A sprawling beachfront site in Wollongong's northern suburbs, which had been under church ownership for an estimated seven decades, has been sold at auction for an impressive sum.
The property, situated at 35-37 Stanwell Avenue in Stanwell Park, has long served as the home of Doran House. It fetched $6.75 million during a weekend auction that saw dozens of bids placed.
Auction details and buyer
Selling agent Mattias Samuelsson from Ray White Helensburgh confirmed there were six registered bidders and a total of 70 bids. The auction opened at $5 million. Mr Samuelsson described the atmosphere as energetic, with many locals attending to witness the sale of what he termed an iconic property.
In the final stages, two buyers competed fiercely, with the successful purchaser hailing from Sydney. The buyer plans to use the property as a weekend retreat for himself and his family.
Church ownership history
Cotality records indicate the property was sold by The Trustees Of The Christian Brothers. It is believed they had owned the approximately 2767 square metre site—equivalent in size to more than two Olympic swimming pools—for around 70 years.
Built in 1915, the property was used as a retreat for church members. According to Mr Samuelsson, the sale occurred because the site was surplus to requirements and had seen minimal use in recent times.
Agent's perspective
Mr Samuelsson remarked that in his two decades of selling some of the finest properties along this coastline, he had never encountered anything quite like this. He noted that the home on the site, which features a boarding house-style layout, remains in its original condition and, while structurally sound, is in need of updating.
He called it a prime opportunity, stating that such an opportunity had not arisen in 70 years and might not appear again for another seven decades. He added that he was unaware of any other coastal properties offering what this one does.
Zoning and potential uses
The site is zoned C4 Environmental Living, which permits, with consent, uses such as bed and breakfast accommodation and secondary dwellings.
Other recent church property sales
Other church sites in the region have also changed hands recently. A long-standing church facility in Corrimal's town centre, located at 120 Railway Street, was sold by the Wollongong Christadelphians. The site, reportedly purpose-built in the 1960s and used as a place of worship since, had a price guide of $1 million plus GST.
Selling agent Taleah Thomas from Colliers Wollongong declined to disclose the final sale price but confirmed it sold within the vicinity of the guide.
