New hope for Brinkworth bank as Mat Johnson buys from The Block in town – realestate.com.au

A Brinkworth property owner is hoping a famous neighbor could be enough to secure the sale of his own landmark home.

The former Brinkworth bank at 35 Main St has received minimal interest after being on the market for a year with various real estate companies.

But the recent sale of an old Brinkworth church to Mat Johnson, star of The Block 2025, could finally lead to genuine demand for the historic building and residence, according to current sales agent Stephen Thompson of First National Estate – Peoples’ Choice.

“I think there will be more interest (in the bank, following Mr. Johnson’s purchase),” said Mr. Thompson, who took over the bank’s listing this month.

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The Block 2025 SA team, Robby Lippett and Mat Johnson. Matt recently purchased a church in Brinkworth. Image: supplied.

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The kitchen of the former bank is equipped with the original wood stove and a more modern electric oven.

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“It (Mr Johnson’s purchase) is a recognition of the fact that smart people recognize there is a lot of value here (in Brinkworth).”

The bank, which is being marketed as a four-bedroom home, comes with the original bank vault, complete with the names of former employees scrawled on the vault door.

The 1,027-square-foot property, which is just a few blocks from the church, would make a wonderful home for artists, authors or other creative types looking for “calm and peaceful quiet,” Mr. Thompson said.

It would also be ideal for frequent travelers who need a home base, he said.

The vault could be converted into a second cellar, he said, admitting that the sales listing lightheartedly suggested it could also be “a place to store large quantities of gold bullion.”

“There has been a resurgence of rural towns lately,” Thompson said.

“People are selling their properties in the metropolitan area and buying a property in the country and getting it for probably 30 or 40 per cent less than what they got for selling their property in Adelaide.

“And with the bank and the church, you can no longer build them for that asking price nowadays.”

The old bank, which first opened as a branch of the Bank of Adelaide in 1903 and was renamed an ANZ branch in 1976 before closing four years later, has a guide price of $385,000 to $445,000.

Property records show Mr Johnson paid $250,000 for the 1910-built former Anglican church, which he wants to convert into boutique accommodation.

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The house has one bathroom and four bedrooms.

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The original bank vault is still in the building; the names of former tellers can be seen on the door.

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The property has been on the market several times in the past year.

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Mr Thompson said he was the “fifth or sixth” agent to market the former bank on behalf of the seller, who had a history of buying country houses and reselling them.

The vault door has been a hot topic among those who have inspected the building. Ashley Williams, an agent with Selling SA Homes, who put the property on the market for about four months last year, said it had sparked as much curiosity from the families of previous tellers as it had from serious buyers.

“We’ve probably had about 30 (people inspecting the building), including some families who come to see their parents’ names on the door and want to take a photo,” Ms. Williams said last June.

“They are children of those who worked at the bank and now live in retirement homes, so they came and took pictures of the names and blew them up and showed them to their parents as a kind of memorabilia.”

Mr Thompson confirmed the bank building was not listed, but said Main St was recognized as a historic conservation area because of its distinctive streetscape.

– by Lauren Ahwan