Tale of Two Cities: Ex-Sony HQ, 1860s Church on Block

The former home of the music giant Sony at Darlinghurst and a church in Geelong built in the 42nd year of Queen Victoria’s reign have come to market.

The inner-city landmark office block in Sydney, once the home of the music giant in Australia, has more than 36m of frontage and sits on a 1489sq m land parcel.

The property at 1-19 Hargrave Street offers 3903sq m of GFA and is an “exemplary example of an inner-city warehouse conversion”, according to Colliers, who are managing the sale via an expressions-of-interest campaign.

The asset is offered vacant and is “primed for multiple buyer groups, including those looking to occupy, develop or add value”, according to the agents.

Colliers’ Matthew Meynell, Miron Solomons and Matt Pontey have the listing on behalf of Doma Group, with price expectations of about $35 million.

Meynell said, “Currently configured as a versatile office space across three levels, this icon of Darlinghurst is one of the largest warehouses left in the fringe precinct”.

The building was famously occupied by Sony Music and boasted creative office and sound studios while offering a substantial amount of parking compared to other buildings in the fringe market thanks to its sprawling rooftop and on-grade options.

Pontey said, “The Sydney city fringe has become increasingly difficult to break into given the limited supply and private-centric market, meaning properties of this scale are rarely available to market”.

The expressions-of-interest campaign is due to close on July 4.

▲ St George Church at Geelong was built in 1861.

Meanwhile, in Victoria, Colliers is bringing St George Church, Geelong, built in 1861, to market.

Vacant since 2015, the church was designed by architect Nathaniel Billing, and built with bluestone and Hawkesbury River freestone dressings and a slate roof. The tower and spire of the church were added in 1936.

Colliers’ Chris Nanni and Ben Young have been appointed to manage the sale of the heritage building to unlock the site in accordance with the Central Geelong Framework Plan.

The property is part of the council urban planning scheme highlighting 11 strategic development sites supported by a masterplan.

Geelong is a UNESCO City of Design, and the asset is within the city’s cultural precinct.

“This opportunity will welcome vibrant ideas supporting education, hospitality, art or cultural mixed-use ventures,” Colliers said.

The site also includes the manse, to the rear of the church along Ryrie Street.

It was built in 1865 and is a two-storey building of bluestone and with a slate-pitched roof.

The hall was added to the site in 1939 to accommodate the Sunday School and other major gatherings and events.

The L-shaped hall is built of brown brick with a slate roof.

Located at 13 Ryrie Street, the site covers 8173sq m, of which 4500sq m is developable.

According to the Victoria Heritage database, the church and manse are B-grade sites, meaning the sites have regional importance, while the hall does not.

The expressions-of-interest campaign is due to close on June 26.