Ringwood’s old ambulance station in Pitt St, to be sold by Fletchers Maroondah

For more than 60 years, a Ringwood property has played a vital role in the community, first as an ambulance station, then as a home and gallery for an artist. What will its next role be?

The old Ringwood ambulance station, built in 1955, is for sale. Picture: Norm Oorloff

A piece of Ringwood’s history will go under the hammer later this month and is expected to sell for a seven-figure sum.

The former Ringwood ambulance station at 28 Pitt St will be auctioned by Fletchers Maroondah on Thursday, March 19 at noon.

It was built in 1955 and was last sold privately about 30 years ago.

The property boasts a living area with two bedrooms, a bathroom, lounge room and dining room, as well as a kitchen and private courtyard.

The vehicle bay at the old Ringwood ambulance station has been converted into a warehouse. Picture: Norm Oorloff.

The station’s ambulance bay – which was transformed into a warehouse – is also connected to the property.

Fletchers Maroondah director Reilly Waterford said the property’s owner was a local artist who had used the old station as his home and its warehouse as his gallery.

Fletchers Real Estate’s Rielly Waterford in the vehicle bay at the old Ringwood ambulance station. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Mr Waterford said the artist, a longtime Fletchers client, had moved to the Mornington Peninsula and decided to put the property up for sale.
“It’s been under-utilised to a degree for the last couple of years,” he said.

The kitchen inside the living quarters at the old Ringwood ambulance station. Picture: Norm Oorloff.

“We’ve known him for some time, and he thought, now’s the time (to sell).”

“This is the most unique property I’ve sold in six years … it’s not completely residential nor commercial, it’s in between.”

The garden area at the back of the living space at the old Ringwood ambulance station. Picture: Norm Oorloff.

Mr Waterford said he expected the 797sq m site to sell for between $1 million and $1.25 million.

He said it offered potential for a dual income or owner-occupier business set up and he had received interest from potential buyers in Melbourne’s east.

A fireplace inside the living space at the old Ringwood ambulance station. Picture Norm Oorloff

Mr Waterford said the potential buyers were looking to renovate the buildings and “do something really cool” with the site as opposed to a multistorey housing development.

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“We’ve seen more interest from potential clients looking to convert than redevelop,” he said.

“No one wants to see it (the station) pushed over or demolished and see a high-density project there, but realistically it is an option.”

“It could become a really unique residence and you could fully renovate it to a really cool house, or dare I say a cool lifestyle office.”

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