Rare opportunity to own a well known piece of Ponsonby heritage

The well known former Ponsonby Fire Station that has had a number of commercial and residential uses over the years, including originally housing a fire station and council chambers in the late 1800’s, is now for sale.

This historic character property is currently tenanted by a popular café and bar – The Williamson - situated at 1 Williamson Ave on a prominent island site at the junction of Williamson Avenue, Rose Road, and Pollen Street – some 100 metres from Ponsonby Road.

The property is being marketed by Bayleys Real Estate senior sales consultant Nigel McNeill.
“This is an excellent opportunity for an investor to purchase a high profile, tenanted, well preserved heritage building in sought after Ponsonby. The property is possibly under-rented and there is a rent review every two years, with the next review due in May this year,” said McNeill.

“The tenants have a six year lease term at $39,000 plus GST per annum that began in 2006, and have one right of renewal of six years, making the final lease expiry 2018,” said McNeill.

The iconic, ornate, two storey building originally housed the Ponsonby fire station, and council chambers serving Grey Lynn.

According to McNeill, the building has previously had numerous commercial and residential uses over the years - including a bakery, residential flats, retail shops, and various restaurants and cafes.

“The property was built in 1889 - featuring a ground floor fire appliance room, first floor town clerk’s office, council chamber an external staircase and bell tower. It was extended and altered in 1917 and 1926 - with additions such as a single storey brick built extension. In more recent times the original features have been carefully restored,” said Mr McNeill.

“Currently, the main café area is located in the former fire appliance room - with a concrete floor, painted and plastered perimeter masonry walls, timber panel partition walls, exposed ceiling beams and double bi-fold timber doors.”

To the rear of the café are amenities such as a store room and toilets. Within the single storey extension is a fully fitted commercial kitchen with concrete floor and plasterboard ceiling. The majority of the fixtures and fittings within the building belong to the landlord.

The first floor is accessed by the original external staircase, and by a subsequently installed internal staircase. The former council chamber is currently used as a function room, with the town clerk’s room being fitted out as a bar.

The café area is some 40 sqm, the amenities some 58 sqm, the first floor some 65 sqm, and the deck 24 sqm, totalling some 187 sqm.

According to McNeill, much of the original fit out has been carefully restored- including polished timber floorboards, timber panel walls, vaulted ceilings, ornate fireplaces and timber frame sash windows.

From the upstairs bar there is access to a timber deck above the ground floor kitchen, with a brick parapet and timber flagpole.

The premises are classified as a Heritage B building and Category 2 by the New Zealand Historical Places Trust.

“A Category B Heritage building specifies that premises of such quality and character as the former Ponsonby fire station should not wilfully be removed, damaged or altered in any significant way unless there is a compelling reason,” said McNeill.

The Ponsonby fire station building at 1 Williamson Avenue is for sale by tender closing March 25, 2010.