No auction love for Adelaide Hells Angels headquarters

It had all the makings of becoming one of Adelaide’s top auction events of the year. But not even a bargain price guide and top-notch location could help sell the clubrooms of a notorious outlaw bikie gang.

Members of the Hells Angels joined onlookers and two registered bidders outside the Clarence Gardens property at 2 Albert St, on Saturday, which had been listed with an asking price of $550,000.

But despite encouraging interest from buyers in the lead up to the auction — including developers and individuals looking to retain the home — the property failed to sell under the hammer, following a single bid of $500,000.

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Selling agent Stuart Costello, from Magain Real Estate, says the property will now return to the market as a normal sale.

“The vendors are okay with the result. They knew this was a possibility and they know we’ll get the property sold,” he says.

The feared bikie bang’s ‘Angels Forever — Forever Angels’ motto has become ‘Forever Forever’ in the bar. Source: Realcommercial.com.au

“Based on the conditional offers we got (in the lead up to the auction), I think we will end up selling the property around the $550,000 mark in the next fortnight.

“Interest for the property has been strong and has come from all over. In fact, one of the bidders here today was looking at doing some micro brewing, which I think would be awesome.

“Other people were looking at it from a warehouse point of view, but most were looking at demolishing and then rebuild and develop that way.”

The commercial zone property, with its heavily fortified front fence, was home to the notorious gang’s Adelaide southern chapter for several years.

Even auctioneer John Morris in full flight couldn’t close a sale. Picture: Dean Martin/AAP

Some of the crowd watching the auction. (AAP Image/Dean Martin)

Inside it is immediately clear the residence has hosted its fair share of gatherings over the journey, with a central lounge and bar area that includes a pool table.

The property also includes a gym and a workshop.

While all media were banned from entering the property on the day of auction, photos on realestate.com.au show the property has been somewhat “de-bikied” but several nods to its owners remain.

For example, in the lounge/bar area the “Angels Forever — Forever Angels” motto has had the “Angels” painted over.

Bikie colours and paraphernalia have been replaced with … an Adelaide Crows guernsey. Source: Realcommercial.com.au

A smattering of CCTV cameras are also installed across the property.

Adelaide local, Paul (who did not wish to give his surname), was one of two registered bidders on the day.

He says he placed a bid of $500,000, in the hope of acquiring the property as a potential rental investment.

“I guess I was contemplating renting it out to someone who may want to run a small gym as there is a large shedding area there out the back,” he says.

I think there’s potential in the property and I don’t think the history is an issue at all.”

This article from The Advertiser originally appeared as “Hells Angels clubrooms go under the hammer”.