Function centre ripe for corporates
Newcastle Herald
Saturday March 26, 2011
JOHN and Barbara Murphy have listed their beautiful Mansfield House function centre in High Street, Maitland, for auction on Thursday, April 14.The 1885/87 former bank building, which has six master bedrooms, drawing rooms, four bathrooms and seven marble fireplaces, has been on and off the market for the past six years and was last offered for sale in April last year.According to Australian Property Monitors at the time, the building had been listed for $2.8 million, then $2.4 million.Tony Cant Real Estate's Michael Maffey forecast a lesser price this time, somewhere between $1.6 million and $2 million.Mr Maffey said he expected a buyer from outside the Hunter Region and believed Mansfield House would make an ideal corporate headquarters.He said the magnificent building, which the Murphys had renovated extensively during their 12-year tenure, was being offered with vacant possession.Deal set in concreteSPECIALIST concrete equipment supplier Parchem Construction Supplies has signed a three-year-plus-three-year lease and secured larger premises at Beresfield's Freeway Business Park.Tony Cant Real Estate's Kyle Cable said the lease of a property of this size, about 1180 square metres, showed a sustained interest in the Beresfield site.The company will pay $125,000 a year (plus GST and outgoings) for the Birraba Avenue location.Manager Tynan Fairhall said the deal gave the company a presence three times larger than its Thornton address and provided central access for its diverse clients."Beresfield is at the crossroads," Mr Fairhall said. "We have a very diverse range of clients, from DIY customers doing their driveways to big civil construction companies."The new premises will house a showroom and a warehouse. Park neighbours include Apollo Kitchens, Reece Plumbing and Volvo.Viking on the marketCHILDREN have been learning to swim at the Viking Fitness Centre at Elermore Vale for more than 30 years.Now the man who created the development, retired solicitor Brian Roberts, and his family have put the landmark centre on the market.The 3000-square-metre building houses male and female gyms - which were something new back in the early 1970s - lap pools, a boxing gym and a creche.It sits on 14,100 square metres of land, with a comfortable buffer separating it from surrounding houses.Solid Property Services' Peter Aloupis said the vendors had invited expressions of interest for the property to "let the market tell us what it is worth".Mr Aloupis said Viking was zoned for a mixture of recreational and residential use. That gave prospective buyers plenty of options.Viking has 115 car spots.Mr Roberts also developed parts of Elermore Vale for residential purposes about the same time Viking came to fruition.Toronto freehold for saleAFTER more than 20 years, Peter and Sue Brill are leaving their Lakeside Timber and Hardware business, putting the Toronto freehold property on the market for $2.8 million. Also known for its Mitre 10 and Treated Pine Place branding, the property in Burleigh Street consists of two blocks.The offices and retail space occupy a large building, with a mezzanine, which sits on an 1819-square-metre block.The timber yard and shed sit on the second block, which is more than 2000 square metres in size.The asking price includes $700,000 for stock and other assets.Listing agent Shane Fox, of Raine and Horne Commercial Newcastle, said the main building was constructed in 2005 of tilt concrete slabs and Colorbond.Mr Fox said the site could handle bulky goods, there was plenty of yard space and easy vehicle access.Brothel changes handsCLOUD Nine Escort Agency in Steel Street has changed hands for the first time since its establishment about 20 years ago.Solid Property Services' Peter Aloupis was unable to disclose the price but said it was more than $700,000. The business and the property are in separate ownership following the sale.Cloud Nine was owned by the late Rod Perrin who, as president of the Newcastle Brothel Owners Collective in 2000, featured prominently in a campaign to clean up illegal brothels in the city.It is believed to be among the first legal brothels in NSW.
© 2011 Newcastle Herald
