By Jess Baker
After just one month on the market, the Darling Downs’ famous Deuchar Church has been sold at auction.
With pine timber flooring, curved exposed beams and a confessional room, the 102-year-old landmark on Warwick-Allora Road gained immediate interest from potential buyers both near and far.
Ray White real estate agent Matt Cleary said the church’s former owner, the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba, decided to sell the church and the 2.11 acre block it sits on after several years of decreased attendance.
More than 150 people attended the auction of the church and land on Saturday 19 June – 42 of whom were registered bidders.
Matt said he had received interest from more than 160 potential buyers.
“I had amazing interest in the property, certainly from interstate but mainly from Brisbane, the north and south coast, from Toowoomba and from Warwick as well,” he said.
The bidding opened on Saturday at $100,000, with the church and land eventually selling for $385,000.
Matt said the local heritage-listed property was sold to a pair from Ramsay near Toowoomba named Grant and Angela Gatsby.
The Deuchar Church is known for its striking features, including six leadlite windows, an arched entrance foyer, a raked ceiling, and a choir loft that has a seating capacity of 100 people.
The new owners’ plans for the church have not yet been revealed, but the possibilities for the unique space are endless.
Many residents of the region have a connection to the Deuchar Church and will watch on in eager anticipation as Grant and Angela’s plans unfold.
