Family say goodbye to converted church hall after years of happy memories

The property at 26-28 Mowbray Tce, East Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

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A former church hall converted into a five-bedroom home and commercial space has hit the Brisbane market after years of being a happy family home.

Alison and Damon Stokes called the former Mowbraytown Presbyterian Church Hall, at 26–28 Mowbray Tce, East Brisbane, home for almost 17 years, raising their two children in the character-filled building.

Mr Stokes bought the property directly from the church in 1999, taking over the tenancies of photographers already using the building as a studio.

The couple initially lived in a small caretaker’s residence at the back of the property, before moving out to renovate.

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The kitchen and living spaces flow out to the deck. Picture: Supplied

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One of two studio spaces in the converted hall. Picture: Supplied

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They kept the high ceilings and period joinery and converted the backstage area of the hall into living spaces, while the upstairs became five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a balcony under a steeply pitched roof.

The huge space forward of the stage became two studios, two offices and an entry foyer.

“The stage is still completely intact,” Mrs Stokes said.

“We’ve put a wall through it and part of the stage you can see from the commercial side and the other back end of the stage is our lounge room.”

At the back of the building there is also a large deck and a leafy yard.

The couple moved back into the property on Christmas Eve in 2009 with their three-year-old son and six-month-old daughter.

One of the upstairs bathrooms. Picture: Supplied

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The property retains plenty of character. Picture: Supplied

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The children grew up with a business out the front of their home, a lounge room on a stage and the backyard shared with chickens and dogs.

“Ever since we’ve lived here, we’ve had businesses operating out of the front,” Mrs Stokes said.

“It has been loved so much by us and the kids and their friends.”

The hall has accommodated a coffee shop and later a pilates studio, with Mrs Stokes managing the business behind the scenes.

Parts of the property were also leased as office space over the years.

Mrs Stokes said she was selling to downsize after her husband tragically passed away from cancer.

She said she hoped the property would become home to another family or someone who loved it as much as they had.

“I’ll be sad to say goodbye to it,” she said.

A deck spans the back of the building. Picture: Supplied

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The property is well located in East Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

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The property, which spans 708 sqm across two titles with a renovated kitchen and parking for three vehicles, is being offered for sale through Place Bulimba selling agents Matthew Hackett and Hamish Naylor.

Mr Hackett said it was surprising how much lay beyond the hall’s facade.

“People might recognise the building or have visited one of the businesses here without realising there is a five-bedroom family home behind it,” he said.

“You have a commercial space facing the street, then a private home with a big deck and a green backyard.

“It is a very different proposition from setting up a desk in a spare bedroom.”

Mr Hackett said the building’s long history of combining residential and commercial use would appeal to buyers seeking more than a conventional house.

“For someone running their own business, the appeal is having room to work at the front and a proper family home to come back to at the end of the day, all at the same address,” he said.

The property is for sale by Top Offer, closing November 25 at 3pm.