Noosa’s iconic Halse Lodge was placed on the market this week by owners, Anglican Church Southern Queensland (ACSQ), to test what vision others may have for the 7,989sqm property, with selling their least preferred option.The prime site only 150 metres from Hastings Street and with historical links to the pioneering days of Noosa tourism is currently occupied by a backpacker hostel, with a sub three-year lease remaining to Ecolodge Pty Ltd, which operates affordable accommodation and a bar/bistro from its four on-site buildings. Halse Lodge is also a favourite with locals who drop in for a drink or meal away from the hustle of Hastings Street.
Noosa Council CEO Brett de Castell said there were few buildings in Noosa more iconic than Halse Lodge and tourism would be the most appropriate use for it going forward.
Anglican Bishop Jeremy Greaves said Halse Lodge also held a significant place in the story of the diocese with clergy recently recalling memories of youth camps and school camps held there prior to it’s life as a backpackers.
Bishop Jeremy said with the lease nearing an end and ACSQ’s property team on the ball to ensure its properties were best used to ensure the running of the church it was an opportunity to reassess the return on the property.
He said there had also been a recent change of zoning on the property from community to tourism, opening up the potential of it being used for more boutique accommodation within the constraints permitted under the building’s heritage listing.
“A backpackers accommodation may be where it ends up but there may be the opportunity for different styles of accommodation or it may be a mix of accommodation,” he said. “A sale would be a long way down the list in terms of our preferences. Our hope would be a long term lease or partnership would be the sort of arrangement that we could enter into.”Owned by ACSQ since 1959 it will be taken to the market via an expressions of interest campaign run by Blake Goddard and Matt Barker of Knight Frank.
“We expect this property to be highly sought after, with interest to come from overseas, interstate and local groups, including food and beverage operators, boutique accommodation providers, and private groups, however we are keeping all options open and welcome all engagement throughout the campaign,” Mr Goddard said.
“This site is in a very high-profile location within Noosa and is of a significant size, being nearly a hectare of land in such close proximity to Hastings Street.”
Mr Barker said there was nothing comparable to the Noosa site on the market.
“The opportunity to involve yourself in that much land so close to the beach in one of the most popular Australian tourism locations is one that comes up very rarely,” he said.
“This is a world-class destination, so it is certainly an exciting prospect for any party to be involved in. The campaign will run for a period of five weeks, seeking all opportunities and ideas from the market.
“The owners will then assess these based on financial merit, community engagement and benefit, and longevity. With a beautiful heritage building on-site, along with rainforest surroundings, we see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Noosa has forever been a tightly held market, particularly for commercial investments. With staggered ownership along Hastings Street and many smaller strata units, this will provide a large free flowing property to a party with a grand idea.”
ACSQ Group Manager Property Hiro Kawamata said the Anglican Church was excited to be offering the iconic Noosa property to the market for the first time in 25 years to see what long term vision other accommodation and tourism operators might have for the site.
“We have been proud custodians of this prime Noosa site for 61 years, especially with the site and original building having links back to the 1880s when the original structure was built as a guest house by a local grazier, Walter Hay, who is considered to be the ‘Father of Noosa’.”
The original building was replaced in the 1920s, with a larger building using some of the original materials from the building and was then renamed “Hillcrest” and was later renamed Halse Lodge. It is the last remaining timber accommodation building in Noosa and is the longest continuously operating guest house in south east Queensland.
The expressions of interest campaign for the property will launch on September 17 and close on October 22.
