The price tag on Ballina’s most prominent privately owned heritage building has agents casting their net far and wide to find a buyer with deep pockets.

Ballina Manor, the Edwardian-style mansion on the corner of Norton and Crane streets, was built in 1924 as the North Coast Ladies College. 

Today it operates as a boutique hotel, offering 12 ensuite suites, landscaped gardens, a pool, restaurant facilities, a licensed bar, and a manager’s cottage with parking for 10 cars.

The property last sold in 2021 for $2.2 million.

Just four years on, the asking price has more than doubled, with Sotheby’s Byron Bay agent Denzil Lloyd confirming a guide of around $4.5 million.

“It’s a rare property in a market of its own,” he said. 

“There’s nothing like it in Ballina or Byron Bay. For anyone who resonates with old-world charm, it’s unmatched.”

National Interest in Ballina’s Market

Mr Lloyd says interest in the first week has been strong, including inquiries from Sydney hoteliers, interstate investors and local operators.

 “We’re running the campaign nationally,” he said. “It’s already drawing serious attention.”

Ballina’s market, he noted, has avoided the sharp ups and downs of Byron Bay.

 “Byron peaked higher and then fell back after COVID,” he explained. 

“Ballina didn’t peak as much, so it hasn’t dipped. With recent rate cuts and improving sentiment, we’re seeing stronger results and shorter selling times.”

That steadiness, combined with Ballina’s proximity to the airport and beaches, makes the Manor appealing to national buyers looking for a hospitality trophy asset.

History and Heritage

The Manor has been home to many over the past century and came close to being demolished.

Built by the Methodist Church as a school for young women, the short-lived North Coast Ladies College closed in 1930 during the Great Depression when families could no longer afford the school fees.

The building went on to operate as the North Coast Guest Home, the Sunny Haven Holiday Flats and then later became a boarding house before being converted into flats in the 1970s.

The grand old dame lost much of her charm with the wide verandas being closed in with fibro and it falling into disrepair.

By 1999 the council had signed off on its demolition before enterprising new owners saw the potential and began the long project of restoration. 

Original features such as timber panelling, stained-glass windows and the sweeping central staircase were preserved, while verandas were reopened and a sandstone courtyard installed using stone from Old Sydney Town.

Today the property blends heritage charm with modern upgrades, including refurbished rooms, a commercial kitchen and a new pool lounge.

“It’s been carefully renovated to retain its historical feel while operating as a modern boutique hotel,” Lloyd said.

What’s Next for the Manor?

The current owner, now in his 80s, is stepping back, leaving an opportunity for either an investor or owner-operator to take the reins.

With a hotel licence, the building could continue as accommodation, operate as a restaurant and event space, or become a landmark private residence.

Mr Lloyd is optimistic a buyer will move quickly.

“It’s more than a business or a house –  it’s a unique piece of Ballina’s history,” he said.