Ranges
3 Tuesday, 23 July, 2019
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Auction site behind the building. 195430
Pub passed in A strong contingent of Gembrook residents gathered at the site of the burnt-down Ranges Hotel, where the property was passed in at auction at $1,020,000. Despite the disappointment of no sale at the fall of the hammer on Saturday 20 July, locals are still holding out hope of the prospect of a pub in their town. Eastern Dandenong Ranges Business and Tourism Association (EDRA) Chairman Garry McGough was at the auction and believes a local will buy the property. “There was only a vendor's bid so it has gone to private negotiations with interested parties,” he said. “I think it could be sold in the coming week
Melways Ref Map 111 H10
Auctioneer James Doherty. 195430 Anyone interested in purchasing the property should get in touch with Ms McArdle through First National Mulgrave.
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“We’re not sure who was behind it, possibly someone who doesn’t want people to turn out or another agent that didn’t get the job.” Prior to the auction, First National real estate received an offer at the million dollar mark but the vendor did not accept and decided to go to auction. “Hopefully the site will be developed into another hotel or restaurant,” Ms McArdle said. “There’s definitely a big void, something isn’t there.” The Gembrook community has been vocal about what it would like to see happen to the site, with a rebuilt pub echoing the Ranges Hotel the ideal outcome. A GoFundMe page created to raise funds to rebuild a pub has received just $320 towards a $2 million goal.
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to a local buyer, fingers crossed.” First National real estate agent Martina McArdle told the Mail she do not wish to make the reserve price public, and that there was a strong interest in the property. It’s expected that agents will now continue to liaise with prospective buyers to reach an agreement. The rumour mill started swirling on Thursday 18 July with reports that a secret deal had been struck and the property had been sold to an unknown buyer. A sold sticker was placed on the sale sign on the site. But Ms McArdle confirmed this was a hoax. “They must have done it last night (Wednesday 17 July) because I went down and cleared it off this morning,” she said.
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