Former wheelbarrow plant on the market for sale
One of the largest industrial premises in the Coromandel – and the former home to New Zealand’s premier wheelbarrow maker – has been placed on the market for sale.
202 Grey Street in Thames was previously the headquarters of engineering and manufacturing firm Campbell Tube Products – New Zealand’s foremost wheelbarrow makers.
Campbell Tube Products moved its operations to Hamilton at the end of last year. Now the 3,060-square metre freehold site at 202 Grey Street in Thames and the 2,561-square metre building are being marketed for sale through Bayleys. Salespeople Josh Smith and Daniel Keane said the Grey Street location was zoned Industrial
7B under the Thames Coromandel District Council plan.
Situated on the corner of Grey Street and Pollen Street – Thames’ main retail strip – the property is on the fringe of the town’s central business district, and combines four individual land titles into one squareshaped block.
Smith said there were multiple future options for the site – ranging from an owner-occupier relocating to the address or establishing a covered selfstorage unit business, through to redevelopment potential by reconfiguring the complex into smaller shared tenancies, or creating a new hub of small, terrace format warehouse units.
“With limited industrial zoned development space available in Thames’ CBD, 202 Grey Street offers a rare opportunity for future use,” Smith said.
“With two separate entrances from Pollen Street, two separate entrances from Grey Street, and roller door access from a central courtyard into the substantial warehousing portion of the building, there are multiple options for reconfiguring and repurposing the complex for a single tenancy or multiple smaller tenancies.
“The layout of the building encompasses an open-plan area to the front, with multiple bays separated by steel and timber support beams providing clearly defined areas.
“This configuration would allow for several tenants to operate simultaneously at the rear of the premises – with staff sharing facilities including bathrooms, lockers, first aid rooms and offices.”
“The significant bones of the manufacturing and warehousing complex provide a solid platform for potential reconfiguration.
“Alternatively, the building could be demolished and replaced with a terraced-style warehousing hub which could accommodate up to 10 individual units, subject to council consents being granted. Again, these would benefit from have access off either Grey Street or Pollen Street.”
Keane said developing the complex into a covered and caged-style self-storage facility was another option.
“Space could be apportioned to either accommodate the likes of personal belongings or tradie supplies for plumbers, builders and electricians, through to vehicular storage such as caravans, jet-skis, boats, or hobby cars,” Keane said.
“As Thames’ population continues to grow, so too does the demand on infrastructural services such as selfstorage facilities,” he said.