RSA has 'whole shootin' match'

The RSA frontage at 170 St Hill St, Whanganui. Photo / Supplied

The land and building housing the Whanganui branch of the Returned Services Association and its underground shooting range have been placed on the market for sale.

The RSA has been operating from its St Hill St premises for 100 years, but an ageing and declining membership base means the venture is no longer viable long-term, and club members voted in May to amalgamate their operations with the Whanganui Cosmopolitan Club.

The open-plan 350-seater bar and restaurant area. Photo / Supplied

Now the Whanganui RSA property at 170 St Hill St is being marketed for sale by tender through Bayleys Whanganui, with tenders closing at 2pm on July 31. The property features in Bayleys' latest Total Property portfolio magazine.

Bayleys Whanganui salespeople Russell Duggan and Robert Scott say in addition to the land and building on offer, the RSA would look at selling the fit-out and chattels associated with sustaining a food and beverage business. The RSA is moving out of the site in September.

An aerial view of the RSA property. Photo / Supplied

The St Hill St property consists of a 1570sq m building sitting on 1885sq m of freehold land. Included within the land is sealed car parking for 23 vehicles. It a block back from Whanganui's main retail strip, Victoria Avenue. Inside, the fully air-conditioned RSA building contains all of the services and infrastructure required for sustaining a licensed hospitality operation, including:

• a full commercial-grade kitchen featuring ovens, hobs, grillers, fryers, walk-in freezer and refrigerator, dish-washer/drying equipment, and extensive stainless-steel benching;
• an underground 20-metre shooting range;
• an open-plan 350-seater bar and restaurant area;
• a fully-functioning bar structure with multiple tap-heads and beer lines running through to the refrigerated keg chiller;
• an entertainment area with full-size and half-size snooker and pool tables, and an adjoining spot-lit dart board arena;
• full modern male and female bathroom facilities; and
• administrative offices.

The building housing the Whanganui RSA in St Hill St is in three parts, which have New Build Standard ratings of between nine and 131 per cent.