“Many of my clients are deciding between the Byron Bay hinterland and Bellingen and 80 per cent end up here,” he said.