Just heavenly: Holy listings boom across Vic as churches sell up

Masses of Victorian churches and ex-places of worship are hitting the market as religious groups sell off properties worth up to tens of millions of dollars.

Shrinking congregations and the cost of maintaining historic buildings are some of reasons behind holy listings booming in Melbourne and beyond.

The past decade has seen denominations including the Uniting and Anglican churches farewelling multiple properties, many with seven- and eight-figure price tags – however others are far more affordable, especially in rural areas.

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While some cathedrals are sold as a commercial investment, many are converted into homes featuring soaring ceilings, stained glass windows and original church bells.

And they’re often snapped up by home buyers seeking their own character-filled slice of heaven.

In Geelong, the circa-1861 St George’s Presbyterian Church is for sale with $18m price expectations.

Commercial real estate agency Colliers’ Chris Nanni has the 8317sq m CBD listing.

In December, the Presbyterian Church sold its historic 1886 St Kilda cathedral in Alma Rd after it hit the market with a $3m asking price.

For buyers with a smaller budget, the 150-year-old Holy Trinity Church on Albert St, Sebastopol, Ballarat, is available for $900,000, also through Colliers.

The Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania moderator David Fotheringham said the faith group had listed for sale about 80 Victorian churches across the past five years – including about 20 churches within the past 12 months.

“In some cases, individual congregations have decided to move from older buildings which are expensive to maintain into other property arrangements, or members have decided to join other congregations,” Reverend Fotheringham said.

Other times, congregations have worked together to sell a property in order to renovate or develop another site.

Repairing and rebuilding costs for heritage-listed churches have significantly increased across the past five years, while insurance costs for such buildings also have an impact, Rev Fotheringham added.

Apart from supporting redevelopment, church sales’ proceeds assist the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, an association of Indigenous Australians within the church; grants’ programs; and regional ministries.

A Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne spokesman said that for them, closing a church within the Melbourne’s metropolitan region was rare.

Belle Property principal Rob Waller has the listing for not one but two 1870-era regional Victorian churches that have been converted into houses.

Owned by different vendors, they’re located at 22 Franklin St, Guildford, and 105 Main Rd, Campbells Creek – and priced at $1.275m and $1.525m respectively.

Mr Waller said that unlike past decades, when farmers would buy dirt-cheap old churches to store hay, the religious structures were now highly sought after.

“They’re strongly contested as homes, weekenders and short-term rental accommodation,” he said.

Converting a church into a home was usually more affordable than building a home with massively high ceilings and intricate details, he added.

Closer to Melbourne, BigginScott director Michael Tynan is managing the sales campaign for a three-bedroom home located within a former church at 1/435 Punt Rd, South Yarra, with a $1.25m-$1.35m asking range.

“People love it because it has got beautiful character throughout and the beautiful facade with bluestone blocks that block sound from Punt Rd,” Mr Tynan said.

In Gippsland, a circa-1930s church at 14 Buckley St, Seaspray, has been transformed into a five-bedroom house featuring an original belltower in the garden.

Graham Chalmer’s Sarah Bedggood’s aunt and uncle own the home which is on the market with $895,000 price hopes.

“At Christmas, after a few celebrations, we enjoy ringing the bell,” Ms Bedggood said.

She described the former Seaspray Church of The Epiphany as “a bit of an icon in the town”.

“It’s an opportunity to purchase something pretty unique,” she said.

PropTrack data shows there were 7563 church-related listings at realestate.com.au and realcommercial.com.au across the past five years – although this includes properties that mention the word “church” in their advertising copy, not just churches themselves.

OTHER VICTORIAN CHURCHES AND EX-CHURCHES FOR SALE:

426-434 High St Rd, Mount Waverley

This 3347sq m site features a former church and four-bedroom home.

In the freestanding church there’s a foyer, chapel with soaring ceilings, parquetry flooring, small office, kitchen and rest rooms.

An added bonus is the location that’s zoned to Mount Waverley North Primary and Mount Waverley Secondary schools.

It’s close to Huntingtower School, Avila College, Deakin University, shops, public transport and the Monash Freeway as well.

BigginScott Glen Waverley’s Qiao Tang has the listing, which has a $6.9m price tag and is for sale via expressions of interest.

23 Mitchell St, Nyora

Known as the Old Nyora Church, this building is on the market with a $490,000-$530,000 asking range.

Listed with Barry Plant director Joanne Gillard, the character-filled church is marketed as a “heavenly haven” with features like ornate leadlight windows.

“Stunning timber floors run throughout, perfect for sliding around in your socks like you’re auditioning for a ’90s music video,” the listing describes.

And the 1400sq m block means “you’ll need a GPS just to mow the lawn”.

Outside, there’s a vintage toilet connected to the town’s sewerage.

Nyora, in the South Gippsland region, is about 84km southeast of Melbourne.

143 Clyde Hill Rd, Russells Bridge

Built in 1861 as a Presbyterian church and converted to a three-bedroom house, this

picturesque home has a $890,000-$970,000 asking range.

It boasts plenty of original features such as cathedral ceilings, exposed trusses, dado walls and polished timber floors.

Outside, the Gothic Revival architecture includes double-leaf entrance doors and lancet windows.

The kitchen showcases a 600mm electric oven, induction cooktop and dishwasher.

Set on 2011sq m, the abode is about 20 minutes’ drive to Geelong and one hour to Melbourne.

Buxton Geelong North director Tony Moorfoot is managing the sales campaign.

403 Yallook Church Rd, Dingee

More than a century old, this former church in a northern Victorian town is a standout thanks to its vestry, exposed beams, buttress walls and high-pitched roof.

Now a three-bedroom house, it’s completely off-grid with a 6000 gallon rainwater tank, 2000kWhr solar system and back-up generator.

The building has also been rewired, repainted and fitted with a new insulated roof and pine ceiling. in recent years.

The home is about 30 minutes’ drive to Bendigo and five minutes’ to the Dingee pub and general store.

Property Plus Real Estate Agents’ Greg Fathers has the listing, which has a $455,000 asking price.

14 Ford Street, Beechworth

A circa-1873 Baptist church that has been repurposed as a two self-contained residences that’s for sale with $980,000 price hopes.

The original church residence has a kitchen, open-plan dining and living area and a loft-style main bedroom with a built-in wardrobe and ensuite.

Additional highlights include stained glass windows, a shaded courtyard, underground wine cellar, two outdoor toilets and a double garage.

Garry Nash & Co’s Isabel West is overseeing the campaign.

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