Old Bellingen Commonwealth Bank listed for sale with Ray White real estate agent Lindsay Tutt

A stunning old art deco bank building in the heart of a boutique Mid-North Coast town, sometimes dubbed “the next Byron”, has hit the market. Take a look inside.

The former Commonwealth Bank building on Hyde St will go to auction on October 27.

A stunning art deco building in the heart of the picturesque Mid-North Coast town of Bellingen is up for sale for the first time in decades.

The old Commonwealth Bank building, which now houses a publishing business, is on the main street looking over the river at Lavenders Bridge.

It will be auctioned on October 27 by Ray White’s Lindsay Tutt, who has been a real estate agent in the town since the early 1990s.

Mr Tutt remembers when the building from 1920 was still a bank, before it was turned into an art gallery and then the Affirmations publishing house.

Bellingen is a town in the Coffs Harbour hinterland, inland from the beaches at Urunga along the Waterfall Way – keep heading up the mountains and you’ll reach the stunning rainforest and waterfalls of Dorrigo.

The former Commonwealth Bank building on Hyde Street in the heart of Bellingen will go to auction on October 27.

The old Commonwealth Bank building.

Inside the three bedroom historic property.

Prices have levelled out slightly since the Covid pandemic real estate boom, but classic older-style timber houses in town are still going for more than $1 million

The town is well known for its festivals and monthly markets, with plenty of live music and fine dining options available, including the new Bellingen outpost of Three Blue Ducks.

Mr Tutt said he has had calls from “all over” about the bank, including interested parties in Sydney and Byron Bay.

“The man from Byron Bay is interested in turning it into a boutique hotel,” he said.

The home will go under the hammer later this month.

Inside the former Commonwealth Bank building.

The well-known building on Hyde St.

Mr Tutt said he hoped the property would fetch somewhere around the $3m mark.

“It’s been fully renovated, but still retains many of the original features,” he said.

The bank vault is still there and it was once used as a bar at a party where a horse rode into the main chamber according to Mr Tutt.

“The rear windows, where the bank manager’s office was, still has a bullet hole – maybe from a disgruntled customer?” he said.

Over two levels, the home includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a renovated kitchen, kitchenette. It also has two car spaces.

Mr Tutt said the property would be suitable for a restaurant, boutique hotel, design studio, brewery, film production company, office, or stately home.

The home also has a landscaped garden on 937 square metres, with a large rear entertaining deck.

Next door is the renovated Memorial Hall and across the road is the Bellingen Shire Council offices and park, where concerts and community celebrations are often held.

Originally published as Old Bellingen Commonwealth Bank listed for sale with Ray White real estate agent Lindsay Tutt