FIFTEEN apartments in an 1870s building located on the corner of Queen and Williamson streets in the Bendigo CBD are close to completion (and public viewing).
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The apartments are spread across three floors of the red brick Webb & Co building and have views of the Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo Town Hall, Sacred Heart Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral
Williams Real Estate Bendigo director Bill Williams said the apartments would have their titles by February and was planning to open the apartments to public viewing in the new year.
"It had another developer who got to about 50 per cent and through COVID pulled the pin on it. We sold it to these developers from Keilor about 12 months ago.
"So they have had 12 months to get it going again. The windows are going in now and the inside will be finished by the end of year with the titles coming in about February next year. Then we are doing the shop down the bottom.
We put it on market about four weeks ago and are going to have a grand opening next year toward the end of January.
- Bill Williams
"At the moment if you want to get through them, you can call me."
Mr Williams said it was rare to have an old building in the Bendigo CBD renovated to include so many homes.
"This is the most prominent heritage building in the CBD. It's a big building," he said.
"When doing warehouse conversion, it's been difficult with it being an 1878 building.
"(Builders) had to put infrastructure - sewer, gas, electricity, water, an emergency sprinkler system, telecommunications - into the 1878 facade.
They have tried to keep natural parts of it but unfortunately when it was a night club, they put a slurry or render over bricks and painted it black. That ruined brickwork, we cant get it off without damaging the bricks. So there would be more natural brick features if we didn't have that.
- Bill Williams
"But the expertise to change an 1870s building into a modern building with 15 apartments is a challenge, The boys have done well."
Mr Williams said the apartments would help the city's aim to revitalising the city centre.
"It's the first multiple-apartment block I believe. Fifteen is big for the Bendigo CBD," he said.
"There are some buildings with three-lot apartments but none with 15.
"It's right in the heart of Bendigo, walking distance to the train station and supermarkets. If you worked at the GovHub, law courts or even Tafe or Bendigo Bank, it is walking distance.
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"There has been plenty of interest (but people) are waiting until they are finished. We had interest from Melbourne from people who want to do short term accommodation."
The apartments in the Webb & Co building on the corner of Queen and Williamson streets are for sale now. For more information or to book an inspection contact Bill Williams on 0428 502 663.
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