Southern Highlands landmark and tourist attraction Lancelot Hill Antiques to go to auction

Sam Murden

First published 07 February 2022, 12:00am

Antique items and a signed cricket-bat from Don Bradman are up for grabs as Southern Highlands landmark and tourist attraction Lancelot Hill Antiques goes to auction for the first time in over 60 years.

Located in the heart of NSW’s Southern Highlands, the 695 sqm building will be auctioned onsite at 379 Bong Bong Street Bowral on the 24 February, brought to market by property vendor Central Real Capital and CIPS Real Estate.

While there is no publicly listed price guide, the property next door at 377 Bong Bong Street sold for $2.6m in November 2021.

MORE: NSW regional areas set to boom

Tenant turmoil: where rents are rising faster than prices

379 Bong Bong Road Bowral NSW.

The successful buyer will receive a framed cricket bat mounted with a Weet-Bix card signed by Don Bradman, who spent his early years in Bowral.

The gorgeous commercial property features large wooden front doors which date back from its role as a Cobb & Co Coach staging station and was occupied by travellers, blacksmiths and horses.

Immortalised in Australian literature and art, Cobb & Co was a successful coaching business established in the middle of the 1800s, with routes throughout Australia.

Australian cricketer Sire Donald Bradman (1908 – 2001), the first cricketer to be knighted in 1949 for his services to cricket. Picture: Sasha/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Two adjoining buildings have been combined; the southern building has been recently refurbished and rewired whilst the northern building has been rewired but remains unrenovated.

Central Real Capital CEO David Stone said the auction was an unmissable opportunity for potential buyers and investors.

A small section of the historic Bowral site.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a unique piece of Bowral’s history plus it’s on the main street of Bowral’s fast growing tourist and shopping centre. Everyone who lives in the Southern Highlands and anyone who visits Bowral knows the enchanting building and all its old-world treasures within,” Mr Stone said.

Since 1962, the property has been operated and owned by an antiques dealer and includes warehouse space, a three-bedroom apartment, retail viewing rooms and heritage features.

The property, which hasn’t been on the market for 60 years, features plenty of antiques.

Bong Bong Road, Bowral NSW

Marlene Lynam is the Licensee in charge of CIPS Real Estate in Bowral and says the buildings underwent a multi-stage development in the 1950s and 60s.

“The property is being offered for sale by way of public auction, with vacant possession,” Ms Lynam said.
“Bowral’s commercial district has boomed over the last two years due, in some part to Covid.

“People who want a job in Sydney but don’t want to physically work there have moved to working from home, which has benefitted the area greatly.

“We’ve seen commercial properties listed for $1.6m sell for $1.8m at auction – in one case it sold in under four weeks. I’ve never seen that happen in my years in real estate”

Items like a signed cricket bat from Don Bradman will be made available to the buyer.

Prior to the pandemic, historic towns like Bowral mostly attracted retirees and professionals who had ties to the area.

Now, vendors on Australia’s east coast are capitalizing on the strong demand from city-based commercial investors and developers who are seeking rural retreats and opportunities.

In November 2021, the commercial property of 184 Sproules Lane – also known as Bowral Park Farm, was sold for $9.8m.