A deconsecrated 1880 church is offering buyers a rare chance to step into the property market via something far less conventional than a standard home - and perhaps create a business along the way.
Located in Waratah in Tasmania’s northwest, St James Church at 17 Smith Street sits beside the town’s picturesque waterfall and comes with approved plans to be transformed into a residence, boutique accommodation or another creative venture - all for an asking price of $295,000+.
The church is listed for sale at 'offers over $295,000'. Picture: realestate.com.au
But vendor Sarah Andrews sees the church as part of a broader shift in how some buyers are approaching property - not just as a place to live, but as a pathway to income too.
Ms Andrews, the designer and educator behind The Hosting Masterclass and creator of Captain’s Rest, the celebrated Tasmanian stay that helped build her profile, told realestate.com.au many younger buyers are looking beyond convention and towards overlooked, mixed-use or unconventional properties with some kind of edge: cheaper buildings in less obvious locations, often with mixed-use potential, tourism appeal or room to create an experience around them.
“A lot of my students, their budgets are really small,” she said.
Vendor and designer Sarah Andrews said churches can suit buyers looking to set up a home and business on a small budget. Picture: realestate.com.au
“So something like the church fits for them because it’s something they can tackle on their own, on a really small budget, but has the potential to become something much bigger through their vision.
"Whether that’s a distillery, an artist’s studio, a residence or accommodation - but ultimately it becomes both an income opportunity and a secure home for them long-term.”
The church already has council and heritage approval, giving buyers the chance to walk in and create their vision. Picture: realestate.com.au
That idea may be resonating more strongly than ever. In a tough affordability environment, many younger buyers are looking for ways into the market that do more than one job at once.
“Most of my students are buying in gaps in the market, cheaper properties people have overlooked - and creating something completely new from scratch that brings people to them,” she says.
That is playing out against a backdrop of rising prices in Tasmania too, with the West and North West region up 11.3% year-on-year to a median of $541,000 in March according to PropTrack, even as affordability remains challenging.
“Most of the people I work with under 40,” she says. “They’re working with property as a way to create an income to eventually own that property for themselves and their future families.”
The property sits near the town's iconic waterfall, and 45 minutes from Cradle Mountain. Picture: realestate.com.au
Waratah’s St James Church fits that template neatly. The heritage-listed Gothic church, built in 1880 and deconsecrated in 2013, sits on a 785sqm site and retains stained glass windows, Baltic pine walls and soaring timber ceilings.
It is also framed by a century-old blackwood hedge and what Ms Andrews describes as a private park-like setting with scope for a further dwelling or extension.
Importantly, much of the difficult groundwork has already been done. Building and wastewater plans have been prepared and approved, heritage approval has been granted, and Ms Andrews has already taken care of expensive structural basics including subfloor work and flooring repairs.
“I’ve done all the boring, expensive hard bits,” she said. “It’s really at the stage now for someone to just walk in and start creating exactly what they want.”
Built in 1880, the Gothic church sits along Waratah's historic main street. Picture: realestate.com.au
That could mean a home, a stay, an event space, or something more imaginative. Ms Andrews had dreamed of turning it into a private library that guests could stay in - “a curated bookish otherworld” - but said the property could just as easily become a whisky-tasting room, a makers’ space, a private dining venue or a small destination business.
Its location strengthens the case. Waratah occupies a curious gap on the well-worn route many travellers take on a lap of Tasmania, between Cradle Mountain and the gateway to the Tarkine, yet Ms Andrews believes the northwest still has a surprising shortage of distinctive accommodation and visitor experiences.
“The visitors are all there,” she said. “They just don’t have anything to do."
The township of Waratah is known for its famous falls which run through the centre of the village. Picture: realestate.com.au
“Cradle Mountain is Tasmania’s most visited tourist attraction, and to my knowledge, one of the most popular spots for elopements, weddings and honeymoons.
“It’s perfect to be the first to shape something really special for this audience."
For Ms Andrews, the sale is bittersweet. After a year of coming to terms with unexpected personal challenges, she now hopes the church passes to someone earlier in their journey - someone with the imagination and energy to recognise its possibility and shape its next chapter.
“I feel like the property is kind of like magic beans for someone,” she said. “And you can even hear the waterfall from inside the church.”
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