Who owns city’s 17 most expensive CBD properties
FROM mammoth national property trusts to self-made millionaires, a diverse group of people hold the most expensive properties in the Toowoomba CBD.
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FROM mammoth national property trusts to self-made millionaires, a diverse group of people holds the most expensive properties in the Toowoomba CBD.
Here are 17 of the most expensive CBD properties to sell in recent years and the businesses and people who own them.
20 Mylne St
IT'S the most expensive property in the Toowoomba CBD and it only takes up 2851 sq m.
The Shell service station on the corner of Mylne and Margaret St last transacted for an eye-watering $41,575,000 back in August 2016.
That equates to $14,582 a square metre.
The parcel of land is currently owned by a company called VER Custodian Pty Ltd, which is part of Waypoint REIT Limited.
The company's ASIC register lists former Queensland Investment Corporation executive Laurence Brindle, Cbus Property chairwoman Georgina Lynch, and Arcadia Funds Management managing director Stephen Newton as directors.
The property trust was floated in 2016 and controls a portfolio of approximately 470 service stations across the country, valued at close to $2.7 billion.
239 Ruthven St
AT the northern end of the Toowoomba CBD sits Bunnings, nestled behind the facade of the old Toowoomba Foundry.
Converting the back half of the foundry into a Bunnings was an expensive exercise, reported as a $43 million project back in 2016.
And in October 2018 Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd offloaded the site to The Trust Company (Australia) Limited for $41,402,000.
The Trust Company is owned by Perpetual, an ASX-listed, diversified financial services company which has been operating since 1886.
187 Hume St
THE Hooper Centre was snapped up by HCPT Pty Ltd for $17.5 million in August 2007.
The multi-tenancy shopping centre that is home to a range of restaurants and retail outlets is managed by HG Property Services, which also manages Rochedale Shopping Village, Norman Gardens Shopping Village, Birkdale Village Shopping Centre, Birallee Village Shopping Centre, and Trinity Heights Shopping Centre.
HCPT lists Hubert Josef Zochling as its sole director, and is owned by Traisen Holdings Pty Ltd, which is also directed by Mr Zochling.
Mr Zochling is also the director of HG Property Services Pty Ltd.
133 Margaret St
QUEST Serviced Apartments, towering above the converted historic church which is now its foyer, was built and opened by FKG in July 2015.
Disaster struck in 2017 after a fire at next door Amigos Bar and Grill caused more than $5 million damage to the award-winning Margaret St complex.
The property was originally owned by Gardner Enduring Properties Pty Ltd, but was transferred to F3 Bare 1 Pty Ltd, of which Gary Gardner is the sole director, in August 2015, for $14 million.
227-231 James St
PHYLLIS and Roy Brook sold it to egg farmers Simon and David Hall in February 2005 for $14.1 million.
They in turn offloaded it to Perpetual Corporate Trust in September 2018 for $13.75 million.
Centrepoint on James includes retailers like BCF, PillowTalk, Totally Workwear, and more.
The Chronicle in 2018 reported the centre was for sale in the $15-20 million price range.
580 Ruthven St
THE prime piece of real estate on the corner of Ruthven and Herries Sts set a record price for an office building when it sold for $11.5 million in 2016.
The purchaser was Bernoth Properties James Cook Centre Pty Ltd - which is directed by Toowoomba's father and son team Barry and Mitchell Bernoth.
The Bernoths have undertaken a number of developments across Toowoomba, the most recent of which is the newly-completed Inspire South Central at 677-683 Ruthven St.
177-179 Hume St
NEXT on the list of expensive properties is Toowoomba's Officeworks.
The site was sold by Officeworks Toowoomba Pty Ltd to Killea Investments Pty Ltd in March 2014 for $7,475,000.
Killea Investments lists Philip, Margot, Fae, and John Collins as directors.
Killea Investments owns several other CBD properties, most notably the old bank building on the corner of Margaret and Ruthven Sts.
146 Herries St
LEASED to government agencies, the commercial office building at 146 Herries St last sold in March 2019 to The Trust Company Limited for $7,346,969.
352-360 Ruthven St
LAST sold in 2008, The Toowoomba Sports Club is now owned by the Canberra Raiders.
Back then, it sold for $6,930,000.
The Toowoomba Sports Club is currently undergoing extensive renovations.
12 Bell St
HOUSING the city's Centrelink office, 12 Bell St last sold in 2003 for $6.6 million.
It is owned by D J Bassett Nominees Pty Ltd, which lists its registered address in Armidale.
The company is directed by Tenterfield lawyer Douglas Bassett, Katrina Beagley, and Bryony Davis.
146 Mort St
PREVIOUSLY leased by the Salvation Army, 146 Mort St is now the headquarters of national accounting and business advisory firm Findex.
But it is the Catholic Church who owns the property, having bought it for $6.17 million in December last year from Lrkw Pty Ltd.
373 Ruthven St
NESTLED out the back of the Rowes building and with two-street frontage is the home of The Reject Shop - 373 Ruthven St.
The building is currently owned by 373 Ruthven St Pty Ltd, which lists John and Julie Rowe as directors.
Property records show the property was sold by Argyle Investments (Qld) Pty Ltd to 373 Ruthven St Pty Ltd for $5.9 million in September 2018.
600-606 Ruthven St
THE Shamrock Hotel Motel was snapped up by United Mortgage Fund 1 Pty Ltd for $5,050,000 in April 2013.
ASIC records show Wayne Lee as the sole director of the company.
Positioned on a 3253 sq m land parcel, the hotel is a substantial part single and part two-storey building with hotel facilities on the ground floor, manager's quarters on the first floor at the front and a two-storey 32-room motel at the rear.
Facilities include a bar, bistro and dining area, gaming room compromising 39 gaming machines, function room, as well as a motel reception and office.
In June it was for sale with an asking price of $6.75 million.
186 Herries St
PREVIOUSLY owned by Townsville automotive businessman Brendan Pickering, the block at 186 Herries St was sold to AP Motors in September last year for $4.8 million.
The property was then listed for sale in December.
It includes a "very modern and functional showroom with the external display area for approximately 60 vehicles".
323 Ruthven St
RUMOURS International regularly hosts major events in Toowoomba, from boxing matches to fundraisers and conventions.
Since 2009, it's been owned by James Aspromorgos, a key figure in the Toowoomba sporting community and owner of several commercial properties.
Mr Aspromorgos purchased the site in 2009 for $4.75 million.
70 Neil St
HOME to Groom and Lavers Solicitors and Darling Downs Radiology, 70 Neil St last changed hands in April 2019 for $4.65 million.
It was sold by Granew Pty Ltd to Sivion Pty Ltd, which lists Brisbane-based David and Monique Hilford as directors.
121 Margaret St
HOSTING a number of professional office suites and also the home to Shine Lawyers, 121 Margaret St last sold to Ivycliff Pty Ltd and Hereford Pty Ltd for $4.5 million in October 2015.
Ivycliff lists Shine Lawyers managing director and CEO Simon Morrison as its sole director, while Hereford lists Shine Lawyers co-founder and former managing director Stephen Roche as its sole director.
Mr Morrison started with Shine Lawyers back in 1988 and has undertaken a variety of roles within the company as it grew from a small country practice into a national legal powerhouse.
Mr Roche was a member of the legal team that won the landmark case against Toowoomba Prep School, and the author of the book Don't Tell, which was made into a film in 2017.
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