THE historic All Saints Cathedral has been passed in at auction at $1.4 million.
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The McKenzie Street property, a remnant of Bendigo’s first days in the gold rush, was selling in two lots at an auction on Friday.
The first lot was the original cathedral, built in 1858, on 4154 square metres of land.
The second lot included the former headmaster’s residence built in 1877 and the former school on 1147 square metres of land, and was passed in at $950,000.
Agent Craig Tweed, from First National Tweed Sutherland, who conducted the auction, said he expected a sale in the near future.
“The second lot was passed it but we are negotiating with the bidder and we are pretty close,” he said.
“The reserve price is exceptionally good value and it won’t be long before it sells.
“Hopefully we will have a successful sale in the next few days.
“With the first lot, there are two interested parties but it is just a process of time.
“The property is so unique and so different it is going to take time.
“But there was a good crowd; I would guess 60 odd people.
“It is a pretty special building.”
Anglican Diocese of Bendigo general manger Anne Baker said there were mixed feelings about the sale.
“It is a little bit of everything,” she said.
“There are a lot of memories around the church and its history and it is certainly in a prominent situation.
"In a sense we are losing that connection.
“But Bendigo is growing and changing and it is time someone else picked up the baton.
“We have St Pauls and we are working on restoring that for the next 100 years.
“The congregation and the broader Anglican Diocese of Bendigo feel it is time.
“Most of them were at the auction, eager to see how their journey will go.
“With the cathedral we are prepared to wait to find the right buyer at the right price.”