East Ipswich shopping centre sells for over $30 million

The St Ives Shopping Centre in East Ipswich, southwest of Brisbane, has sold to the Sydney-based Mintus for $30,450,000.

The deal, negotiated by Savills agents Peter and Jon Tyson in conjunction with Shane Sax of Pace Property, included six adjacent properties.

The 38,200 square metre shopping centre with parking for over 500 cars includes a Woolworths as well as food outlets including Domino's, Red Rooster and Subway.

There are 49 speciality tenants in total.

Jon Tyson said that the sale followed an expressions of interest campaign conducted late last year.

"The centre attracted strong interest from the market. The sale was well contested resulting in multiple bids, primarily from private investors," he said.

The main centre was marketed with six adjoining properties included an 11 shop strip retail centre, two freestanding commercial buildings, two vacant mixed use development sites and a vacant house, each on separate titles.

The combined sites total over 6.25 hectares, situated alongside the Ipswich Motorway in Brisbane's western growth corridor. The Woolworths Supermarket is the only full line supermarket in an expansive trade area.

Peter Tyson said that the St Ives Shopping Centre and the adjoining holdings were amalgamated over many years.

“The Centre has been tightly held with the transaction following over two decades of ownership by the same group," Tyson said.

"Buyers were attracted to the value-add potential of the large scale land holding which featured significant embedded real estate value and a flexible "Major Centres" zoning which allows for mixed use development up to 12 storeys.”

Mintus director Mel Hazzouri said that the St Ives Shopping Centre and its land holding was the perfect fit for their portfolio.  

“The centre allows for plenty of value add and redevelopment for the future. We look forward to significantly adding value in the short term, working with the retailers and the community to bring St Ives back to its full potential,” Hazzouri said

“The market is showing ongoing demand in early 2018, with tighter stock levels expected to ensure competition from cashed up investors and drive momentum well into the New Year,” Tyson said.