Once the go to shop for a loaf of bread, the newspaper or milk, former newsagents, corner stores and milk bars may no longer be fixtures of local neighbourhoods but many of these premises have been given a new lease of life as a converted shopfront home.
Techne Architecture + Interior Design director Nick Travers said as an architect, the idea of adaptive reuse of old commercial properties was a great idea.
“I think it’s great from a character perspective, and I think it’s also really great from a sustainability perspective,” he said.
“You’re not just building things, you can reuse things and find a new way to give them a new life. I think it can be a really creative, high value activity.”
Often the one time shops were now heritage buildings, rich in character and history and came with a storytelling element, Mr Travers said, but with that there was some risk dealing with an old structure.
Potential buyers should undertake their usual research to understand what they are buying into, and ensure they have allocated the resources to deal with potential problems in case they become insurmountable, he said.
There was the risk of buying into something that could not only be too big a job, but needed too much refurbishment before converting it to make it habitable, he added.
“But that comes with, I guess, any sort of heritage property. There might be also an element of, other than the condition of the property perhaps, if it’s in a commercial strip, you might be looking at planning controls… how much can you can you develop it in the way that you’re hoping?
“There’s also those things when you’re converting an old retail space with some shops off the living, then you’re accepting the noise of the street and maybe the trams that are running out the front, and the pub that’s around the corner.
“You’re accepting those things and usually, if you are buying that property you’re (also) tapping into urban fabric and you want to be in a bustling city location.”
But Mr Travers said ultimately, there was s something romantic and sentimental about converted shopfronts.
“There’s another appeal with these properties, which relates to buying into something that’s a bit quirky and different,” he said.
Keen to own your own shopfront conversion? Here are some on the market right now:
Melbourne
165 Gilbert Street, Preston
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165 Gilbert Road is a three-bedroom house in the north-east Melbourne suburb of Preston on the market with a price guide of $1,100,000. Picture: realestate.com.au
It is easy to see why the listing of this three bedroom former shopfront home describes it as one of “character, style and charisma.”
With contemporary finishes such as a striking monochrome kitchen with subway tiles, and Bosch appliances, the home’s sprawling entertainer’s deck, meals and living are its standouts.
There is also a study with a built-in desk, as a working from home option.
Other highlights include timber flooring, high ceilings and trams services out the front.
The home is on the market for $1.1 million.
247 Richardson Street, Middle Park
247 Richardson Street is a four-bedroom house in the in the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Middle Park on the market with an indicative price guide of $2,800,000 – $3,050,000. Picture: realestate.com.au
With a mix of residential and commercial premises, this four bedroom, one bathroom home has two street frontages.
Its interior is zoned for commercial and residential requirements, with seven rooms, and its updated shopfront has a bay windrow, high ceilings and polished concrete flooring.
Other features include a renovated kitchen and bathroom facilities, marble fireplaces and a private courtyard.
Listed for sale via an Expressions of Interest campaign, the property has an indicative price guide of $2,800,000 – $3,050,000.
49 Ramsden Street, Clifton Hill
49 Ramsden Street is a three-bedroom house in the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill currently on the market. Picture: realestate.com.au
In the inner city Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill, this stunning residence has a undergone a 100 year journey from its heyday as a vibrant shopfront to a three bedroom home.
At the heart of the home is an open plan layout with soaring ceilings, floorboards and two atrium courtyards.
The rear of the property includes a decked area with a built-in barbecue, while a private rooftop deck is the ultimate retreat.
The home has concept plans in place for a “versatile proposed home” with an option to reinstate the retail shop on the ground level.
“An open plan domain sits on the mid-level, stretching onto a north-facing alfresco terrace, while three bedrooms and two bathrooms are complemented by a third-floor studio, home office, or fourth bedroom,” the listing states.
The home has an asking price of $1,680,000 – $1,840,000.
South Australia
18 Victoria Street, Robe
18 Victoria Street is a two-bedroom property in the South Australian coastal suburb of Robe currently poised for auction. Picture: realestate.com.au
Built in 1865, this charming home, known as Attic House, is currently a retail shop but is ripe for renovating into a holiday retreat, or a home in the heart of this popular town.
Once the residence of a William Trail McLean who arrived in the town in 1861, where his tailor business saw him make suits for locals, and racing silks for prominent horsemen.
The property, set on a 392sqm block, has two retail areas, a kitchen, storage room, and bathroom, while the other space has two rooms and a downstairs bathroom, and a loft area.
Subject to planning approvals, the exterior has opportunities to develop or extend the property.
The home is set for an online auction on January 28.
190 Sturt Street, Adelaide
190 Sturt Street, Adelaide is a four-bedroom property currently on the market with a price guide of $1,400,000 – $1,540,000. Picture: realestate.com.au
This 1850’s terrace home was built as a shopfront and residence and now presents an opportunity for an astute buyer to transform its unlocked potential.
It features several living zones, a rear guest house, while the second level is home to three double-sized bedrooms, with an iron balcony extending from the main bedroom.
Subject to planning approvals, the residence has the possibility of expanding the second level, and the guest house could be removed to make way for a carpark.
The residence has an asking price of $1,400,000 – $1,540,000.
