Lilydale real estate: 286 Main Street next to White Dog pub for sale

It’s next to one of Lilydale’s most derelict sites, but there’s no shortage of potential for this grand 158-year-old property.

286 Main St Lilydale, next to the abandoned White Dog pub, is up for sale.

A rare chance to buy a piece of Lilydale history is up for grabs, with a grand Main St building on the market.

Built in 1863, and still retaining many of its original features, the beautiful building at 286 Main St is being sold by Ray White Lilydale, with a price expectation of $1.2 million.

Next door to the long-abandoned White Dog Pub, the building has a fascinating history.

According to the Lilydale Historical Society, it was originally used as a store, when it was situated between the Lilydale Hotel and the Commercial Hotel.

It was then rebuilt as a two-storey shop, where the new owner established a drapery business.

It then became a bank, and later the printing office for the Lilydale Express Newspaper, before upstairs became a solicitors’ office and downstairs a real estate agency.

The building dates back 158 years.

Since 2000 the building has been occupied by insurance brokers.

Ray White Lilydale director Graham Reynolds said it was rare for a property with such a rich history to come on the market.

He said the insurance brokers tenure would come to an end early next year and they would be vacating the site.

Mr Reynolds said the building had a major renovation in 2000, and would be suited to a range of uses in the future, including high-end office accommodation, a legal practice, or possibly a nice wine bar or restaurant.

It has many of its original features.

There are six office areas which would allow for 10 or more workspaces, a meeting/board room, storage, kitchen and bathroom facilities.

“It is really an important part of Lilydale, and the opportunity to purchase something like this is very rare indeed,” he said.

“We think it is a very real opportunity for an astute buyer.”

The future of the White Dog Hotel next door however remains unclear.

The pub, also known as Duke’s Saloon, has lain derelict in the centre of Lilydale for more than a decade.

It comes as another prominent Kilsyth site hits the market.

Described as an eastern industrial “super site”, real estate group Cameron is selling 74-78 Canterbury Rd.

Possible future uses for the 9.94ha include large scale logistic development or mixed use, small scale strata warehouses.