Former Mordialloc boatsheds and land of legendary boat builder Jack Pompei sold for $2.85m to make way for apartments

A HISTORIC boatyard owned by Mordialloc legend Jack Pompei, overlooking Mordialloc Creek, has sold for $2.85m and will be transformed into a residential and commercial development.

The former boat yard of Mordialloc boat builder Jack Pompei has been sold.

A HISTORIC boatyard owned by Mordialloc legend Jack Pompei has sold for $2.85m.

The former home of the legendary boat builder is expected to be transformed into a residential and commercial development after a local developer snapped it up.

Teska Carson directors George Takis and Michael Taylor, who brokered the deal, said the sale of the land, owned by the Pompei family for 80 years, translated to a “healthy square metre rate” of $3042.

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The 937 sqm site over looking Mordialloc Creek has a 57m frontage to Main St and includes an 850 sqm, old brick warehouse — the home of Pompei’s Marine since the 1940s.

“The property presented a prime site in a brilliant location with excellent exposure, frontage and development access,” Mr Takis said.

“It’s in the heart of a well-established and popular suburban retail and commercial precinct, with a very low vacancy rate.

“Obviously that sort of opportunity, with the additional benefit of very flexible zoning, does not present very often and there were, predictably, no shortage of suitors.”

Jack Pompei was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1987 for his work in marine search and rescue on Port Phillip Bay, where he was estimated to have rescued more than 600 people.

Mordialloc boat builder, the late Jack Pompei, 80, at his workshop.

The nearby bridge over Mordialloc Creek was renamed Pompei Bridge in 2009 in his honour, and Mr Pompei’s boats were renowned across Australia for quality workmanship.

The land sale comes after a high profile lease dispute over a neighbouring patch of Crown-owned waterfront land, known as Pompei’s Landing, which Kingston Council leased to Jack for his business, in recognition of his contribution to the community.

Following Jack’s death in 2008, the council allowed the lease to continue (at the low “peppercorn” rent of $100 a year) until 2012 when it decided it should provide access to other groups including the Mordialloc Angling and Boat Club.

However, Jack’s son Leon, who runs a mooring business there, refused to sign a revised lease and the council has taken legal action to try to reclaim the land.

The two parties are due back in court in April next year.