Convent sale fetches highest Wynnum price bar nun

Convent sale fetches highest Wynnum price bar nun
Jonathan ChancellorSeptember 6, 2011

A former convent property in Wynnum has been sold for $1.6 million – a record residential sale for the bayside Brisbane suburb.

The Brisbane congregation of the Sisters of Mercy sold the 20-room former 1915 hillside convent, which overlooks Moreton Bay.

Mount Carmel Convent, replete with Arts and Crafts-style timber balustrades and joinery, was built at a cost of £8000.

Its selling agent Robert Dunne of Savills Queensland said the property attracted 79 inspections with eight subsequent offers.

It was purchased by Ivan Simon, of production company IJS Logistics, who plans to restore the former convent into a prestige residence.

It already features decorative external design features, including cast iron and timber balustrades and glazed face brick walls with rendered sections.

It interiors have pressed metal ceilings, stained glass and leadlight windows.

It design dates back to the architectural partnership of Hall and Dods, who were highly regarded for their early 20th century ecclesiastical work.

The partnership of Hall and Dods was established in 1896 and continued until 1916. Dods was also architect to the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane and the firm oversaw the construction of St John's Cathedral.

It was heritage listed in 1999.

Robert Dunne said the Wynnum property no longer provided suitable accommodation for the two sisters who were living there.

Established primarily as a teaching order in 1831 in Ireland by Catherine McAuley, the first Sisters of Mercy arrived in Queensland in 1861.

Savills Queensland has sold convents at Paddington and West End for the order.

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

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