AUSTRALIA is seeing more converted churches hitting the residential property market, and the Bathurst region is among the areas adding to the trend.
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Situated 20 minutes from the Bathurst central business district is the stunning and lovingly converted Catholic Church of St Francis at 2432 O'Connell Road, O'Connell.
It sits on 1898 square metre block with two separate dwellings, the church itself and a school house, both of which exhibit significant renovations.
The church was built circa 1867 and the school house was built circa 1840 and reportedly brought from Locksley to the current site in 1876.
The sale of the property is being handled by Raine and Horne director Grant Maskill-Dowton, who acknowledges the rare opportunity on offer.
"It's a beautiful restoration of a church and a school house," he said.
"Originally all on one [block] was the school, church house and convent; the convent has been sold off separately, but is still there and reminiscent as part of the original property.
"But the church and the school house, they're just stunning in the restoration."
The property has been used for weddings and other functions, as well as serving as a residence and providing accommodation as an Airbnb.
Mr Maskill-Dowton said the renovations have been ongoing, with contributions made by different owners over the years.
It has only been about two weeks since the property hit the market, but already it is attracting a lot of interest.
"Now we're in the world of Airbnbs and function centres, people like an alternative to something that is run of the mill," Mr Maskill-Dowton said.
"You can't replicate a church, you can't replicate the history, you can't replicate the build and it does seem to generate a huge amount of interest.
"And I guess it's quite an emotional buy. Certainly, the current owners are very emotionally invested into the property and they've poured their life into keeping it and maintaining it to their highest standards.
"They even say it's a part of their family and I think that's what [converted churches] become."
Inquiry on the O'Connell property has come from both locals and metropolitan-based buyers.
The property is on the market with a price tag of $1.25 million and Mr Maskill-Dowton does expect it will go quite quickly.
If it does, it will be just another example of the growing demand for high-end properties in Bathurst at the moment.
Mr Maskill-Dowton sold four properties over $1 million in a week less than a month ago, including one on Mount Panorama to an international race car driver.
