Blank canvas heritage building in Freemans Bay
Owner-occupiers or investors can stamp their mark on a vacant heritage-listed character building in the sought-after central Auckland suburb of Freemans Bay.
59 Wellington Street, Freemans Bay, offers 580sqm of lettable area on a prime 720sqm freehold site that is zoned Business – Mixed Use under the Auckland Unitary Plan.
The two-storey property has 10 secure underground car parks and provides immediate access to the CBD, while State Highway 1 is only
100m away. With public transport on the doorstep and Western Park accessible via a short walk, this is an outstanding offering not to be missed.
Colliers directors Jonathan Lynch, Gareth Fraser, and David Burley have been exclusively appointed to market the property for sale via deadline private treaty closing at 4pm on November 30, unless sold prior.
This character building was constructed in the late 1920s and over time has been converted to office accommodation. The building is brick with a tile roof and character windows. Both levels enjoy an excellent stud height, with access to the upper level via stairs or lift.
Originally built for and utilised by St Patrick’s School, the building was designed by notable Auckland architect George Edmund Tole, with further alterations carried out in the later 20th century. St Patrick’s was a Catholic school for the Sisters of Mercy convent and closed in 1979. The building was the oldest school in New Zealand at the time of its closure.
It was developed as offices and a training facility for McDonalds, which was opened by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1992. The property is recognised as a Category B Historic Heritage Place and has a 39 per cent seismic rating.
Lynch says it is incredibly rare to a see a blank canvas heritage property of this nature available on the open market.
“Generous wide hallways, a wide grand staircase, expansive breakout areas with separate offices, and an elevated north-facing deck make this a very attractive and ‘must see’ proposition,” he says.
“In its current form, the building presents extremely well to an occupier who can now add their own taste to the building and create a home for their business. Alternatively, investors may wish to reposition the property and lease it out.”
Fraser says the location of the property will be highly appealing for buyers.
“There’s a range of hospitality options in walking distance, while Ponsonby Road is not far away. The location is also zoned for Freemans Bay School and Auckland Girls’ Grammar School,” he says.
“The accessibility of the property will be further enhanced when the City Rail Link opens in late 2024 with two stations set to be approximately 750m away. There’s also the opportunity to secure six additional on-site car parks on a long-term lease.”
Burley says purchasing opportunities such as this don’t come along very often.
“The new owner will be able to craft something special on a highprofile heritage site and we encourage all interested parties to contact us immediately.”