One of Melbourne’s most significant heritage properties sells for the first time in 170 years

4 July 2023

The Uniting Church in Australia Synod of Victoria and Tasmania has sold a major landholding in North Melbourne after 170 years of worship on the site. The site is located approximately 1km from Melbourne’s CBD and encompasses an array of buildings, including the landmark Union Memorial Church building.

JLL’s Capital Markets team of Jesse Radisich, Nick Peden, Josh Rutman and Mingxuan Li acted on behalf of The Uniting Church in Australia in the sale of 579-599 Queensberry Street & 51-61 Curzon Street, North Melbourne which was offered by a public Expressions of Interest process.  

The General Residential Zoned site has three extensive street frontages to Queensberry, Curzon and Elm Streets totalling over 200m, and is home to the iconic church building, complete with a 46-metre spire.

Both the JLL agents and the UCA declined to comment on the price or the transaction details.

Peter Thomas, UCA’s Director Property Services said “The Uniting Church and the Mark the Evangelist Congregation are pleased to see the next stage of life for the church and the site now about to commence under new ownership, following widespread interest from multiple parties.  We have been well supported by JLL who executed the extensive campaign on this truly complex and unique site”.

According to JLL, the scale of the offering, the premium North Melbourne location and the extensive existing buildings on site led to significant interest from a range of prospective purchasers.

Jesse Radisich from JLL said that “The campaign generated 217 interested parties, and despite some of the complexities and challenges of the site from a heritage and environmental perspective, a very pleasing sale outcome and settlement arrangement for our client was achieved.”

 “This transaction demonstrates that robust demand is in the market for significant landholdings with income and upside potential, and many active purchasers are not impacted or concerned by uncertainty around interest rates”.