Long-vacant block sells
• The Main Street block ready for development.
By Tony Scott,
APRIL 21, 2021
A commercial block in Bridport is likely to be developed for hospitality and/or retail uses after its sale for $1.2 million.
The Main Street property opposite the top IGA supermarket has been for sale for a couple of years and vacant since the old service station and mini golf course were demolished more than 20 years ago.
The 4500 square metre site has been bought by fisherman and developer Allan Barnett from another local businessman Matthew Bayles.
Mr Barnett said it had been bought through his family company Barnett and Stanford with daughter Alanna and son-in-law Jacob Stanford.
“We don’t really know what we might do with it.
“We’re open to suggestions.
“It’s a good site and lends itself to some shops or restaurant.”
The block had previously been approved for about 30 units of accommodation, conference centre, bars and restaurant.
“Bridport still seems to be on the move and for five or six months of the year at least accommodation is tricky and there’s a short supply of eating options.
“So I think we’ll be looking at something in the hospitality line.
“There’s no real options for coach tours to overnight in Bridport at the moment, so that is open.”
Mr Barnett said the worst of the Covid impact on domestic travel seemed to be coming to an end and that would probably be the main market.
“I think a lot of the places in town have been as busy as ever over the past couple of months.”
One thing the professional fishermen is sure of is he doesn’t see himself as front-of-house in any development.
“We’d be interested in talking to anyone with an idea that we might develop and operate on a rental basis.
“Perhaps we should run a competition for suggestions,” he said.
The prime commercial block is not the only one to have sold in Bridport in the million-dollar range recently.
The residential property on a big block at the corner of Elizabeth and Main Street sold recently after it too had been advertised for $1.2 million.
It’s understood the new owner plans no change of use from a holiday home.