Picton RSA building for sale
The Picton RSA is on the move, with its home of 80-odd years – an “icon” in the port town – up for sale.
Picton RSA member Leith Brew said the Wellington St property was the “heart of the RSA” in Picton.
It was once the “pulsating heart of Picton” too, he said.
The former committee member, who “ran the bar for a while”, said they used to get 100 people through the doors on a Friday and Saturday night.
But that number had dropped off significantly, especially as a lot of the “returned men got old” and were no longer heavily involved with the club, Brew said.
The 1825m² site, opposite Mariners Mall and a few hundred metres from the foreshore, was listed with Harcourts, through agents Craig Edwards in Christchurch, and David Searle in Marlborough.
Edwards said the site had “loads of potential”.
“We are expecting interest from a wide range of possible activities from hospitality, motel or accommodation, unit development, offices, community activities, retail, campervans and more,” he said.
“It really is a site that is expected to get people thinking about what Picton needs most and what will be a thriving success on this site. We are looking forward to working with people and discussing their business and development ideas.”
The RSA sold the site in 2016. The current owner leased it to the RSA with several extensions to help them transition to alternative premises. It was believed they were looking at other bars in town.
Brew said while it was “pretty sad” for the RSA, he was sure the property would sell quickly.
“It’s a valuable bit of land, no doubt about that.”
He wasn’t sure what would happen to the howitzer, used in Vietnam, out the front. Offers on the building had to be in by 5pm, March 21.
Brew said the RSA had to be out by the end of March and would probably have a working bee to clear the place out if anyone wanted to help.