An historic two-storey Federation Queen Anne style property that was used as a convent for Franciscan monks has just listed for $595,000, well under Perth’s median house price $852,240. Built in 1903, the Toodyay convent is set on 1.57 hectares on an elevated cul-de-sac lot overlooking the Avon River.
It boasts an impressive entry and staircase, a formal library, sitting and meeting rooms, plus 10 bedrooms, a chapel and lounge room upstairs and 274 square metres of verandahs. Other buildings include a separate kitchen, plus original boiler/laundry room offering the new owners a wide range of accommodation uses, subject to council approval. The property was purchased by the Creasy family in 2022 with grand plans to turn the building into luxury short-term accommodation.
This property is hot, hot, hot. Credit: Domain They engaged architect Botica Architects and commenced work with the Shire of Toodyay to change the permitted use at the site from convent to single dwelling and short-term accommodation. In November 2023, the council gave its blessing.
But unfortunately the Perth family’s dream just wasn’t meant to be, with owner Annie Creasy telling WAtoday on Saturday the sale was bitter-sweet. “We just love it out there, it’s just beautiful and so close to Perth,” she said. “Our goal was to turn it into a world-class property that would bring tourism to Toodyay, but our circumstances have changed.
.. it needs someone to come in, love it and give it the attention it.