A heritage-listed igloo-style warehouse that forms part of the former RAAF Stores depot, a complex of 1940s military storage buildings in regional New South Wales, has hit the market with a $3.5 million to $4 million price guide.
Established during World War II as a major logistics and supply hub for the Royal Australian Air Force, 26 High Street, Dubbo is a 6850sqm warehouse that belongs to the former RAAF No. 7 Stores Depot.
The depot played a significant role in the war effort, serving as a storage and distribution centre for military supplies across the region, and its distinctive parabolic-arch “igloo” buildings constructed on the site are a hallmark of wartime military architecture.
Land and buildings like this don’t come up very often. Picture: realcommercial.com.au
Raine & Horne Commercial Dubbo director Joe Burgun said the listing was a genuinely rare offering.
“The former RAAF Stores Depot igloos are iconic wartime structures, and the opportunity to acquire one as a standalone allotment does not come along often,” he said.
“There are very few comparable buildings in regional NSW, and even fewer that are available for private purchase.”
The property is being sold by Maas Group Properties, which has been undertaking the progressive development and subdivision of the wider former RAAF Stores Depot estate.
The large-span timber-framed parabolic arch structure with corrugated metal cladding and concrete floor has a ridge height of about 15m and is currently utilised by the vendor for industrial storage but is being offered with vacant possession.
An example of an ‘Igloo’ in Woomera, SA, circa 1950. Picture: National Archives of Australia
Steeped in history
The former RAAF Stores Depot comprised of 30 buildings, including five huge Igloo stores buildings, three Bellman hangars, a Rabaul hangar, a Sidney Williams Hut and a large semi-underground PBX bunker, as well as a road system, railway spur lines and remnant state forest.
According to the NSW State Heritage Inventory, the complex of substantial military structures in their original configuration and landscaping is the only extant, relatively intact example of its kind in Australia.
“It is unusual and probably unique in Australia to find five different types of 1940s prefabricated buildings remaining on the one site,” it states.
“The Igloo stores, still in pristine condition, were adapted from an American design but using Australian hardwood and corrugated iron, and are five of the only six examples of this building type left standing in Australia.”
The RAAF used the Igloos up until 1992. Picture: realcommercial.com.au
The inventory also notes the igloo buildings were “an unusual, functional and attractive form of industrial structure that is evocative of war time design and construction practices.”
“The buildings were carefully oriented to minimise shadowing in order to resemble hills from an aerial perspective,” it stated.
“On completion the profiles of the openings and gables were also modified by the use of galvanised iron sheeting cut to resemble tree shapes.”
At the end of World War II the Dubbo Stores Depot was the largest stores depot of its kind in Australia in both size and stock.
NSW’s west served an important role during aviation’s golden era. Picture: National Archives of Australia
Keen buyer interest
Mr Burgun said the property has attracted strong enquiry from a diverse range of buyers, including local and regional investors, developers, and owner-occupiers looking at adaptive re-use opportunities.
“Interest has been both local and from outside the region, which reflects the unique nature of the offering,” he said.
The building’s large-format industrial structure, scale, clear-span layout and heritage character have attracted interest from a diverse range of buyers.
“That includes investors, owner-occupiers looking at storage, warehousing, or other large-format uses, and parties exploring adaptive re-use concepts that take advantage of the igloo’s distinctive architecture.”
The latest commercial property news
Get the latest news and insights straight to you.
The site is zoned R1 General Residential under the Dubbo Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022, which reflects the broader residential master-planning of the former RAAF estate.
“However, the building has a long-established history of industrial storage and warehousing use,” Mr Burgun said.
“By way of precedent, the neighbouring igloo on High Street, which carries the same R1 zoning, was granted development approval for conversion to self-storage units and is now occupied by National Storage.”
Future plans for the wider site part of a $74.4 million proposal
Maas Group has lodged a $74.4 million State Significant Development application for a master-planned residential community on a 9.29ha site, within the wider former RAAF Stores Depot estate.
Ahead of the application’s assessment, submissions from the public are now being answered.
Maas Group is seeking to develop this landholding next to the Igloos, dubbed Cypress Park. Picture: Maas Group
The proposal includes 211 manufactured home sites delivered in two, three and four-bedroom configurations, in addition to a community centre featuring a function room, gym, library, games room, outdoor terraces and meeting room.
The development also proposes an outdoor pool, BBQ area, children’s playground, pickleball court, tennis court, bowling green, 54 visitor parking spaces, and several landscaped park areas for community use.
“The sale of 26 High Street (Igloo 3) is a separate offering and is not part of the SSD application site,” Mr Burgun said.
Expressions of Interest to buy the site close 30 September.