St Andrews Church in Sturt Street has sold to a local developer, after years of uncertainty.
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Commercial and Residential developer The Macneil Group have entered into a conditional agreement with the Ballarat Central Uniting Church for the Presbyterian Kirk. The building has been on the market since 2013, when it was passed in at auction for $2.5 million.
The developer will now prepare planning applications to facilitate an adaptive reuse of the building, as well as parallel redevelopment of the rest of the site. It is expected this process could take up to two years.
Ballarat Central Uniting Church Council spokesperson Adriana Strickland told The Courier the building had been sold conditionally, pending necessary planning approvals and heritage assessments.
“We are excited to see a future for the St Andrew’s site becoming more certain, and we are encouraged by the willingness of the Macneil Group’s team to work with the congregation as the plans for this important building and its immediate surrounds are prepared,” she said in a statement.
It comes after talks with the Anglican Diocese of Ballarat broke down over the asking price last year. The Kirk was also touted as a possible option for Ballarat’s Visitor Centre in 2014.
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The Macneil Group did not respond when approached for comment, but director Paul McCuskey said in a statement he was “thrilled to be selected by the congregation” to develop a masterplan, with CBD reactivation vital to the city’s future.
“This plan will investigate opportunities to repurpose the existing heritage buildings and the potential for further development that will respect the significance of the site,” he said.
The developer has previously reinvigorated heritage sites like 909 Sturt Street, and built The Courier’s building in Webster Street.