InvestSMART

Retail residence with charm on the market

A CHARMING two-storey Victorian retail residence in South Melbourne that is on the market for the first time in more than 35 years, is available through Dixon Kestles. Because of the retirement of the owner-occupier business operator, 305 Coventry Street is for sale with vacant possession. Expressions of interest close on Friday at 4.30pm. Featuring a northerly aspect with two main rooms over the two levels, it is in a cul-de-sac on the sunny side of the street opposite the car park entrance to ...
By · 11 Jun 2012
By ·
11 Jun 2012
comments Comments
A CHARMING two-storey Victorian retail residence in South Melbourne that is on the market for the first time in more than 35 years, is available through Dixon Kestles. Because of the retirement of the owner-occupier business operator, 305 Coventry Street is for sale with vacant possession. Expressions of interest close on Friday at 4.30pm. Featuring a northerly aspect with two main rooms over the two levels, it is in a cul-de-sac on the sunny side of the street opposite the car park entrance to the South Melbourne market. The anticipated net annual rent is between $32,000 and $35,000.

A 20,000-square-metre, crushed rock, hardstand allotment in the heart of Laverton North is for lease through Savills Australia. The agent is industrial director, Tim Casanelia. Located just two minutes from the Princes Freeway and Western Ring Road, the 125-139 Dohertys Road property provides quick access to Melbourne's CBD, ports and airports, as well as the eastern and northern suburbs. Lease terms will determine the final rental figure.

In the CBD, Savills is marketing Level 5, 171 La Trobe Street a whole strata office floor with basement parking and views. The property will be sold by deadline private sale, closing on June 28 at 2pm and is expected to fetch more than $1.5 million. The Fender Katsalidis-designed building, regarded by many as Melbourne's best strata office building, comprises a glass-covered facade and marble foyer. Marketing agents are Nick Peden and Clinton Baxter. The property will be sold subject to a short-term lease with vacant possession available in January or earlier by mutual agreement.

A 1916-square-metre corner residential development block in Sandringham is for sale. The 26 Fernhill Road site is on the south-west corner of Fernhill Road and Sims Street with 74 metres of street frontage. The property has a town planning permit for 12 luxury apartments in a high-end medium-density development scheme. CBRE's Justin Clarkson and Alex Zent and Buxton's Adam Gillon are steering the marketing campaign on behalf of the Gillon Group. The expressions of interest campaign closes on June 28 at 4pm. The property is expected to fetch more than $3 million.

Teska and Carson has several CBD office properties for sale where the purchaser can buy the property on vendor terms. "Druids House" is located at 407 Swanston Street, opposite the huge RMIT campus. Level 2 of Druids House is for sale at $750,000, with the option of vendor terms for two years and zero interest. This whole floor of 161 square metres is self-contained, airconditioned and with lift access, and would suit office, medical and residential use.

A 278-square-metre corner office with frontage and exposure to St Kilda Road is available through Colliers International. Ted Dwyer and Daniel Wolman are marketing Level 1, 40-44 St Kilda Road. Just minutes from St Kilda Junction, the property offers access from St Kilda Road, Dandenong Road, Fitzroy Street, Punt Road and Queens Road.

In Ravenhall, Savills is marketing five new office/warehouse units at a $3.2 million industrial unit complex at Ravenhall in Melbourne's western industrial heartland. The units are for private sale starting at $441,000 (plus GST) or for lease from $50,000 a year (plus GST). Located at 47-51 Rebecca Drive, the units range in size from 294 to 588 square metres and include undercover rear yards, car spaces for clients and staff, and mezzanine floor office components. The agents, Chris Telley and Luke Jesson are acting on behalf of a private developer.

A securely leased office warehouse known as Unit D6/2A, located at the corner of Centre and Westall roads in Clayton, is offered for investment sale by Crabtrees Real Estate. The deadline sale closes on Thursday at 4pm. The property is expected to attract offers of about $585,000, which would show an indicative yield of 7 per cent. The property comprises a total building area of 384 square metres, including 79 square metres of two-storey offices with an adjoining 231 square metres of warehouse. The property is leased to Contact Lens Centre Australia at a rental of $41,000 plus GST and building outgoings.

Google News
Follow us on Google News
Go to Google News, then click "Follow" button to add us.
Share this article and show your support
Free Membership
Free Membership
InvestSMART
InvestSMART
Keep on reading more articles from InvestSMART. See more articles
Join the conversation
Join the conversation...
There are comments posted so far. Join the conversation, please login or Sign up.

Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

The article lists a range of commercial opportunities for investors including a two-storey Victorian retail residence in South Melbourne, a 20,000 m² crushed-rock hardstand allotment in Laverton North for lease, a whole strata office floor in the CBD (Level 5, 171 La Trobe Street), a 1,916 m² residential development block in Sandringham with planning approval, CBD office floors (including Druids House at 407 Swanston Street), corner office space on St Kilda Road, new office/warehouse units in Ravenhall, and a securely leased office/warehouse investment in Clayton.

The article gives specific income examples to help investors gauge returns: the South Melbourne retail residence has an anticipated net annual rent of $32,000–$35,000; the Clayton office/warehouse (Unit D6/2A) is leased for $41,000 plus GST and outgoings and is expected to attract offers around $585,000 (an indicative yield of about 7%); Ravenhall units list rental options from about $50,000 a year for leasing. For some listings, like the Laverton hardstand, final rent will depend on lease terms.

Several sale methods and closing dates are noted: expressions of interest close for the South Melbourne property on Friday at 4:30pm; Level 5, 171 La Trobe Street is being sold by deadline private sale closing June 28 at 2pm; the Sandringham development block EOI closes June 28 at 4pm; the Clayton deadline sale closes Thursday at 4pm. Investors should check each listing’s advertised closing method (EOI, deadline private sale or auction) and calendar date before bidding.

Vendor terms are seller-provided finance arrangements that can make purchases more accessible. The article cites Druids House (Level 2 at 407 Swanston Street) being offered at $750,000 with the option of vendor terms for two years and zero interest — a structure that may help buyers who want to spread payments or who need short-term financing alternatives.

Yes — the Sandringham site at 26 Fernhill Road is a 1,916 m² corner development block with a town planning permit for 12 luxury apartments and 74 metres of street frontage. It’s being marketed by CBRE and Buxton on behalf of the Gillon Group and is expected to fetch more than $3 million, making it a clear development-play opportunity.

The article highlights practical location benefits: the Laverton North hardstand (125–139 Dohertys Road) is two minutes from the Princes Freeway and Western Ring Road, offering quick access to Melbourne’s CBD, ports and airports; the Ravenhall industrial units sit in Melbourne’s western industrial heartland; and the St Kilda Road office has strong frontage and access to major roads (St Kilda Road, Dandenong Road, Fitzroy Street, Punt Road and Queens Road). These transport links are key for occupier demand and tenant mix.

Timing of possession affects income and repositioning plans. For example, Level 5 at 171 La Trobe Street will be sold subject to a short-term lease with vacant possession available in January (or earlier by mutual agreement), while the South Melbourne retail residence is offered with vacant possession now. Investors should factor current lease terms, the timing of vacant possession, and how that aligns with intended refurbishment, re-leasing or owner-occupation plans.

The article shows a spectrum of entry points: smaller whole-floor CBD opportunities such as Druids House Level 2 are priced at $750,000 (with vendor terms available); new Ravenhall industrial units start from $441,000 plus GST for purchase (or leases from about $50,000 p.a. plus GST); and the Clayton investment is expected to attract offers around $585,000. These examples give everyday investors an idea of lower- to mid-range commercial entry prices in this set of listings.