When selling unusual properties, focusing on standout features while understanding council and redevelopment regulations can unlock buyers’ imagination, turning curiosity into serious demand.
Tasmania has been known for its quite different property listings, but this time, an agent has been tasked to list a former police station with two working cells.
A former police station with its working jail cells has hit the Tasmanian market, marking a first for Wolf Property selling agent Riley Turner.
“I’ve definitely had a few unique ones, but nothing with jail sales,” Turner told REB.
Set on a 1,854-square-metre block in the historic township of Evandale, Turner said the unique property had already attracted about 40 groups through the first open home and multiple requests for contracts already in.
The historic property includes two buildings: the original police station with two cells, a bathroom, office, reception area and double garage and a separate four-bedroom home that once accommodated the station’s officers.
The two operational cells are each fitted with a metal bed frame, a toilet and a barred window, which Turner said were key selling features of the property.
“[The cells] are fully functional, so were definitely pushing that side of things, and when people are coming through to inspect, it’s definitely catching their eyes.
“But you’re also looking at two dwellings on the large sort of corner block, which does have room to be developed as well and subdivided. So it ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of investors.
“And there are locals who are liking the cottage style for the main residents and then you could run a business or something from the old police station.”
He said that for this type of unusual property, agents needed to help potential buyers envision what the site could become.
To accurately pitch the property, he said agents should be aware of everything about it, including zoning, subdivisions and potential commercial redevelopment.
“When we are opening the home and answering any inquiry, everyone has a lot of questions, and you have to be well-versed and have a good understanding of what you can and can’t do.
“So you can then educate those buyers and give them a straightforward path ahead if they decide to come to auction.”
He said most enquiries have focused on zoning and subdivision, with buyers questioning the current “community purpose” zoning and the potential for rezoning to residential, and whether part of the block could be split off for a unit or Airbnb.
In addition to the unique feature, Turner said the property’s location was also a major drawcard, being right in the heart of Evandale’s foot traffic.
“It’s a little country town with a lot of cafes and all sorts of unique little shops, and a Saturday market quite well known around Launceston,” he said.
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