'Gorgeous' heritage building on sale

VIEW: Looking downstairs to Julie Saunders in the shop, Chambers on Main, from the staircase.

One of Greytown's most notable heritage buildings is up for sale.

The old Greytown Borough Council building built in 1892 by William Benton has only had three owners in its lifetime and today's owners say it is time to move on.

The town's public library was once housed on the second floor and the offices on the ground floor until 1977, when it passed into private ownership.

Julie and Merv Saunders, who live on the second storey and run their business, Chambers on Main, below, have been there for five years.

The couple had been searching for a renovation project and noticed the council building was looking a bit worse for wear.

They convinced the owner to sell and unintentionally started what would become a successful furniture store.

"We set it up in 2010 purely by accident," said Mrs Saunders.

They actually intended to rent the downstairs but when a tenant left, put excess furniture in the empty space to sell in an attempt to get rid of it.

From there, it took off and they opened another furniture store, the Retro Room, which they have just sold.

Mrs Saunders said she loved the business but it was time for a new challenge.

"We have this gorgeous building, it's been a dream business. I will be so sad to leave, I can't tell you how much I love being here ... it's perfect for us," she said. "But we have to do it, it's just time."

Mrs Saunders also said her sister's recent death had prompted her to look at doing something new.

The Saunders are not leaving Greytown. They plan to relocate two cottages, renovate them and possibly rent one out.

Merv and Julie Saunders outside the heritage building.

Mrs Saunders said of all the "20-something" properties they had owned, the high Victorian style council building was her favourite. They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars doing up the interior. They divided the council chambers room into the lounge and master bedroom and added a rooftop garden.

"When we bought it, it was a dump."

Because of the building's heritage status, its exterior and certain features are preserved, such as the staircase, its Corinthian columns and bracketed pediment.

Mrs Saunders said it could be sold to anyone who wanted a beautiful building, but ultimately it belonged to Greytown: "We own it but we don't - it's Greytown's."

The property is for sale through Jamie Slater at Harcourts. Mrs Saunders said if they could not sell it, they would put it up for tender.

The kitchen of the second storey.