A former Presbyterian church in North Queensland, painstakingly given a new lease of life as a modern four bedroom home, is seeking new owners.
The truly unique abode at 114 Rankin Street, Innisfail, was built in 1961 as the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Memorial Church, and sales agent Tim Winborn-Sharp from Twomey Schriber Property Group – Cairns City said it was one of a kind.
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“I haven’t seen anything like it come on to the market before,” he said.
“It’s very unusual – the interest in the property has been quite high, but obviously it’s not a ‘mum and dad four bedroom, two bathroom family home’.
“The buyer of the property will be a unique buyer as well – it’s a gorgeous property.”
The building has been renovated to become a contemporary home. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
The vendor bought the striking property a few years ago and in that time has renovated it into something of a masterpiece, starting with overhauling the former place of worship into a contemporary home, Mr Winborn-Sharp said.
“Over a period of time, while she’s been living in one part of the property – the residence at the back – she’s Airbnb the front part, the church,” he said.
“And she has had phenomenal success with that because people like to stay in places that are really unusual and unique, especially in that sort of location, because you’re near the river as well, and across the road from the hospital.”
The heritage listed property is considered to have aesthetic significance. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Mr Winborn-Sharp said future new owners could retain the contemporary space as a “funky home,” or alternatively it could be used for commercial purposes.
“A lot of furniture, a lot of love has gone into restoring all those polished timber floors as a lot of very heavy traffic went through it,” he said.
The heritage listed property is considered to have “aesthetic significance as an outstanding and distinctive example of the use of local timbers and craftsmanship in a design reflecting the world-wide influence of the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideas on organic architecture,” according to its statement of significance.
The property also includes a spacious two-level Queenslander residence to the rear. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
“As a tall, A-frame building located on the crest of a ridge overlooking the Johnstone River, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is a landmark in Innisfail,” it reads.
Designed in 1959 by Eddie H Oribin, the church first opened in 1961 with a seating capacity of 200 people.
In February 1986, cyclone Winifred damaged the church and with costs to repair it considered too expensive, the Uniting Church gave the building to the Johnstone Shire Council in exchange for a block of land in Scullen Avenue to build a new church.
The property is listed for sale as a ‘Present all Offers’ campaign. Picture:realestate.com.au/buy
The building sat idle for two years until another Presbyterian congregation purchased the building and repaired it.
Set on a prominent 1012sqm block, the property also includes a spacious two-level Queenslander residence to the rear.
The property is listed for sale as a ‘Present all Offers’ campaign, seeking a sale price in the “region of $700,000,” Mr Winborn-Sharp said.
The home is set on a prominent 1012sqm block. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
