Tasmanian trophy tourism offerings abound in slow market
As we look to what's ahead for 2012, Property Observer is republishing some of our most noteworthy stories of 2011.
January 2012 update: All three businesses and associated properties mentioned below remain up for sale, according to online business for sale listings.
An original colonial-style manor house and accompanying boutique hotel business in the Port of Strahan in Tasmania is up for sale and expected to sell at a significant discount to its valuation.
Franklin Manor is rich in colonial heritage and village charm. It was built in 1896 and is the original residence of the Strahan harbour master, Captain Edward T. Miles, who named it Moana.
Miles was sacked after attempting to secure a tender for construction of the harbour breakwater for his son, but later rose to the position of state minister for public works.
The property as well as the hotel business is being sold by John Blacklow from Knight Frank Tasmania.
Blacklow tells Property Observer he expects the freehold property and business to sell for “well under” the $1,715,000 million government valuation.
“We had a written offer for the property in 2007 for $2.3 million, so that shows you the capability,” he says.
Franklin Manor is built on 9,652 square metres of land and was totally restored in 1989.
It includes 14 suites, lounge, sitting room, function room, licensed restaurant, honour bar, underground wine cellar, separate managers’ residence and staff quarters known as “The Stables” (comprising four units).
Strahan is on the northern end of Macquarie Harbour and has about 700 residents.
It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the state after Port Arthur and Cradle Mountain.
Its key attractions are wilderness cruises down the Gordon River and the West Coast Wilderness steam railway, which links the tiny fishing village to Queenstown.
“Ideally it would suit an owner-operator. It’s a good residence for families,” Blacklow says.
The property and business have been on the market for just over two weeks and interest to date has come mainly from the eastern seaboard of the mainland.
Franklin Manor is one of six tourist businesses up for sale in Strahan.
Also up for sale is the 18-guest bedroom Gordon Gateway Motel freehold and business, with Hospitality Property Brokers Bowral marketing it for $1.98 million, and the Sharonlee Holiday Villas featuring 11 units being marketed by Best Properties La Trobe with an asking price of $1.3 million.
Blacklow says the Strahan market has been slow for a couple of years in keeping with general trends in the overall Tasmanian market.
