By Luke Voogt
The former Geelong Post Office hit the market on Monday with an advertisement for the building’s sale or lease appearing online.
Real estate agent Colliers International had received a “dozen inquiries” about the 130-year-old building in two days, its Geelong director Andrew Lewis said.
“We’re organising a number of inspections of the property,” he told the Indy on Wednesday.
“I’d definitely say most of the parties are interested in the purchase, not the lease.”
The advertisement described the building at 83 Ryrie St as: “a significant opportunity to make this your trophy asset in your portfolio or a grand home for your business”.
But Mr Lewis stressed the advertisement was about attracting ideas for the council-owned building’s future, rather than the highest price.
“Council will not necessarily pick the highest price but what they think is the best future use of the building,” he said.
“It’s very much a property they care for and want to see in safe hands.”
While potential buyers had to respect the heritage aspects of the building, they would have “reasonably free reign inside, if not outside”, Mr Lewis said.
He described some of the building’s interior as “in very average order” and “C-grade”.
The site of the two-level building covers 1300 square metres with 72m of corner street frontage and onsite parking, according to the advertisement on a News Corp owned website.
Potential owners could demolish the building’s 1930s faux classical screen wall on the property’s north side for additional parking, Mr Lewis said.
He declined to provide a potential price for the property.
“It’s not a financial discussion at the moment,” he said.
The advertisement comes after council last August voted to sell the building for “no less than an independent valuation”.
City Hall this week declined to reveal the valuation figure, although industry sources have previously speculated the building could sell for $5 million.
Council acquired the building in 1996 for an interest-free state government loan of $670,000.
“We’re really excited to see some creative and inspiring proposals for such a central and iconic piece of Geelong’s history,” Geelong Mayor Stephanie Asher said.
“I think all of the councillors would like to see expressions of interest that celebrate the building’s history, complement the nearby cultural precinct and open it up for community use.”
But Lex Chalmers, who led a 1000-signature petition against the sale, was “disappointed” with the advertisement.
“If community groups were able to make a submission to council that they could use it, perhaps it’s not too late,” she said.
“The ideal use, as far as the people who signed the petition are concerned, would be for a social history museum.”
Ms Chalmers suggested the building was the perfect location to house council’s historic collection of 12,373 artworks, objects and artifacts.
Council announced last December it was searching for a home for the collection.
