79 Victoria St Mackay sold by Blacks Real Estate

A historic Mackay CBD landmark has returned to local hands after nearly two decades in a Sydney investor’s portfolio.

Blacks Real Estate has brokered the sale of the old Queensland National Bank at 79 Victoria St in Mackay. Picture: Heidi Petith

A historic Mackay landmark has returned to local hands after nearly two decades in a Sydney investor’s portfolio.

Blacks Real Estate agent Greg Lewis said they had sold 79 Victoria St in Mackay’s CBD to a “local entity” but as to their identity and the purchase price, those details will stay secret for now.

Former owner Hamamas Pty Ltd purchased the heritage-listed building nearly 17 years ago for $1.375m, with the property then listed for sale in 2013, 2017 and 2020.

Designed by Bundaberg architect Frederic Herbert Faircloth, many in Mackay would know the building as the former home of Kevin’s Place, a beloved Singaporean cuisine restaurant founded by the late Kevin Lian.

Irishman William Guthrie, of Bundaberg, built the property in 1923 at a cost of £15,300 — equivalent to $1.3m today — for it to become the Queensland National Bank, now known as NAB.

The old Queensland National Bank at 79 Victoria St in Mackay. Picture: State Library of Queensland

Mr Guthrie also built the Masonic Temple in Wood St, Saint Mary’s Church on Juliet St, the Australian Hotel on Victoria St, the old Pioneer Shire Council building on Wood St, and the William’s Building — home to Jeremiah Bullfrogs, also on Wood St.

Mr Lewis said 79 Victoria St’s new owners were doing some maintenance works before making the property available for lease.

The building had deteriorated in the late ‘80s after the bank moved out but in 1992 it was renovated and adapted as a commercial premises, according to the Queensland Heritage Register.

79 Victoria St in Mackay has been sold to a local investor after being owned by a Sydney-based company for almost two decades. Picture: Contributed

Its sale earlier this month follows another changeover of a historic building in the CBD with Mr Lewis helping broker 36 Wood St, better known as Mercury House or the old home of the Daily Mercury.

Anthony William Fraser let go of the property for $1m to SMH Property Group Australia Pty Ltd, which also owns industrial land in Paget and Walkerston.

Mr Lewis said Blacks had also recently sold the old 7 News building on the corner of Victoria St and Wellington St.

“We find its very rewarding that these properties will be rejuvenated and put back to the market with an injection of works done to them ... developers and investors are seeing the opportunities to buy these old buildings and restore them to their former glory,” Mr Lewis said.