Hexham's 1862 church listed in Grampians

A bluestone church in Hexham, Victoria, has been listed for sale, just 50km south-east of where a church in the southern Grampians sold recently for double pre-auction price expectations.

The 1862-built St Andrews Uniting Church has reported price expectations of between $150,000 and $200,000.

It is being sold by Rob Rickard from Elders in Mortlake and Camperdown.

A 1914-built church in Dunkeld, 250 kilometres west of Melbourne, sold earlier ths month for $230,000, which was nearly double its price expectations going into auction.

The vendor bought the latest listing, a Hexham building, at Roger Street, from the Uniting Church two years ago and made some slight alterations before deciding to now sell.

“He’s decided he doesn’t have the time to put in it, but feels that somebody else should have the opportunity,” Rickard told Fairfax Media.

Rob Rickard was the selling agent in February 2010 when it sold for $162,000, almost triple its reserve of $60,000. There were 200 people at that auction with bids coming from New South Wales, South Australia and Melbourne.

The church closed in 2009 due to a dwindling congregation.

The auction includes the pews and pulpit.

Planning documents say the church is one of the oldest churches in the district with a distinctive crenellated bell tower and landscaping.

According to heritage documents it was designed by Andrew Kerr of Warrnambool “in a most unusual castellated mode”.

It was formerly a Presbyterian church, St Andrews.

Other buildings of heritage interest in the town include the Temperance Hall built in 1876, and the police building built in 1860.