BY TENDER: “Torquay” at Sandgate is selling for $1.72 million.
Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

BUYERS seeking a heritage-listed home should take a look around now with a host of Queensland’s finest historic properties for sale.

Up to 10 properties listed on the Queensland Heritage Register are waiting for a new crop of owners to be part of the next chapter in their cherished history.

They range from colonial mansions and homesteads to old convents, churches or hospitals – and even an entire block of apartments.

Prices range from cute period homes in the low $700,000 to the more elegant mansions for about $2 million.

Despite the price tag and building restrictions attached to these properties, they sell.

The sprawling century-old Robin Dods-designed residence, Kitawah, in East Brisbane, last weekend sold under the hammer for $1.95 million.

It was the second Dods heritage homestead sold in the past six months with the six-bedroom Broadview at Taringa in Brisbane’s west going for $1.7 million in September.

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Gas mining magnate Richard Cottee and wife Shauna are selling their landmark residence, Boothville, at Windsor in Brisbane’s north, with tender applications closing recently.

The fully restored colonial Georgian mansion, Booval House, at Ipswich, is on the market for $1.95 million with listing agent Linda Wessling of First National, Ipswich, fielding plenty of interest. “I’ve had a mix of people looking but really it has been those that are looking for something a bit different,” she said.

The classic four-bedroom Torquay, circa-1883, at Brisbane’s northern bayside suburb of Sandgate, is listed for private treaty sale by 2nd Avenue Realty.

Listing agent Gai O’Driscoll says Torquay would suit a buyer who not only loves history, but is prepared to do some work to it within certain guidelines.

“This one was restored in about ’98. It was four flats with covered-up walls and lowered ceilings, but the current owners restored it back to the beautiful home it is today,” she said.

Like other heritage homes, changes can be made to the inside, but the outside must stay the same.

“As long as the historical society don’t have any qualms,” Ms O’Driscoll added.

It is the building restrictions on heritage-listed properties that can be the biggest hurdle for potential buyers.

Queensland’s heritage buildings are monitored by the Queensland Heritage Council and Department of Environment and Resource Management. Fiona Gardiner, the heritage director at DERM, says no approvals are needed for the sale or purchase of a heritage-listed property, but warned buyers to be aware of what development restrictions apply.

“There are restrictions on development to prevent damaging or destroying a place’s heritage values, but these are not intended to be onerous,” she said.

“Ideally, heritage places should be actively used and well maintained and changes should be kept to a minimum. Development that damages or destroys a place’s heritage value is not permitted, except in special circumstances where there is no prudent or feasible alternative,” Ms Gardiner said.

For information on heritage-listed homes and what can be done, go to derm.qld.gov.au/heritage/qld-register/owning-heritage-place.html