The 1936 former Rural Bank on the northeast corner of Goldsmith Street is proposed for a 30-room motel. 

Crookwell-based architect Doug McIntyre says it’s just one example of a resurgence in interest in the city’s heritage and its protection.

He lodged plans for the project earlier this year with the council. The development is yet to be approved, with negotiations still underway on parking.

It involves adaptive reuse of the old bank, a four-storey glass, aluminium and steel addition to the rear to accommodate more rooms and a caretaker’s apartment, a ground floor cafe near the Auburn Street frontage and internal lift. Four carparks are proposed for beneath the new rear structure.

Building works are valued at $600,000 but the project is estimated to be worth much more with fit-out. 

“We are renovating and retaining the existing building,” Mr McIntyre said.

“We’ve had the council’s heritage adviser look at it and we’re trying to keep as much as we can, including some very nice ceilings and doors upstairs. For an old building it is fairly solid and in good condition because it has had tenants.

“Minor demolition” of interior walls is planned for the main building to accommodate motel rooms and ensuites.

Mr McIntyre said talks were still underway with council planners, given the limited onsite space. He cited three public carparks within close walking distance that could be used and pointed out that most motel guests were absent during the day.

“Council studies show that car parking in the CBD is only 80 per cent full but it is a hot potato,” he said.

Chinese man Jie Ren bought the old Rural Bank for $855,000 plus GST in 2015. The 680 square metre structure sold for $75,000 above reserve, much to former owner Ross Lyall’s delight. It was previously used as an antiques and collectables store but had been closed for several years.  

Mr McIntyre could not say who would run the motel but believed it was aimed at the mid-range market.

He believed there was a shortage of motel rooms in Goulburn.

The owner’s intentions match his own view of the city’s heritage.

“He wants to work with what’s there rather than bulldoze it and I encourage them to do the same because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever,” Mr McIntyre said.

He’s been practicing as an architect for 31 years, most of that time in the Sutherland Shire but for the past five years based in Crookwell. He’s completed several Auburn Street projects, including adaptive conversion of number 257 next door to the Rural Bank building into a Thai massage business with shop-top apartment. A rear barn will also be restored.

Despite investment in fire and accessibility measures, Mr McIntyre believed it was well worth the investment and could lead to a resurgence of shop-top housing.

“We’re finding in the main street that upstairs residences have been rented for a peppercorn amount and aren’t at a very nice standard,” he said.

“But now we are encouraging owners to spend money upgrading them. They’re realising people want to live there because there aren’t a lot of apartments in Goulburn.

“I’m finding that people want a nice, modern apartment close to the CBD from where they can wander downstairs for a coffee. I think that’s the next main challenge for Goulburn. There’s a huge market out there.”

This didn’t mean “bulldozing everything” but thinking creatively. Mr McIntyre is working on another apartment complex in Goulburn. However he’s also constructed this type of accommodation behind older Auburn Street buildings.

Mr McIntyre is also working on other “medium density” Auburn Street developments and lauds the city’s heritage stock.

“I love Goulburn,” he said.

“It’s amazing in terms of its architecture and whenever I go to Sydney I realise how beautiful Goulburn is. A lot of newcomers appreciate it whereas people who’ve been here a long time have a different attitude.

“...I’m trying to get people who buy old buildings to paint their facades. It’s amazing what a difference the painting of the NAB building has made.”

His adaptive reuse of the Rural Bank building has won the Goulburn Heritage Group’s endorsement.

In a submission on the DA, the group described it as “an ideal use for this very solid and important piece of Auburn Street architectural heritage.”  

“This is an excellent example of building adaptation - blending new life and interest into an existing , historic structure that will form an exciting addition to the Auburn/Goldsmith Street landscape,” it wrote.

“It is brilliant so see a four-storey adding to the height and scale of buildings in Goulburn’s CBD – and the added open glass panelling will contrast well with the former bank’s very solid brickwork.

“We believe that this is a thoroughly thought through submission developed to a highly professional standard with huge potential and wish the whole development great success.”

Elsewhere in the CBD, work is starting soon on a motel at the former Marian College site on Clinton Street. It is part of a wider development also including a function centre and apartments.

A motel is also planned for the former Saint Patrick’s Primary School site in Verner Street, where single-storey townhouses are currently under construction.