The former church at 1 Miller St, Lorquon, has just sold for $45,000.
A remote Victorian church believed to be the cheapest in Australia has sold for a staggeringly low $45,000 after a $20,000 discount that slashed its initial asking price by 30 per cent.
It works out at about what you’d pay for a just above entry-level Ford Ranger, the nation’s most popular car, or for an above average kitchen renovation.
But there’s a chance that tiny price could be more than doubled, with substantive renovations and potential structural issues for the buyer to address.
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In what might well be the first time in its history, people from across the nation have been turning their attention to the former religious address in the tiny area of Lorquon — which is too small to be classed as a town, and about 80km north and west of Horsham.
The old church at 1 Miller St that is located roughly halfway between Nhill and the Big Desert hit the market earlier this year with a $65,000 asking price via Westech Real Estate’s Rachael McCarthy.
At the time it was believed to be the cheapest church for sale in the country.
Ms McCarthy said the 2025sq m plot had attracted calls from Queensland, South Australia and Perth, though the majority of inquiries had come from Melbourne.
There were even 10 offers made to purchase the church, including one at a higher price.
Inside the church, while leadlight windows are intact, there are visible signs of damage to the walls.
Outside the church, what appears to be structural cracking along the exterior stone work is visible around the forward windows.
“But once they had a further look at the structural damage they weren’t willing to proceed,” she said.
“But a lot of people were really interested at a lower price point.”
In the end a Melbourne-based buyer who intends to retain and fix up the existing building.
Ms McCarthy said they had also indicated it wasn’t their first church.
While she wasn’t sure how far their plans would go, she could see scope that works to remediate the building, particularly depending how they addressed structural matters, could wind up effectively doubling the purchase price.
Advertising for the building was upfront, noting it “requires significant attention” before suggesting buyers carefully assess its structural condition, its water and electrical connections, and added a note that “due diligence is strongly recommended”.
The building has significant cracks in its walls, both inside and out — including for the stone work around windows along the side of the property.
Holes in the plaster ceiling are not necessarily reflective of the condition of the roof above.
With some of the building’s old highlights still intact, the buyer has faith that they will be able to help the ex-church recapture some of its past glory.
While the ceiling plaster is partially collapsed inside, the exterior rood had appeared to be in better condition.
The agent said the vendor, who had owned the property for a number of years, was happy with the sale.
The building dates back about 100 years, and was previously used by the Uniting Church.
Aside from the recently sold church Lorquon hosts a memorial hall, a CFA shed, a scattering of trees and shrubs, and not a lot else.
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